Brussels, 05/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 December in Brussels, European Commission President José-Manuel Barroso and the Commissioner in charge of Youth, Jan Figel, launched the European Youth Week 2005 under the title “Youth takes the floor”. To encourage the active involvement of young people in the European project, some two hundred young people from all over Europe were invited to Brussels to voice their opinions on key issues such as the future direction of the EU, their active citizenship and the need for better employment opportunities for young people. Over three days, youth delegates were due to have discussions with the Commission and the Parliament before adopting concrete proposals for European policymakers that could help shape future youth policies. These proposals will be based also on the results of an internet consultation of young people in which nearly 4000 took part (http: //europa.eu.int/youth) and on the findings of a specially commissioned Eurobarometer analysis. As part of European Youth Week, the best examples of projects undertaken by young people, from among the 12000 projects supported annually by the EU's YOUTH programme, will be rewarded at the European Youth Awards Ceremony. “The current Commission is dedicated to creating more jobs and a better environment for the millions of young people throughout the continent. The conclusions of this European Week will be carefully studied by the Commission”, promised President Barroso. For Commissioner Figel, “this contact with citizens from all over Europe is also a response from the Commission to the need for a more tangible Europe”.