Event | 21.06.2022 | 09:00 - 14:00

Speak up! Civil society meets Greens/EFA

Got an idea about how to move the EU in a more green, just and social direction? We want to hear from you!

The Greens/EFA Group are developing our strategy for the next two years. The goal is a greener Europe, and we need to work together to get there. We’d love to hear your ideas. What’s working on the ground? What do you think are the priorities and challenges for the coming years? We’re all ears - and we’ll be taking notes.

During this half-day event, you will be able to share your key priorities, strategic initiatives and policy proposals with MEPs, campaigners and policy advisors from the Greens/EFA Group. You will have the opportunity to influence our policy-makers in an informal setting, and to network with our staff and other NGO colleagues.

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Time, venue and language

The event will take place in English on 21st June 2022, 9:00-14:00. It will be hosted in person in the centre of Brussels at Spark Meeting, 60 Rue Ravenstein.

Agenda

►9:00-9:45 – Networking breakfast

A welcome coffee and breakfast will be provided. Come and mingle after 2 years of online meetings!

►9:45 - Welcome by Philippe Lamberts, Greens/EFA Group Co-President

►9-50-10:10 - The Future of Europe

Speakers: Joy Clara Schäflein, citizen representative at the Conference on the Future of Europe; Daniel Freund, Greens/EFA MEP

During the Conference on the Future of Europe (COFE), citizens and NGOs from across the continent spoke out in favour of Treaty reform to ensure that the EU becomes stronger and more democratic.

The Parliament wants Treaty change too, and soon the ball will be in the Council’s court to agree (or not!) to this process. We will give a short update on where we are in the process of pushing for Treaty reform. What should be the priority in the follow-up to this conference that - if taken seriously - could reshape the future of Europe?

Break-out sessions in three different streams

(with coffee and refreshments available in the hall)

Leading questions: Which hot topics do you think need to be discussed more at EU level? What should EU policy-makers stand for before the polls open in 2024? What should we demand from the next EU Commission?

►10:15-12:15 Breakout stream 1: Rule of law, rights and democracy

The European Union needs to be free from autocrats and their corruptive logic. We need to uphold European values, democracy, rule of law, and to improve and enhance citizens’ rights across Europe. Fundamental rights are under attack and there is a backlash against feminism and equality. Media freedom is under attack and civil society is being squeezed by increasingly authoritarian governments. If there is a new Convention for Europe calling for Treaty changes, what solutions would be essential to achieving this?

The session will be moderated by James Kanter, Journalist, EU Scream editor.

Greens/EFA MEPs: Sergey Lagodinsky, Saskia Bricmont, Daniel Freund, Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield

Greens/EFA Campaigners: Annika Ojala, Rights and Democracy Campaigner and Nina Walch, Rights and Democracy Campaigner

►10:15-11:15 Breakout stream 2: Ecological transition

We need healthy ecosystems – for people, animals and the planet. This is a crucial decade to save our climate and biodiversity. Will the new climate package be fit for the future? How do we bring back nature? How to fix the food system in the current humanitarian crises?

The session will be moderated by Kira Taylor, Energy and environment reporter at EURACTIV

Greens/EFA MEPs: Thomas Waitz, Pär Holmgren, Marie Toussaint, Michael Bloss,

Greens/EFA Campaigners: Hedvig Sveistrup, Climate Campaigner, Emmanuel Kujawski, Food and Pesticides Campaigner, Franziska Achterberg, Biodiversity Campaigner

►10:15-11:15 Breakout stream 3: Social and economic justice

More ambition, solidarity and cooperation are the key to building a new socially, economically and environmentally resilient model for the EU. We desperately need a stronger Social Europe! Inequalities and poverty are only intensifying and crisis after crisis are underlining the need for solidarity and for a new way of thinking to create a socially just and inclusive society and economy.

The session will be moderated by Jennifer Baker, Journalist, presenter, moderator

Greens/EFA MEPs: Kim Van Sparrentak, Sara Matthieu

Greens/EFA Campaigners: Franceska Jenner, Social Justice Campaigner, Silvia Pelegrín Marugán, Economic Justice Campaigner, Ischi Graus, International Affairs campaigner, Narmine Abou Bakari, Digital Rights Campaigner

►11:15-12:30 Breakout streams 2 and 3 merge

Participants from the Ecological transition and Social and economic justice breakout sessions will join together to discuss the Social aspects of the ecological transition.

How can we achieve a socially just transition? The devil is in the details. The poorest and most vulnerable must not pay the cost for climate inaction. A socially just transformation has to mean a profound shift in the tax system.

Leading questions: How can we mainstream social justice into our policy work and campaign messages concerning the ecological transition? What should be the most important things to consider when speaking of a just green transition?

►12:40-12:55 – Summary of discussion and short debate

This short session will provide an outline of priorities and next steps that came up during the breakout and stream discussions. Participants may add more comments at this stage.