Connecting Citizens and local authorities with the Conference on the future of Europe
The current crisis shows that the more all levels of government (European, national, regional and local) are able to work together in a coordinated way, the better they can deliver on the challenges. Our President François Decoster therefore promoted the principle of active subsidiarity to Adrián Vázquez Lázara MEP (Spain/Ciudadanos), chair of the JURI Committee of the European Parliament. Vázquez pleaded for a larger role for local and regional authorities in a conference that would be lead by LRA’s and citizens.
Adrián Vázquez Lázara MEP highlighted how COVID-19 changed everything, including having an impact on the future of governance in the EU:
Renew Europe CoR President François Decoster raised the necessity to respond to flaws which became more evident during the pandemic.

Adrián Vázquez Lázara MEP
Vázquez stressed the necessary role of local and regional authorities.
Our member Jean-Luc Vanraes added that:
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the preparations of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which should run for two years. Negotiations are still ongoing to kick-start the process and a joint interinstitutional declaration or statement is expected from the three institutions on the scope, topics, working methods and leadership of the process. The status of the Conference was discussed during the CIVEX Commission on 22 September 2020 in the European Committee of the Regions.
🇪🇺 Cada vez son más los municipios que quieren tener voz en Europa y quieren ser protagonistas en el futuro de la UE. El Ayuntamiento de Albacete y su alcalde, @Vicente_Casan son un ejemplo de ello.
Así lo ha explicado @AdrianVL1982 en su discurso ante el Comité de las Regiones. pic.twitter.com/6kVCoDvitX
— Ciudadanos Europa 🇪🇺🇪🇸 (@Cs_Europa) September 22, 2020
.@AdrianVL1982 discussing #futureofeurope Conference @EU_CoR:🗣”If debate is enriched by local & regional authorities – the level of government that knows firsthand what its citizens need – & true goal is to set up a future of the Union, we’ll succeed”👉https://t.co/DWPbp3VW5p pic.twitter.com/CMdgD8Dciy
— Renew Europe CoR (@RenewEuropeCoR) September 22, 2020