As the Conference on the Future of Europe approaches its conclusion, MEPs assess its Plenary’s recommendations and the overall process in a debate. They stress that the process to change the EU’s founding documents should be activated in order to endow the EU with the competences to act on the proposed new policy areas. Extracts from the debate (03/05) and from the vote.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

RANGEL, Paulo (EPP, PT)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

LAPORTE, Hélène (ID, FR)

FREUND, Daniel (Greens/EFA, DE)

HOOGEVEEN, Michiel (ECR, NL)

The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe: extracts from the debate (03/05) and from the vote

Title: The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe: extracts from the debate (I-224530)

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), It's absolutely clear that the Conference on the future of Europe was a great success. It has been a success, but continues to be success because the conference doesn't end here. There's a follow up to use the English term. Following the conference call for a Convention on EU Treaty revision. Some aspects will not require treaty revision, but others will require this treaty change.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), And this is why the European Parliament should propose that a Convention be held so that we can follow up on the recommendations that have come from the citizens and that we can work on draufting a European treaty that will be fit for the decades to come.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), Citizens want to shift towards a more inclusive EU, which is more sustainable and more resilient, where green and digital transitions are possible but with a social dimension. We want a renewed social compact and the proposals focus on overhauling the EU and improving the welfare of the people, human progress, without exhausting our resources, without destroying our planet.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to strengthen our EU and to turn these proposals into a reality. The time has come to set up a real social Europe. Citizens are clamouring for stronger rights for young people, children, they want a minimum income, social dialogue and a beefed up collective bargaining.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), There are a number of topics that require require treaty change. When you talk about the health union. To make it to chair conference, you need a treaty change that was also in the recommendation of the citizens. When you want a real energy union, you need to a change of the treaties. Because an energy union, we don't have one. We have not one energy mix that is decided on European level. We don't have a common purchase of energy decided on the European level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), So therefore, we need also a change. When you want to end unanimity in a lot of areas, you need to change when you want to give the right of initiative, the European Parliament, you need a change. So I think it's obvious that the only way to be true to the conclusions of the Conference is to call for a Convention.

SOUNDBITE (German), Daniel FREUND (Greens/EFA, DE), We carried out the largest ever democratic experiment. We got 800 European citizens to come in and talk to us about the policies that they wish for Europe. What came out of this? They want to get rid of national vetoes. They would like to see transnational lists for European elections, they want European citizenship.

SOUNDBITE (German), Daniel FREUND (Greens/EFA, DE), And they want Europe not to be in the hands of corrupt autocrats, they want transparency in Europe, and that that's not some sort of federalist conspiracy theory. It's simply what citizens want. 70, 80, 90% support from citizens for these proposals that were tabled.

SOUNDBITE (French), Hélène LAPORTE (ID, FR), We wanted to include all political forces. We didn't want the conclusions to be a foregone conclusion and written before. And we wanted the results to be put to a referendum. That's what ID group wanted. But this wasn't done.

SOUNDBITE (English), Michiel HOOGEVEEN (ECR, NL), The Conference on the Future of Europe was an interesting experiment, however, used to legitimise a predetermined outcome. The ideas on a digital platform barely used, the representatives of the National Citizens Panel's outspoken views in favour of EU integration. Don't take my word for it. Ask Professor David Frum, a renowned expert on citizen participation. He called the Conference, and I quote, "amateuristic and not representative".

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Announcement of the results of the vote