A participatory exercise begun in the midst of a pandemic and overtaken by the war in Ukraine, the Conference on the Future of Europe has apparently lacked visibility and some are already doubting real changes for the European Union.
The @Europarl_en rejected the idea to test the "conclusions" of the #CoFoE in a detailed opinion poll in each Member State.
This begs the question: are those MEPs afraid of an independent, objective process that they can't control and monitor?
pic.twitter.com/3P5GhhTmJD
— ECR Group (@ecrgroup) May 9, 2022
The 800 citizens drawn by lot, the national citizens' panels and the European institutions have, among other things, proposed lowering the voting age in the European elections to 16, holding regular citizens' assemblies or redirecting subsidies towards organic farming.
#CoFoE #Assessment;
@allegretto70 suggests a #permanent #CommonSecretariat for the #EU
Interesting proposal pic.twitter.com/PPNNWI4sKd
— Yago Bermejo Abati (@iacocoba) June 10, 2022
Among the proposals made on 9 May is also the end of the right of veto in decision-making in the Council, the establishment of a qualified majority and the idea of granting the right of initiative on European laws to the European Parliament.
These last measures would therefore require a revision of the European treaties, which is however largely absent from the report.
Desired by MEPs, who voted for a resolution in favor of this revision on May 4, this does not appear in the paragraph devoted to the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, have also shown themselves in favor.
But 13 countries are opposed to it, calling for caution about "ill-considered and premature" reform of the treaties.
Even if the triggering of a revision depends on a simple majority, the heads of state do not want to force through.
Great news!
Thirteen countries reject the Federalists' call for a new European Convention, and reject changes to the EU Treaties!
A strong reminder on #EuropeDay that the EU belongs to its member states.
Not the other way around.
#CoFoE https://t.co/3koQTaDUGW
— Michiel Hoogeveen (@MPHoogeveen) May 9, 2022
These debates aside, it is now up to the European institutions to examine the proposals and give concrete action as soon as possible.
The Council began an in-depth analysis of the proposals adopted and the leaders of the 27 examined the results during the European Council meeting on 23 and 24 June.
Their remarks disappointed many Conference participants.
#EUCO Conclusions on #CoFoE are a disappointment, considering what the other institutions are already doing for the follow up of the final report!
#TheFutureIsYours pic.twitter.com/lMHUmLJAmJ
— Vassilis Antoniou (@Vassilis_007) June 24, 2022
#CoFoE has delivered.
The EP called for a Convention.
#EUCO limits itself to "tak[ing] note of the proposals" & to stating that "an effective follow-up […] is to be ensured" of which "citizens are informed".
No response to the EP's call.
No reaction to the proposals.
Congrats… pic.twitter.com/o4ouD22ntR
— Daniela Heimpel (@D_Heimpel) June 24, 2022
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