At its Federal Assembly in Dublin Castle on 24/25 May 2013, the European Movement International (EMI) asked for convening a new European Convention following the European Elections in May 2014. To make the European Union more efficient and more democratic a reform of the instruments and institutions in the EU system is inevitable.

Jo Leinen, President of the European Movement International (EMI), said: “As a consequence of the lessons learned from the first two Conventions, the European Movement International (EMI) wants civil society to be involved in all stages of the third EU-Convention. Citizens must also be able to exert influence before and during the revision process, rather than just being presented the final product.”

EMI, as the largest and oldest pro-European NGO, will form a Citizens’ Alliance for a European Convention (CAC) in order to build a common platform to ensure an open, inclusive and more democratic convention process.

From November 2013 – March 2014, National Civil Society Forums will be organised in several European countries to prepare the third European Convention. These National Forums should formulate expectations for the new European Convention and discuss methods of civil society involvement.

In 2014, a European Forum of Civil Society Organisations for the Preparation of the Third Convention will be organised in Brussels. The EMI wants the Political Parties and the candidates for the next European Parliament to express their opinions on the future of Europe, the necessary reforms, and the democratic procedure in order to achieve the next step of European integration.

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Editor’s Note: The European Movement International (EMI) is one of the largest pan and pro-European civil society organisation with currently more than 70 Member Organisations, bringing together representatives from European associations, political parties, enterprises and trade unions.