The Conference on the Future of Europe is founded on a Joint Declaration, which was signed at a ceremony by the presidents of the Council of the EU, European Parliament and European Commission on 10 March 2021. The Conference, which is jointly headed by the presidents of the European Parliament,  the European Commission and the country presiding over the Council of the EU, i.e. the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša in the second part of the year, is due to be officially launched on 9 May 2021 in Strasbourg.

An Executive Board with three representatives from the three above-mentioned institutions will be responsible for the operational management of the Conference. The ministers or state secretaries of the presiding countries, i.e. Portugal, Slovenia and France, will represent the Council of the EU throughout the Conference.

Most of the discussions will be held during the Conference’s plenary sessions, which will be attended by representatives of EU institutions, national parliaments, citizens and other stakeholders. Additionally, panels on different topics will be organised at the European level, while the Member States are invited to arrange their own national consultations. The debates at various levels focus on a specific digital platform set up by the European Commission, on which different proposals, initiatives and discussion reports as well as event announcements shall be published.

The Ministry held its first national debate on 18 March 2021, which was attended by both State Secretary Dovžan and French Minister of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune. The officials participated in a round table with students via audio-video conference, discussing and trying to find answers to what kind of Europe they wish to build.