Released on April 24, 2003

Speaking ahead of this week's Convention plenary session, Alison Weston, President of the Young European Federalists (JEF) stated, "Its time for Valery Giscard d'Estaing to show that he is taking the Convention method seriously and reflect the views of the majority of members of the Convention."

"With less than two months of the Convention left to run, its time that Valery Giscard d'Estaing reflected the Convention's demands for a democratic and understandable Union. His recent proposals represent a huge step away from this goal and a giant leap towards a more confusing and less legitimate system."
JEF Europe today launches its newspaper, 'The Daily European' at the Convention plenary session. Set in the future European Federation, the newspaper offers a visionary look at the roles of the leading political players in years to come under the headline 'EU Jobs Exclusive'.

"Always one step ahead, JEF has proposed its own solution to the institutional questions", continued Alison Weston.

"By drafting detailed job descriptions for the major roles in the future European Union and putting them together in a newspaper format, we aim to achieve what the Convention so far has not: to present a coherent, understandable, and democratic vision of the EU in a simple and interesting manner."

"The Daily European sends a strong message to the Convention: that only a European Union with a strong Commission held to account by the European Parliament will be enough to ensure a truly democratic Europe."

"We agree with Giscard that the EU needs a strong President. But in the Commission, not in the European Council."

Issue 1 of The Daily European is available at:
http://www.jef-europe.net/dailyeuropean/