Future EU Archives
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Germany calls for Western Balkan enlargement, abolition of unanimity
Germany wants to use the Conference on the Future of Europe as a starting point to further develop the EU, possibly change treaties and abolish unanimity decision-making for EU foreign policy matters.
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Ukraine war puts EU ‘at crossroads’ on anniversary
As the EU poises to mark its anniversary on Monday (9 May), it is morphing into a more muscular global actor, a transformation accelerated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Commitment to European project takes center stage at CoFoE Spain
A sense of commitment to the European project was the main theme in proposals presented at the conclusion of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) forum on Friday (6 May), organized by Spain’s EFE news agency in collaboration …
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MEPs support treaty changes to reform EU
Members of European Parliament passed a resolution on Wednesday (4 May) supporting the outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe and changing EU treaties to facilitate the implementation of citizens' proposals.
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Hijacked Europe: downward spiral or return to the roots
The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) has done little to bring the EU closer to its citizens and is solely concerned with increasing the EU's competences, writes Janusz Saryusz-Wolski.
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All good things come in … four? Why the new draft on the European electoral act should be supported
Next week, the European Parliament (EP) will vote on a new European Electoral Law. It is likely to be a historic vote, as unlike the previous three attempts (1998, 2011 and 2018), this time the EP might actually decide in favour of the introduction of transnational lists and a more harmonised European electoral law.
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Citizens must be at the forefront of the CoFoE follow-up
Citizens must be actively involved in the process of implementing the CoFoE proposals, according to Antonis Kourras, member of the Conference Citizens’ Panels.
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War in Ukraine highlights need for EU reform with citizen participation
As Russia's war in Ukraine rages on, the need to reform the EU and take citizens' voices into account has become more apparent, according to politicians involved in the Conference on the Future of Europe.
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Time for the United States of Europe!
We European citizens are scared by the return of war at the heart of Europe. The Russian invasion of Ukraine exposes the weaknesses and dependencies of the European Union and its member states, and their inability to project peace and …
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Macron on the lookout for France’s first ‘climate’ prime minister
Re-elected President Emmanuel Macron will, as promised, soon name his new Prime Minister in charge of "ecological planning", though with the legislative election just around the corner, the cards could soon be reshuffled. EURACTIV France reports.
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ANALYSIS-Win or lose, Le Pen’s nationalism is already changing Europe
‘Frexit’ may be off the menu offered by Marine Le Pen ahead of Sunday’s crucial presidential run-off against incumbent Emmanuel Macron but the threat of a seismic shift to France’s position in Europe looms large ahead of polling day.
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Cross-border regions suffering from the health crisis
The unilateral closing of the border between France and Germany from March to June 2020, decided by the German government without any consultation with the French regional and national authorities, has been experienced as a traumatic moment, amplified by the mistrust and hostility that has developed among citizens on both sides of the border.
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Le Pen’s U-turn on EU policy is proving difficult to sell
France's far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen insists she wants to remain in the EU and "deeply" reform it despite accusations that her programme is just a veiled "Frexit". EURACTIV France reports.
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Czech expert: EU treaty change unlikely after Conference on the Future of Europe
The Conference on the Future of Europe will not lead to changes in the EU’s treaties because there is no consensus among member states for this, a Czech expert told EURACTIV.cz. The conference is a unique exercise allowing European citizens to …
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Over 10% of citizen proposals on EU’s future require treaty changes, expert says
Twelve per cent of European citizens’ proposals as a part of the conference on the Future of Europe require a treaty change if they are to be implemented, according to an EU law expert.
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Le Pen’s softened stance on Frexit is just talk
French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has softened her stance on France's possible exit from the EU but her programme for the country, if elected, suggests otherwise.
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Letta for a federal Europe
In an essay published by the Italian newspaper Il Foglio Enrico Letta, Secretary of the Democratic Party and former Italian PM, proposes a reform of the Treaties to create seven unions and build a federal Europe.
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‘Ever Closer’ Union or ‘Ever Stronger’ Union?
The 1648 Westphalia treaty stipulated that each state could choose its own religion and others would not interfere in its internal matters. This Westphalian approach is a way to live in peace and harmony with distant partners and among ourselves, writes Žiga Turk.
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CoFoE: Time to deliver on your promises to young people
Securing the future of youth in the EU has emerged as one of the big topics in the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE). The European Youth Forum presents how the Conference organisers can act on citizens’ recommendations and …
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Employers’ representative: EU needs competitiveness check, not minimum wage directive
An EU directive on minimum wages "risks undermining collective bargaining and adding up complexities to the recovery and the resilience of the EU economy", Stefano Mallia, who represents employers in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), told EURACTIV.
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Citizens criticise lack of political interest in bloc-wide democracy experiment
Representatives of EU citizens panels at the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) asked politicians to take meetings more seriously, noting that the majority did not turn up to the last plenary session, according to a letter seen by EURACTIV.
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Political lessons from the latest Hungarian elections
Any political strategy to counter the Orbán system in Hungary must seriously take into consideration and address the roots and narratives of its “success”, writes Peter Hefele.
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We need a genuine union of European citizens that includes Ukraine
Interview with Marta Barandiy, founder of civil society network Promote Ukraine and editor-in-chief of Brussels Ukraїna Review, and Maryna Yaroshevych, head of advocacy at Promote Ukraine The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) is the opportunity for the EU to …
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What the people want
A wave of support for health initiatives washed over the EU following COVID-19. Citizens’ recommendations formed in the Conference of the Future of Europe (CoFoE), which has now entered its final phase, are an attempt to consolidate this momentum.