Annual Report 2009 - European Youth Parliament

Institutional Partnerships and Patrons
Networking philosophy
Institutional partnerships amd patronage
Comité d’Honneur
Cooperation is the credo of the European Youth Parliament. As a network of 33 National Committees, the EYP
is convinced of the efficiency of partnerships and cooperation. Therefore, the EYP has always been eager to
establish partnerships all over Europe: with other NGOs, with public institutions, the media and with private
institutions. Together with its partners, the European Youth Parliament has been able to create synergies in the
fields of education, youth, Europe and intercultural dialogue.
The European Youth Parliament has been developing good relationships with the European Parliament: The
President of the parliament, Jerzy Buzek, is the permanent patron of the EYP. Additionally, the EYP has set up
links with “liaison parliamentarians”, who suggest topics for the International Sessions and feed the results back
to their parliamentary committees. Finally, it was a great honour that a number of MEPs visited the sessions and
sought debate with the young delegates.
The Council of Europe is very engaged and active in the youth field in particular through its Directorate for
Youth and Sports, a partner of the European Youth Parliament since 2005. The International Sessions in Stockholm
and Leuven/Brussels in 2009 were supported by a grant from the Council of Europe through the
European Youth Foundation which also covers part of the EYP’s administrative costs. The Secretary General of
the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, is patron of the European Youth Parliament. The Council of Europe
has also helped to find experts for the sessions, provided information material for the participants and useful
methodological advice. Besides, topics are regularly suggested by the Council of Europe and representatives of
the institution have attended International Sessions in the past year.
The European Commission has also been a very important supporter of the International Sessions of the European
Youth Parliament in the previous year. All International Sessions were financially supported by the Commission
in the framework of the Youth Programme as well as the Europe for Citizens Programme. In addition,
the EYP has been a partner of the Youth Programme since 2008 and supported with a grant to cover part of its
administrative costs.
Moreover, the EYP was honoured by the presence of European Commissioners Wallström (Stockholm) as well
as Kovács and Orban (Leuven/Brussels). Moreover, the EYP is proud that since 2008 its work is also followed
and supported by a Comité d’Honneur which has been joined by the Commissioners Barroso, Barrot, Kovács
and Wallström. With the new European Commission in office, the Comité de’Honneur at the time of wirting
consists of President Barroso and Vice-President Šefcovic.
Vice-President
of the
European
Commission
Margot Wallström
at the
Opening of
the International
Session
in Stockholm
in April 2009
European Youth Parliament - Annual Report 2009 - www.eypej.org
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