Annual Report 2008 - European Youth Parliament

Greetings by the Chairman of the Heinz-Schwarzkopf-Foundation
Dear Friends of the European Youth Parliament,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
the year 2008 was a successful year for the European Youth Parliament. For the first
time more than 90 events took place all over Europe and involved close to 20.000
young people in dialogue, discussion and debate. It was also great to welcome Albania,
Hungary and Georgia as new National Committees to the network of the EYP
which now spans 32 countries. In all those countries the EYP enabled young people
to develop their ideas and visions for the future of Europe in a non-partisan forum.
At three International Sessions in Prague (Czech Republic), Liverpool (United
Kingdom), and Rennes (France) the EYP gathered each time 250 young people from
32 countries. The students drafted resolutions on current topics of European politics
and debated them in a parliamentary assembly. The students had to formulate
their opinions on complex issues, find compromises and negotiate in an international
setting using English or French – languages which are foreign to the vast
majority of the participants. We are convinced that this experience of intercultural
cooperation and dialogue that the young participants experience at an EYP Session
are unique and invaluable.
The ideas and proposals of the European Youth Parliament are recognised by political
decision makers. We are proud to announce that in 2008 the Commissioners
Barroso, Kovács, Wallström and Barrot have joined the EYP’s Comité d’Honneur.
Vice-President Barrot also visited the session in Rennes to discuss with the young
delegates; Guy-Michel Brandtner of the Council of Europe, Jean-Pierre Jouyet,
French Minister for European Affairs and Andy Burnham, British Secretary of State
for Culture, were among those high-level politicians visiting the EYP sessions.
I am very pleased by the fact that we have achieved it to engage young Europeans
actively in the debate of the most pressing political issues of today. We have helped
them to understand Europe’s diversity and to appreciate it as part of our common
cultural and political heritage. Europe needs active citizens such as the young delegates
at the European Youth Parliament who are committed to making a difference
in the future whilst remaining conscious of its past.
Finally, I would like to mention that without hundreds of young volunteers working
for the European Youth Parliament none of the above results could have been achieved.
The EYP is a project entirely driven and run by young people. We will continue
our efforts in bringing the European dream to the hearts and minds of young Europeans.
We thank all partners who have supported and encouraged our work in the
past year.
André Schmitz-Schwarzkopf
Chairman of the Heinz-Schwarzkopf-Foundation