Brussels, 06/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the first meeting of the Convention on the Future of Europe, the EPP associations (SME, Christian Democrat Workers, youth and women's groups, and local and regional government) presented a declaration whereby they demonstrate their determination to create a "value-based Community". They above all request that: 1) the Charter on Fundamental Rights be integrated into the Treaties and that it should be legally binding; 2) a precise definition should be made of the Union's powers and the duties of Member States; 3) democratic control should be guaranteed at every level (national and Community), with the resulting extension of the rights of the European Parliament (which is also valid for the right of own-initiative in legislative matters); 4) in future, the European political parties play a greater role; 5) the European Commission should become a true executive power; 6) the principle of subsidiarity should be more clearly anchored at the institutional level; 8) and a youth convention should, in 2002, discuss the prospects of the EU and the results of this debate should be taken into account in the Convention's deliberations. (We recall that, in his opening speech for the work of the Convention, on 28 February, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing had himself hoped there would be a convention for young people).