After the debate on the problems of European integration held in the European Parliament last May and the further debate in the EP on 29 November, introduced by a report by Irish Premier Bertie Ahern, the representatives of the national parliaments and of the EP met in Brussels on 4-5 December to discuss the “Future of Europe”. Three specific themes were examined both in work groups and in plenary session: “The future funding of the Union”; “Towards a common energy policy”; and “The role of the EU in conflict prevention”. The conference was conceived to furnish citizens, EU institutions and national parliaments with “ideas for reflection” and “an occasion for debate”, whose results will be brought by the Finnish Presidency of the European Council to the attention of the summit of the 25 planned for 14-15 December.
