The European Commission announced the date of May 9, 2021, as the official start of an extensive program called ‘The Conference on the Future of Europe’, one year later than initially planned, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 10, 2021, the European Parliament President, the Prime Minister of Portugal on behalf of the Presidency of the Council, and the European Commission President have signed the Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe