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PRESS RELEASE Embargo: immediate Thursday 5 December 2002
CONVENTION TO DEBATE DEMOCRACY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, will participate in the Convention on the Future of Europe taking place today Thursday 5 December and tomorrow Friday.
The main issue to be debated by the Convention, under the chairmanship of former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, will be simplification of decision-making procedures. The Convention is to examine ways in which the number of law-making procedures can be reduced from 15 to 3 and provide for greater democracy and transparency in these processes.
The second item of business, to be debated tomorrow Friday, is a report on Justice and Home Affairs. This will focus on the ability of the Union to take common decisions on immigration and asylum, including the ability of the Union to act in combating cross border crimes, such as drug-smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
Andrew Duff, who is the European Liberal Democrat representative on the Convention (and one of the 9 British members), said that: "Simplification and democracy are essential if Europe is to address public concerns about crime and insecurity."
ENDS/.. Editors' note Andrew Duff is a member of the Convention on the Future of Europe and spokesman on Constitutional affairs for the European Liberal Democrats. He is also the chairman of the Liberal caucus within the Convention.
Contact: Andrew Duff on +44 7703471659 or Guillaume McLaughlin on +32 478 201 299.
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Andrew's
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in the European Parliament since 1999
Andrew is Vice-President of the European Parliament delegation to the Constitutional Convention on the Future of Europe.
Andrew drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights which has strengthened the rights of all the citizens of the European Union.
Andrew is working for improved links between the EU and Turkey, to encourage improvements in Turkey's human rights record and to enhance its democracy.
Andrew's campaigning in the East of England
Andrew has led calls for the Air Travel industry to be subjected to the same rigorous environmental criteria as other modes of transport
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