​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR), in partnership with the Bertelsmann Foundation, has launched a project aimed at making the voices of cities and regions heard throughout the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

This initiative provides the opportunity for 23 projects, involving more than 50 partners, to put in place innovative participatory processes and online tools to host citizens' panels at local, regional, cross-border and international levels.  

The first citizen dialogue of this project took place in Santander, Cantabria on 8-10 September 2021, where the future of Europe was addressed in several discussion sessions, see the full agenda here​.​ 

Paula FERNÁNDEZ VIAÑA, CoR member and regional executive counsillor stressed that the organisation of events in Cantabria, in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe, is a “unique opportunity" for the participation of citizens in the region. It will allow them to play a part in determining the priorities that will shape the future of the EU institutions. Conclusions and recommendations of this process will be arrived by spring 2022. 

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