Get involved with the Conference on the Future of Europe!
Citizens are being encouraged to take part in the European Union’s Conference on the Future of Europe, where they can engage in an open debate on the challenges Europe is facing, and how we can shape our future together.
The conference was launched on 9 May to coincide with Europe Day. Regional and local leaders were invited to contribute by joining the European Network of Regional and Local EU Councillors. The network was created by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and other key stakeholders.
Through this initiative, the CoR will request that all regional and local councils across the EU Member States nominate one of their members as a dedicated Councillor for EU Affairs. Alongside this, the CoR plans to work with councils to:
- Share citizens’ views in the conference;
- Organise dialogues involving citizens and their communities across the EU;
- Hold political debates in local and regional assemblies;
- Build a common vision for the EU, which will be discussed and adopted at the Summit of Regions and Cities in Marseille in 2022.
An open letter was created and endorsed calling on local and regional leaders to contribute to the conference, and this outlines the CoR’s action plan.
President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said:
"We need to relaunch the European project by enhancing its democratic functioning. I see our 'House of European Democracy' as having solid foundations - the regional and local authorities - strong walls - the Member States - and a protective roof - the EU. The Conference offers a unique opportunity to strengthen it, but can only work if it goes beyond Brussels and the capitals. Local and regional authorities are the best allies the Union could have to make the Conference a success. Now more than ever, we must seize this opportunity to restart and bring together Europe closer to its people."
Find out more by reading the open letter here.
