This eighth annual high-level meeting discussed the topic “The Future of Europe: a values-based and effective Union”. The meeting is part of the regular dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations foreseen by Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: “Europe is at a pivotal moment, and for me the most fundamental thing we must do is listen to organisations that represent our citizens, whatever their faith or convictions. The Commission is seizing this unique moment to discuss the future direction of the European Union. Our common European values must remain the bedrock of our future choices, and we are consulting widely on how to effectively anchor our future policies in our shared values. Talking with religions, churches and non-confessional organisations is an important part of this process.”

Today’s high-level meeting is an occasion for in-depth discussion, addressing questions around the issues of values and governance. The current discussion around the future of Europe raises a number of questions about how to make Europe more effective, more democratic and more relevant. The participants also addressed the social dimension of Europe, looking in particular at the basic social principles that must be promoted at European level and how best to approach this. The organisations present were invited to work with the Commission throughout the reflection process on the future of Europe, to relay the views of the organisations they represent, and to further encourage debate on the ideas discussed at today’s meeting.

Background

Today’s high level meeting with representatives of philosophical and non-confessional organisation is the eighth in the series of meetings launched by the Commission in 2009 when the dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations was enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty (Art 17 TFEU). The dialogue is under the responsibility of First Vice-President Timmermans.

The Commission will hold its annual meeting with religious leaders on 7 November 2017 on the topic of the Future of Europe.

On 1 March 2017, the European Commission adopted a White Paper on the future of Europe (IP/17/385). The aim of the White Paper is to encourage debate on how to ensure that the EU can protect, defend and empower all its citizens. It sets out the main challenges and opportunities for Europe in the coming decade: the impact of new technologies, globalisation, security concerns and the rise of nationalism. It underlines the need to grasp new developments and seize new opportunities. The White Paper presents five possible scenarios for how the Union could evolve by 2025 depending on how Member States choose to respond.

The White Paper marks the beginning of a process for the EU27 to decide on the future of their Union. To encourage this debate, the Commission, together with the European Parliament and interested Member States, will host a series of ‘Future of Europe Debates’ across Europe’s cities and regions. The Commission has also fed the debate with a series of Reflection Papers on five defining issues for the EU by 2025. Four reflection papers have already been adopted: on developing Europe’s social dimension (26 April), on harnessing globalisation (10 May), on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union (31 May), and on the future of Europe’s defence (7 June). A Reflection Paper will follow on the future of EU finances is due for adoption on 28 June.

President Juncker’s State of the Union speech in September 2017 will take these ideas forward and first conclusions could be drawn at the December 2017 European Council. This will allow decisions on a course of action to be rolled out in time for the European Parliament elections in 2019.

For More Information

– White paper on the future of Europe and the way forward

– European Commission’ dialogue with churches, religious communities and philosophical and non-confessional organisations

List of Meeting Participants

–  Ms Marie-Thérèse BESSON, President, Institut Maçonnique Européen, Grand Master of the Women’s Grand Lodge of France –  Ms Martine CERF, Secretary General of Egalité Laïcité Europe (EGALE). –  Ms Claudette CLAVEL, Grand Maître Adjoint de l’ordre Maçonnique Mixte International International Order of co-freemasonry “Le Droit Humain”. –  Mr Andrezj DOMINICZAK, President, Polish Humanist Association. –  Mr Giulio ERCOLESSI, President of the European Humanist Federation –  Mr Philippe FOUSSIER, Premier Grand Maître Adjoint of the Grand Orient de France –  Mr Manuel LOPEZ ALVAREZ, President of the Spanish Federation of the International Mixed Masonic Order, “El Derecho Humano”. –  Ms Lone Ree MILKAER, President of the Danish Humanist Society –  Mr Keith PORTEOUS WOOD, Executive Director of the National Secular Society –  Mr Jean-Michel REYNAUD, President of the Contribution des Obédiences Maçonniques Adogmatiques et Libérales à la Construction Européenne (COMALACE) –  Mr Claude WACHTELAER, President of the European Association for Free Thought (AEPL). –  Mr Oscar de WANDEL, Grand Chancellor of the Grand Lodge of Belgium. –  Mr Frieder Otto WOLF, President, Humanistischen Verbandes Deutschlands (HVD).

The High Representative/Vice President/Head of Agency and the Secretary General of NATO are submitting to the respective Councils in June a progress report on the implementation of the 42 actions. It is a factual account on concrete achievements made so far.  Some specific actions are worth highlighting:

Hybrid threats

EU-NATO cooperation on countering hybrid threats is more important than ever. Ten out of the forty-two proposals are linked to the fight against hybrid threats. EU and NATO, along with Member States and Allies, will contribute to and participate in the activities of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats set up in Helsinki.

Better situational awareness is critical for our work to counter hybrid threats effectively. The establishment of the EU Hybrid Fusion Cell and its interaction with the NATO Hybrid Analysis Cell will help us draw up a shared situational picture.

Strategic Communication

Collaboration between strategic communications teams will help convey the message that we stand united, notably in support of our partners and in delivering coordinated messages.

Maritime coordination

Cooperation and coordination between Operations EUNAVFOR Med Sophia and Sea Guardian have been enhanced through regular information sharing and logistical support. This builds on existing cooperation in the Aegean Sea and experience acquired in the Indian Ocean.

Cyber security

Recent coordinated cyber-attacks across the globe demonstrate the need to tackle vulnerabilities of our societies and institutions. The exchange of concepts on the integration of cyber defence aspects into the planning and conduct of missions and operations has opened the door to increased cooperation in this domain.

Defence Capabilities

EU Member States and NATO Allies have one single set of forces. On defence capabilities, staffs are increasing efforts to ensure coherence of output between the NATO Defence Planning Process and the EU Capability Development Plan.

Exercises

Preparations for parallel and coordinated exercises are well advanced. For the first time, next autumn NATO and the EU staffs will exercise their response to a hybrid scenario in a parallel and coordinated way.

Supporting partners’ capacity building

Assisting partners in building their capacities and fostering resilience, in particular in the Western Balkans, and in our Eastern and Southern neighbourhood is our common objective. Cooperation on the ground and at Headquarters level in this respect has strengthened substantially. Key areas of interaction have been identified such as strategic communications, cyber, ammunition storage and safety in three pilot countries, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Moldova and Tunisia as a first step.