MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the follow-up to the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe

B9‑0228/2022

European Parliament resolution on the follow-up to the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe

(2022/2648(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference on the Future of Europe (‘the Conference’), as approved by the Executive Board and published on the Multilingual Digital Platform of the Conference,

– having regard to the conclusions of the nine thematic working groups of the Conference, as endorsed on 30 April 2022 by the Conference Plenary,

– having regard to the activity report of the Multilingual Digital Platform of the Conference on the Future of Europe, published in February 2022,

– having regard to the Contributions per Member State on the Multilingual Digital Platform of the Conference on the Future of Europe, published in February 2022,

– having regard to the reports of the National Citizens’ Panels and the national events, as published on the Multilingual Digital Platform of the Conference,

– having regard to the Youth Ideas report for the Conference on the Future of Europe, published as a result of the European Youth Event of 8 and 9 October 2021,

– having regard to the recommendations of European Citizens’ Panel 1 ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs / Education, culture, youth and sport / Digital transformation’,

– having regard to the recommendations of European Citizens’ Panel 2 ‘European democracy / Values and rights, rule of law, security’,

– having regard to the recommendations of European Citizens’ Panel 3 ‘Climate change, environment / Health’,

– having regard to the recommendations of European Citizens’ Panel 4 ‘EU in the world / Migration’,

– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Parliament’s position on the Conference on the Future of Europe[1],

– having regard to its resolutions of 16 February 2017 on improving the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty[2], of 16 February 2017 on possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up of the European Union[3], of 13 February 2019 on the state of the debate on the future of Europe[4] and of 26 November 2020 on stocktaking of European elections[5],

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the European Union is living through an unprecedented situation compared to when the Conference process was launched, which requires a new impetus for European integration, with the need for even stronger common action and solidarity, as war is returning to the European continent;

B. whereas the EU will be judged on its capacity to emerge from the current crises and should therefore aim to become stronger;

C. whereas the European Parliament has fully committed to the Conference, firmly believing that the EU needs to be reformed in order to be able to tackle not only the current, but also future, challenges;

D. whereas the conclusions of the Conference will also need to address all of the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, in an already very demanding post-pandemic context;

E. whereas the proposals emerging from citizens’ participation, as translated into the final Conference conclusions, request that the European Union become more democratic, secure, effective, prosperous, fairer, sustainable, more capable of acting and a more influential actor in the world;

F. whereas the EU should be equipped with sufficient and appropriate means to achieve the above-mentioned goals, which highlights once more the need to improve the way the institutions function;

G. whereas the EU should therefore be empowered with tools allowing it to act on important transnational challenges in the fields of security, health, climate change and the environment, migration, digitalisation, defence, taxation, combating inequalities, economic and social policies, and geopolitics;

H. whereas in addition to legislative proposals, the opening of a process of institutional reforms is needed in order to implement the recommendations and expectations of the citizens’ participation process;

I. whereas new policies and, in some cases, Treaty changes, are necessary not as means in themselves, but in the interests of all Europeans, by aiming to reshape the EU in a way that will guarantee its open strategic autonomy, security, sustainability and competitiveness, the improvement of living and working conditions, and respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights;

J. whereas the Conference shows, once again, that any reform of the Union demands the full engagement of Parliament, the Commission, the Council and relevant stakeholders, as well as direct engagement with citizens;

K. whereas the experience of the Conference confirms the importance of enhancing all possible avenues of dialogue and cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments;

1. Welcomes the conclusions of the Conference as endorsed by the Conference Plenary on 30 April 2022;

2. Express its satisfaction with the ambitious and constructive proposals formulated by the Conference, based on the recommendations and ideas emerging from the European and national Citizens’ Panels, the European Youth Event and from the online platform; welcomes the fact that the conclusions of the Conference were drafted in a citizen-driven process and stresses the importance of citizens’ participation in European democracy;

3. Considers that the Conference has led to innovative and successful participation by European citizens and has provided an additional opportunity for the European institutions, leading to a comprehensive dialogue between citizens, national parliaments, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society organisations on the future of the Union;

4. Highlights the importance of the parliamentary dimension of the Conference process and expresses its wish to foster and strengthen the dialogue and cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament;

5. Believes that an increased role in the EU’s decision-making process goes hand in hand with more democratic, transparent and accountable EU institutions; supports, moreover, the continuous involvement of citizens’ participation and consultation in this process;

6. Points out that the most recent crises call for common European solutions; believes that the Conference represented a unique opportunity to provide the EU with forward-looking proposals in this regard;

7. Considers that the Russian aggression against Ukraine proves the need for a stronger geopolitical EU, speaking with one voice in the world and pursuing common policies in the areas of security, defence, energy and migration, based on common action and full solidarity;

8. Recalls that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU has shown its capacity to act and promote innovative and common solutions in relation to health, economic growth and social cohesion; is of the opinion that these positive actions need to be transformed into a new permanent institutional and policy framework;

9. Stresses that the conclusions of the Conference show the urgent need for the EU to play a leading role in addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainability;

10. Highlights the need to deliver on the Conference’s conclusions and on citizens’ expectations by working on ambitious changes in some of our most crucial policies;

11. Believes that deeper political integration and genuine democracy, as highlighted in the conclusions of the Conference, can be achieved through a right of legislative initiative for the European Parliament and the abolition of unanimity in the Council;

12. Acknowledges that the conclusions of the Conference require Treaty changes, inter alia, concerning the simplification of the EU institutional architecture, more transparency and accountability in the decision-making process and a new reflection on EU competences;

13. Supports, as highlighted in the conclusions of the working groups of the Conference, a shift towards a sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth model; strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the EU’s economy, with special attention for SMEs as the backbone of our economy, and a competitiveness check; the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including its relevant headline targets for 2030; a Social Progress Protocol; and promoting future-oriented investments focused on the just, green and digital transitions, with a strong social dimension, including gender equality, also taking into account the examples of NextGenerationEU and the European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE);

14. Believes it is essential to focus on the follow-up to the Conference proposals, in order to deliver on citizens’ requests; expects all European institutions to commit to a constructive and ambitious approach, in accordance with their respective roles and competences, at every stage of the follow-up, including through making legislative proposals;

15. Stands ready to play its role and ensure proper follow-up to the Conference outcome; calls, therefore, for the convening of a Convention by activating the procedure for the revision of the Treaties provided for in Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union, and calls on its Committee on Constitutional Affairs to launch the necessary procedure accordingly;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.