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Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 11:59:14 +0200
From: Constitution Campaign <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Press Release - European Constitution Week
Sender: Constitution Campaign <[log in to unmask]>
To: - Invalid Address -
Reply-To: Constitution Campaign <[log in to unmask]>
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Jeunes Européens Fédéralistes
Young European Federalists
Campaign for a European Constitution - http://www.euraction.org
PRESS RELEASE
"EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION WEEK - September 24-28"
Local sections of JEF all across Europe organise public actions, meetings
with national and European MPs to campaign for a European Constitution.
Sections outside the EU will be organising events with national politicians.
Despite talk of "bringing Europe closer to the citizens", the next reform
of the European Union at the Intergovernmental Conference will exclude the
representatives of the European citizens in the European Parliament and the
member states' parliaments. Reform will be passed without any real debate
among the political parties and the European citizens. JEF believes that a
new IGC of diplomats and unanimity is unacceptable and incapable of solving
the fundamental questions the European Union faces today. The European
Parliament must make its voice heard.
The Union needs a real Government and a real law-making Parliament; strong,
democratic and transparent institutions closer to the citizens and no
longer blocked by the unanimity rule; a single foreign, security and
defence policy that makes the Union able to play an effective role on the
world scene. This can be achieved only through a real constitutional
debate on the future of the Union leading to comprehensive and far-sighted
reforms. It is time to base the Union on a true Constitution made by the
representatives of the European citizens in the European Parliament and the
member states' parliaments.
Laura Davis, 24, Secretary General of JEF-Europe, said "Young people want a
Europe of the 21st century that guarantees peace, stability and prosperity.
By excluding MEPs and citizens from the decision making processes, the
Heads of State can only further alienate people from the EU and will not go
far with the reforms.
Paolo Vacca, 29, of JEF-Europe Federal Committee added "1999 has so far
shown a Europe in crisis: the Union needs fundamental reforms now. It is a
disgrace that the next IGC will exclude the citizens. Without a federal
Government and Constitution, the EU will simply lurch from one crisis to
another. It should be main task of the new European Parliament to launch an
initiative to arrive to a European Constitution"
JEF will lobby the MEPs to demand that the European Parliament is fully
involved in the next reform of the Union, with a right of "constitutional
co-decision" on a basis of full equality with the governments of the member
states, and drafts a true European Constitution to be put forward to the
governments and the parliaments of the member states.
For more information:
European Secretariat : Place du Luxembourg plein 1, B-1050 Bruxelles/Brussel
TEL . : +32-2-512.00.53 - FAX : +32-2-512.66.73
e-mail : [log in to unmask] http:www.jef-europe.org
http//www.euraction.org
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Patrick Overy
EDC Librarian
University of Exeter
Amory Building
Rennes Drive
EXETER EX4 4RJ
Tel. (01392) 263356
Fax. (01392) 263196
e-mail [log in to unmask]
website http://www.ex.ac.uk/~pcovery/lib/eurostudies.html
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