What sort of European Union do we want to see in the future? What is working well in the EU and what could be improved? These are just two examples of the kind of questions that the European citizens' panels, part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, will have to answer. The Conference on the Future of Europe marks the first time in the history of the EU that citizens have been included in a consultative process in such a structural and innovative manner. There are four European Citizens' Panels, each of them comprising 200 citizens and ensuring that at least one female and one male citizen per Member State is included. Citizens were chosen randomly to ensure that they are representative of the EU's diversity, in terms of geographic origin, gender, age, socioeconomic background and level of education. Young people between 16 an 25 will make up one-third of each panel.

Strasbourg

meeting

conference on the future of Europe (T)

european citizens' panel (T)

Conference on the Future of Europe - Citizens' panel : statements by participating citizens

SOUNDBITE (Danish), Karsten, Citizen, My name is Karsten, I come from Denmark. I'm from 1938.  I thought it was wild to bring such an old man to something like that. But I did it out of curiosity. I hope, of course, that being in here will mean something to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I've probably lived most of my life on this earth, but my children and grandchildren should like to enjoy what we're doing here.

SOUNDBITE (Czech), Lenka, Citizen, Hello my name is Lenka and I am from the Czech Republic. I was invited to this conference and I decided to accept because it is simply an offer that is not really refused and I see it as. A great opportunity, as an ordinary citizen of the European Union, to take part in this and say my opinion, and I know that my point of view will be heard and can really make a difference. With regard to visions for Europe's future, I wish Europe would be less bureaucratic to be closer to ordinary citizens and to address the most pressing problems of today's times, we need to protect the environment

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Filipe, Citizen, My name is Felipe from Portugal. I think Europe is a project of humanity by humanity and I would like it not to get lost and continue to write if I had stronger it turns out to be the same. I would like Europe to have fewer and fewer mental borders

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Alexandra, Citizen, I am Alexandra from Budapest from Hungary. I am 24 years old and I am currently working in a multinational company in the role of quality management. There were a number of reasons why I accepted this weekend. I am very interested in this topic and in politics, as well as in the future of Europe.On the other hand, I wanted to say my opinion that in the meantime, people know that we don't always belong to the opinion of one nation, we almost always stand behind one person's opinion, but if we don't sometimes have an idea of what and how to do it. Most of all, I want us to be in a livable Europe where we raise our children safely. Especially since I come from Hungary, so this is important to me and it is very important that we all belong to a great nation, which is the European Union, and not whether I am Hungarian German or English, but we are all Europeans and have one common goal a future we can achieve together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Brian, Citizen, I am Brian from Ireland to Dublin, I am a university student studying philosophy, politics and economics.  I accept that because it seemed like a great opportunity to learn more about you.I'm very interested in politics in general, so when I was offered this opportunity to come here and actually like, be integrated into something so close to the European Union in general, I was very excited.For my own life. I think that the EU can give me a lot of opportunities. It gives me a lot of freedom to be able to move around to work. Great ones meet a lot of people. I think if I compare it to like the UK right now, the fact that they're just, you know, they're locked away in their own little bubble. I'd hate if that happened to me because for me, I feel very European and I feel like the opportunities it gives me are very important to me, and I hope to use them a lot in the future.