Brussels, 22/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - To date, over 5,500 citizens of the European Union have taken part in one of the broadest web-based consultations in the EU's history on citizens' rights and the future of Europe, according to figures released by the European Commission on 17 August. Participants include citizens from all member states (11.3% taking part are French, 10.5% Italian, 9% Spanish, 8.9% German and 6.1% British).
On 9 May this year, Europe Day, the European Commission invited citizens from all over the European Union to help set the policy agenda for the years to come and to shape the future of Europe. Until 9 September 2012, all Europeans may make their views known on questions such as: “How would you like the European Union to develop in the near future? In what kind of European Union would you like to live in 2020?”
During the last European Council, in June this year, EU leaders discussed the need to take economic and monetary union (EMU) to a “new stage”. Any further integration in the economic and fiscal field, however, needs to be legitimate in the eyes of the people of Europe, which is why the report by the “four presidents” (the presidents of the European Council, European Commission, Eurogroup and European Central Bank), published on 26 June, specifically states: “Overall, closer EMU integration will require a stronger democratic basis and broad support from citizens. For this reason, it is essential that already the process towards realising this vision is based on wide consultation and participation. Integration and legitimacy have to advance in parallel”.
“I am glad to see that in this context proposals for a 'Political Union', a 'European Federation' or even a 'United States of Europe' have again become a subject of debate”, said Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission. Contributions received will be taken into account in the Commission's action programme for the next few years and will provide a base for the 2013 report on Union citizenship, to be presented on 9 May 2013, the next Europe Day. The second report on EU citizenship will include new, targeted initiatives intended to overcome the obstacles that are still preventing citizens from fully enjoying their rights as Union citizens. (LC/transl.jl)