Conference on the Future of Europe: fourth European Citizens’ Panel this weekend

This media advisory provides information on the arrangements relating to the first meeting of the fourth European Citizens’ Panel (which focuses on EU in the world / migration), including how to follow and cover it.

European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka Šuica, will welcome the 200 citizens, before they begin their deliberations in the last European Citizens’ Panels session scheduled to take place in Strasbourg.

When: Friday 15 October 2021 (14.00, CEST) to Sunday 17 October 2021 (14.00, CEST).

Where: European Parliament in Strasbourg

The panels will meet again online in November for their second respective sessions, and for the third time in European institutes in several European cities (Dublin, Florence, Warsaw and Maastricht) in December and January to conclude their work, in full respect of the applicable health and safety measures.

Background

The European Citizens’ Panels are a central feature of the Conference organised by the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission based on their Joint Declaration. The Panels’ deliberations are based on citizens’ contributions collected from across Europe on the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as support and presentations from prominent academics. Find out more about how the Panels work and what they will deliver in the recent press release.

The first European Citizens’ Panel meeting took place from 17 to 19 September at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, followed by a second one on 24-26 September and a third on 1-3 October. In each Panel, 200 citizens from across the Member States (a third of them younger than 25) debate topics within their respective remit:

(1) A stronger economy, social justice, jobs / education, youth, culture, sport / digital transformation;

(2) European democracy/values, rights, rule of law, security;

(3) Climate change, environment/health; and,

(4) EU in the world/migration.

Free audiovisual material is available on Parliament’s Multimedia Centre.

Download an infographic on the Conference’s timeline and the Commission’s Factsheet, or read about the practical modalities of the Panels and download the provisional calendar of the Conference.

Interviews with citizens

Media representatives will be able to interview citizens who are willing to engage with journalists, using Parliament’s dedicated spaces and equipment if needed (booking required). EP press officers will be available to facilitate the process and liaise where necessary.

Further media opportunities

Additional exchanges with members of the Common Secretariat, the Panels’ facilitators, and any observers to the Panels from the Executive Board that may be present in Strasbourg, as well as other technical experts, may also be possible throughout the weekend, to be organised upon request.

Audio-visual coverage

Excerpts from the plenary meetings of the European Citizens’ Panels, i.e. in which all 200 of their members will participate, will be broadcast on EbS+ and live streamed on the Conference Platform and Parliament’s Multimedia Centre, where the recordings will remain available for download.

Accreditation

Annual press badges (either inter-institutional badges or EP badges) are valid. Journalists without an access badge need to request accreditation before 15 October at 15.00 via the journalist registration website. Badges must be collected from the Strasbourg reception desk located on the LOW-Parvis entrance to Parliament by 15 October at 16.00.

COVID-19 prevention measures

Journalists can attend, provided they strictly follow the health restrictions and measures put in place by the French authorities and the European Parliament. Any media physically present at the event are requested to respect social distancing of 1.5 m while on EP premises and to wear a medical face mask at all times. Entrance to Parliament wearing so-called ‘community masks’ or other masks made of textiles will not be allowed.

Access

Media access will be facilitated through the main entrance to the Louise Weiss building. The doors will open at 12:00 on Friday 15 October. The separate press entrance will be closed.

Working areas

The following areas will be accessible for journalists:

• Working space and access to the video feed inside the press room
• Press gallery of the chamber (the chamber itself will not be accessible to journalists and camera crews)
• Media space outside the Hemicycle for video recording (booking required)

Wi-Fi will be available in all parts of the building. The login and password will be communicated on the day.

Audiovisual facilities (booking required)

The following audiovisual services will be provided:

• Live camera positions in self-service near the chamber. Each media is to bring its own equipment and cabling; power and internet broadband connection will be available
• Multimedia studio

To allow us to best facilitate your work, please send in your requests before Friday 15 October at 13:00 to [email protected]. Please note that the usual range of audio-visual facilities (TV and radio studios, crews, editing …) will be limited.

Photo Opportunities (booking required)

Photo and video pools will be organised for the:

• Photo opportunities in the hemicycle (access exclusively reserved for photographers upon registration – see contact below)
• Chamber (access exclusively reserved for photo agencies)

All journalists will be able to follow the Live coverage from the Press Room screens.