Prodi launches website on future of Europe

The post-Nice debate on the future of the EU was officially launched in front of an audience of school children in Brussels on March 7. Commission President Romano Prodi was joined by his colleague Commissioner Michel Barnier, Swedish Prime Minister Gý Persson and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt at the European School where they outlined their positions and answered questions from the audience.

A website on the future of Europe debate called 'Futurum' was presented at the meeting. The Commission-run site is part of efforts to include as many citizens as possible in the debate. A key feature of the website is a discussion forum which will make it much easier for citizens to make themselves heard. The first contributions to the forum were made by Mr Prodi, Mr Persson, Mr Barnier and Mr Verhofstadt.

The public event was the first part of a process that will lead to a new treaty review in 2004. The first concrete decisions are scheduled to be taken at the Laeken European Council under the Belgian Presidency in December when a declaration on the future of Europe is due to be adopted.