(04 February 2021) – EU member states gave the green light yesterday to the format proposed by the Portuguese presidency for the Conference on the Future of Europe, which is due to start next May.
The endorsement took place at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels and puts an end to a long stalemate surrounding this event, which was supposed to start in May 2020 but was postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and also because of differences between European institutions, notably on who should chair the forum.
EU envoys agreed on the format the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU suggested, that the Conference should be under the authority of the presidents of the three institutions – Council, European Commission and European Parliament – with the ‘assistance’ of an Executive Committee.
The Conference, a two-year discussion forum with multiple events across Europe, begins on 9 May, Europe Day, the idea being that the ‘starting pistol’ will be fired in Strasbourg, if the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic allows it. (Lusa / EurActiv)