With the participation of Ukrainian citizens and parliamentarians, the Plenary Session devoted a second full Session to examining the recommendations of the citizens’ groups of the Conference.
The plenary of the Conference considered 88 recommendations of the European Citizens’ Groups “The EU in the World / Migration” and “Stronger Economy, Social Justice and Jobs / Education, Culture, Youth, Sport / Digital Transformation”, as well as relevant recommendations of the national groups . Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the EU’s response to it have been the focus of much debate over the weekend.
Representatives of the refugees trying to escape the war in Ukraine, members of the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and representatives of the PromoUkraina union spoke to share their views during the debate on “The EU in the world”. Representatives of the Western Balkans also took part.
Co-chairs of the Executive Committee of the Conference:
Mr Guy Verhofstadt (European Parliament) said: “The dramatic events in Ukraine are shocking to the whole of the European Union, and this has been strongly reflected throughout the plenary debate. The conclusions of this conference should reflect this fact. It is clear that the future will be different from what we imagined even just a few weeks ago. “Europe must therefore change and face the new future and the emerging new world order.”
“We have now received all the recommendations made by European citizens. The plenary of the Conference must now work to turn them into concrete proposals. “In the light of the dramatic events unfolding on our continent, there is an urgent need to reform and strengthen our Union.”
Ms Dubrava Suica (Vice-President of the European Commission) said: “While we are conducting a process that brings us closer to the people, Mr Putin is launching military action against Ukrainian citizens who have expressed European aspirations. This is an attack on our values ​​and our way of life. Being European means participating in a unique project, which allows everyone to take full advantage of their potential and exercise their rights. That is why, now, in these horrible circumstances, the Conference is more important than ever, more necessary than ever. “
Next steps
On 25-26 March, the plenary of the Conference will work on its proposals, which will be based on the recommendations of the national and European citizen groups, the proposals submitted through the multilingual digital platform and the debates held in the Plenary and the Conference working groups, grouped by topic.
Record
The recommendations of the “EU in the World / Migration” group, which were adopted at its final meeting in Maastricht (Netherlands) in February, are available here. The recommendations of the Stronger Economy, Social Justice and Jobs / Education, Culture, Youth, Sport / Digital Transformation group, finalized in Dublin (Ireland) in February, are available here. In each group of European citizens, around 200 Europeans of different ages and backgrounds, from all Member States, met (in person and at a distance) to discuss and adopt recommendations on the challenges Europe faces today and will face in the future. .
The plenary session of the Conference is composed of representatives of the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission, the national parliaments and the citizens. The Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, the social partners and civil society are also represented. The Plenary, by consensus, will submit its proposals to the Executive Committee, in order for it to draw up the conclusions of the Conference, in full cooperation with the Plenary and with full transparency before it.
Elena Papadimitriou
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