The launch of the multilingual digital platform for the Conference on the Future of Europe was welcomed today by the Joint Presidency of the Conference. The Executive Board comprises representatives from the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.

The new fully interactive digital platform, which is available in 24 languages, allows all EU citizens to contribute to their own future and the future of Europe by sharing their thoughts on the Union, sharing what changes they believe should take place, and exchanging their ideas and views through online events. People can engage with one another and discuss their proposals with fellow citizens from all Member States and can promote it on social media with the hashtag #TheFutureIsYours.

The launching comes at a time where input from citizens is particularly relevant, said Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council. He added that considering the crisis caused by the current pandemic, it is important that, together, the citizens of the Member States shape a better future for them and for the EU. The topics that should be focused on are, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, “health, climate change, good and sustainable jobs in a more and more digital economy, [and] the state of our democratic societies”.

The Conference on the Future of Europe is an unprecedented, accessible and inclusive exercise in deliberative democracy. Its goal is to give everyone across Europe a greater say on what they expect from the European Union, which would then help direct the EU's future course and decision-making.

The digital platform is organised around the following main topics:

• climate change and the environment
• health
• a stronger and fairer economy
• social justice and jobs
• EU in the world
• values and rights, rule of law, security
• digital transformation
• European democracy
• Migration
• education, culture, youth and sport.

There is also an ‘open box' for other topics and ideas, as citizens can raise any issue that matters to them.

Moreover, the platform will have full transparency: all submissions and event conclusions will be collected, examined and made publicly available. The main ideas and suggestions from the platform will be used as input for the European citizens' panels and the Plenaries, where they will be debated.

Image © European Commission, 2021