The debate of the plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe revolves primarily around the 90 recommendations by the Panels on ‘European democracy / Values and rights, rule of law, security’ and ‘Climate change, environment / Health’, and related recommendations from National Citizens’ Panels. Guy VERHOFSTADT, Co-Chair of the CoFoE and Daniel FREUND, Member of the Executive board of the CoFoE, react to the plenary debate and the contributions of the Citizens.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

future of the European Union (T)

FREUND, Daniel (Greens/EFA, DE)

conference on the future of Europe (T)

Conference on the Future of Europe: Atmosphere and Statements

Ambiance shot, time lapse chamber, Strasbourg, France, 22/01/2022, (1 shot)

Ambiance shots, arrival of participants in the chamber Strasbourg, France, 22/01/2022, (10 shots)

Internal shots, press and audiovisual ambiance, Strasbourg, France, 22/01/2022, (15 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, Co-Chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe, We received a lot of good recommendations by the Citizens, certainly on the issue of European democracy. They want to get rid of unanimity. They want a transnational democracy with transnational lists. They want to give the right of initiative to the European Parliament. But this parliament has not the right of initiative for the moment, and they want to change that. So they want also that this citizens' participation become something permanent in the future. And all this, I like it very much. Now the question is to convince all the institutions to go in that direction, but the pressure will be enormous. So this exercise is hugely important for the future of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, Co-Chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe, I think that it could be a good idea that every five years in and we do such an exercise, why not in the mid-term? So then you start with a new commission. This new commission has developed a number of policies and then I think it's a good moment to have this exercise and to do it every five years. So it will become a permanent mechanism of the union. And we will be the first big democracy in the world who is combining a representative democracy and participatory democracy. And I think that's a it's that is a good evolution.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel FREUND, Member of the Executive board of the Conference on the Future of Europe, Well, it's fantastic that finally, we're starting the debate on on on actual issues. We have the recommendations from citizens. So obviously this is when the actual debate starts. It's about time we have been for four months now in this conference and now it finally starts for real.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel FREUND, Member of the Executive board of the Conference on the Future of Europe, I think the most ambitious proposal that citizens have made is that for a new constitution for the European Union, I think out of the experience with with the past constitution that failed in referendums in France and Netherlands, it's it's particularly heartwarming to see that citizens still believe in this process. Huge majority of citizens from from all member states, all age old gender want another attempt to get an EU constitution. And I think we we should listen to that. We should do it and we should write a new constitution for the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel FREUND, Member of the Executive board of the Conference on the Future of Europe, I think if this conference becomes a success, if some of the recommendations are turned into reality, then I think the natural reaction will be that let's do that again. We have other big challenges that we that we need to resolve. Let's invite the citizens again and let them help us get to to a better future.