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So far, over 5,500 EU-citizens have participated in one of the broadest web based consultations in the EU's history on citizens' rights and the future of Europe – the latest Commission figures released recently show. On 9 May, Europe Day, the European Commission called on citizens all over the European Union to help set the policy agenda for the years to come and shape the future of Europe (IP/12/461). Until 9 September, all Europeans can share their views on questions such as "How would you like the European Union to develop in the near future? In what kind of European Union would you like to live in 2020?"

As Europe is facing major challenges, not least as a result of the financial and sovereign debt crisis, political debate is increasingly becoming a debate about the near and long term future of Europe. At the last European Council in June, leaders discussed about the need to take Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) to a "new stage". However, any further integration in the economic and fiscal field needs to be legitimate in the eyes of the people of Europe. This is why the report of the 'four Presidents' (the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the President of the Eurogroup and the President of the European Central Bank), published on 26 June, specifically states: "Overall, closer EMU integration will require a stronger democratic basis and broad support from citizens. For this reason, it is essential that already the process towards realising this vision is based on wide consultation and participation. Integration and legitimacy have to advance in parallel." Following a proposal from the Commission, 2013 is set to become the European Year of Citizens (IP/11/959). The European Commission wants to seize this occasion to take citizens on board when shaping the Union of tomorrow and listen to their visions for the future of Europe.

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