Bringing the EU Closer to its Citizens? The Conference on the Future of Europe and its Impact on Participating Citizens

This paper deals with the thesis that involving citizens in EU policymaking would bring them closer to the EU. More specifically, it investigates to what extent citizens involved in the Conference on the Future of Europe 2021-2022 believe that taking part in this deliberative experiment influenced their relationship with the EU and if so, why and in what way. It draws on a qualitative study that combines observation of Conference sessions with semi-structured interviews with participants. I argue that, after their involvement, these citizens express more support for the idea of European integration, which can mainly be explained by the insights gained. At the same time, this does not necessarily imply uncritical adherence to the EU in its current form and functioning. Instead, citizens conclude that the EU needs to be reformed. My qualitative study not only provides insights into the experiences and perceptions that explain this finding, but I also show how citizens' relationship with the EU becomes more nuanced through participation and interpret the results with reference to debates in the literature on both attitudes towards Europe and active citizenship.