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Modell European Parliament - Youth empowerment for participation
Start date: May 1, 2015, End date: Feb 29, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The meeting of the Model European Parliament - Europe 2015 was about European political participation, active citizenship and empowerment of young people within the tool of the Structured dialogue. Our aim was improving young people’s access and full participation in society by simulating the work of the European Parliament. 70 years after the End of World War Two we wanted to make Berlin a place for the european future, which is build by the european youth. From 8th till 15th of November 2015, about 150 students from the 10th and 11th grade and every social class have come to Berlin (Germany) from 20 European countries to discuss relevant (youth-) problems within a structured dialogue process. The basis for or work was the EU-Youthstrategie and the results of the youth summit in Luxemburg (October 2015). So this Project was a real unique possibility to discuss youth topic not only on a national but on an european level. As the support of young people for the European integration is Europe-wide at a low level, and the feeling, that their voice isn´t heared by the politicians, the aim of our project was to give young people the opportunity to get emotionally and intellectually involved in European politics, to experience it through this simulated international session and all related activities, getting engaged with youth relevant topics. Our strategy of youth empowerment enabled young people to participate meaningfully in shaping their own future. The basis for us was youth work, non-formal education and active citizenship to guide young people on their way to becoming active citizens. The participants have strengthened their skills, intercultural awareness and employability through their participation, meanwhile they have discusses issues within the framework of structured dialogue in one of the MEP committees. They did this in the plenary meeting as well as in the fishbowl and round table discussion with policy makers and youth experts. We used the simulation of the European Parliament as an adequate and persuasive methode in order to achieve our aims. Furthermore, we gave voice to youth-related topics. The topics were choosen in advance during a preparatoy meeting in Weimar by the Committee Chairmen and the Presidents, while however considering the proposals of the involved countries. The participating countries hold internal preparatory meetings to choose and prepare potential participants. At the international MEP meeting 2015, resolutions have been drafted, discussed and voted in ten different committees. Thus, an extensive catalogue of proposals and demands from young participants has been drafted. Those proposals and demands has be discussed in a fishbowl and round table discussions with youth or European decision-makers (including actual MEPs) from different political parties and Levels: Maria-Luise Löper - Director of Federal and European Affairs of the City of Berlin Michael Roth - Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Offi ce Germany H.E. Georges Santer - Ambassador GrandDuchy of Luxembourg (EU-presidency) Linn Selle - Woman of the Year 2015 / Young European Federalists Germany Andreas Sowa - Former MEP Delegate - European Parliament Günter Verheugen - Former Vice-President of the European Commission Richard Kühnel - Head of the Representation of the EU-Commission in Germany Ulrike Guérot - European Democracy Lab Ralf Wieland - President of the Berlin House of Representatives Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann - Member of the European Parliament For pre - and post-processing, participants have discuss in their local schools and organisations with politicians about the project issues. The main event hasl been documented under the form of a website and a printed newspaper formatted by the participants themselves. The participants have got a deep and lasting insight into the work, function and importance of the European Parliament and European integration. They have strengthened many key skills and learned to become socially engaged. In addition, European issues have been discussed and pursued with European policy makers that have relevance for young people in terms of the principles of the European Youth Strategy. Through their work with young people, politicians have been sensitized and motivated to engage themselves for youth problems. The strengthening of European identity and the feeling for European citizenship among young people will be the main long-term benefit of the project. The MEP Session in Berlin has been supported by the City of Berlin (Regierender Bürgermeister), the Berlin House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) and the Ministery for Family, Senior affairs, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).
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