RESOLUTION OF THE UEF FEDERAL COMMITTEE ON A DECLARATION ON THE CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

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Adopted by the UEF Federal Committee in Rome on 24th November 2019.

The European Union faces multiple external challenges and internal tensions. However, European elections have shown a clear pro-European majority, with citizens expressing strong support for strengthening the Union. During the European Citizens’ consultations, the Citizens Dialogues, and the Eurobarometer survey, most participants indicated that Europeans should regain control of political processes and play a strong, autonomous role in the world through a stronger Union.

  • Citizens mainly ask the EU to:
  • Guarantee security in all its dimensions.
  • Respond to the challenge of people mobility in a global context.
  • Make Europe a model of sustainable development, addressing climate change, and protecting the environment and biodiversity.
  • Strengthen respect for human rights, tolerance, equality, the rule of law, and democracy.
  • Equip the single currency with the means to ensure growth and stability.
  • Promote effective social justice and solidarity.
  • Define the foundations of a genuine European democracy.


The proposal for a “European Conference on the Future of Europe”, initially put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron in his “Letter to European Citizens” of 4th March 2019, and later taken up by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her investiture speech and guidelines, represents a great opportunity. It places the question of re-founding the European Union at the heart of the new European term.

As European federalists, we believe the Conference will provide an opportunity to address key issues, as outlined by the AFCO reports during the last term (Bresso-Brok 2016; Verhofstadt 2016; Boge-Beres 2017; and Jauregui 2018):

  • Key Issues to Address:
  • The system of government of the Union and the strengthening of the European Parliament.
  • The division of competences between national and European levels.
  • The creation of an autonomous fiscal capacity for the EMU, along with other elements necessary for its completion.
  • Strengthening the European political and electoral process to reinforce European democracy, including:
  • The strengthening of European political parties.
  • The Spitzenkandidaten process.
  • The establishment of transnational lists.
  • The achievement of sustainable development objectives, positioning the EU as a global leader in fighting climate change.
  • Combating inequalities and creating a European labour market ready for the digital society.
  • Creating an effective system for the defence of human rights and the rule of law.
  • The role of the European Union in the globalised world, including foreign, security and defence policies;
  • The relationship between federal citizenship and national identities;
  • The method and agenda for reforming the Union, including the transition to a sovereign Europe in the event that some Member States are not ready to accept it.

The role of the European Parliament will be decisive in ensuring that the Conference can carry out its task effectively. While it must bring together the demands of citizens, as well as local and regional bodies, the Conference must also translate them into a comprehensive proposal for a new Treaty to overcome the impasses that still weaken the European Union. The difficult historical and political moment, coupled with the support of the majority of citizens, should serve as a stimulus for courageous and forward-looking action.

With this in mind, the Union of European Federalists (UEF) addresses the European Parliament – as the primary institution with legitimacy and responsibility, being composed of representatives directly elected by the citizens – to promote a political and institutional reform, including constitutional reform, of the European Union. UEF presents the following proposals regarding the method and agenda of the Conference:

  • The Conference should be convened based on an interinstitutional declaration, signed by the Commission, the Parliament, and the Council (acting by majority), after consulting the European Central Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions. Alternatively, it could be convened by a joint declaration of the Commission and the European Parliament. It should be assisted by a secretariat provided by the Commission and the European Parliament.
  • The Conference should draw input, in the initial phase of its work, from the demands for a more effective and democratic European Union raised by European citizens in the Eurobarometer surveys, the Citizens’ Dialogues and the Citizens’ Consultations;
  • It is clear that the current institutional setup renders the EU unfit for purpose. Citizens' concerns can only be effectively addressed through a genuine European capacity to act: a sovereign Europe, underpinned by democratic accountability. The Conference will need to chart the way forward for Europe, and its discussions could be organized into thematic policy discussions leading to operational conclusions. This would demonstrate the need for the EU to finance itself autonomously and to have effective means of government, likely requiring adjustments to the EU’s legal framework, or the creation of a new framework. This should form part of the Conference’s mandate.
  • To play a leading role, the European Parliament should request to be represented in the Conference, ideally by a large delegation of members from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). The Parliament could support the Conference in drafting proposals for a Constitutional Treaty that would include all the necessary reforms identified throughout the Conference's work. This new Treaty would amend the EU’s legal framework, including the arrangements for its ratification and entry into force, to overcome the obstacle of unanimity. These arrangements must ensure the unity, effectiveness, and democratic legitimacy of the European Union.
  • One of the conditions that would enable the Conference to engage in a much broader and representative dialogue with the citizens of the European Union, thereby increasing citizens-oriented dynamic in its discussions and deliberations, would be that of including a stable presence of components of citizens and of organised civil society from across the European Union (thus reflecting innovative forms of citizens participation successfully experienced in some European countries for constitutional changes). In addition to that, the Conference should hold some of its meetings in the various Member States, involving the representatives of citizens, society and sub-national bodies closest to the territory of the State in which they meet. In addition, the Conference should recognise the expertise of civil society organisations and their role in facilitating a dialogue between institutions and citizens, while abiding by the principle of representative democracy;
  • In order to achieve cooperation with the national parliaments and ensure the maximum possible consensus on the reforms that Europe needs, it is essential to provide for the convening of an “Interparliamentary Assembly on the Future of Europe” (following the example of the “Assizes” organized in Rome before the Maastricht Treaty). This would enable the Conference to bring the results achieved to the attention of the delegations of the national parliaments, gathering their comments and criticisms, and including them early on in the discussions and deliberations on the Future of Europe;
  • The 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration should be exploited as appropriate within the process of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
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