THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Towards a new legislative term

EUROPEAN IDENTITY AND THE NEW GEOPOLITICS 19 Continental tension and the aftermath of the global health crisis turned European Union (EU) attention away from matters of governance, and politico-institutional affairs in general, in 2022. The one—exemplary—ex- ception was the European Parliament, Commission and Council’s follow-up of the citizens’ proposals that arose from the Conference on the Future of Europe (hence- forth abbreviated as CoFE). Civil society (organised or not) had the opportunity to have its say in the decision-making process to im- prove the quality of European governance thanks to this model exercise in participatory democracy, even if the structure and functioning of the Conference left something to be desired in certain aspects ( Aldecoa Luzárraga, F., 2022: passim ). Below, we provide a brief outline of the CoFE propos- als on improving European governance and summarise the European Commission, Parliament and Council’s follow-up of these proposals to date. Lastly, we briefly explore the advisability and feasibility of a new Euro- pean convention to amend the treaties. How the 2022 Conference on the Future of Europe proposed to improve European governance The CoFE concluded its work on 9 May 2022 with the release of its report on the final outcome ( European Commission, 2022a ). The most practical part of the report is a list of 49 proposals for action submitted to the EU institutions. They are spelled out through 326 measures pursuing concrete objectives covering 9 topics relating to Euro- pean policy on which the EU has the power to intervene: climate change and the environment; health; a stronger economy, social justice and jobs; EU in the world; values and rights, rule of law, security; digital transformation; European democracy; migration; and education, culture, youth and sport ( European Commission, 2022a 43 ff. ). In June 2022, just a month after the conclusion of the CoFE, the Commission published a detailed assess- ment of what is needed for the EU to follow up on the Conference’s proposals ( European Commission, 2022b). The Union has provided four different types of re- sponse to the CoFE’s 49 proposals. First, regarding existing legislative initiatives that address the issues raised in the CoFE proposals. For in- stance, the European Climate Law, the circular economy package, the EU global health strategy, the New Euro- pean Strategy for a Better internet for Kids, or the Youth Action Plan in EU External Action. Second, on legislative initiatives already proposed by the Commission and which must be adopted by the Eu- ropean Parliament and Council of the European Union. For example, the New Pact on Migration and the Media Freedom Act. Third, on anticipated action to implement the ideas directly stemming from the Conference (a review of ani- mal welfare legislation, for instance). Improving European governance and the future of Europe José Candela Castillo