By the BBC's Janet Barrie

The convention on the future of Europe, which is due to start its work later on Thursday, faces a formidable task.

It has to work out how to overhaul the way the European Union works, to be ready when the union takes in up to 13 new members.

EU states have to decide how far they are prepared to pool their national sovereignty - and how much they are prepared to decide as a block

And it has to win the hearts and minds of Europeans who feel more and more that the EU and its institutions are remote, undemocratic and bureaucratic.

It cannot change these things by itself.

Instead, it will meet for a year and thrash out ideas to present to EU leaders to help them decide on reforms in 2004.

Changing business

The convention will be headed by the former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

It is made up of over 100 politicians from 28 countries - representatives of national governments from the 15 EU states as well as the 13 countries hoping to join, plus members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The convention has to counter a wave of apathy and make the workings of the EU seem relevant and interesting to people's lives, especially to the young

There will be a wider forum too, briefed to canvas opinion from the public.

The convention's job might be formidable but it is vital.

It has become obvious to Europe's politicians that they have to change the way they do business.

What started as a union of just six countries in the late 1950s could have expanded to include 25 in just two years time.

Without basic reforms the whole decision-making process within the EU could grind to a halt.

There are already plenty of ideas on the areas to be tackled.

Decision-making at the level of the council of ministers - where national governments meet - has to be improved.

More decisions have to be approved by a majority of states, reducing the dependence on unanimous decisions.

EU states also have to decide how far they are prepared to pool their national sovereignty and how much they are prepared to decide as a block.

And what about foreign policy - should the EU act as one or should member states go it alone?

And what about harmonising taxes across the union or having a one-size-fits-all approach to agriculture?

More results

It all seems dry and abstract but the convention has to make it seem practical and relevant.

Giscard d'Estaing has been described as the 'day before yesterday's man'

Setting out its remit, the declaration from the EU summit at Laeken last December said Europe's citizens wanted "more results" and not "a European superstate or European institutions inveigling their way into every nook and cranny of life".

And the convention has to work out how to interest Europe's citizens in what is being done in their name.

It also has to counter a wave of apathy, make the workings of the EU seem relevant and interesting to people's lives, especially to the young.

And here there is a particular problem.

Mr Giscard d'Estaing is 76-years-old - hardly the sort of person, say critics of his appointment, to enthuse the youth of Europe with the EU.

He has been described as the "day before yesterday's man" - and the rest of the convention does not do much better.

Too many old European politicians, say critics, and far too few women.

This convention may look too much like just another EU talking shop, but its founders insist it is revolutionary.

Meetings will be held in public and input will be received from "civil society", where too much in the EU before has been decided by politicians behind closed doors.

But ultimately, to be credible it has to come up with answers to some very difficult questions.