The message from the Conference on the Future of Europe was clear: all the recommendations must be considered, including those requiring a change in our EU treaties.

Ahead of the European Summit, the European Movement International, supported by over 100 members of the plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe, sent an open letter to the Joint Presidency of the Conference calling for concrete action on the issues that lie at the heart of citizens’ demands. These representatives from several components of the Conference urge the Joint Presidency to take forward all the recommendations emanating from the Conference, even those that necessitate Treaty change.

To make the European Union stronger and more democratic, transparent and effective, the signatories call for a European Convention, in accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty of the European Union, that puts citizens’ needs at the centre of the debate and includes citizens, organised civil society, Social Partners, and local and regional governments, as well as political leaders and decision-makers.

Signatories include Co-Chair Guy Verhofstadt MEP, two-thirds of the citizens ambassadors, representatives of civil society, social partners and a coalition of cross-party political figures.

The letter in full:

Dear President of the European Commission, 
Dear President of the Council of the European Union, 
Dear President of the European Parliament, 

We urge you, as the Joint Presidency of the Conference, to heed all CoFoE recommendations, even those that require amending the Treaties, to make the European Union stronger and more democratic, transparent, and effective.

To that end, we call upon you to convene a European Convention in accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty of the European Union.

Now that the Conference on the Future of Europe has finalised its recommendations, the time has come to listen to citizens’ proposals and provide them with a clear perspective on how to implement the ambitious ideas they have put forward through the European Citizens’ Panels and the Conference’s Working Groups.

As Members of the Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe, we have helped shape these recommendations. We are committed to ensure that they are followed by tangible proposals.

This democratic exercise cannot end on Europe Day. The constructive dialogue between citizens, institutions, organised civil society, social partners and local and regional governments that the Conference has instigated in the past 12 months must continue. Much is at stake; the European Union needs to deliver on the issues that lie at the heart of citizens’ proposals.

We therefore call for the launch of a European Convention, which should be a participatory and inclusive process that involves citizens, organised civil society, Social Partners, and local and regional governments, as well as the EU institutions.

Let’s seize the moment to craft a way towards making the recommendations of the Conference on the Future of Europe a reality.

For a full list of signatories, click here.