Announced in 2019, the Conference on the Future of Europe is an initiative by the European Parliament, the EU Council and the European Commission. Squabbles between the institutions on who leads the programme and then the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic delayed the start of the conference, which finally launched on 9 May, Europe Day, this year.

Luxembourg’s parliament on Tuesday its plans for the conference, which aims to collect citizens’ input over the medium and long-term future of the EU and what reforms should be made.

Four “bistrot talks” have been scheduled, on 11 October at the Kulturhuef in Grevenmacher, 15 November at 46 Am Tuerm in Diekirch, 13 December at Rotondes in Luxembourg City, and 31 January next year at Brasserie K116 in Esch-sur-Alzette.

And parliament is organising discussion groups on a series of topics, including inequality, economic competitiveness, migration and climate change.

With the Parliament@Home scheme, the conference aims to encourage family and friends to discuss policy issues and submit their conclusions to the Chamber of Deputies by email to .

The Conference on the Future of Europe in Luxembourg will kick off on 26 September with a cross-border bike ride near Schengen, with members of parliament and MEPs cycling to Perl in Germany and Sierck-les-Bains to meet with locals and discuss their ideas about the EU.

Events will be announced via the parliament’s page.