The European Parliament’s leaders endorsed on Thursday (4 March) the blueprint for the much anticipated Conference on the Future of Europe, a day after national governments also backed it. The Conference, which aims to reform the European Union and bring it “closer” to its citizens, is set to start its work on 9 May, Europe Day. In a statement, the leaders of the Parliament’s political groups said they wanted the reform agenda to “start its work as soon as possible”, adding that it would “contribute significantly to building a citizen’s Union.” The project has been repeatedly delayed and watered down since French President Emmanuel Macron set out the outline for it in March 2019.