Event report

Context, FINALITY, OBJECTMENT AND STRUCTURE/METODOLOGY OF THE EVENT| Event organised online by Europe Direct of the Province of Verona and the MFE Valpolicella on January 31, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Number AND TYPE OF PRESENT PARTICIPANTS | The meeting was aimed at both an adult audience and schools in the Province of Verona. There were 21 classes, for about 400 students from more than 5 different Verona schools and over 70 adult citizens. The online connection was activated by 139 people. The participants of the CoFE meeting of 31.01.2022 were: — students aged 16 to 19; — adults of various ages and occupations. Main MATERIES OF DISCUSSION DURING THE LABORATORS/SEMINARI/ASSEMBLEE| •Antonio Padoa Schioppa, Professor Emeritus of the History of Medieval and Modern Law of the University of Milan, made an intervention on his vision of Europe and its future with the metaphor of the “great unfinished cathedral”. He performed a concise exhibition on: a European tax reform, the elimination of the right of veto and a reform of the European Treaties to achieve these results. He focused on how the pandemic mixed cards and created new risks but also opportunities. He then resumed a discussion on the euro and how a single currency entails a “two-speed Europe”. •Dr. Carlo Corazza, Director of the European Parliament Office in Italy, introduced issues related to “Europe in the world and strengthening democracy” and also to the involvement of schools in the European Parliament. Specifically, it discussed the reorganisation of the EU into a perfect bicameralism, the importance of debt mutualisation and a European tax system, European health care which, despite initial difficulties, ensured the effective distribution of the vaccine to the Member States. He insisted on the importance of giving the right of legislative initiative to the European Parliament, majority voting, eliminating the veto in the European Council of the choice of the President of the European Commission, based on the choices of the parties in the EP, a European foreign policy and a common defence, with standardisation of defence instruments, a common army and intelligence and the possibility of a transnational vote. He stressed the need to protect the rule of law also within the EU, Article 7 which does not work and needs to be reformed. Dr. Armour wanted to recall President Sassoli’s words when he opened the CoFoE, talking about the need to have courage, not to have taboos. There is no point in insisting on the question of changing the Treaties, but the EU must be able to respond effectively to its citizens, a Europe far from its citizens is a weak and fragile Europe. •Dr. Alessandro Giordani, Head of Unit at DG COMM of the European Commission in Brussels, presented a report on the “path from the Conference on the Future of Europe and the 2024 European elections”. He also spoke of Italy’s responsibility for implementing the NRP, which, if successful, will be the basis for all future economic policies of the Union. He then discussed a paradigm shift needed to make the NGEU structural to allow European money to be spent on European public goods. There are currently 27 separate NRPs, controlled by the Commission, but spent at national level. In the future, own resources will be needed to be able to invest in European infrastructure. He also mentioned how the Commission is fighting and making every effort to establish a European minimum wage which is still strongly opposed by certain Member States. He wished to recall that in the interval between the end of the CoFoE (May 2022) and the next European elections, it will be seen whether individual Member States, including Italy first, are able to meet the criteria they have set themselves, not only by investing in infrastructure, etc. but with the necessary horizontal enabling reforms such as competition laws, the market, local health, school and justice reform. It will also be necessary to reform the Stability and Growth Pact before the next European elections. • Professor Caterina Fratea, Professor of European Union Law at the University of Verona (UNIVR), with the participation of the European Documentation Centre (CDE) presented the initiatives organised by the Centre, in particular on the need for a paradigm shift on foreign policy and fiscal powers. Member States are stronger within the EU, not retaining competences. Two events have such as Brexit and the pandemic have put heavy limits on the free movement of citizens, which must be preserved. Effective tools are needed to respond to emergencies such as the migration crisis, pandemic, etc. The CoFoE must suggest the necessary changes which must then be transformed into laws by the Commission. •Anne Parry, head of the MFE of Valpolicella explained the work that the section has done on the CoFoE platform, both on the topic of European Democracy and on the Environment, where with 14 other Valpolicella associations, 7 proposals were presented on the CoFoE, and a Manifesto for a sustainable Valpolicella in Europe was signed. He moderated the meeting, Dr. Christian Verzè of the Europe Direct of the Province of Verona, who demonstrated live the use of the CoFoE portal to facilitate the accession of citizens. Main IDEE SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPANTS DURING THE EVENT, DISCORS AND ARGOMENTS SHARE OR DETAILS THAT HOW TO THAT IDEAS| •Application of Class 5F of the Lorgna Pindemonte Institute: “Some recent European Acts (European Green Deal, Environment Programme 2021-2027, State of the Union Speech by President Von der Leyen, Next Generation EU, Reports of the Commission for Youth 2021-2027, 2022 European Year of Youth) consolidate the major project of building Europe in the sign of union and solidarity among peoples, including not included in Europe’s geography and treaties. However, there are still resistance and distrust of the European Union. The growing awareness of environmental issues among European people (and not only) has greatly influenced Community legislation, and in this sense youth movements have been and are important. Is it possible that a strong bottom-up push, also coming from the confrontation between young people, from their expectations for general progress in society, for quality employment and sustainable development, could lead to a political and federal unity of Europe?" Answer to the question of the Pindemonte school: Dr. Jordanian explained how the push from the bottom can affect the movement towards a more federal Europe when through the discussions of the CoFoE it is necessary an increase in skills in order to address issues such as the environmental one. •Request of Class 5EL of Angels: “the method of operation of the platform is not friendly, there are difficulties in connecting, but above all it is difficult to understand how to formulate the interventions and who read them.” Answer to the question of the school Agli Angeli: Dr. Armour has expressed itself in how to involve young people. He talked about the platform togetherto make available to involve young people. It is important to speak on the CoFoE platform, which will probably remain active even in the next European elections. Schools can become EU ambassadors in the context of the EP initiative, exchanging ideas by exchanging ideas with other schools. The Europe Direct of the Province of Verona is actively involved in communicating all European opportunities to Verona schools. •A citizen asked for clarification on how the pandemic changed Europe. Professor Antonio Padoa Schioppa spoke about the crisis of democracies, the functioning of the Commissions in the European Parliament, advising everyone to see how the EP works, and recommended initiatives such as this online meeting as a useful system also to combat fake news circulating online. Further explained that the pandemic required a united European response as the pandemic involved everyone, in Europe and in the world; whereas competition between individual Member States would have been possible in order to have vaccines, whereas the EU, led very well by the President of the Commission, who was able to give a clear answer, putting the necessary budget; clear and visible results to all European citizens. •A citizen’s application: “How does the euro respond to the needs of all when Member States have divergent policies?” Answer from Professor Antonio Padoa Schioppa: “the euro was born because otherwise the common market was not saved, there was a competition of competitive devaluations, which would have ruined the common market which had greatly raised the standard of living of Europeans. The EU needs a united and democratic management of economic policy with European taxation”. Prof Cangialosi spoke of emotional detachment from Europe, while citizens are strongly linked to the nation. Anne Parry spoke of the loss of European citizenship with Brexit: “you don‘t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”. On the involvement of students, Prof Fratea recalled the importance of voting in the European elections for Europe, stressing how different they are from a vote at local, regional or national level. The importance of involving young people directly in the CoFoE, the challenges of the present and the role of Europe in addressing them, and the tools needed to do so. The GENERAL ATMOSFERA AND THE FOLLOW-UP ATTESO| Disputed and interested for adults and involved and curious for students. The follow-up is that the conclusions are uploaded to the CoFoE platform demonstrating the Verona participation in this important European event. Summary Written| In the meeting, we wanted to emphasise that: •There are therefore three critical points to be addressed: the abolition of veto power, the generalisation of the codecision power of the European Parliament and the attribution to the Union of its own fiscal power based on own resources and a common fiscal policy. •The importance of completing the great cathedral which is the European Union on its values of freedom and solidarity, which have their roots in anti-fascism, mutual support, equality and unity, despite the numerous diversity (linguistic, cultural, local, geographical, historical, etc.) that distinguish Europeans. •Completing fiscal, social and gender-related policy reforms at European level, reducing inequalities, tackling unemployment, and taking urgent action on migration policy, environmental protection, banking union, investment in areas crucial for the future, public health. •To aim at a European federalism based on the transfer to the Union, through the Treaties, of a series of exclusive competences (primarily currency, competition, international trade), shared competences and supporting competences. • The risks of climate change, pandemics, the effects of increasing social inequalities, mass migration, the very high level of traditional and nuclear weapons, the risks of public opinion manipulation due to the computer and digital circuit. •The need for cooperation between States, which is the result of consensus and not of war — only a European Union can play the planetary role that enables our peoples to really influence tomorrow’s great choices. • Member States must therefore empower Europe so that it becomes stronger and more united to address global (climate, economic, political, social, health and security) and internal challenges. The PROPOSTS THAT THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCEPTED TO PRESENT| In conclusion: — the future of individual European countries can only depend on the expectations of the younger generations; — in order to strengthen Europe and address its critical points, it is necessary to give the EP fiscal power and to build a common fiscal policy; abolish the right of veto; strengthen the European Parliament with powers similar to the European Council and thus amend the Treaties in this regard; — for a country like Italy it is essential to have courage; — make the most of opportunities in order to seize both present and future European opportunities (PNRRs in the first place); — be active on the CoFoE platform in order to generate democratic responses to the challenges of civil society; — go to vote conscientiously in the next European elections; — bringing Europe closer to its citizens and in particular to students.