As part of the Conference on the Future Europe, the Socialists and Democrats will host a citizens’ debate in Malta where people will have their say on the future of Europe. To kick off, interactive exchanges on topics like climate change, social rights, the digital transition and what young people want for the EU’s future, S&D Group president Iratxe García Pérez will be joined by Malta’s Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli. You can view the full programme of our “It’s your Europe, have your say!” debate here.

Due to current health restrictions in Malta, physical presence at the event will be limited. For this reason, participants need to register for the event online here.

The full event will also be web streamed live on the #Progressives4Europe debating platform.

Iratxe García Pérez, S&D Group president, said:

“As the pandemic eases, we are ready to step up our activities on the Conference on the Future of Europe where citizens’ views are the focus. From the very beginning, we committed to delivering a more democratic and more transparent Europe. An essential part of our work is to burst the Brussels bubble, get closer to people and close the gap between citizens and the EU. That is why the Socialist and Democrats Group is in Malta, a place where we can listen, where we can explain and where we can gather diverse ideas from a large number of European citizens. This is a shared project and we need to work together, in every corner of Europe, to build a stronger, better, fairer Europe.”

Alfred Sant, Head of the Maltese Delegation of the S&D Group, said:

“The opportunity before all Europeans is to discuss from the ground up what they would like the future of Europe to be, and their proposals to achieve this. It is an opportunity which will best succeed if full space is given to all to participate fully in an open and democratic dialogue. The S&Ds are committed to making this dialogue a success while setting forward our own vision of a Europe that stands for social justice, gender equality, economic security for all citizens and environmental renewal. By organising the event on the Conference on the Future of Europe being held in Malta this week, the S&D Group is again giving witness to our commitment. We all very much look forward to listening and learning from the discussion.”