Brussels, 08/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - As they had already done in other towns, especially in Vienna, President Borrell and the presidents of the political groups at the European Parliament took part in a Citizens' Forum with young people in Helsinki, on 2 June. The debate was opened by the president of the Finnish parliament, former Prime Minister PaavoLipponen, who recalled that, a century ago, Finland had been the first country to bring in universal suffrage. According to an EP press release, the voting age was the main theme discussed, with most heads of political groups being ill-inclined to lower the age. Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP-ED) advised participants to make their voices heard by joining youth political organisations, and Graham Watson (ALDE) urged them to learn the spirit of leadership. Other themes discussed were: - life-long learning (evoked by Martin Schulz for the Socialist Group and Francis Wurtz for the GUE/NGL Group, who considered funding earmarked in the 2007-2013 financial perspectives for this were insufficient); - sport and health (Daniel Cohn-Benit, for the Greens/EFA, stressed the role that schools can play); - minorities (Jens-Peter Bonde for IND/DEM, answered questions put by the representatives of Samis, one of the indigenous peoples of Europe); and - discrimination (speaking for the UEN group, Brian Crowley called for a change in behaviour, mainly towards people with disabilities).