Tuesday

28th Nov 2023

Dozen EU states spell out 'Future of Europe' priorities

  • The opening events are expected to take place across Europe around Europe Day (9 May) (Photo: EC - Audiovisual Service)

A group of 12 member states have joined forces to water down the outcome of the long-awaited Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) - seen as a chance to have an inclusive dialogue with citizens about the way ahead for the EU.

In a position paper, distributed ahead of the General Affairs Council on Tuesday (23 March) and seen by EUobserver, the governments of Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden set out a list of common interests for the foreshortened 12-month event.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

These include topics such as the rule of law, the digital transition, the recovery from the pandemic, climate policies and migration challenges - all also part of the strategic agenda of the European Council.

However, reform of the existing legislative process and inter-institutional division of competences should be off the table for this group of countries, who argue that the conference "should not create legal obligations".

This sends a clear signal to the European Parliament - which has previously called for improvements to EU democracy ahead of the next European elections in 2024.

"When citizens engage in politics they rightfully expect a legislative outcome. Be it elections, or participating in the Conference Future of Europe," said MEP Daniel Freund from the Greens.

In their conclusions on the previous European elections, MEPs said that the CoFoE would be an opportunity to examine topics such as strengthening the lead candidate (Spitzenkandidaten) process, establishing a European Electoral Authority or creating transnational lists.

However, the member states' position paper explicitly excludes the possibility of treaty changes, arguing that "the Union framework offers potential to allow priorities to be addressed in an effective manner".

Until now, both the European Commission and MEPs had advocated for an "open and inclusive" discussion, without taboos.

This paper will also be sent to the conference executive board, after their first meeting takes place on Wednesday (24 March).

This is the body that will steer the everyday work of the event. It is co-chaired by the three main EU institutions (Parliament, Commission, Council), each having three representatives and up to four observers.

While there is no official agenda yet, their first meeting is expected to be focused on the launching of the digital platform designed to enable cross-border debates and the planning of events in member states.

Avoiding 'disappointment'

During an event last week at the European Policy Centre, the Estonian undersecretary for European affairs, Märt Volmer, said the executive board should come up with a clear framework of questions to allow concrete conclusions.

"The idea is to have this bottom-up approach in which the voice of people will be heard. If we do this, it is important that these voices reach somewhere. Otherwise, there will be a disappointment," he warned.

Fellow Slovak state secretary for European affairs, Martin Klus, also pointed out the need for tangible results. "It will be a huge disappointment if the conference is just a discussion," he warned.

The position paper of member states also underlines that "follow-up is important in order to demonstrate to citizens that their input is taken seriously".

The initial events are expected to take place across the bloc around Europe Day (9 May).

Although the conference was initially scheduled as a two-year event, the main EU institutions finally agreed that its conclusions should be reached by spring 2022 - a date set before the pandemic, suited to French president Emmanuel Macron, whose brainchild the conference largely was.

Opinion

'Future EU' conference: good idea, bad timing

Listening to European citizens should be a permanent and continuous process - not merely limited to one event which starts on 9 May 2021 and is to finish before the presidential elections in France in the spring of 2022.

Agenda

EU 'Future' Conference plus Covid recovery talks This WEEK

MEPs will give the green light for a more united EU health policy, a new investment plan, and debate the Covid recovery fund, which is yet to be unleashed. Lawmakers will also debate media freedom in Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia.

12-month Future EU Conference is 'impossible', expert warns

The debate about the much-delayed Conference on the Future of Europe so far has been locked in endless institutional infighting over who should lead the event - lowering the expectations about what can be achieved in the coming months.

Opinion

Why a shortened 'Future Europe' conference suits France

Convening citizens' panels and conducting multi-level debates on various policy topics in the timespan of one year, and under social-distancing restrictions, will be either impossible, or will boil the Conference on the Future of Europe down to a mere window-dressing.

Opinion

Time for EU to grow up as a democracy

Conference on the Future of Europe must address shortcomings in the EU model of 'dual democracy' and prevent backsliding in member states.

Analysis

How Wilders' Dutch extremism goes way beyond Islamophobia

Without losing sight of his pervasive Islamophobia, it is essential to note Geert Wilders' far-right extremism extends to other issues that could drastically alter the nature of Dutch politics — and end its often constructive role in advancing EU policies.

Latest News

  1. EU belittles Russia's Lavrov on way to Skopje talks
  2. Member states stall on EU ban on forced-labour products
  3. EU calls for increased fuel supplies into Gaza
  4. People-smuggling profits at historic high, EU concedes
  5. EU bets big on fossil hydrogen and carbon storage
  6. How centre-right conservatives capitulate to the far-right
  7. My experience trying to negotiate with Uber
  8. Key battlegrounds in EU's new media legislation

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  2. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  4. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  5. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  2. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  4. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  5. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  6. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us