The Young European Federalists see Europe, and the European Union, as a political community, based not primarily on a shared culture and religion but on the basis of shared values of democracy, respect for human rights and peaceful economic co-operation. The European Union should be open to countries whose citizens consider themselves European and share the political aims, goals and aspirations of the Union.

The Federal Committee of the Young European Federalists, meeting in Prague 28-30 March 2003,
Rejecting:

- The idea that there exists a single cultural, ethnic or religious basis for eligibility for membership of the European Union.

- The notion that membership of the European Union could be granted to any country for strategic reasons, and without the country submitting to the same tests under the same criteria as other applicants.

Regarding:

- The European Union as a political community of citizens and states that have freely joined, and who share above all a set of values, foremost of which are democracy, rule of law, respect for human and minority rights and a belief in peaceful political cooperation
Appreciating

- The positive role the European Union has played and will continue to play in promoting the processes of democratic and economic reform in states bordering the European Union and acknowledging the role played by an aspiration to EU membership in this process.

- That states that are members of the Council of Europe have made a clear statement of their European identity and regarding these countries as possible future members of a truly pan-European federation.
Supporting

- The EU membership bid of any European country that shares the aspirations of the European Union and subscribes to its values as set out in the Copenhagen Criteria: democracy and the rule of law, respect for human and minority rights and a functioning market economy
Calls on

- The leadership of all European States that are not members of the European Union to continue political and economic reforms in order to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria and launch accession negotiations with a prospect of their membership in the EU

- The prime ministers and presidents of the European Union to make absolutely clear its commitment to the eventual EU membership of any European country respecting the Copenhagen criteria

- The EU to do everything in its power to speed up the process of opening accession negotiations with all European States that are not members of the European Union in view of their prospective EU membership when all necessary criteria are satisfied

- Politicians, the civil society and the media to contribute its share in rejecting the notion that being European and having the right to be part of the EU depends on subscribing to a particular culture or religion

- Politicians, the civil society and the media to launch a joint all-European campaign of combating harmful stereotypes and prejudice based on differences of culture and religion

To find the resolution online, click: www.jef-europe.net/policies/archives/001094.html.