We celebrate the inclusion of Future Generations in the Political Guidelines for 2024-2029 as Ursula von der Leyen embarks on her second term as President of the European Commission.
In her speech following her nomination, she presented a bold and comprehensive agenda stretching from defence to competitiveness and sustainability, but most importantly, committed to keep the EU a leader in ensuring the rights of Future Generations.
“We must ensure that decisions taken today do not harm future generations.”
She takes on this role during turbulent, humanity-probing times that will decide the long-term course of the European Union. With the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, where world leaders will convene to appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations, and multiple countries having a track record of establishing representatives and institutions for Future Generations, it is imperative that the EU follows suit.
The Political Guidelines also promise the appointment of a Commissioner whose mandate will include ensuring intergenerational fairness.
“We must also ensure that decisions taken today do not harm future generations and that there is increased solidarity and engagement between people of different ages. To lead this work, I will appoint a Commissioner whose responsibilities will include ensuring intergenerational fairness.“
What does it mean in practice? We don’t know yet, but we will work hard to make sure it has a real impact. To operationalise this concept the Future Generations Initiative offers three crucial steps:
- Legally Establish the Rights of Future Generations: It is essential to clearly define the rights of future generations which are already mentioned in the EU law. We must enforce obligations already present in the existing norms and principles.
- Integrate Foresight into Legislative Processes: Foresight should be an integral part of the European Commission’s legislative process. Every new legislative proposal must be assessed against its long-term impact; based on science and anticipated challenges.
- Involve Citizens in Long-Term Decision-Making: Citizens should actively participate in decision-making processes, especially in strategic thinking on long-term issues. Initiatives like the Conference on the Future of Europe were important first steps in this respect. Such citizens’ assemblies should ensure that the interests of those who cannot currently speak for themselves are taken into account.
We warmly welcome the appointment of the Commissioner as an important development in EU governance. This monumental step signifies the EU’s commitment to future generations and sets a powerful precedent for global governance. The Future Generations Initiative will relentlessly continue to ensure this achievement is just the beginning of the change towards including Future Generations into our thinking and legal systems.