Proposals and Topics
On this page, you will find a summary description of all the Conference proposals and the corresponding specific measures. These follow the order of the nine CoFE themes. To select a theme, please click on the right- side menu. It will first display the proposals for each theme, followed by a summary description of the corresponding measures.
5. Values and rights, rule of law, security
· Rule of Law, Democratic values and European Identity
· Data protection
· Media, Fake news, Disinformation, Fact-checking, Cybersecurity
· Media, Fake news, Disinformation, Fact-checking, Cybersecurity (bis)
· Anti-discrimination, Equality and Quality of life
Upholding EU values across all EU countries: Values enshrined in the EU Treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights are non-negotiable, irreversible and necessary conditions for EU membership. To make these values tangible, the Plenary proposes a European citizenship statute and a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations. A European public sphere (including audio-visual and online media outlets) should be developed, including by further EU investment. Annual conferences on the rule of law (following the Commission' Rule of law Report) with delegations from all Member States (citizens, civil servants, parliamentarians, local authorities, social partners and civil society) should be organised. The 'Conditionality Regulation' and other rule of law instruments should be effectively applied, and a similar approach may have to be put in place even in areas not relevant to the EU budget.
Media independence and the fight against disinformation: Proposals are also put forward to promote media independence and pluralism, as well as media literacy, including through legislation addressing threats, potentially at business model level. EU competition rules should be strictly enforced to prevent monopolies and ensure independence from undue interference. Quality journalism should be promoted and an EU body for disinformation and interference is among the key proposals, complemented through more efforts to promote media literacy, including through mandatory school trainings. Online platforms should also have to issue clear statements about the algorithms they use, while safeguarding free speech and privacy.
Data protection and cybersecurity: The Plenary wants to boost data protection and make it more citizen-oriented. To this end, the current rules should be more strictly enforced, for example by increasing the sanctions for violations and by creating stronger enforcement mechanisms. Other proposals aim to boost privacy by making sure that it is taken into account in the design process and as a default option, and wants to better protect children's data, for example by creating a separate category of sensitive data. Also, the Plenary wants to better protect people and institutions from cyber-threats by reinforcing the EU agency for cybersecurity (ENISA), and by improving coordination between national cybersecurity authorities.
Anti-discrimination, equality and quality of life: The EU should develop transparent quality of life indicators including economic, social and rule of law criteria, aiming to raise social standards and a common EU socio-economic structure. Proposals also call for public investment in education, health, housing, physical infrastructures, care for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as additional investment to guarantee appropriate work/life balance for citizens. Taxing large corporations, fighting access to tax havens and eliminating their existence in the EU to fund priority areas such as education and research is also proposed. The proposals also ask for EU-wide criteria on anti-discrimination in the labour market (and outside of it) and incentivizing (subsidies, temporary quotas) the hiring of people in vulnerable groups.