Conference on the Future of Europe: The final recommendations voted by the Citizens’ Panel are in and will be taken forward to the plenary (link in comments)
Conference on the Future of Europe: The final recommendations voted by the Citizens’ Panel are in and will be taken forward to the plenary (link in comments)
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1. We recommend that strategic products from European fabrication (such as
agricultural products, semiconductors, medical products, innovative digital
and environmental technologies) should be better promoted and financially
supported to keep them available and affordable to European consumers and
reduce dependencies from outside Europe to the largest possible extent. This
support could include structural and regional policies, support to keep
industries and supply chains within the EU, tax breaks, subsidies, an active SME
policy as well as education programs to keep related qualifications and jobs in
Europe. However, active industrial policy should be selective and focused on
innovative products or those that are relevant to secure basic needs and
services.
2. We recommend that the EU reduce dependencies from oil and gas imports.
This should be done by actively supporting public transport and energy
efficiency projects, a Europe wide high speed rail and freight network, the
expansion of clean and renewable energy provision (in particular in solar and
wind) and alternative technologies (such as hydrogen or waste-to-energy). The EU should also promote the cultural change from the individual car towards
public transport, e-car sharing and biking.
3. We recommend a law is passed at EU level in order to ensure that all EU
production and supply processes and the goods which are imported, comply
with qualitative, ethical, sustainable and all applicable human rights European
standards; offering certification for products abiding by this law.
4. We recommend the implementation of a European-wide programme to
support small local producers from strategic sectors across all Member States.
These producers would be professionally trained, financially supported
through subsidies and encouraged to produce (where raw materials are
available in the EU) more goods fulfilling requirements at the expense of
imports.
5. We recommend to improve the implementation of human rights at a European
level through: Raising awareness in countries that do not comply, at the
required extent, with ECHR (European Convention of Human Rights) or the
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; a
strict control, coordinated by the EU and the Justice Scoreboard, of the extent to which human rights are respected among Member States and a strong
enforcement of compliance through different types of sanctions.
6. We recommend a revision and an intense communication campaign at a cross
European level to be initiated in order for EURES (European Employment
Services), the EU Immigration Portal and the EU Skills Profile Tool for Third
Country Nationals to be better known by European citizens and more
frequently accessed by EU companies in order to advertise and publicise their
vacancies.
7. We recommend that a system for labour migration into the EU that is based
on the real needs of the European labour markets is created. There should be
a unified recognition system of professional and academic diplomas from
outside and within the EU. There should be professional qualification offers as
well as cultural and linguistic integration offers for qualified migrants. Asylum
seekers with relevant qualifications should be given access to the labour
market. There should be an integrated agency for which the European
Cooperation Network of Employment Services could be the basis.
8. We recommend that the European Union expands its legislation to assign
more power and independence to Frontex. This enables them to intervene in
all Member States so that they can ensure the protection of all external
borders of the EU. However, the EU should organise process audits on the
organisation of Frontex, as full transparency is needed in the functioning of
Frontex to avoid all kinds of abuses.
9. We recommend that the European Union organises, specifically for economic
migrants, the possibility of screening citizens (on proven skills, background,
etc.) in the country of departure; this is to determine who is eligible to come
and work in the EU, depending on the economic needs/vacancies of the host
country. These screening criteria must be public and consultable by everyone.
This can be realised by creating an (online) European Agency for Immigration.
10. We recommend that the European Union ensures that the welcoming policy
and facilities at each border are the same, respecting human rights and
guaranteeing the safety and health of all migrants (for example pregnant
women and children).
11. We recommend that the EU enforces restrictions on the import of products
from countries that allow child labour. This should be done through a blacklist
of companies that is periodically updated according to current conditions. We
furthermore recommend to ensure gradual access to schooling for children
leaving the workforce and to promote consumer awareness on child labour
through information made by official EU channels, e.g. campaigns and
storytelling.
12. We recommend that the EU establishes partnerships with developing
countries, supporting their infrastructure and sharing competences in
exchange for mutually favorable trade deals to aid them in the transition
towards green energy sources.
13. We recommend that the EU introduces a mandatory eco-score to be displayed
on the front of all products that can be bought by the general consumer. The
eco-score would be calculated according to emissions from production and
transportation, as well as harmful content, based on a list of hazardous
products. The eco-score should be managed and monitored by an EU
authority.
14. We recommend that the European Union adopts a strategy in order to be more
autonomous in its energy production. A European body integrating the
existing European energy institutions should coordinate the development of
renewable energies depending on the needs, capacity and resources of
Member States while respecting their sovereignty. The institutions would
promote knowledge sharing between them to implement this strategy.
15. We recommend higher environmental standards for the export of waste inside
and outside of the EU and more stringent controls and sanctions to stop illegal
exports. The EU should incentivise the Member States more to recycle their
own waste and use it for energy production.
16. We recommend that the EU encourages the ongoing environmental transition
in a stronger way by setting a goal of eliminating polluting packaging. This
would involve promoting less packaging or more environmentally-friendly
packaging. To ensure that smaller companies can adapt, help and adjustments
should be provided.
17. We recommend that countries of the European Union, together, look into the
question of nuclear energy more seriously. There should be increased
collaboration around the assessment of the use of nuclear power and its role
in the transition that Europe needs to achieve towards green energy.
18. The EU should be closer to the citizens. We recommend that the EU creates
and strengthens links with citizens and local institutions, such as local
governments, schools, and municipalities. This should be done in order to
improve transparency, reach the citizens and communicate better with them
about concrete EU initiatives and general EU information.
19. We recommend stronger citizen participation in EU politics. We propose direct
citizens’ involvement events, similar to the Conference on the Future of
Europe. They should be organised on a national, local and European level. The
EU should provide a coherent strategy and central directions for these events.
20. We recommend that a future ‘Joint Armed Forces of the European Union’ shall
predominantly be used for self-defence purposes. Aggressive military action
of any kind is precluded. Within Europe, this would entail a capacity to provide
support in times of crises such as in the case of natural catastrophes. Outside
European borders this would provide the capacity to be deployed in territories
in exceptional circumstances and exclusively under a respective legal mandate
from the United Nations Security Council and thus in compliance with
international law.