The European Commission is currently working on a European synthesis of citizens' consultations, which have taken place simultaneously in the vast majority of Member States since the spring, based on the reports sent to it by the capital cities taking part (see EUROPE 11983).
This European synthesis will serve as a basis for discussions on the future of the EU by European leaders on Friday 14 December.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who launched the idea during his speech at the Sorbonne in 2017, wants this process to lead to a powerful message in the conclusions of the European Council. This would include recalling the objective of the consultations, extending the exercise in the future, at least until the European Summit in Sibiu (Romania) in May 2019, and even developing tools for citizens' participation in the European res publica.
In France, 1,082 citizen consultations have been held since the spring. They involved more than 70,000 people, often at local level (see EUROPE 12105).
"The citizens gathered during these consultations, although very critical of the conduct of public policies, do not envisage solving major global challenges outside the European framework. They expect - in all areas - a more efficient European Union, with a more transparent institutional functioning. They would be proud to belong to a Union whose political horizon is centred on a better capacity to defend their common values and interests, as well as on a humanist social and environmental ambition," underline the conclusions of the French synthesis submitted to the Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, on Tuesday 4 December.
Among the topics regularly raised are: environmental protection, the rights and obligations of European citizenship, a demand for physical, territorial and food security, and expectations in terms of social protection and quality of life, particularly for future generations.
See the French synthesis: http://bit.ly/2DZscP4. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)