The Youth Convention concluded on 12 July 2002, with a joint session together with the senior Convention. The Youth Convention included in its final declaration a demand for an effective follow-up on the part of the senior Convention, including a commitment from Convention members to remain in contact with their young counterparts, as well as support from the senior Convention in involving more young people in the debate on the future of Europe. In recognition of their efforts, and of the importance of maintaining and increasing youth involvement in the Convention’s work, the Presidium of the Convention invited the President and two Vice Presidents of the Youth Convention to be observers at future sessions of the senior Convention.

The Presidium of the Youth Convention have shown their commitment to a continued and structured involvement of young people in the Convention’s work. Both Giacomo Filibeck, President, and Ellen Trane Nørby, Vice President, attended the first session of the Convention after the summer break, despite logistical difficulties such as problems in gaining passes to enter the hemicycle. It is hoped that for subsequent meetings, a solution will be found regarding their travel expenses (which are currently not covered), to allow them to continue to fulfil their mandate and to take up the invitation of the senior Convention to observe the sessions.

The Youth Convention generated a great deal of interest in the media and amongst young people around Europe. This event is being followed by national events organised in several countries, such as Denmark, Finland, and Italy. Many youth organisations, especially those organised in the Youth Contact Group on the Convention, are beginning their programmes of activity in follow-up to the Youth Convention’s final result. It still remains to be seen if the senior Convention will take seriously the huge interest among young people in its work, and engage in a genuine dialogue with young people and with youth organisations. The will is here on our side. One test will be regarding the support given to the Presidium of the Youth Convention by its senior counterpart. It should soon be clear if the commitment to involve young people is a genuine one, or if the Youth Convention was only ever intended to be an expensive photo opportunity for its seniors.

Alison Weston, alison.weston@jef-europe.net