The European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) adopted, on Monday 9 December, by a large majority (20 votes in favour, 3 against, no abstentions), its contribution on the outlines and objectives of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which will begin its work in spring 2020.
This position, which is widely supported, was made possible by the adoption of the twenty compromise amendments previously negotiated (see EUROPE 12385/6). It will be sent in the form of a letter to Parliament President David Sassoli to feed into the work of the ad hoc working party, which is also working on the modalities of the conference. Objective: the adoption of a Parliament resolution at the January plenary session.
On Thursday 12 December, the European Council will adopt conclusions on the Conference. The version of the draft text dated Monday 9 December confirms the messages anticipated by EUROPE (see EUROPE 12385/5).
The Conference will be a moment of in-depth exchange allowing to “reflect more on our policies than on our institutions”, said a French source from the Elysée, for whom the idea is to have “the greatest possible participation” as a citizen.
The European Commission is expected to present its vision for this two-year initiative in early 2020.
See the text adopted by the AFCO Committee: http://bit.ly/2E5eEAt
See the draft conclusions of the European Council dated 9 December: http://bit.ly/38tqK4C (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)