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Raul Garcia Hemonnet
La Conference on the Future of Europe It is an opportunity for European citizens to discuss Europe's challenges and priorities.
The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have committed to listening to citizens and following up, in their respective spheres of competence, on the recommendations made on issues such as 'Climate Change and the Environment', 'Health', 'Economic Strength, social justice and employment', 'Presence of the EU in the World', 'Values and Rights, rule of law and security', 'Digital transformation', 'European democracy', 'Migration' or 'Education, culture, youth and sport '.
Within the framework of holding this Conference, the URJC has gathered to a series of academic experts, politicians and members of the Institutions of the Union to analyze the proposals presented and the deliberations and debates carried out. A few days before the plenary session of the Conference (March 24 and 25) that will analyze the proposals prepared by the Working Groups, the URJC has carried out a day of analysis from the academy, held in the afternoon of this last Monday.
The view from the University
This first session included presentations by professors such as Fernando Suárez and Enrique Anguita, Julio Guinea, Cristina Hermida and Rogelio P. Bustamante (Jean Monnet Chair), from the URJC, Antonio Estella from the UC3M and the 2017 Sajárov Prize winner and activist for the Human Rights, Lorent Saleh.
“Issues such as the construction and consolidation of the Space of Freedom and Justice, the transformation of EU law or the need to reform the treaties from an ambitious perspective were addressed so that Europe has a relevant place in the face of current challenges”, indicates Julio Guinea. , one of those responsible for the Conference, organized by URJC and Universidad A Distancia de Madrid. Likewise, he points out, "some cases of discrimination carried out by Member States, the historical journey of the Conference that closes the current phase with a positive balance, although with an important need for reform" were commented on. In addition, “Lorent Saleh transferred the last hour of the situation on the border between Poland and Ukraine, where he is and from which he called to maintain sanctions against Russia, warning of certain violations of said sanctions. The session was held online and Internet users from Europe and Latin America connected to it.
The event was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences, who encouraged organizers and participants to "continue reflecting on European issues in a situation like the current one".
Political and institutional analysis
The congress is completed with the session on March 28, in which the leading role will be for MEPs, experts and members of European Institutions such as the Commission. The presence of the MEP José Ramón Bauzá (PP), Alicia Homs (PSOE), Patxi Aldecoa, professor at the UCM and member of the European Federalist Movement; Florent Marcellesi, former MEP for the Greens, and Álvaro Rojas, coordinator of the Spanish Delegation to the European Committee of the Regions.
All of them will analyze in depth, from the point of view of their sensitivities and political groups, the results of the plenary session of the Conference "For this session we have people who have participated directly in the Conference and we will have the Commission's vision of it, that is to say of the Government of the Union”, announces Julio Guinea.
An opportunity to learn first-hand about the issues and debates that will surely define the future of Europe and, more specifically, of the European Union.