Conference delegates to discuss EU's future

A major conference is taking place on the future of the European Union today following last year’s rejection of the EU constitution by voters in some countries.

The event was organised as part of the Party of European Socialists’ (PES), People’s Dialogue initiative, after voters in France and the Netherlands last year went against the EU Constitution.

Labour Party spokesman on European affairs, Ruairi Quinn, who is hosting the conference in Dublin's Mansion House, said: “The People’s Dialogue is our effort to engage with the public on their views on how Europe can meet the concerns of its citizens.

“As such, the Dublin event is the first in a series of events to be held by PES member parties in a number of Member States.”

Mr Quinn said the party wanted to hear issues most relevant to citizens in Europe following the French and Dutch ‘No’ votes to the constitution.

On the conference, he said: “This will help us find the policies that will unite the people of Europe.”

Some of the people addressing the conference include Poul Nyrup Rasmussen MEP, former Prime Minister of Denmark and current President of the PES, and Klaus Hansch MEP, former President of the European Parliament.