How to better involve citizens in the European integration process.
Evaluations and proposals in view of the upcoming EP elections.
The aim of the seminar which is organised by TEPSA’s member institute Istituto Affari Internazionali is to fill the political/institutional void left by the protracted ratification process of the Treaty of Lisbon, and to recreate a strong political connection between voters and European institutions. Particular attention will be given to the European Parliament and its transnational political parties, in view of the upcoming elections. Four points are to be studied in depth:
(1) how to best use the powers of the European Parliament to widen its role as a guarantor of democratic values in European decision-making processes
(2) what role must the European political parties assume in order to support the democratic processes
(3) the fixing of programme priorities for the next legislative period
(4) and finally, how to present, during the electoral campaign, the names of the candidates for the Presidency of the Commission, in partial anticipation of what is provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon.
Main aim of the initiative is thus not just to launch (once more) a proposal for European political parties to indicate a name for the post of President of the European Commission, but to support a more crucial and central role for the European Parliament, both in terms of power exercise and of inter-institutional dialogue. From a more political perspective, it is also necessary to take into consideration the EP’s connections with the European political parties and internal political groups, with their political priorities and platforms. Finally, future political-institutional relations with National parliaments will be part of the whole picture.
The programme of the Conference is available here.
Place: Centro Studi sul Federalismo
Time: 09.00-16.00 h
Contact: Yvonne.Nasshoven(at)tepsa.be