The Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission have already agreed the objectives, the structure, the scope and the calendar for the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
During the opening speech of her term of office in 2019, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, announced her intention to launch a Conference on the Future of Europe. Her idea was to offer the opportunity to thoroughly reflect on the direction of the European Union and its institutional structure. The conference was scheduled to begin in May last year, but the pandemic cut short its preparation, forcing European leaders to reorganize their immediate priorities.
During 2020, the European institutions put forward different positions, especially the European Parliament, in order to address the plans for its launch. The three main institutions of the Union had to agree on the structure and the basis for its organization. During this time, the Parliament and the European Commission advocated that this should be a process that leads to concrete recommendations that can be transformed into legislative initiatives or changes in the Treaties. However, the Council, formed by the leaders of the 27 member states, has not been willing to move towards treaty change. Furthermore, the debate about the conference’s leadership has been one of the key factors preventing the Council from reaching an agreement on a definitive position.
In June 2020, the European Council agreed its position by identifying some of the possible issues to be addressed during the conference that could provide guidance. These are the following:
- Sustainability, including a green and just transition and climate neutrality by 2050: climate change and environmental protection; sustainable growth; cohesion, convergence and regional development; equality and social justice;
- Social challenges: public health; demographic challenges; generational, territorial and educational divides and inequalities; gender equality; adequate social protection and inclusive labour markets; comprehensive approach to migration challenges;
- Innovation, competitiveness and digital transformation: fair competition; skills and future of work; research and development;
- Values, rights and fundamental freedoms: democracy; equality; rule of law; pluralism; freedom of expression; combating misinformation and strengthening trust in public institutions; inclusion; the role of education and culture;
- International role of the EU: addressing geopolitical challenges in the post-COVID-19 global environment; interests and values; strategic autonomy; multilateralism and cooperation; security and defence; trade and value chains; border protection; the EU’s external action.
Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations, pointed out shortly before during a speech in the plenary of the European Parliament, that the conference could even touch upon fair taxation and the ways to improve the EU’s fight against tax fraud and tax evasion.
Final agreement for the conference:
- Participation is to be concentrated through a multilingual interactive digital platform to organise discussions across the Union.
- The scope of the conference should reflect the areas where the European Union has the competence to act, or where EU action would benefit European citizens, focusing on issues that really matter to citizens, with lasting impacts and a broad scope – not yet specified. The conference will facilitate a debate on the challenges facing the EU, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting the EU’s Strategic Agenda, it should also address policy issues such as climate change, economic and social issues and digital transformation. Citizens are free to raise additional issues of interest to them.
- In terms of leadership, the conference will be under the authority of the three institutions, represented by the President of the European Parliament, the President of the Council and the President of the European Commission, who will act as its joint presidency. The work of the presidency will be supported by an executive committee, composed of three representatives and four observers from each institution. National parliaments will be actively involved, as well as other bodies or groups, in particular the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.
- The final outcome of the conference will be presented in a report to the joint presidency. The three institutions will rapidly examine how to follow up this report effectively, each within its own spere of competence.
This discussion forum will be a unique opportunity to bring to the fore the issues of greatest concern for citizens as well as the ways in which the European project and the Union’s efforts should be targeted to meet these needs. National and regional events will be organised to give voice to proposals and perspectives for change. A Eurobarometer survey, carried out at the end of 2020, shows three quarters of Europeans think the conference would have a positive impact on democracy in the EU. Half of the respondents say they want to get actively involved themselves.
The joint declaration agreed just a few days ago was signed by Parliament President David Sassoli; Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, on behalf of the Council of the EU; and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a ceremony on 10 March in Parliament’s Brussels plenary chamber. It is expected to be held at a formal launch event on May 9, Europe Day, in Strasbourg (France). The conference is also intended to last for a year and to deliver conclusions during the French Presidency of the Council on the Spring of 2022.
Article by Carolina Serrano, consultant of the ATREVIA Brussels team: cserrano@atrevia.com
