When Denmark took over the EU Presidency on July 1st 2002, 1000 young people from 33 countries in Europe gathered in Copenhagen to mark this event as participants of Youth 2002 - a unique and innovative youth project organised by Danish folk high schools and a number of international organisations - chaired by Asbjørn Lyby, Brandbjerg Folk High School and IUC Europe's Nina Nørgaard.

Representatives were welcomed by The Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen at his residence Marienborg.

The project aimed at bringing young people together for 2 weeks in Denmark to discuss the future of Europe and write a draft for a European constitution. Prior to the conference in DK the participants had prepared themselves for the event by taking part in a a 9-week web dialogue on European issues; subsequently they were questioned about their values and attitudes in 3 questionnaires.

This part was organised by our partner in the project: The House of Monday Morning - a Think Tank (and the World Economic Forum). The results can be studied in the report: First Generation Europe (published by MM and WEF in Sept. 2002).

Youth 2002 is IUC-Europe's most important long-term project and will be followed up in the summers of 2003 and 2004 with our partners. IUC will be instrumental in setting up a platform and creating networks for young Europeans interested in discussing the enlargement, globalisation and democratic organisation of the EU.