YOUTH CONVENTION: YOUNG EUROPEAN FEDERALISTS CALL FOR AN ONGOING DEBATE WITH EUROPEAN YOUTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday 2 May 2002
For the attention of Newsdesks
Contact: Marianne Bonnard, tel: 32 2 512 00 53

The Young European Federalists (JEF) believe that the proposed Youth Convention, to be held 11-12 July 2002, offers a good opportunity to raise the public profile of the work of the Convention and to encourage debate among young people about the future of Europe.

The selection process for the Youth Convention will be crucial in determining its success. The Young European Federalists support the inclusion in the selection process of National Youth Councils and the European Youth Forum, as the recognised representatives of youth organisations. We believe that the Youth Forum’s proposals, supported by the Youth Contact Group on the Convention, represent the best way to ensure an open and transparent process, which can choose candidates who can contribute in an active and continuing way to the construction of Europe.

The Young European Federalists believe that the role of existing youth organisations and networks, which represent millions of young people across Europe, must be recognised. If the Youth Convention is to fulfil the goal of stimulating public debate across Europe, it should make use of these existing youth structures to maximise its impact.

Alison Weston, President of JEF Europe, said “The Youth Convention must not be merely a public relations exercise, but must be part of a continuous process by which the voices of young people can be heard.”

JEF is part of the Youth Contact Group to the Convention, which also includes ECOSY, YEPP, LYMEC, FYEG, DEMYC, EDS, ETUC Youth, IUSY, and ATD Quatre Monde. For further information see www.constitutional-convention.net.

Contact: Marianne Bonnard, JEF Secretariat, tel: +32 2 512 00 53, mailto:secretariat@jef-europe.net