The Council of the European Union, in a written answer on 10 July 2026, declined to respond to a parliamentary question from Nicolae Ștefănuță (Verts/ALE) regarding the convening of an intergovernmental convention to amend the EU Treaties. The Council stated that it is not the appropriate institution to answer questions concerning the European Council, as the European Council is a separate institution.
The question, submitted as a priority written question, referenced Parliament's resolution of 22 November 2023 calling for a convention under Article 48 TEU to examine treaty amendments, including extending EU competences and qualified majority voting in defence. Ștefănuță asked about the status of the proposal in the European Council, whether the European Council intends to convene a convention, and what obstacles might be impeding it.
The Council's reply effectively sidesteps the substance of the inquiry, redirecting the MEP to the European Council. This procedural response leaves unanswered the political question of whether EU leaders are moving toward treaty reform, a topic that has gained urgency amid heightened geopolitical challenges and enlargement debates. The answer signals no concrete follow-up from the Council's side, and no timeline or commitment to convene a convention was provided.
The European Council, which comprises EU heads of state or government, has not publicly indicated a date for considering Parliament's proposal. The lack of a direct answer may reflect ongoing divisions among member states on treaty change, particularly on sensitive areas such as defence integration and the extension of qualified majority voting.