29/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - As part of the European Year of People with Disabilities, the "European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education" (with headquarters in Middelfart, Denmark), is holding a public hearing on 3 November at the European Parliament in Brussels for young people with special needs. This hearing aims to give them the opportunity to present their personal perspectives and ideas on this type of education to the EP and European institutions, and to meet other young people, from 22 different countries. The agency is unique in the field of special needs education: it is independent, supported by the European Commission, the Education Ministers of the Fifteen plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic take part as observers (http://www.european-agency.org ).