The first plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe brings together this Saturday 19 June the largest gathering of politicians in Europe since Corona. 108 European MPs, 108 national MPs, 56 government representatives and many other representatives of European institutions will gather in Strasbourg. The plenary debate will revolve around the different visions for the future of Europe. The Greens/EFA Group has now decided which core concerns the 11 Greens/EFA MEPs will represent at the conference.

 

Daniel Freund, leader of the Greens/EFA group in the Conference on the Future of Europe, comments:

“This conference is Europe’s chance to give itself an inoculation with strong reforms against overstretching in next crises. We Greens want strong reforms for truly European elections, climate protection in which we invest together, a Europe that speaks with one voice in the world. In the conference, however, those who loudly spread poisoned offers against an inclusive and solidary Europe should also face the European public. They often pretend to speak for a silent majority. However, the participation of random citizens in the conference can show that nationalist and chauvinist ideas do not have a majority in Europe.

 

A second voice for all Europeans

EU leaders, whose decisions on vaccines and climate targets directly affect our lives, must be able to be voted in and out by all EU citizens. The fact that top candidates are promised before the election and forgotten afterwards must not be repeated in 2024. EU citizens should get a second vote to elect top candidates on European lists. Whoever is on the ballot in each country will answer to all citizens.

 

Investing Europe-wide in climate protection

Even more than Covid-19, the climate crisis is a challenge that we Europeans can only avert together. Because Covid-19 hit everyone, Europe has invested money on an unprecedented scale to overcome this crisis. Against the even bigger climate crisis, Europe must learn from this. Especially because European investments can offer better and cheaper solutions than national borders. European energy networks better combine the power of sun, wind and water. Only a European rail network can soon make short-haul flights to Barcelona or Prague unnecessary. The transformation of the European economy into a sustainable, climate-neutral one will require billions in investments that no country can afford alone. We therefore need a European Climate Fund.

 

Unleashing Europe by ending national vetoes

Viktor Orban takes Chinese loans and then blocks Europe’s protest against China’s destruction of democracy in Hong Kong. We are making it too easy for a venal would-be autocrat to condemn Europe to inaction through his veto. It is intolerable if Orban abused the veto on the EU budget framework to block the better defence of EU fundamental values. To unleash Europe’s potential, we must abolish vetoes of national governments. Without vetoes on foreign policy, Europe can speak with one voice. So far, vetoes on tax policy keep tax dumping alive. An end to tax vetoes facilitates fair taxation of large corporations and thus the necessary investment in a social and sustainable future.”

 

BACKGROUND: Timetable of the first plenary session

Friday 18 June 16h30: Meetings of the “caucuses” of the political party families

 

Friday 18 June 18h15 Meeting of the Spinelli Group of Federalist Plenary Members

 

Saturday 19 June 8h45 Group picture of the plenary session

 

Saturday 19 June 9h-13h30 Plenary session

1. Opening by the Co-Chairs and agenda as proposed by the Executive Board
2. Purpose and expectations of the Conference including European Citizens’ Panels, National Panels/events and Multilingual Digital Platform:

– presentation and general discussion

3. a) Calendar of Conference Plenaries, European Citizens’ Panels and European Citizens’ Event, and
4. b) Co-chairs proposal on the organisation of thematic working groups:

– presentation and discussion

4. Closing of the Conference Plenary meeting

 

Livestream via https://futureu.europa.eu/

 

The 11 Greens/EFA MEPs in the Conference: https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/fighting-for-you/conference-on-the-future-of-europe

 

BACKGROUND: all Greens/EFA reform proposals for the future of Europe

full text version: http://extranet.greens-efa.eu/public/media/file/1/7033

 

summary: https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/greens-efa-priorities-for-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe

 

A stronger European democracy

We call for the creation of a joint European constituency, for democratic standards for elections all across the EU, more rights for the European Parliament, turning the Council into a normal co-legislating second chamber and stronger citizens’ participation tools.

 

A Europe that protects fundamental rights and that stands up for an inclusive society

We call for the strengthening of all instruments to protect rights and values and for the introduction of a pillar of rights enshrined in primary law that would apply also to the actions of Member States. We also believe that the EU should set up a European statute for civil society organizations to protect their activities all across the EU and that a surveillance moratorium should be introduced.

 

Reshaping Our Economy with a Sustainable investment Fund to invest in a sustainable and social transition

We demand that the Recovery and Resilience Fund is made permanent and turned into a Sustainable Investment Fund integrated in the Union framework under the European budget, with co-decision or full Parliamentary involvement.

 

A Feminist Recovery: Equal pay for work of equal value

The European economy in a post-Covid world has to be built on fair socio-economic foundations. In order to ensure that, the EU has to take a more ambitious role in the way to end pay discrimination by ensuring binding measure for equal pay for work of equal value, pay transparency and gendermainstreaming.

 

Unblocking Europe’s foreign and fiscal politics

We want decisions in all policy areas and on all budgetary dossiers to be taken by the ordinary legislative procedure and a deep reform of the Union’s macroeconomic governance to counter structural imbalances and adverse economic shocks.

 

Solidarity that does not stop with EU Citizenship

Migration policy should shift from a policy of deterrence to a policy of safe and legal opportunities. A permanent mechanism to fairly allocate asylum seekers, based on a two-stage system with positive incentives should be implemented and a holistic European Migration Code, which addresses the vulnerabilities migrant workers face should be adopted.

 

Combating inequality with a fair and just taxation system and decent minimum living wages

The post-covid European economy should be based on tax and social justice, which can be ensured by harmonisation of corporate and environmental tax policies, establishing minimum taxation levels and preventing tax havens.

 

European Unity in diversity

We advocate for the ratification of the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages by all Member States, for an official recognition, promotion and use of regional, minority and lesser-used languages and for the right to self-determination to be protected in the EU.

 

Protecting our environment with a fair and sustainable agriculture that protects animal welfare

We want a new fair and sustainable CAP to change the general structure of farming in Europe, giving priority to small and ecological farming, restoring biodiversity and fostering animal welfare.

 

Strengthen citizens’ awareness, combat foreign interference and shape digital future

Media literacy, reliable protection against cyber threats and political parties’ transparency have to become pillars of the future European society. The European Democracy Action Plan should be followed up by legislation and increased financial support for actions in the field of cybersecurity.

 

A strong European voice on the global scene

The EU’s external policy must strengthen solidarity between democracies and work with like-minded countries to push back against authoritarian and hegemonic ambitions. Our trade policy must be conditional on the values of the Union. Europe must continue to offer the Western Balkans a European perspective and pursue its accession talks and enlargement processes with the Western Balkans countries.

 

Guaranteeing access to healthcare for all citizens

Subsidies and patents rights must be linked with obligations to disclose the costs of developments for new medicines and to provide medicine in sufficient and resilient manner. EU agencies for the supervision of pharmaceutical producers must be strengthened to coordinate publicly funded research in the public interest and fight monopoly misuse. Europe must also work towards minimum standards to guarantee access to healthcare for everyone living in the EU.

 

Erasmus for all

We want to further extend Erasmus+ into a scheme allowing all European citizens, regardless of their academic background or activity, to spend at least one year in another Member State with an adequate grant.

 

Setting up a strong EU industrial strategy

We call for a comprehensive relocation and diversification strategy, in order to enable employment, intelligence and know-how in a green and carbon-neutral industrial sector.