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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8524
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/future of europe

Young people recommend creation of a European criminal justice system for combating organised crime

Brussels, 20/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - The third summer university of Cluny brought together around sixty young Europeans. From 10 to 20 July 2003, they had the opportunity to tackle four major themes: - European identity and values; - the legal and institutional aspects of the EU; - external relations; - and economic and social issues. After their work, they mainly urged for the development of educational twinning and programmes for the young. They also consider that 9 May should be a holiday throughout the Union. In the fields of culture and education, they state that cooperation should promote "unity in diversity". They are in favour of a Constitution and the extension of citizenship rights. In order to combat organised crime, they suggest the creation of a real European criminal justice system comprised of: - a criminal court and an appeal jurisdiction; - a European Prosecutor's office; - the attribution of power of inquiry to Europol under the control of the European Prosecutor; - a European criminal code and rules of criminal procedure. As far as external relations are concerned, the young participants consider that the draft Constitution should be amended to provide in the "long term" for the EU to have the possibility to be represented by a single permanent representative, the European Foreign Minister within the United Nations Security Council. Among the aims of the Union's foreign policy, they mainly insist on peacekeeping, development cooperation and the eradication of poverty as well as on the creation of a world organisation for protection of the environment. The young citizens are in favour of enhanced cooperation in the defence field.

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GENERAL NEWS