Give Europe a Face!

The European continent is eventually re-unified since the enlargement  of the European Union  occurred on 1^st  May 2004.  After this major step in the European history the twenty five member states are now at the eve of two other crucial events: the European Parliament elections and the adoption of the draft Constitutional Treaty.

JEF strongly believes that it is time to Give Europe a Face!

In fact, it is great time to Give Europe first of all a human Face. The European Union shall have two ears and two eyes in order to be able to listen and look at its people. Citizens need to make they voice heard by using their right to vote at the next European Parliament elections. Moreover to Give Europe its democratic legitimacy it is indispensable to draw Europe's face with a mouth. The EU shall not only listen to its citizens but also speak with them and for them.  Therefore, it is essential that we, JEFfers from all over the continent, encourage  European citizens to go to the polls between the 10^th and 13^th June 2004!

It is also time to Give Europe a Constitution! According to the Eurobarometer  more than 60% of the European citizens since 2001, are willing to have a Constitution for the EU, but so far the head of States and Governments failed  to  reach any agreement on a Constitution. Though  EU leaders managed to revive the Constitutional debate at the last European Council summit in March,  they only decided to  commit themselves to finalise the European Constitution by the next Summit 17-18 June.  However, does it not make more sense  to put forward the deadline of the adoption of  this Constitution to the European elections ? Having a Constitution for the EU is already a big achievement, but adopting it before the European Parliament elections would be even a bigger step. Indeed it would ensure that the EP campaign would be a true pan European one and therefore it would also contribute to foster the democratic face of the European Union.