The Conference on the Future of Europe opened in Strasbourg on 9 May 2021. Its aim is to create a new dynamic for the EU, by better organizing and filling any institutional gaps that are currently presented, so that young people can turn more interest to it. The conclusions of the Conference will be published in the first half of 2012.
The protagonists
A leading role in the “Conference on the Future of Europe” is played by French President Emmanuel Macron and on a second background by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi having a great deal of experience and prestige to lead the Conference on the right path.
Emmanuel Macron’s position is that a new collective commitment should be made today so that, based on the conclusions of this Conference, the member countries can proceed with the reform of Europe.
The Liberal group led by former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Maurice Marie-Louise Verhofstadt is in favour of EU federalisation (something the editorial team of The Liberal Globe strongly supports). On the other hand, the governments of 12 member countries (Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, etc.) have made it clear that they will not accept a change in the EU Treaties at the end of the Conference.
The process
The new element in the process to be followed is the participation of citizens in various events and their participation in the dialogue through a special platform (https://futureu.europa.eu ). The greatest possible participation of citizens will also be the criterion, which will determine the success of the whole project starting from the bottom and not from the top (governments-member countries).
An ‘Executive Committee’ was set up, consisting of Guy Maurice Marie-Louise Verhofstadt, the Portuguese Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacharias and the Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography Dubrava Suica, from Croatia.
In addition, a conference on the ‘Conference on the Future of Europe’ was set up. It includes 108 MEPs, 54 representatives of the member countries, 3 of the Commission, 108 Members of the National Parliaments and representatives of trade unions and NGOs, as well as citizens who will have a role in expressing the views of the grassroots.
It was agreed that there should be no binding agenda and that issues should be dealt with on a consensual basis.
The Target
This is a profoundly serious activity which aims to replace all the Treaties so far with a text and to pave the way for the gradual political unification of Europe.
The European Constitution must be created and adopted for the EU to have an enhanced role in the world.
The rejection of the European Constitution (2005) in a referendum by France and the Netherlands created an insurmountable political vacuum that acts as a brake on the EU to better deal with crises.
The indirect road
Since European public opinion has not been formed, European issues of enormous importance are judged by internal political criteria, and the right environment is created to strengthen the anti-systemic vote.
The indirect path is known to EU leaders. He is the one they adopted to reach the Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty of Lisbon was based on the amendment of the Treaty of Rome and the Maastricht Treaty, without the need to adopt it in the form of an ambitious European Constitution.
Changes adopted
- Abolition of unanimity and decision-making based on qualified majority voting on at least 45 issues.
- Establishment as President of the European Council and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
- Strengthening the powers of the European Parliament.
- The Charter of Fundamental Rights has been adopted. Recognition of a member country’s right to leave the EU in accordance with the appropriate procedure.
The EU’s mistakes are that it uses its past to make its own decisions without considering the other big players USA, Russia, China. We hope that the conclusions of this Conference will provide the right solution for a stronger European future.
