THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

Conference on the Future of Europe

With the closing ceremony of the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May, the outcome of our work was delivered to the Presidents of the European Commission, Council and the European Parliament. Yet again, it was an innovative moment in this deliberative process, where the protagonists were the citizens. And what a success it was! It has been a long and productive year of discussions between European citizens of all ages, with political representatives and civil society - all from different countries, regions, and in all EU languages - a truly democratic journey. Tough, at times, but fruitful and energetic throughout. I am proud of what we have collectively accomplished.  

But this does not mean that our work is done. Rather, we are entering a new phase. New, because unlike other citizen consultations, the EU institutions are giving visibility to the follow-up process for the first time, showing that this truly was more than just a listening exercise. One that was inspiring, challenging, and rewarding, a process that I enjoyed immensely. As we prepare the follow-up on the outcomes, I am certain that it will continue to be an equally stimulating exercise.

Maintaining momentum

One of the key outcomes of the Conference is that the three EU institutions have set a new high standard in deliberative democracy. And this means a lot. We have learnt a great deal and we must maintain this momentum. We must cherish the fact that we live in a society in which we can feel safe to voice our opinions and are empowered to do so, knowing that we are heard, that our voice matters. Not everyone has such a privilege and I am proud that this is an essential part of our European values. This would indeed be a primary message of this fascinating exercise: to children, to the young and old, to all citizens - your voice matters.

In the next stage, will have our work cut out for us, but I am looking forward to this with enthusiasm! To start, the European Commission has adopted the Communication on the Conference on the Future of Europe on 17 June, outlining how we plan to implement the 49 proposals that emerged from the Conference. The Communication remains based on the nine themes, we had in the Conference itself, and we have structured the follow-up around four categories of responses: 1. existing initiatives that address the proposals; 2. those already proposed by the Commission which are being worked on by the European Parliament and the Council as co-legislators; 3. planned actions to deliver on the ideas proposed by the Conference; and 4. new initiatives or areas of work inspired by the proposals, falling within the remit of the Commission.

Some of these new proposals will be announced by our President, Ursula von der Leyen, at her State of the Union Address in September 2022 and will then appear in the Commission Work Programme for 2023. Others, we have already started to act upon and factored them into our ongoing work. This was the case with the Better Internet for Kids initiative that I launched last month as well as the European Health Data Space initiative. Both included measures inspired by the Recommendations from European Citizens’ Panels.

In order to complete the deliberative cycle, we will hold a feedback event in autumn, bringing together the citizens who participated in the Panels. There the 3 institutions will inform them about how we are implementing the Proposals. We will again engage in a debate with them to hear their views on this implementation and to explain how we are tackling the follow-up. This is a crucial innovation. But perhaps the most exciting outcome of all is that we have decided to embed deliberative democracy into the work of the European Commission. As announced by the President on 9 May and confirmed in our communication, every year we will submit a number of our initiatives to Citizens’ Panels. The deliberations of these Panels will be fed directly into these initiatives, adding a crucial new angle to the way in which we make policy in the Commission. I hope that this will also inspire others to introduce similar methods, because I am convinced that this not only works, but actually enriches our product as policy-makers and decision-takers.

Our future

The ideas and the deliberations that have emerged from this Conference underpin our shared commitment to build a better future and they represent a milestone in our democratic road. We have charted a new course and prepared new benchmarks hand-in-hand with citizens. It has strengthened the link, and hopefully the trust, between authorities at a local, regional and national level with their citizens. It has demonstrated the power of what can happen when they listen to each other. It connected people living all across our continent, from islands and rural areas, to those who reside in large cities. We had youngsters of 16 with experienced veterans of 87, showcasing intergenerational solidarity as a central theme throughout this process. It reinforced my fundamental objective: to leave no one behind.

The Conference on the Future of Europe leaves precious and indelible memories for all of us who had the privilege of participating in this unique journey. And the journey hasn’t always been easy, with the COVID-19 crisis hitting us hard and still very present, followed by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Yet, amid great challenges, we have proven that we can be flexible, agile, imaginative and able to move quickly and proactively. Collectively. This is how we reimagine the European dream. This is how we will continue to build our future and follow up on the proposals put forward.

I am resolved to keep moving forward and to continue nurturing a democracy fit for the present and the future.