Preparing the Conference on the Future of Europe

For the European federalists, CoFoE has from the outset represented a unique opportunity to propose radical changes, which, if they gain strength, can even become an opportunity to open a constituent battle.

The start of CoFoE has been postponed numerous times due to the unresolved issue of what to do after the conference: to start treaty reform or not?

The European Parliament (if citizens, through the Conference, demand reform of the Treaties, then the reform process must be started) and the EU Council - i.e. the governments - (all reforms as long as the Treaties are not changed) clashed on this political issue: in the end, a compromise solution was reached in which the EU Council did not take a final decision and would wait for the conclusion of the CoFoE.

The current crisis has shown the importance of acting united as Europeans in an effective and supportive way. In tackling the pandemic, the Union has been faced with an unprecedented challenge, and has already made choices that indicate the need and the will to strengthen its political unity.

The Conference on the future of Europe has been an absolute opportunity to debate a concrete project for a stronger Union, involving citizens in a transparent and participatory process by which they can become increasingly aware of the fundamental importance of our unity as Europeans and actively participate in the reform processes that can achieve it.

As federalists we had an important role to play in this phase, towards the citizens and towards politics and institutions.

“We are living a Darwinian moment in Europe, and that helps us better promote Europe. UEF has to exploit this occasion to change the public opinion and mobilise citizens to reform the European Union” (Sandro Gozi)