Brussels, 04/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The President of the Union of European Federalists (UEF), Jo Leinen MEP, has written to Valery Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman of the Convention that is to prepare the forthcoming IGC, observing that, thanks to the setting up of this Convention, for the first time in European history, "the European system of government can be shaped by its citizens". "Our common history in Europe is full of summits and congresses to draft treaties between governments. Utrecht, Berlin, Versailles will forever be remembered for their treaties. So will Rome, Maastricht and Amsterdam", writes the German Social-Democrat, telling Giscard d'Estaing: "It would be very easy for the Convention to end up as nothing more than a talking shop for the same few people on the same few issues (…) So, the UEF calls on you to ensure that this does not happen. The Convention must seize its chance to reshape the future of Europe, to prepare the text of a Federal Constitution (…) Under your leadership, the Convention can provide a means of reconnecting the peoples of Europe with the debate about its future".