The future of Europe is now in our hands! In view of the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe, the European progressives have decided to launch a high-level pan-European initiative in Rome on 3 May, where we will outline our ideas on how to reinforce and deepen European integration. The EU needs to take a big leap forward if we want to be ready to seize the next opportunities and tackle the possible challenges.

Many high-level leading progressives will contribute during this special online/in person event, which will be broadcast live from Rome.

Among the speakers: the S&D President, Iratxe García Pérez, the Partito Democratico Secretary, Enrico Letta, the PES President Sergei Stanishev, EU Commissioners Frans Timmermans, Paolo Gentiloni and Nicolas Schmit, the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, former President of the EU Commission, Romano Prodi, the Italian Minister for Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani and the Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio.

Let’s take the future in our hands. Watch live online on our #Progressives4Europe platform and Facebook page. You can register here to share your ideas on a wide range of key issues, from climate action to delivering the vaccines. Follow the debate on Twitter with the #Progressives4Europe hashtag.

Read the full details about the event here.

The president of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe García Pérez MEP, said: 

“Ahead of Europe Day, we want to send a strong message from Rome: we all depend on each other. This was the core message of the 9 May Schuman Declaration: we should gradually build a Europe of solidarity. And it is time to take a new step to reform the EU to make it better able to address the needs and concerns of our citizens.

“This must be the main goal of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Next Monday we, the European progressives, will launch our joint initiative to open up to stakeholders and civil society to work together for a more efficient, sustainable, equitable and fair European Union.”

The president of the Party of European Socialists (PES), S&D MEP Sergei Stanishev, added:

“It is only logical to start our debates on the future of Europe in Rome, arguably the birthplace of the EU, hosted by our friends, the Partito Democratico.

“The European project has always been about solidarity. It is time for Europe to reconnect with citizens, to set a course for a fairer and more sustainable future for all. We are ready to make it a success, beginning once again in Rome.”

The head of the S&Ds’ Italian delegation, Brando Benifei MEP, commented:

“It is time to rebuild our Union, including its institutional architecture. Even before the pandemic it was clear that Europe needed a change of pace if we want its social and political model to survive in the future.

“Raising the quality of its democracy is crucial: the Conference on the Future of Europe triggers a long-awaited process. It is up to us now to organise and mobilise progressive forces and civil society, and to create a powerful alliance of pro-European voices, from the grassroots up.”