Commission support for public consultations

23.3.2018

Question for written answer E-001779-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Jérôme Lavrilleux (PPE)

On 14 March, the French Government made known the arrangements for the ‘public consultations’ based on the idea announced by President Macron in his speech at the Sorbonne.

This project, which aims to gather citizens’ views on and contributions to European policy, has received support from 26 States, some of which have already held events in relation to the project.

The first in France will take place on 17 April and others, in the form of debates organised by civil society, will run until October. This initiative has been anticipated, coming as it does at a time of mistrust towards the EU, sometimes as a result of a misunderstanding of European issues, and at a time when Europe is becoming aware that it can now rely only on itself in this dangerous and unstable world.

The public consultations will put citizens back at the heart of the European project, following a period in which it has been distanced by the poor functioning of the existing instruments. Mr Juncker may participate in the consultation on 17 April but the Commission’s contribution to this project has not yet been finalised. The Commission does not seem to wish to challenge its current vision of public dialogue, the effectiveness of which, however, has not been demonstrated.

How will the Commission support and promote these public consultations which are essential to re-launching the European project?