La Conferenza sul futuro dell'Europa: le prospettive di riforma dell'Unione europea secondo i cittadini e la loro (difficile) attuazione

This article illustrates the proposals of reform of the EU that emerged from the debate within the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFE), questioning the success of what has been described as the largest experiment in pan-European democratic consultation. Consistent with the principles of inclusivity, openness and transparency, the Conference was intended as a ‘bottom-up’ process for citizens to express their opinion on what they expect from the European Union for the future. After describing its hybrid architecture, which combines citizens’ participation and inter-institutional negotiations, the proposals made by citizens on the topics subject to consultation are shortly illustrated and the difficulties in their full implementation are highlighted. This examination leads to some critical remarks on the unprecedented process of deliberative democracy.