THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION REPORT. Europe in a period of transition

THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 34 − Finally, we should highlight the importance of the de- cision taken in May regarding the European Covid-19 Digital Certificate, that came into use from 1 July and that will make it easier to recover free movement of European citizens, restricted for a year and a half as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.This decision was made using the emergency legislative procedure, adopted in record time, in slightly under two months, coordinated by the president of the Commission for Fundamental Rights, Juan Fernando López Aguilar. These four measures, among others, that we might say configure a silent federalisation , will continue over the next term of office and, therefore, will condition its development in the European Union. This is going to condition the development of the Conference on the Fu- ture of Europe considerably as, to a certain extent, the Conference will have to adjust policies, institutions and, when appropriate,Treaties to the federal innovations that have taken place over the last year. The new scope of the Conference should be understood from progress made over the last year, as explained above, that coincides with the delay in its implementation. Precisely in these circum- stances, the Conference is taking on a new dimension, consolidating the progress that has been made from this silent federalisation and, with it, strengthening the legal bases required to carry it out. This acceleration has been due to an emergency, unprecedented for at least a century, and which must therefore be addressed. This is now a case of completing the process, precisely by using the innovation that the Conference represents as a participation tool for citizen and civil society to complete this process, considering their perception and their proposals. Analysis from José María Gil‑Robles shows that this situation might be the equivalent of what happened as the consequence of World War II, which was the defini- tive thrust to set European construction in motion. Now, coronavirus seems to be playing an equivalent role, giv- ing a new boost which, in this case, consists of a relaunch that might find its footing through the Conference on the Future of Europe. Goals, compositionandcontent of theConference The Joint Declaration mentioned that the Conference on the Future of Europe will open up a new space for debate to address challenges and priorities. Participation is open to all European citizens from any social background and every corner of the European Union. Young Europeans will also play a central role when configuring the future European project. It states that “Under the umbrella of the Conference and in full respect of the principles set out in this Joint Declaration, we will organise events in partnership with civil society “…and that “Such Conference events, phys- ical gatherings or in digital settings, can be organised at different levels, including European, national, trans- national and regional level and will involve civil society and stakeholders.” The composition of the Executive Council and the Plenary of the Conference has varied as a consequence of the agreement on 26 May, reflected in the Conference procedure rules, and is composed as follows. The composition of the Executive Council is the same as planned from the Interinstitutional Declaration of 10 March which implied that the three co-presidencies have three official representatives and the right to vote. They are joined by a series of observers. Specifically, the Executive Council is composed of three MEPs who are Guy Verhofstadt (liberals), Iratxe García (socialists) andWeber (popular party); three mem- bers of the European Commission, led by Dubravka Šuica and two other commissioners; and three members of the Council, led by the secretary of State for European Affairs from Portugal, with the current presidency,Ana Paula Za- carias, and the following secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs from Slovenia and France. The observers include representatives from the remaining political groups in the European Parliament, representatives from the Member States who will occupy the following three presidencies in the EU Council, including Spain as the final observer, and representatives of the social contacts, the president of the European Federation of Trade Unions (ETUC), Luca