Brussels, 05/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - 1000 young people representing political organisations in the EU and candidate countries are gathering at the Palais des Congres in Brussels on Saturday on the occasion of the "European Youth Convention on the Future of Europe".
Organised by Young European Federalists (JEF), in collaboration with other associations, this Convention comes in the wake of the declaration on the future of the Union adopted in Nice by the Fifteen last December, which provides for "a wider and deeper debate about the future of the European Union", so as to pave the way for further reforms in 2004. On the eve of the European Council of Laeken, which is to be an important step along this process, the young politicians intend demonstrating that over and above political differences there is a broad European-wide consensus in favour of a Constitution and a European Federation. Speaking at the Convention will be Isabelle Durant, President-in-Office of the Transport Council, European Commissioners Pascal Lamy and Michaele Schreyer, as well as MEPs Daniel Ducarme and Graham Watson. (Info: http://www.jef_europe.org/convention ).