Guy VERHOFSTADT and Dubravka ŠUICA, co-Chairs of the executive board of the CoFoE speak to the press after the end of the last plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

future of the European Union (T)

ŠUICA, Dubravka (EPP, HR, EC)

Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe

conference on the future of Europe (T)

Press point by Guy VERHOFSTADT and Dubravka ŠUICA, co-Chairs of the executive board of the CoFoE following the final plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe: Extracts

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka &#352;UICA, co- chair for COFOE , We already said everything. I'm really very touched today because this is a historic moment for a European democracy. You know that my portfolio is titled Democracy and Demography. So it's everything is about about it. And I'm more than happy because we engaged citizens as citizens, very engaged. And they really surprised me. All what they said went beyond my expectations. I never thought that citizens will be that interested. We heard that they said we are not politicians, but of course the interest is in their quality of their lives, quality, their standard and everything. So I'm really thankful to citizens first and then to all others

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, co- chair for COFOE , There was a lot of skepticism in the beginning of this whole process. I think one year to go and then with to the panels going on and the results of the panels and the recommendations of the citizens, everybody have seen that it was a very serious undertaking. And I think when you read the 325 proposals in 49 clusters in nine chapters, they are really a very promising way forward for the European Union and deep reform also for the for the Union. And that means that the real work starts now for the three institutions, for the Commission, for the Council, for the Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, Co chair for COFOE, And as I already announced yesterday in the debate, European Parliament will next week discuss a resolution on the follow up of the conference and if there is a majority for it to ask for a to large convention Article 48 of the treaty, because we think that many of the proposals in the in the conclusions of the citizens need such a reform. The way forward for the European Union. A deep reform. Parliament would make the objection that we are not looking for unanimity. You are making a confusion.