The Italian Youth Convention took place from the 10th to the 12th of January 2003, in Rome.

The event, promoted by the "Osservatorio sulla Convenzione", part of the Ministry for the European affairs of the italian Government, has been attended by 207 young italians coming from 65 youth associations, local and regional youth conventions, local and regional youth forums, local and regional institutions, youth parties, universities and NGO.

Giacomo Filiback was elected President of the IYC and the presidium was composed by those italians who attended the European Youth Covention.

GFE was represented by Francesco Ferrero, Secretary General and, the other GFE Members, Giovanni Biava, Chiara Cipolletta, Massimo Contri, Giuseppe Giunta, Simona Giustibelli, Michela Izzo and Marco Valletta attended the event representing other institutions, local youth conventions, Universities etc.

Samuele Pii, GFE President, member of the IYC presidium, chaired the Commission N.2 "The Future of Europe", the Commission that discussed the future institutional asset of the Union.

The final document, solemning approved in Campidoglio (Rome City hall), in front of Rocco Buttiglione (minister of European affairs), Filadelfio Basile (Convention member) and a representative of the major of Rome, contains all the main federalist demands for the Future of Europe:
- The need of Europe to have a FEDERAL CONSTITUTION and to be founded on the PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY.
- The European Parliament has to CO-DECIDE with the Council of Ministers on every matter and should PROPOSE AND ELECT the president of the Commission: this canditature should be than approved by the head of States and Governments.
- The Council should become a SECOND CHAMBER that co-decide with the EP; in that sense all the decision could be adopted by a double majority of citizens and States.
- The Commision should be tranformed in a genuine EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT. The President of The Commission is the President of the Union.
- The Union shall have its OWN resources and a COMMON FISCAL policy
- The Union should have a SINGLE SEAT in the Security Council of the UN
- The Union shall have a EUROPEAN CIVIL SERVICE, alternative to the national one
- The final document of the Covention shall be ratified by a QUALIFIED MAJORITY
- The result of the Convention shall be judged also by the european citizens through a EUROPEAN REFERENDUM
- The Italian Youth Convention calls for a SECOND SESSION of the European Youth Convention.

I'd like to stress that, during the overture in the italian Parliament, Gianfranco Fini, deputy President of the Council of Ministers of Italy affirmed that the italian Governament is IN FAVOUR of a EUROPEAN REFERENDUM on the result of the Convention.

The overture was also attended by Pierferdinando Casini, President of the low chamber of the italian Parliament, Rocco Buttiglione, Minister of European affairs, Valdo Spini Convention Member.

I'd like also to stress that the final document has been approved with a large majority of the delegates (only 10% of the assembly was against) showing once again the revolutionary role of the federalists who, behaving like a vantguard, have been followed by the majority of those who want to render the Union more democratic, transparent and close to the citizens.

Once again, the federalists have been recognized like the vantguard of the European people.

By: Giovanni Biava; International Officer of JEF Italy
Contact: giovanni.biava@tiscalinet.it.