Conference on the Future of Europe: Citizens discuss EU in the world / Migration

The fourth European Citizens’ Panel, focusing on the EU’s role and place in the world, and on migration issues, will meet online on 26-28 November.

Following a first round of sessions in the European Parliament in Strasbourg in September and October, the European Citizens’ Panels continue their work online throughout November. The recommendations they make will be written up, endorsed by the panellists, and then presented and discussed in the Conference on the Future of Europe Plenary meetings in December and January.

When: Friday 26 November - Sunday 28 November

How to follow: Watch the plenary parts with 200 citizens live on the Multilingual Digital Platform, or on Parliament’s Multimedia Centre (Friday 26 November 17.00 - 19.30 and Sunday 28 November 16.15 - 17.30).

What: The fourth Panel focuses on the following streams and subtopics:

Self-reliance and stability

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  autonomy of the EU
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  borders

The EU as an international partner

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  trade and relations from an ethical perspective
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  international climate action
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  promotion of European values

A strong EU in a peaceful world

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  security and defence
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  decision-making and EU foreign policy
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  neighbouring countries and enlargement

Migration from a human perspective

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  remedy causes of migration
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  human considerations
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  integration

Responsibility and solidarity across the EU

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  distributing migration
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  common approach to asylum

Download the complete report, or visit the dedicated webpage for more information.

Next steps

The first three online sessions of the European Citizens’ Panels took place on 5-7 November (which covered a stronger economy, social justice, jobs / education, youth, culture, and sport / digital transformation), on 12-14 November (European democracy/values, rights, rule of law, security), and on 19-21 November (climate change, environment / health). In December and January, the Panels will meet in four European academic institutions (in Dublin, Florence, Natolin/Warsaw, and Maastricht) to finalise their recommendations so they can be discussed at the Conference Plenary.

In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation in Ireland and the stricter measures announced there recently, the Co-Chairs of the Conference, having sought advice from partners, have decided to postpone the European Citizens' Panel 1 meeting that was supposed to take place in Dublin on 3-5 December. New dates will be announced in due course, in order to facilitate an engaging and fruitful citizens’ deliberation in an effective manner. The rest of the Conference calendar remains as is. In the meantime, Europeans can continue to share their ideas on how to shape the EU’s future on the Multilingual Digital Platform.

Background

The European Citizens’ Panels are a central feature of the Conference organised by the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission based on their Joint Declaration. The Panels’ deliberations take into account citizens’ contributions collected from across Europe on the Multilingual Digital Platform, and supported by input and presentations from prominent academics and other experts.

Citizens have been chosen randomly by specialist contractors, using methodologies that ensure that they are representative of the EU's diversity in terms of geographic origin, gender, age, socioeconomic background and level of education. Young people between 16 and 25 make up one-third of each panel. Each Panel will come up with recommendations that will feed into the Conference Plenary that will then put forward proposals on the Future of Europe. The Panels have selected 80 citizens (20 for each Panel) to represent them in the Conference Plenary. These representatives participated in the second meeting of the Plenary that took place on 23 October in Strasbourg.