PRESS RELEASE of FEDERALIST VOICE
Network for a European Constitution

The Praesidium of the European Convention has decided on the creation of seven Contact Groups in order to prepare the public hearings of civil society which are to be held. FEDERALIST VOICE, a Network of 12 European organisations in favour of a European Federal Constitution, protests against this decision. None of the seven thematic Contact Groups actually relate to the general interest of Europeans for more democratic and efficient EU institutions which are closer to the citizens.

And yet, FEDERALIST VOICE was created last February in order to respond precisely to the legitimate worry of the Convention to structure the debate and to avoid that civil society represented at Convention hearings is overdiversified, its representativity questionable and a true dialogue with the members of the Convention put in danger.

FEDERALIST VOICE criticizes the Praesidium’s vision of a compartimentalised public European space. Such a division will only increase corporatist demands. The Network calls on the European Convention to reconsider its decision about the structure of the debate with civil society as such or at least to add an eighth Contact Group on “European Democracy and Citizenship”.

Unless it is heard in the frame of such a horizontal Contact Group, FEDERALIST VOICE will have to demand to be heard within each of the current Contact Groups.

The Federalist Voice Steering committee
Brussels, 22 May 2002

European Association of Teachers - European Left - European League for Economic Cooperation - European Movement - European Young Socialists - Intergroup European Constitution within the European Parliament - International Federation of Europe Houses - Liberal and Radical Youth Movement of the EU - Permanent Forum of Civil Society - Réalités Européennes du Présent - Union of European Federalists - Young European Federalists