17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Youth Forum, the Young European Federalists and youth organisations supporting different political parties have launched an appeal for a genuine European debate during the election campaign for members of the European Parliament in June 2009. They say that they “recognise the success of European integration” but underline the fact that the only way of tackling future challenges in Europe would be to “speak and act as a real political union”. They also believe that “the composition of the Commission should reflect the results of the elections such as indicated in the Lisbon Treaty, which should be ratified as quickly a possible”. Europeans have the chance to directly influence European Union policy. European youth organisations believe that it is therefore essential to make these elections a real European event by taking on board issues affecting European citizens and not their individual national interests. (E.M./transl.rh)