Have Your Say about Europe

You can find out more and submit your views in a number of ways.

· Send e-mails to futureofeurope@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

· You can pick up a leaflet with questionnaire from any library in the network of Scottish Parliament Partner Libraries

· Get a special pack for schools that is available through Education Authority International Co-ordinators

· If you represent a business, voluntary organisation or any other non-governmental organisation, you can attend one of 3 Autumn conferences to be held across Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Civic Forum. These will take place on:

12 September in Perth,

19 September in Dumfries and

23 September in Edinburgh.

To register an interest in attending or to find out more, please contact Niall Hermiston at the Civic Forum on 0131 225 6851 or e-mail to: niall.hermiston@civicforum.org.uk

Future of Europe Debate

The Debate began when EU leaders agreed that the next Intergovernmental Conference to be held in 2004 would be preceded by a Convention on the Future of Europe.

The Convention has been given the task of considering the key issues arising from the Union's development and involves members of national parliaments and the European Parliament, as well as representatives of Member State Governments and the Commission.

Its meetings are being held in public. The Convention will produce a series of options, or where there is consensus, recommendations, paving the way for decisions at the IGC in 2004.

At their meeting in Laeken in December 2001, EU leaders agreed a Declaration which posed a series of questions setting the agenda for the Convention.

The Declaration calls for the Convention to consider four areas:

· A better division and definition of competence in the European Union

· Simplification of the Union's instruments

· More democracy, transparency and efficiency in the European Union

· Towards a Constitution for European Citizens

The Convention

The Convention is composed of the main parties involved in the debate on the future of the European Union.

The European Council has appointed Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing as Chairman of the Convention and Mr Giuliano Amato and Mr Jean-Luc Dehaene as Vice-Chairmen. For more just click here