Beginning in Strasbourg, European capital "of soul and heart", of the Conference on the future of Europe
Young people run on a giant European flag, in Strasbourg, near the European Parliament (photo illustration).
© FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Emmanuel Macron arrived this Sunday, May 9 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
It has not met in plenary session for more than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With several European leaders, the French president officially launched the “Conference on the future of Europe”.
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With our special
envoys ,
Anastasia Becchio and Valérie Gas
In a Strasbourg hemicycle which has undergone some transformations for the occasion, a round stage has been installed, surrounded by giant screens, leaving a good part of the 750 seats of deputies outside this circle. And for good reason, the European parliamentarians were not invited. It has been 15 months since this hemicycle hosted a plenary session, most of the parliamentary work being done in Brussels, to the chagrin of the French authorities. And besides, we are far today from the effervescence that reigns on session days.
Immediately after his arrival, Emmanuel Macron met with the President of Parliament, David Sassoli.
In an interview with
Latest News from Alsace
, the Head of State declared that “
If Brussels
(was)
the capital of the offices of Europe, Strasbourg
(was)
the capital of his soul and his heart: where we believe it, where we defend our values
”.
The French President delivers the opening speech, followed by those of the President of Parliament, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, whose country currently chairs the EU, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"
Fast and strong recovery of European activity in Strasbourg
"
Emmanuel Macron promises to plead for a "
quick and strong resumption of European activity in Strasbourg
" where many sessions have not been able to be held in Parliament for a year due to the Covid-19 epidemic. The president wants to turn the page on the pandemic and therefore open a new chapter with the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe which is being organized in Parliament today on a symbolic date, that of Europe Day , May 9.
After the inauguration speeches, an exchange with the citizens is planned, a format that Emmanuel Macron particularly appreciates. And in the coming months, consultations will be carried out at European level, in particular
via
a platform launched to collect citizens' proposals. Objective: to make recommendations on the future of Europe. In France, the Head of State also wants to launch a cycle of consultations from September 2021 with citizens drawn by lot. A formula that recalls that of the Climate Conference. And it is from these consultations that the French contribution will emerge.
Emmanuel Macron is entering a very European sequence which aims to prepare for the French presidency of the Union at the beginning of the year 2022, just before the presidential election.
And he intends to arrive with a dynamic so that Europe becomes closer to citizens, and therefore more attractive in a presidential program.
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To read also: Conference on the future of Europe: French President Emmanuel Macron eagerly awaited in Strasbourg
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