"The period of reflection: 18 months later?": the EU asked this, in Brussels, during a forum on the "Future of Europe", in the attempt to "move on from analysis to action". Convened by the president of the EU Parliament Josep Borrell and by the Finnish president Paavo Lipponen, hundreds of politicians, experts and citizens have met yesterday and today to examine the deadlock that followed the French and Dutch votes against the Constitution and to "see what steps can be taken to move on as the floor said yesterday towards integration". The first such meeting had taken place on 8th and 9th May and had helped "revive, nationwide, the debate on the future of the EU experience". Three workgroups were held yesterday on as many topics: the future funding of the EU; towards a common energy policy; the role of the EU in conflict prevention. Today, the results of the groups will be exhibited on the floor at the EU Parliament and will be commented by the president of the Council on duty, the Finnish Matti Vanhanen, and by the president of the EU Commission, the Portuguese José Manuel Barroso. Vanhanen himself will submit the conclusions of the debate to the summit of the heads of state and government of the 25 EU member states on 14th and 15th December.
