Young people back ‘chamber of EU citizens’

Date: 07/11/02

By Martin Banks

MEMBER states should be expelled from the European Union if they contravene principles set out in its new constitution.

This is one of the recommendations contained in a draft treaty drawn up by 1,000 young people from 33 European countries who took part in a 'Youth 2002' event in Denmark this summer.

The draft supports the overall aim of the Convention on Europe's future in attempting to 'reconnect' the EU with its citizens. It also envisages the establishment of a 'Chamber of Citizens' which would represent the interests of ordinary people.

The document calls for the Charter of Fundamental Rights to be incorporated into any future treaty. The draft has been sent to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the chairman of the Convention, and will also be distributed to heads of state and government leaders at the Copenhagen summit next month.

Dane Asbjorn Lyby, chairman of Youth 2002, said: 'It was a great event and our hope is that more young people - and, indeed, other European citizens - will be given the same opportunity to take such an active role.'

Meanwhile, a group of Eurosceptic MEPs, including Dane Jens-Peter Bonde, and UK Conservative David Heathcoat-Amory, this week unveiled an alternative to the skeleton constitution unveiled by Giscard last week. Branding Giscard's treaty as the first step to an EU 'superstate', the so-called Democracy Forum called for simplified decision-making, more transparency and national parliamentary control.

Bonde said: 'The constitution presented by Giscard will create a United States of Europe. We need an alternative vision to stop parliaments from being stripped of their powers by a future superstate.'

The Convention is due to finish its work in June 2003.

Member States should be expelled from the European Union if they contravene principles set out in its new constitution. This is one of the recommendations contained in a draft treaty drawn up by 1,000 young people from 33 European countries who took part in a 'Youth 2002' event in Denmark.