According to the ECR Member Roberto Ciambetti, head of the Italian delegation in the CoR and Conference on the Future of Europe CoR delegate, "we are now witnessing a univocal debate on the future of Europe, which seems to move towards a centralised vision of the Union that leaves no room for further interpretations".

Mr Ciambetti, who also serves as the President of the Veneto Regional Council, expressed particular concern on recent proposals in the Conference on the Future of Europe to impose transnational electoral lists for European Parliament elections, which he fears would only serve to further "distance elected representatives from voters".  

His remarks fell within the context of the January CoR plenary debate, during which Mr Ciambetti urged for a permanent dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives and a greater involvement of local and regional levels in the decision-making process".

In addition, more coordination between the different levels of government — local, regional, national and European — "is essential to enable the EU to improve its democratic aspects", explained Mr Ciambetti. For him, more can be done within existing structures to strengthen the Union and democracy; a first step in the right direction would be the EU increasing its cooperation with national and regional parliaments".