Brussels, 01/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - "We are living through the beginning of a great adventure because this Convention could truly give birth to the re-founding of Europe and its institutions", European Affairs Minister Pierre Moscovici told the press. He represents the French executive component at the Convention. The aim, he says, is to "create a sort of European public area in which Europeans will recognise each other". This "collective ambition" makes it necessary for members to go beyond their "national, political and institutional sense of belonging", he added, while recognising the fact that "we must not be naïve: in such a matter, there are national interests to be defended". The members of the Convention should also ensure that candidate countries are fully involved, he said, considering that they are "observers in statutory terms" but that they must also be "full players". While referring to Victor Hugo and stressing the main differences that exist with the United States of America, he urged for the creation of the "United States of Europe", and specified that he considers this formula more dynamic than that of a "federation of nation States" (Ed.: which has always been used by the French officials to date). To achieve this, it is necessary to "combine union and diversity, unity and flexibility", said Mr Moscovici, who, in response to a question put by a journalist on a possible directorate of countries, also affirmed: "I refuse any form of directorate or even a vanguard" although a "framework" is needed (here, he cites strengthened cooperation) "for those who wish to go further".