Brussels, 28/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Presidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe, met up on Wednesday afternoon in Brussels under the Presidency of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, to discuss its future work, particularly its next plenary on 15-16 April on future EU missions. The Presidium Secretariat were examining a document on the current situation, "Describing the Status Quo", part of an "educational exercise", which had been commented on in the press by the spokesperson, Nicholas Meyer-Landrut. Four general questions on the missions that the EU would like to organise but won't be able to act out before the plenary of 23-24 May. The Convention will be examining the issue of "how" to carry out these missions, which will provoke a lively debate on the sharing out of competencies. (President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing commented during his meeting with the Constitutional Committee of the European Parliament that MEPs will have a lot to contribute on the issue of competencies).
The Convention also discussed the preparation of the Convention on Youth, to be held on 9-10 July. Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing pointed out at the Constitutional Committee that MEPs would play a role in choosing the Youth Convention members in the different countries. This selection (youngsters aged between 18-25) will be done in co-operation with youth associations in the different countries, whereas funding and the organisation will fall to the European Commission.