The ECR Group voted against a completely misguided Parliament own-initiative report on the future of European competitiveness, warning that the text uses the Draghi report to justify a major expansion of EU powers, common debt and a shift towards more centralised decision-making.

Speaking after the vote, ECR Shadow Rapporteur Tomasz Bocheński said that competitiveness cannot be strengthened by weakening the role of Member States or by creating new EU-level financial commitments without democratic safeguards.

“Europe will not become more competitive by stripping national governments of their democratic vetoes. Competitiveness starts with responsibility, not with centralisation.”

He criticised the report’s call to extend qualified majority voting and to explore treaty change, warning that such steps would undermine national prerogatives in sensitive areas such as taxation, defence and social policy.

“Replacing unanimity with majority voting in areas that touch the core of national sovereignty is not institutional reform — it is a political shortcut that risks deepening divisions inside the Union.”

Bocheński stressed that Europe’s competitiveness depends above all on reducing regulatory burdens, restoring fiscal responsibility and making existing EU tools work more effectively.

“If we want Europe to succeed globally, we should start by cutting red tape, reversing the Green Deal, improving the single market and freeing our businesses to grow — not by creating new layers of bureaucracy and more common European debt.”

The ECR Group argues that Europe’s strategic position can be strengthened within the current Treaty framework, through deregulation, efficiency and strict respect for subsidiarity. The Group will continue to advocate a competitiveness agenda focused on economic freedom, innovation and accountable governance, rather than deeper political integration.

The report was adopted by Parliament on Tuesday with 330 votes in favour, 273 against and 38 abstentions.