On 7 December 2023, the General Secretariat of the Council published its assessment on the follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, which concluded on 9 May 2022 (→ eucrim 2/2022, 84-85). It provided an updated assessment on the follow-up, specifically the proposals and specific measures outlined in the report on the final outcome of the conference.

The update highlighted the progress made in implementing the 49 proposals and 326 related specific measures across nine key topics. It provided examples of major achievements to illustrate each key topic:

• Economic Strength, Social Justice, and Jobs: Implementation of new rules for adequate statutory minimum wages, gender balance on corporate boards, and equal pay for equal work among other initiatives;
• Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports: Approvals and recommendations to leverage sports for sustainable development, mutual recognition in education, and to enhance youth involvement in politics;
• Digital Transformation: Adoption of the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act to regulate the digital space, and an agreement on a European digital identity;
• European Democracy: Conclusions on the safety of journalists and the promotion of fundamental rights, along with initiatives for political advertising transparency;
• Values, Rights, and Security: Actions against disinformation, terrorism, and digital empowerment;
• Climate Change and Environment: Emergency measures during the energy crisis, new agricultural policies, and emissions standards, etc.;
• Health: Regulations on cross-border health threats and frameworks for medical countermeasures in public health emergencies;
• EU in the World: Support for Ukraine, candidate status for accession to the EU for Ukraine and Moldova, and measures for strategic independence;
• Migration: Extension of temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine and ongoing discussions on the Migration and Asylum Pact.

The document noted the Council's work on specific measures that it can implement on its own, e.g., on disinformation and on media literacy. It also explores the possibility of using passerelle clauses for qualified majority voting in certain policy areas. Overall, the assessment showcased a comprehensive effort by the EU institutions to implement the Conference's proposals, emphasizing their continued commitment to responding to citizens' concerns with tangible policy actions.