On the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, the Swiss Working Group of Youth Associations (SAYV) was commissioned to organise a youth session. This took place for the first time on Wednesday, 25 September 1991. From the more than 600 interested young people, 246 debated in lively debates on community service (one week before it was on the agenda of the Federal Assembly), waste and the environment, Switzerland in the world, the peace issue, asylum policy and the relationship between Switzerland and the European Community (EC). More than 30 representatives of young parties and almost 100 parliamentarians followed the proceedings from the stands. A special highlight of the Youth Session was the twenty-minute discussion between Federal President Flavio Cotti (CVP, TI) and the participants at the end of the Youth Session. At the end of the Youth Session, National Council President Ulrich Bremi (FDP, ZH) and Council of States President Arthur Hänsenberger (FDP, BE) received the demands of the youth: a free choice between military and civilian service (without extending compulsory service to women), joining to the UN and, by 98 votes to 67, joining of the EC.