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- Ελληνικά
The work of the Open Dialogue of the House of Representatives with civil society and in particular with our young people, in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe, started and concluded today. Greetings were given by the President of the Parliament Mrs. Anita Demetriou and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs Mr. Harris Georgiades, while the event was greeted online by the Vice-President of the European Parliament Mrs. Eva Kaili and the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Mrs. Stella Kyriakidou.
During the discussion under the thematic section "Climate change, environment, health", the speakers focused on the current challenges facing civil society in the relevant areas. Key concerns on environmental issues that require immediate action by the European Union (EU) were mentioned and the need for collective action by both Member States and citizens themselves to implement the Green Deal was highlighted, as its benefits far exceed the costs of its implementation, as well as the need for a timely and effective response to the environmental crisis. Among other things, the need for equal access to quality healthcare, the modernisation and digitalisation of health systems, the importance of prevention of various diseases and the development of a European plan to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy ageing were highlighted.
Under the thematic section " European democracy/values and rights, rule of law, security", the participants focused on the issue of the lack of information among European citizens, especially young people, on the functioning and role of the EU and its decision-making processes. The need to ensure that the whole of society is represented at EU level, without any form of exclusion, was stressed. Reference was also made to the importance of equal representation in decision-making centres, as well as ensuring the participation of young people. It was noted that due importance should be given to the digital transition, including digital democracy, with a view to a more active involvement of all citizens in order to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms. According to the participants, the elimination of all forms of discrimination is a prerequisite for upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights. Consequently, it was pointed out that adopting positive measures and taking action is crucial to eliminate inequalities, discrimination and intolerance in order to strengthen the rule of law.
The discussion on the theme "Stronger economy, social justice and jobs / education, culture, youth, sport / digital transformation" focused on the main challenges facing civil society in the relevant areas. In particular, reference was made to the impact of the pandemic on businesses, especially SMEs and households, and the need to legislate on teleworking and the right of workers to disconnect, as well as on tackling financial illiteracy. In addition, the key role of education in creating active and aware citizens and the need to reform the educational model from knowledge-centred to people-centred, with an emphasis on the development of skills and critical thinking, in order to equip young people to cope with the modern needs of the labour market, were also highlighted. In addition, the importance of young people's participation in decision-making centres and in the implementation of their recommendations through feedback was stressed, as well as the urgent role that our young people must play in ensuring European identity. Regarding the issue of digital transformation, the importance of enabling all citizens to make use of digital technology to further strengthen democracy in the EU was underlined.
In the context of the thematic section "Europe in the world - migration", the mismatch between the EU's capabilities in the field of security and foreign policy in contrast to those in the economic field was discussed, as well as the highlighting of the EU's weaknesses in taking collective action, on the occasion of the current developments in the The question of the limits of the EU's strategic autonomy, the delineation of the EU's relationship with NATO and other international actors, and the existence or otherwise of the gap between safeguarding national interests and the common foreign, security and defence policy was also raised. The prospect of a European army as a tool to support the Union's foreign policy was also discussed. Various aspects of the issue of migration were also discussed, such as the social integration of migrants, the return of those not in need of international protection, the need to dismantle networks of traffickers, and the actions and omissions of the Union in the Mediterranean region that contribute to the disproportionate increase in migratory flows. Finally, the disproportionate burden borne by Cyprus and other first host Member States was underlined, as well as the need to adopt a common European framework for the management of asylum and migration, based on the principle of solidarity between Member States and the human rights conventions.
The House of Representatives will continue with such initiatives of mutual feedback from and to citizens as a necessary step and means of addressing small and large challenges and strengthening the rule of law.
