Press Release, Brussels, 23 May 2002

ECOSY, the organisation of European Young Socialists condemns the arbitrary and short-sighted decision taken today by the EP Delegation to the European Youth Convention. Members of the European Parliament seem to have the intention to transform the Youth Convention into a gambling table of their personal vassals.

Jan Krims, President of ECOSY, said: "The European Youth Convention was convened in order to ensure that the opinion of young people is heard and taken into account when developing a concept for the future of Europe. On the contrary, MEPs have shown that they prefer a showbiz gathering of youngsters nominated according to their personal taste".

First:
The EP Delegation to the Convention allocated for itself 14 participants, the largest contingent in order to satisfy the clientele of MEPs and only 11 for youth organisations. Moreover, there have been cases where even family relations between a member of the EP Delegation and a participant selected by the Delegation can be assumed. ECOSY considers this procedure illegitimate. Such measures are the most efficient means to undermine the credibility and popular approval of the European institutions.

Second:
The EP delegation to the Convention has decided to exclude all young nominees from the applicant countries, despite the fact that these nominees were presented by European NGOs, and thus they are the legitimate representatives of tens or even hundreds of thousands of young EU citizens.

Jan Krims stated "I consider this position as an offence against the spirit of the enlargement of the European Union. Our concept of an enlarged EU does not allow this kind of discrimination against the new EU citizens of the foreseeable future".

ECOSY warns all the parties involved that such an irresponsible conduct will ultimately delegitimise the Youth Convention, unless stopped and corrected with no delay.

Therefore ECOSY calls upon the Presidium of the Convention and the institutions concerned with the Youth Convention to reopen the list of participants for the European dimension, and establish a clear, democratic and representative criteria for the selection of participants in advance.

More information on ECOSY on www.ecosy.org