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Ministers exchanged views on the proposed Conference on the Future of Europe due to start in 2020 and end in 2022.
The European Council considered the idea of such a conference at its meeting on 12 December 2019. It asked the Croatian presidency to work towards defining a Council position on the content, scope, composition and functioning of the conference and to engage, on this basis, with the European Parliament and the Commission.
During the discussion, ministers stressed the importance of putting citizens at the heart of the conference and focusing on issues that truly matter to them. As underlined in the conclusions of the December European Council, priority should be given to implementing the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024 and delivering concrete results. The conference should contribute to the development of EU policies in the medium and longer term in order to better address the challenges facing Europe. Building on the success of the citizens’ dialogues which have taken place over the past two years, the process should involve a wide range of stakeholders and groups to ensure that different views and opinions are represented.
Citizens need to be at the centre of the discussions on the future of Europe - how we can address the current and future challenges and what kind of a Europe we want. The Conference on the Future of Europe will provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on these issues. It is important to listen to different opinions and views in a way which builds trust and ensures that the EU effectively meets citizens' expectations.
Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs
Ministers also expressed their views on the detailed organisation of the conference. Many speakers underlined the need to ensure a balanced representation of the three EU institutions and to fully involve national parliaments. Several ministers also expressed their preference for a lean and simple governance of the conference process.
The presidency concluded that discussions would continue after the Council meeting with a view to defining the Council position on the conference and engaging with the other EU institutions.
The Croatian presidency also presented its priorities and work programme for the next six months.
In the area of general affairs, the main priorities of the presidency include the following:
taking forward work on sectoral and horizontal legislation related to the next multiannual financial framework
continuing a credible and effective enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans and hosting an informal EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb in May 2020
fostering economic and social cohesion and taking forward negotiations on the cohesion policy legislative package under the MFF
enabling an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU and starting negotiations on future partnership
Citizens need to be at the centre of the discussions on the future of Europe - how we can address the current and future challenges and what kind of a Europe we want. The Conference on the Future of Europe will provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on these issues. It is important to listen to different opinions and views in a way which builds trust and ensures that the EU effectively meets citizens' expectations.
