European democracy

Event report

The hybrid event “Launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe” was organised by the European Committee of the Regions in partnership with the French government, the City of Strasbourg and Eurometropolis of Strasbourg on 9 May 2021. Its aim was to ‘territorialise’ the Conference and ensure the levels of government close to citizens — the local and regional ones — are given prime of place. Participants covered an open letter addressed to all local leaders to organise local dialogues and join a network of Regional and Local EU Councillors launched by the CoR. The event was followed live by 2 000 people on Europe by Satellite and Facebook Live and has been received over 3 500 views. Six of the speakers were on site in the City of Strasbourg’s historic ‘Grand Salon’ and the event was anticipated by the 46 person university orchestra playing the Ode to Joy and a Ceremonial unfolding of the European flag. The Conference on the Future of Europe must give citizens in the EU’s regions, cities and villages a platform to voice their concerns, aspirations and ideas. The formal recognition of local and regional governments’ importance and added value to policy making is required for a sustainable and residual recovery into a post-pandemic world. The Conference is an opportunity to reflect on European democracy, strengthen its functioning and increase its legitimacy. It will also lay the foundations for perpetual citizenship dialogues into the future. A sure way to combat Euroscepticism and populism is through involving local communities. This will be able to shift away from the view that only national governments can participate in EU policy making. Local and Regional authorities are the best interests of the Union could have found their democratic nature and by their proximity to citizens. Regions, cities and villages hold the keys to Europe’s future. A call was raised by participants of the event to urge local and regional politicians to engage with the opportunity to the Conference presents. The million local politicians across the EU are best placed to mobilise citizens and express to national and European policy makers what is most expected in people’s daily lives.