09/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to the President of the European Youth Forum, Giacomo Filibeck, writing in a press release, draft article 34 (on participatory democracy), unveiled last week by the European Convention's Praesidium, "provides ground for an important innovation in the Constitution, namely that the EU's primary law would recognise for the first time the vital role civil society plays in European democracy". "However, the draft we have seen today falls somewhat short of our expectations", said Filibeck, continuing: "the European Youth Forum considers that the article 34 should also include the objective of promoting active citizens in and through NGOs. In order to involve young people in the Future of Europe, special emphasis has to be made promoting youth participation through NGOs that work with and are run by young people".