20 November 2006

European children will be given the chance to have their say - as youngsters from around the world take part in an online debate.

Hosted by the European Commission's vice president Margot Wallstrom, young people from the UK, Spain, Romania, Finland and Lithuania are set to take part in the Internet forum, which will be broadcast live in 21 languages.

Youngsters up to the age of 18 from all over Europe will also be invited to take part, sending their views and questions direct to the panel.

Ms Wallstrom commented: "When discussing the future of Europe, we politicians need to listen to citizens from all walks of life and children are certainly citizens too - they are our future."

Olivia Lind Haldorsson, head of Save the Children's Brussels office, added that the right of children to participate is "a fundamental principle of the UN [United Nations] Convention on the Rights of the Child".

The debate takes the form of an Internet chat forum, with questions - such as how to make Europe a better place to live - posed to participants.

© Adfero Ltd

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