Annual Report 2009 - European Youth Parliament

Facts and Figures
More than 100 events take place every year
In 2009 105 events took place in Europe organised by the EYP. The largest three of those were the International
Sessions in Stockholm, Leuven/Brussels and Helsinki each involving more than 250 young people. At additional
regional and national sessions young people came together to debate current European political issues.
The topics debated and discussed at the EYP’s events are often suggestions from Members of the European
Parliament, the European Commission or the Council of Europe. Moreover, the participants themselves decide
their agenda. The resolutions from each session are presented to political decision-makers. In total, the events and
additional activities, such as training sessions and the EYP Think Tank involved close to 20,000 young people.
3 International
Sessions
37 Regional
Sessions
58 National
Sessions
A network spanning 33 countries
The EYP is now active in 33 European countries. It is a unique platform for young people with diverse
backgrounds to engage in an active dialogue on the future of Europe. The EYP hereby engages young people
from both ‘new’ and ‘old’ EU member states, candidate countries as well as neighbouring states in the debate on
issues that concern them all. In 2009 Lithuania joined the EYP as a new National Committee.
Run by young people
Every National Committee is represented by a delegation that has been competitively selected.
The events last 10 days and bring together more than 250 young people. The International
Sessions are the ‘flagship projects’ of the EYP.
Selected National Committees (usually 10 - 15) sends delegations that are selected in a less
competitive fashion. The events have between 40 and 150 participants and last 3 to 8 days.
National Sessions are carried out to select participants for the International Sessions. Hence,
a jury is often present. The events last 1 to 4 days and are mostly made up of participants
from the host country. However, chairpersons often come from all over Europe and sometimes
visiting delegations are invited.
7 Other events Apart from sessions, the EYP organises training sessions and other workshops as well as
events for alumni, such as the EYP Think Tank (see page 23).
All EYP events are organised and run by young volunteers – mostly former participants of the EYP sessions.
Hence, the EYP is an extraordinary place for young people to take the initiative and to practise European citizenship.
European Youth Parliament - Annual Report 2009 - www.eypej.org
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