The European Parliament is the European Union's most democratic institution and should be strengthened, Italy's foreign minster Luigi Di Maio said on Monday.
"We need to fortify the European Parliament, which is the institution that best represents European citizens, " Di Maio said.
He was addressing via videolink the 'Our Europe, Our Future' conference organised by the European Parliament's Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group.
Di Maio also said he hoped to see the harmonization of laws governing the election of Euro-MPs including "in the direction of transnational electoral lists".
The minister questioned current rules requiring consensus in the EU decision-making body, the European Council.
"For European foreign policy to be based on the principle of unanimity makes it very difficult for Europe to respond to every contingency," Di Maio stated.
"It's not the moment to modify treaties but how to carry out their reform," he said.
Europe needs to "listen" to its citizens of all ages, including young people, also in Balkan countries hoping to join the EU, Di Maio said.
