Civil Society Organizations kick off a Citizens’ Conference on the Future of Europe. - This year’s Europe Day, the 9th of May, is marked by the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, by the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2 and by the terrible Covid-19 pandemia. At a turning point for Europe, civil society organisations across the Union are taking the lead to organise a citizen-led Conference on the Future of Europe, and send out a message of solidarity, cooperation and democracy.

The past European Parlamentary elections have shown that the citizens have great trust in this institution. Now it is time to take the next step and to initiate a democratic overhaul of the EU in order to strengthen it in the face of the incoming multitude of challenges.

The EU is mired in crisis, disoriented by Britain’s decision to leave the Union and the increasing scepticism towards Brussel's and Germany’s dominating influence. Even though the election of Macron as President of France has given new momentum to the debate on the future of the EU, it has not given this debate a more precise direction. How can citizens initiate changes in the constitutional structure of the EU in a sustainable way?