After the conference the organizers issued the following statement: Citizens have spoken: the "German Citizens' Perspectives on the Future of Europe" states what 200 randomly selected German citizens expect from Europe. The views of the toolmaker, the graphic designer, the theatre nurse, the IT specialist, the warehouse worker, the professor and the apprentice are clear: they want to be more involved in European decision-making processes and demand the institutionalization of the European Citizens' Consultations. They expect Europe to play a leading role in environmental and energy policy and to show greater commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energies. The citizens would like to live in a Europe with a common immigration and integration policy and that speaks with one voice. They also want a European family and social policy to be put on the agenda.
Today saw the successful conclusion of the European Citizens' Consultation in Germany. Over the course of two days, randomly selected citizens from all over the country discussed their expectations and demands vis-à-vis the future of Europe in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Günther Gloser, the Secretary of State for Europe welcomed the citizens as follows: "The EU has been a success story for the last 50 years, but citizens need to formulate new goals". Consultations were held simultaneously in Latvia, Slovakia, Hungary and Belgium. By the end of March, Citizens' Consultations will have taken place in all 27 EU Member States. Further information can be found at www.european-citizens-consultations.eu.
The German Citizens' Declaration was presented by the citizens at the close of the conference to various political representatives: Stefan Forester, Deputy Head of the Representation of the EU Commission in Germany, Dr Klaus Löffler, Head of the Press and Information Office of the European Parliament, and Ulrich Klöckner, Head of the Public Diplomacy Division of the Federal Foreign Office. All promised to honour the results. The German Citizens' Perspectives on the Future of Europe can be found at www.europaeische-buergerkonferenzen.de. (in German only)
The next steps: all results, including the 27 National Citizens' Perspectives on the Future of Europe, will be collated in a final European declaration. In early May 2007, this "European Citizens' Perspective on the Future of Europe" will be handed to the heads of the EU institutions in the European Parliament itself. These voices of Europe’s citizens will provide input and inspiration for the EU summit in June. And in Germany the process will continue yet further: the "German Citizens' Declaration" will be discussed in more detail at 15 Regional Citizens' Consultations beginning on 24 March in the town of Oberursel. These Regional Consultations are being funded by the Federal Foreign Office.
