Today the Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe initiated by Civil Society Europe through a joint declaration, currently endorsed by 72 organisations active at pan European level, had its first meeting..

The Civil Society Convention on the Conference of Europe was initiated to create a link between civil society organisations and the institutional setting of the Conference, in order to ensure an ambitious, structured and looking forward agenda of the Conference on the Future of Europe, and that citizens’ proposals and concerns will be taken into account in the agenda setting, discussions and be followed up with the most adequate and concrete policy, legislative and if relevant treaty change solutions.

Following the official launch of the “Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe” with the European Parliament and the European Commission early this February, a constituent meeting was held this afternoon, attended by representatives from endorsing organisations, aimed to discuss and adopt a work programme, timeline and decide on the Governance of the Convention.

Two co-chairs were elected: Alexandrina Najmowicz, Secretary General of the European Civic Forum and Milosh Ristovski, Secretary General of JEF Europe, the Young European Federalists. They will coordinate the work as well as represent the Convention towards the Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

The Convention also elected additional members of the Steering Committee who will lead the thematic clusters starting from the political areas identified in the Joint Declaration adopted by the EU institutions on health, the fight against climate change and environmental challenges, an economy that works for people, social fairness, equality and intergenerational solidarity, ensuring that Europe’s digital transformation works for people, promoting European rights and values and the Rule of Law, reinforcing a sustainable and human rights driven EU’s role in the world, as well as reinforcing democracy.

Gabriella Civico from the Centre for European Volunteering, Céline Fabrequette, from Ecolise, the the European network for community-led initiatives on climate change and sustainability, Elisa Gambardella from Solidar, Patrizia Heidegger from the Green10, Assya Kavrakova from the European Citizens Action Service, Piotr Sadowski from Volonteurope and Antonella Valmorbida from the ALDA, the European Association for Local democracy, will set the pace for the preparation civil society recommendations to the Conference and setting out key principles of participation based on inclusiveness and equality.

For further information, please reach out to us at contact@civilsocietyeurope.eu