Impact
The European Youth Parliament provides young people with a forum to develop and express their opinions, as well as get equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to positively impact the world around them. We work to promote intercultural understanding, constructive dialogue, and creative problem-solving. As such, our activities have a measurable impact on young people across Europe.
Solving problems in collaborative and democratic ways
Every year, the EYP helps 30,000 young people from across Europe develop and express their opinions, set and follow ground rules for peaceful collaboration, and suggest solutions to pressing modern-day challenges.
Developing skills and growing as a person
The EYP encourages independent thinking and initiative amongst young people and facilitates the learning of crucial social and professional skills, like teamwork, tolerance and problem-solving, as well as communication and leadership skills.
Engaging with current topics in dialogue with decision-makers
Discussions during EYP events cover a wide range of topics, such as international politics, human rights, climate change, health and energy. High-ranking European politicians and decision-makers regularly visit our events and interact with our participants.
Building intercultural understanding and friendships
After a typical EYP event, more than 90% of participants report that by taking part, they have increased intercultural understanding and built international friendships.
Inspiring new ideas to positively shape the world
Young people active in the EYP are passionate about social and political challenges. When organising EYP events, they strive to find sustainable solutions and create ties with their local communities.
Empowering young, active citizens
As a result of our events, more than 90% of participants indicate an increased willingness to actively get involved in society and politics.
International Network
As a network of independent organisations, the EYP is present in 40 European countries and organises more than 500 events every year, involving a total of around 30,000 participants. Thousands of young people are actively involved as volunteers all over Europe, making the EYP a genuinely youth-driven programme – run by young people, for young people.
Facts & Figures
Since 1987, the number of EYP alumni has grown to over 200,000
Over 500 EYP events are organised every year across Europe (at local, national and international levels)
More than 30,000 young people, including 3,500 volunteers, take part in EYP events every year
The EYP network is active in 40 countries across Europe
History
The European Youth Parliament was founded in 1987 as a school project at the Lycée François-Premier in Fontainebleau, just south of Paris. The first “International Session” of the EYP was also held there, in 1988.
Ever since, the EYP project has steadily developed to include more countries and schools. In 1991, international coordination of the project moved to Witney, Oxfordshire, where it was run by Bettina Carr-Allinson (NL). The organisation experienced enduring growth for the next decade, evolving from a project associated predominantly with schools to a youth-led network, with National Committees and activities becoming larger and more numerous.
In 2004, the National Committees of the EYP mandated the Schwarzkopf Foundation to act as the international umbrella organisation of the EYP. The coordination of the network moved to Berlin and Philipp Scharff (DE) became the first full-time Executive Director of the EYP. He was succeeded by Jan-Philipp Beck (DE) in 2008, by Ville Vasaramäki (FI) in 2011 and Krista Simberg (FI) in 2013. Since 2017, Lukas Fendel (DE) has been the Executive Director of the EYP.
Since 2004, the EYP has continued to grow, involving young people from virtually all European countries in its activities. The European Youth Parliament is one of the largest organisations for non-formal political education in Europe.
Strategy
Inclusion
The European Youth Parliament embraces and celebrates the diversity of the European continent, and is open to all young people across Europe. We want to reach youth from all cultures, regions and backgrounds and we strive to make our activities accessible to those who are facing obstacles. Our ambition is to provide a welcoming and safe environment for participation, learning and for taking responsibility.
“No matter what your background is, everyone is welcome and everyone is given an opportunity to participate in the European Youth Parliament!”
Carlota (20), active volunteer in Portugal
#WithRefugees
Thanks to our cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), questions concerning refugees and migration have become an integral part of the EYP’s debates at international sessions. We involve young refugees and stateless persons in our sessions, invite experts and encourage participants to engage with the topics based on their experience. Watch a video to find out more about our cooperation.
Open Forum for Youth
The European Youth Parliament provides a forum for young people to develop and express their opinions on political and societal topics in an open and welcoming environment. Participants of the EYP’s events debate and jointly suggest solutions to a wide range of current challenges, often related to international politics, human rights, but also including fields such as climate change, health, and energy. Getting together in a spirit of mutual respect and constructive dialogue, young people present an inspiring example of how the complex challenges of today’s world can be addressed through peaceful collaboration across national boundaries. During EYP events, we also foster dialogue between young people and leading figures from the world of politics, economy, civil society and culture.
During EYP events, we create spaces for dialogue between young people and leading figures from the worlds of politics, economy, civil society and culture. We give our participants a chance to gain in-depth insights and make their voices heard.
International, regional and national sessions are at the core of the EYP’s non-formal educational activities, and consist of events that bring together over 30,000 young people every year. A welcoming environment and experience-based methodology offer participants a safe space to develop and express their opinions, build intercultural understanding and develop democratic citizenship skills.
EYP sessions vary in length from 2 hours to 10 days. Debates cover a wide range of topics – often related to international politics or human rights, but also including fields such as climate change, health and energy. Guided by peer moderators, young people take part in a series of activities.
Building a strong European society
BASES – Building a Strong European Society – is a project by the European Youth Parliament in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office. It took place from 2015 to 2018, and aimed at enhancing dialogue and mutual understanding as well as broadening the cooperation among civil society in the countries of the Eastern Partnership. In order to achieve these goals, the project included three main pillars:
Support of EYP orgnisations
A series of regional sessions, national conferences and international forums is at the core of the BASES project. These events were organised by EYP Armenia, EYP Azerbaijan, EYP Belarus, EYP Georgia, EYP Russia and EYP Ukraine.
Capacity Building
Capacity building training courses were organised to strengthen the skills of EYP’s young volunteers, enabling them to take up various responsibilities within the EYP network. These included e.g. a training camp in Ukraine, a Diversity Lab in Armenia or a training for moderators and trainers in Azerbaijan.
Travel Grants
Removing accessibility barriers by distributing travel grants to young people who face financial challenges due to the economic situation of their countries formed an important pillar of the project. This allowed them to participate in EYP activities and experience intercultural exchanges abroad.
Power Shifts – Reflecting Europe’s Energy:
Given the complexity of energy-related debates, event topics are predetermined by the thematic frameworks for each year so as to ensure consistency and diversity in the fields discussed. Concrete sub-topics are developed by EYP participants, reflecting the interests of the European Youth Parliament and current issues.
2018 – Challenges and Opportunities for Energy Governance
Participants debated the models of governance that are necessary to steer and shape energy policy in a sustainable manner. The democratisation and decentralisation of energy policy-making was at the core of this section. Those who took part discussed finding a balance between maintaining competitiveness and affordability as well as ensuring safe, secure and sustainable energy.
2019 – Innovation in the Energy Sector: From Smart Grids to Carbon-Free Mobility
Technological innovations are key to meeting economic, climate and security objectives. EYP participants will discuss how societal equitability and cyber resilience can be maintained in a constantly digitalising energy sector. The key areas under discussion will be how to find a cost-effective way to transmit and store electrical energy at a large scale and to what extent and how carbon-free mobility can and should be supported.
2020/2021 – Energy in Transition: Strengthening Global Sustainability by Combatting Climate Change
Bearing in mind that energy use and production affect the sustainability of resources and, in the long-term, also the well-being of humankind, the final project phase emphasises sustainability through energy transition. Here, the discussions will evolve around the steps that decision-makers should take to ensure a comprehensive green energy policy with a renewable energy mix.
Skill development
For the many volunteers engaged in the organisation, the European Youth Parliament offers diverse opportunities for skills development, in particular through training and taking various roles within the organisation. Training is a key component of almost every EYP event, and we strive to hold a wide range of training events every year to ensure successful knowledge transfers. In order to support the personal development of the EYP’s volunteers and their ability to take up various roles and responsibilities within the organisation, the EYP organises capacity building training courses focused on a diverse set of skills, such as facilitation, leadership, communication, fundraising, organising, project management, inclusion, outreach, and intercultural dialogue. In doing so, the EYP prepares young European citizens not only to take an active role in our network, but to use these skills to benefit society as a whole.
Our training programs
Summer Academy
The EYP Summer Academy is an international training event gathering representatives from all 40 EYP member countries to support their work in their National Committees by providing training modules for their board members. The event is run every year and is supported by the Mercator Foundation.
Strengthening the EYP Network (STEN)
In order for the ever-growing EYP network to be sustainable, we need knowledge, resources and a fruitful exchange of ideas. That is why we run STEN – Strengthening the EYP Network. This project is financed by the EU programme “Erasmus+” as part of the KA2 framework for 2018-2020.
Training events in the network
The EYP National Committees and the International Office, supported by our partners, help develop the network through capacity building events that aim to equip participants with the necessary attitudes, skills, and knowledge needed to successfully run and develop projects in their respective countries.
Innovation Lab
Innovation Lab is a platform for the EYP network to discuss its needs, suggest solutions and co-create improvements in various areas of our activities. Taking place in the frame of the Power Shifts project, the Innovation Lab strives to support the innovative spirit in the EYP. Approximately 15 participants meet yearly in Berlin under the lead of one experienced Head Innovator to strategise and improve our work.
In 2018, the participants gathered for the Media Innovation Lab to discuss the future of media teams, share best practices for editors, ensure better synergies between media teams and for the EYP’s PR work in general, and discuss how to better communicate the EYP’s impact to the outside world.
The 2018 group of enthusiastic ‘innovators’ went far beyond discussions and ideas – they drafted a work plan and call for the establishment of the Media & Communications Council of the EYP to steer and support the work of media teams. Many Media Lab participants have been selected to take part in this newly established council. Future Media & Communications Council work will be focusing on:
- Harmonisation of media and communications across the EYP
- Supporting internal communication (for instance, collecting databases as well as tracking, mapping and updating useful communication materials)
- Strengthening the External Communication Guide for the NCs