“The EU can be at the forefront of the Third Industrial Revolution” asserts Rifkin.

The 2nd Agora began yesterday in the EP in Brussels in the presence of all Presidents of the European institutions, thus underlining their full political support and attention for this new initiative which highlights the importance of European participatory democracy.

Thursday’s session focused on empowering the individual with regard to climate change. Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation of Economic Trends, spoke about the need for Europeans to address new solutions to the dual problems of climate change and the energy crisis.

Keynote speaker Jacqueline McGlade of the European Environment Agency in particular insisted on the key role of civil society and the individual in effecting change.

Discussions continued in five workshops during the course of Thursday afternoon, covering Resources, Techniques, Solidarity, Economy and Governance as they relate to the issue of climate change.

The European Movement has been strongly involved in the organisation of the AGORA which contributes to its central philosophy of encouraging participation of citizens across Europe in European affairs and thus helping to create a European public sphere. In this regard, the second AGORA was a great success, involving citizens from over 27 States and inviting them to Brussels to engage in discussions on climate change at the highest level.

The AGORA will continue until this afternoon when the conclusions from the workshops will be presented to the public in the presence of Commissioner Günter Verheugen. EMI Secretary General, Henrik H. Kröner, will co-moderate the closing plenary, which can be seen live on the European Parliament WebTV.

Brussels, 13 June 2008