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Since the beginning of this century, a new normal has prevailed. One crisis after another overwhelms Europe. Think of the euro crisis and the quasi-Grexit, Brexit, the migration crisis, the pandemic and the increasingly severe climate crisis. And to top it off, we are being hit by an intolerable war unfolding on our borders and on our continent. Moreover, we are facing a political shift. The end of the Merkel era in Europe, an increasingly assertive China, Russia at its most disruptive, and a potentially shaky future for our transatlantic relations are things we have experienced in the last five to ten years and are an integral part of that new reality.

Next year we are heading for a new economic and social crisis. Global growth will stagnate. The energy crisis will only amplify its effect for Europe. And the Russian war in Ukraine is a foretaste of the geopolitically fragmented landscape we are threatening to move into. After all, China and Russia are out to challenge the post-WWII world order created by the West. The inevitable result is a struggle for new spheres of influence and uncertainty about the evolution of our world order.

The challenging context we find ourselves in - political volatility, non-stop live news 24/7 and on top of that the rising disinformation online - means that the world we live in will continue to be characterized by uncertainty, vulnerability and unpredictability. In this context, we believe a crucial question arises. Can Europe rise to the challenge? Our European Union has repeatedly proven itself to be much more resilient than many doomsayers like to think. To deal with the pandemic. To accelerate our green and digital transition. To sharpen our defense. But also to better defend our European values. After all, strengthening our strategic autonomy is at the top of the political agenda.

The European treaties matured with the spirit of the times. The Treaty of Rome in 1957 gave the starting signal for the European coal and steel community. The Single Act in 1986 paved the way for the internal market. The Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 sowed the seeds for the euro. The European Parliament acquired a full role as co-legislator with the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997. After the Treaty of Nice in 2001, Europe expanded to 28 Member States. In the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, the European Community was replaced by the European Union and since then the Union has had full legal personality.

Today, however, we again see the need to examine the functioning of Europe thirteen years after Lisbon. The crises of recent years have sharpened our insights. The prospect of membership for Ukraine, but also the launch of a new 'political community' by President Macron, raises questions about the future functioning of the European Union and the strategic capacity that should result from it. That is why we think it is right that the European Parliament is asking for a Convention on the revision of the European treaties. Moreover, we actually owe it to the citizens to follow up concretely on the outcome of the conference on the future of Europe, an unparalleled exercise that gave a new impetus to our European democracy and leaves us wanting more.

The process is not yet complete, but one thing is certain. To remain relevant on the global stage, Europe will need to embrace change. Indeed, in order to face this era of 'permacrisis', we permanently need much faster decision-making power so that Europe can respond with more capacity and more flexibility to the challenges that lie ahead.

Tom Vandenkdelaere MEP, President of the European Movement in Belgium