Copenhagen/Brussels, 17thof June 2003

"The constitutional treaty adopted by the Convention last week should be carried as it is!. The process has been open and transparent and it is of great importance that all countries now support the line and content of this final draft of the Convention "

says Ellen Trane Nørby, President of LYMEC, European Liberal Youth and continues:

"All the governments were represented in the convention and have had their chance to contribute to the final result. Therefore I can see no justification for intervening now, when the work has been finished, and I sincerely hope that the agenda of the institutions will not be re-opened at the IGC and the Summit in Rome".

The Constitution should be considered as a historical turning point in European history. It forms the basis for a European Union of 25 member countries stretching from North to South and East to West on the European Continent and leaving less and less outside.

"From a liberal point of view the constitution is not perfect but it contains some clear improvements from the earlier Treaties. It is clear, readable and much more simple and democratic in its structure."

says Ellen Trane Nørby, President of LYMEC – European Liberal Youth - and Vice-President of the Youth Convention. She continues:

"LYMEC is very happy with having the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights included in the constitution as well as giving co-decision to the European Parliament in a broader number of issues. But there are however a large number of issues which we would like to have seen resolved differently"

To LYMEC the Convention is not only significant for its open working method, but also significant because it has included the representatives from the 10 incoming countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. How can one imagine a better start of the enlargement that that they have had a change to influence the cooperation the are about to join?

For more information please contact:
Ellen Trane Nørby
LYMEC President
Tel: +45 22 28 91 40
Mail: ellen.trane.norby@lymec.org

Editors note: LYMEC – European Liberal Youth is the youth of the ELDR, European Liberal Democratic Party and Group in the EP. LYMEC consists of 67 liberal youth and student organisations, 150000 members from all over Europe and has several other liberal organisations on its interested list.