10 Nov 2020, 12:03
The Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will discuss the Conference on the Future of Europe with academics and subject experts at a meeting in Leinster House tomorrow, Wednesday, 11 November at 9am.
The meeting of TDs and Senators, chaired by Joe McHugh TD, will meet in Committee Room 3.
Former Secretary General of the European Commission, Dr Catherine Day, Professor of European Law at DCU, Federico Fabbrini and Professor in the UCD Sutherland School of Law, Gavin Barrett will appear before the Committee by video link.
The Conference on the Future of Europe has been proposed asa two-year-long, open forum for citizens to share their views with the EU Institutions on the EU’s future priorities and democratic processes, with no pre-determined outcome.
Speaking before the meeting, Committee chairman Deputy Joe McHugh said: “The Committee welcomes this engagement with Dr Day, Professor Fabbrini and Professor Barrett to hear their expert views and opinions on questions around the Conference including the role National Parliaments should play in the event, the impact the ongoing pandemic will have on citizen participation in the Conference and the most pressing issues for citizens for discussion.
“The Conference’s proposed launch in May of this year was delayed due to the pandemic. A joint interinstitutional declaration on the Conference’s structure, scope and timing is still being negotiated by the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the EU.”
View the meeting live.