Future EU
A new phase for the European project
The European Union must assert itself as a full-fledged political entity with economic, social, cultural dimensions and take internal and external actions that are decided democratically by its own citizens, writes Maria Joao Rodrigues.
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – Janša’s alternative vision
Slovenian premier Janez Janša is hardly likely to make the shortlist of poster boys for EU integration. Yet thanks to the vagaries of the bloc’s six-month rotating EU Council presidency, the Future of Europe Conference, launched in May, will sit in his hands, and overactive Twitter account, from July until the end of the year.
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – God is a concept
The EU has started discussing its future. Our take is that in order to be able to project itself in time and space, the EU needs to be at peace with itself and that most specifically includes its Christian roots...
A moment of truth for European political parties
European political parties are largely ignored but they have vast untapped potential to play a major role in EU decision making and in giving the EU more democratic legitimacy, argue Alina Bârgăoanu and Dan Luca.
A time to reflect
The European Parliament has begun a much needed reflection process with a view to updating the way that the institution works, writes David Sassoli.
The Robin Hood of Brussels should go away
There are many advantages in the EU becoming more financially independent of the member states, write Jakub Kučera and Lukáš Rejzek.
Time to rethink EU democracy
To regain people’s trust in democracy, we need to fundamentally revisit the way our democracies work. The Conference on the Future of Europe is a chance to update the way Brussels does politics, write Guy Verhofstadt and Dacian Cioloș.
The New European Bauhaus must transform beauty into public good
To realise its potential to help Europeans live "beautifully, sustainably, together," the Commission needs to prioritise beauty as a European public good supported by adequate investment, maximum societal participation and a comprehensive policy framework, argues Vadim Kononenko.
Long odds on a successful conference
There is a parallel between the position in which the European Union is today and that in which Ireland found itself in 2001 following the rejection of the Nice Treaty in a referendum, writes Dick Roche, commenting on the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Federalists: Conference on the Future of Europe could kickstart EU reform
Like the Schuman Declaration in 1950, the Conference on the Future of Europe could pave the way for a reform of the EU, the Spinelli Group – which gathers federalist MEPs and national parliamentarians – with the Union of European...
Conference on the Future of Europe: Promises and pitfalls
Given the disparate views, interests and risk perceptions among the twenty-seven EU countries, far-reaching innovations to be introduced by the Conference on the Future of Europe appear unlikely, writes Michel Leigh.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Come taste Europe
The Conference on the Future of Europe was launched on 9 May, without fireworks. Come to think of it, it's probably better this way.
Entrusting Europe’s future to its citizens
The EU is at a crossroads and must overhaul its decision-making and implementation methods, argue Guillaume Klossa and Francesca Ratti.
Suica: There will be no taboos in dialogue with EU citizens
Ahead of the Conference on the Future of Europe, a year-long dialogue with EU citizens that kicked off on Sunday (9 May, Europe Day), EURACTIV Croatia spoke to the European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica, in charge of the conference organisation, about the overall objectives, and expectations.
A global Europe in action
The Conference on the Future of Europe can catalyse much-needed reflection on how to revamp the EU’s external action. But, most importantly, if the EU wants to secure its position as a top-tier geopolitical player, it should overcome self-doubt and learn by doing, writes Javier Solana.
Democracies, including EU, need better functioning, better results
The Conference on the Future of Europe is an exercise in democracy, and at the same time, the main theme of the Conference is European democracy. But the problem is broader: democracy itself is in crisis, write Herman Van Rompuy and Žiga Turk.
The Brief, powered by VDMA – Do away with the elites
Twenty years ago, the EU thought that a patrician, former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, was best placed to chair discussions on its reform. For good measure, Giscard’s two vice-chairs were both former prime ministers.
Merkel open to EU treaty change to boost health powers
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday (21 April) that the European Union needs more power to coordinate the bloc's response to health crises like the coronavirus pandemic, and did not rule out a treaty change to secure them.
The Brief, powered by VDMA – Facebook 2.0 for the Future of Europe?
Key EU officials presented today a multilingual digital platform for the Conference on the Future of Europe, a massive event that will be launched officially on Europe Day (or should we say Saint Schuman Day) on 9 May.
EU institutions launch online platform of Conference on the Future of Europe
Top EU officials launched on Monday (19 April) a multilingual digital platform of the Conference on the Future of Europe, a year-long democracy exercise meant to involve Europeans in shaping the future direction of the bloc.
Launch event of EU reform conference will be online focused, says Commissioner
The event formally launching the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May is set to be a ‘hybrid’ of online and physical participation because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the EU Commissioner tasked with guiding the process said on Thursday (15 April).
The age of permacrisis
Despite the fatigue with the pandemic and the longing for stability and predictability, Europe has entered the age of ‘permacrisis’, in which volatility, uncertainty, and a prolonged sense of emergency have become the new normal, argue Ricardo Borges de Castro, Fabian Zuleeg and Janis A. Emmanouilidis.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Michel’s musical chairs
European Council President Charles Michel missed a few good chances in Ankara. But despite his apology tour, where he tried to frame the 'Sofagate' incident as a diplomatic snub rather than a sexist move towards a female leader, this musical chair mishap will mark his mandate, which is up for evaluation in less than a year.