Conference on the Future of Europe. Report on the Final Outcome

Summary:

In March 2021, representatives from each European Union (EU) institution signed the Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe. Their pledge was simple: to allow, by way of a citizens-focused, bottom-up exercise, all Europeans to have a say on what they expect from the EU and have a greater role in shaping its future. Their task was, by contrast, immensely challenging: the organisation, for the first time, of a transnational, multilingual and interinstitutional exercise of deliberative democracy, involving thousands of European citizens as well as political actors, social partners, civil society representatives and key stakeholders in accordance with article 16 of the Conference Rules of Procedure.

On 9 May 2022, after months of intense deliberations, the Conference concluded its work, putting forward a report on the final outcome that includes 49 proposals to the three EU Institutions. The proposals reflect the expectations of European citizens on nine topics: A stronger economy, social justice and jobs; Education, culture, youth and sport; Digital transformation; European democracy; Values and rights, rule of law, security; Climate change, environment; Health; EU in the world; and Migration. All of them are presented in this final report, which also aims to provide an overview of the various activities undertaken in the context of the unique process that the Conference on the Future of Europe has been.

Steered by three Co-Chairs and driven by an Executive Board, the Conference has constituted an unprecedented experience of transnational deliberative democracy. It has also proven its historical relevance and importance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian aggression of Ukraine. The Conference on the Future of Europe involved the establishment of the Conference’s Rules of Procedure on 9 May 2021, the setting up of a Multilingual Digital Platform allowing European citizens to contribute in 24 EU languages, and the organisation of four European Citizens’ Panels, six National Citizens’ Panels, thousands of national and local events as well as seven Conference Plenaries.

It is the result of unparalleled determination from the EU institutions, the Member States, but also and above all from European citizens, to debate the European Union’s challenges and priorities and to introduce a new approach to the European project. But this is only the beginning. In line with the founding text of the Conference, the three Institutions will now examine swiftly how to follow up effectively on this report, each within the framework of their competences and in accordance with the Treaties. The three Institutions’ commitment in this regard is paramount.

Further information:

The event held on 9 May 2022 to mark the conclusion of the CoFoE also comprised an intervention by French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he set out a vision for a two-tier Europe to incorporate different degrees of political integration - the so-called European Political Community (EPC).

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Commentary and Analysis

Deutsche Welle, 08/05/2022: EU citizens are full of hope for the future of Europe https://p.dw.com/p/4AsDG

Politico, 08/05/2022: The EU spent months and millions asking for people’s thoughts. Will it listen to them? https://www.politico.eu/article/inside-the-eus-costly-all-inclusive-winter-breaks-to-discuss-the-future-of-europe/

EurActiv: Opinion, 09/05/2022: SGI Europe: The EU institutions need to deliver on the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/opinion/sgi-europe-the-eu-institutions-need-to-deliver-on-the-outcomes-of-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe/

The Irish Times: Opinion, 09/05/2022: The Irish Times view on the future of Europe: big dreams, big divisions https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-the-future-of-europe-big-dreams-big-divisions-1.4874055

Open Access Government, 10/05/2022: Citizens propose future biotechnology solutions come from EU https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/citizens-propose-future-biotechnology-solutions-come-from-eu/135331/

ERR News, 10/05/2022: Expert: Macron's latest Europe offer a no go for either Ukraine or Estonia https://news.err.ee/1608592294/expert-macron-s-latest-europe-offer-a-no-go-for-either-ukraine-or-estonia

Euro|topics, May 2022: Europe Day: controversy over proposed reforms https://www.eurotopics.net/en/281261/

Euronews, 11/05/2022: What do we know about Macron's idea for a two-tier Europe? https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/05/11/what-do-we-know-about-macron-s-idea-for-a-two-tier-europe

The New Statesman, 10/05/2022: Is Macron’s “multispeed Europe” the future of the EU? https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2022/05/is-macrons-multispeed-europe-the-future-of-the-eu

The Local (France): Analysis, 11/05/2022: Can Macron’s plan for a ‘wider Europe’ actually work? https://www.thelocal.fr/20220511/analysis-can-macrons-plan-for-a-wider-europe-actually-work/

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): In Brief, 12/05/2022: The good, the bad and the ugly of the Conference on the Future of Europe https://www.ceps.eu/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe/

Carnegie Europe: Article, 12/05/2022: EU Democracy After the Conference on the Future of Europe https://carnegieeurope.eu/2022/05/12/eu-democracy-after-conference-on-future-of-europe-pub-87110

European University Institute (EUI): Transnational Democracy Blog, 16/05/2022: Conference on the Future of Europe and citizens’ participation: what’s new? https://blogs.eui.eu/transnational-democracy/powered-by-wolfgang-petzold/

UK House of Commons: Library Research Briefing No 9551, 19/05/2022: The Conference on the Future of Europe: proposals and next steps https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9551/

Institute of International & European Affairs (IIEA): Blog, 31/05/2022: ‘Can Anyone Hear Us?’ - Reflections on the Conference on the Future of Europe https://www.iiea.com/blog/can-anyone-hear-us-reflections-on-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe

Social Europe, 31/05/2022: Does the future of Europe include disability? https://socialeurope.eu/does-the-future-of-europe-include-disability

Democratic Society: Blog, 05/06/2022: End of the Conference on the Future of Europe, beginning of a Europe for all? https://www.demsoc.org/blog/europe-day-2022-end-of-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe-but-the-beginning-of-a-europe-for-all-europeans

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News

Deutsche Welle, 09/05/2022: EU leaders tell Ukraine: 'Future of Europe is also your future' https://p.dw.com/p/4B0uf

Times of Malta, 09/05/2022: EU's Conference on the Future of Europe ends https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/eus-conference-on-the-future-of-europe-ends.953650

Euronews, 09/05/2022: Von der Leyen backs ending unanimous voting in some areas of EU https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/05/09/von-der-leyen-backs-ending-unanimous-voting-in-some-areas-of-eu

France24, 09/05/2022: Macron calls for ‘European political community’ that could include Ukraine, UK https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220509-macron-calls-for-european-political-community-that-could-include-ukraine-uk

Reuters, 09/05/2022: Europeans want fairer, greener, more agile EU, report says https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/europeans-want-fairer-greener-more-agile-eu-report-2022-05-09/

EurActiv, 09/05/2022: Macron teases alternative to EU enlargement https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macron-teases-alternative-to-eu-enlargement/

The Guardian, 09/05/2022: Macron calls for new European body and warns Ukraine of EU wait https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/09/macron-calls-for-new-european-body-and-warns-ukraine-of-eu-wait

Le Monde, 09/05/2022: Macron calls for creation of 'European political community' to help countries like Ukraine join EU https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2022/05/09/macron-calls-for-creation-of-european-political-community-to-help-countries-like-ukraine-join-eu_5982908_7.html

Politico, 09/05/2022: Macron floats European ‘community’ open to Ukraine and UK https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-proposes-european-political-community-as-alternative-to-eu-membership/

Reuters, 09/05/2022: In wink to Ukraine and Britain, Macron suggests new European entity https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wink-ukraine-britain-macron-suggests-new-european-entity-2022-05-09/

RFE/RL, 09/05/2022: Ukraine EU Membership Decades Away, Macron Says, Proposes 'Political Community' For Aspiring Countries https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-vonderleyen-ukraine-membership/31841319.html

BBC News, 10/05/2022: Ukraine bid to join EU will take decades says Macron https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61383632

France24, 10/05/2022: Doubts emerge over Macron's proposal for new EU 'community' of aspiring states https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220510-doubts-emerge-over-macron-s-proposal-for-new-eu-community-of-aspiring-states

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Official

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: Conference on the Future of Europe https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push-european-democracy/conference-future-europe_en

European Parliament: Press Release, 09/05/2022: Metsola: This is the moment to answer Europe’s call https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220509IPR29127/

European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen at the closing event of the Conference on the Future of Europe (9 May 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_2944

European Commission: Questions and Answers – Conference on the Future of Europe (9 May 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_2863

French Presidency (Élysée): Actualités, 09/05/2022: Clôture de la Conférence sur l'avenir de l'Europe https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2022/05/09/cloture-de-la-conference-sur-avenir-de-europe

Renew Europe EP Group: News, 09/05/2022: This Europe Day is an opportunity to continue working for the future of the EU https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2022-05-09/this-europe-day-is-an-opportunity-to-continue-working-for-the-future-of-the-eu

European Parliament: Press Release, 10/05/2022: The Conference on the Future of Europe concludes its work https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220509IPR29102/

GUE/NGL EP Group: News, 10/05/2022: The future EU must be social, ecological & democratic - COFOE https://left.eu/the-future-eu-must-be-social-ecological-democratic-cofoe/

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ESO Records

Information Guide on the Conference on the Future of Europe https://www.europeansources.info/record/conference-on-the-future-of-europe-2020-2022/

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