About: Conference on the Future of Europe
Social inequalities overtake climate change in EU citizens’ concerns – poll
Reducing poverty and social inequality has become the main policy priority for EU citizens after the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey commissioned by the European Parliament has shown.
Appointment with history
Crises boost EU integration: an unprecedented budget, common bonds, border guards in EU uniforms. But EU parliamentary democracy is lagging far behind and the European Parliament should defend democratic oversight. If it shies away from using its powers, it will lose them, writes Sophie in ‘t Veld.
Boosting EU’s democratic legitimacy: Parliament seeks electoral reforms
In a new European Parliament resolution, adopted this week, EU lawmakers called for reforms, including lowering the voting age, transnational lists, and gender balance rules, ahead of the next European elections in 2024.
Member states stymying debate on EU’s future, says MEP
After the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the Conference on the Future of Europe, a two-year soul-searching exercise aimed at reforming the EU after Brexit, onto the back-burner, the recovery from the health crisis could present a new opportunity, Socialist MEP Gabriele...
We need to talk about the future of Europe
Our online world lends itself well to a conversation with citizens about the future of Europe. And yet, European leaders have so far failed to reach agreement, even on who should chair the long promised Conference on the Future of Europe, writes Roger Casale.
Volt MEP: Abolishing unanimity is key to making the EU more effective
The coronavirus crisis has once again shown that reforms of "the basic structure" of the EU are necessary, including abolishing unanimity in the European Council, to strengthen the EU's ability to act, German MEP Damian Boeselager (Volt) told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
Time for governments to listen to their European citizens
Amid the range of appeals and open letters on the policy-changes need to combat the coronavirus, one constant is that all are demanding an effective common EU response to the pandemic, writes Roberto Castaldi.
After the pandemic: How to use Conference on Future of Europe to rethink society
From financial problems to migration and Brexit, the European Union has faced multiple challenges so far. Nowadays, Europe is being hard-hit by another “black swan” – the COVID-19 pandemic. How can the EU learn from its mistakes in order to better face future unpredictable crises, asks Nicolae Stefanuta.
Let millions of EU citizens engage on the Conference on the Future of Europe
The EU is at a crucial turning point, it is now vital to give citizens the opportunity to take ownership of its project, Axel Dauchez writes ahead of the launch of the Conference on the future of Europe.
New EU regions president: ‘Citizens feel left out from the European process’
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EPP), the governor of Central Macedonia (Greece), has been elected as the new president of the European Committee of the Regions. He talked to EURACTIV about his main priorities, which include a bottom-up approach to shaping European policies as the only way to overcome the "democratic deficit".
A ‘Conference on the future of EU’, what next? EU elections 2024
For the moment, no one is talking about the ratification of a possible new treaty following the Conference on European Reform. To avoid failure and to engage citizens, the EU's institutions must be made to work according to the principles of representative democracy, and treaty reform must be the central issue at stake in the European elections of 2024, write Giorgio Clarotti, Oliver Costa and Christophe Leclercq.
Parliament kicks off debate on the Future of Europe conference
The European Parliament launched on Wednesday (15 January) the debate on the Future of Europe conference, expected to begin in May, and outlined its position ahead of talks with the Commission and Council.