We entered a new decade in European history. On the 28th of February – with the optimistic words: “Vive l’Europe” – Mr. Giscard d’Estaing opened the first meeting of the convention. Giscard and the other convention members had one thing in common: they feel the importance to achieve a positive result at the end of the convention.

Besides the need for democratic reforms, many politicians underlined the necessity to involve the civil society and the public in their discussions. Mr Giscard d’Estaing as well as Mr. Dehaene emphasised the need to involve young people, and they also mentioned a special Youth Convention supposed to be established in the months to come. The Youth-Platform for the Convention, including EYF, JEF, ECOSY, YEPP, LYMEC, FYEG, and many others will get in contact with the presidium and the secretariat of the convention in order to investigate our possibilities to be involved in this Forum.

Today’s second issue of the Convention Bulletin focuses on the topic of institutional reforms and on the different German opinions concerning the convention. We included a report on the opening of the first convention meeting, interviews with Klaus Haensch and Elmar Brok, and articles of German Youth Organisations.

The next two issues focus on “Europe and the nation state” and “Enlargement”. If you wish to contribute to these topics, please feel free to send a mail to: contributions@constitutional-convention.net.

Best greetings,

Your Editoring Team, JEF-Europe