The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a unique educational programme which brings together young people from all over Europe to discuss current topics in a parliamentary setting.
Founded in 1987 as a school project in France over the course of 30 years it became one of the largest youth organisations in Europe. Currently EYP is a network of independent associations, present in 40 European countries. Throughout the year organising almost 600 events – ranging from International sessions to local training events, and involving nearly 35.000 participants annually, EYP actively contributes to shaping our society. Thousands of young people are active as volunteers all over Europe, making EYP a programme truly for young people, by young people.
EYP aims to raise awareness of European issues, promote intercultural dialogue, contribute to the personal skills development of European youth and provide a platform for young Europeans to express their own opinions.
Comité d’Honneur
EYP is supported by politicians and influential public figures on regional, national and international levels. Comité d’Honneur of EYP includes:
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Jean-Claude Juncker President of the European Commission |
Federica Mogherini High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission |
Martin Schulz Former President of the European Parliament |
Structure
The internal structure of European Youth Parliament consists of:
- The National Committees
The National Committees (NCs) are independent associations present in 40 countries and run by local volunteers promoting the aims of EYP in their representative countries. The National Committees are the heart and soul of the EYP.
- The Governing Body
The Governing Body (GB) represents the interests of the EYP as a whole. It is mainly responsible for the strategic development of the EYP and for facilitating the work of the organisation at the international level.
- The Board of National Committees
The Board of National Committees (BNC) is the assembly of National Committees (NCs) and thus acts as the voice of NCs. The BNC gathers twice a year in Berlin to meet, and are otherwise active through a mailing list, online votes, and various working groups. It has full co-decision powers with the GB.
- The International Office of the EYP at the Schwarzkopf Foundation
In 2004, the Berlin-based Schwarzkopf Foundation became the international umbrella organisation of the European Youth Parliament. The International Office of the European Youth Parliament is run by an Executive Director, who is supported by four Project Managers. The International Office acts as a support mechanism for the National Committees and is actively involved in cooperation with international partners such as Federal Foreign Office, RWE Foundation, OSCE and others.
- EYP Councils
In 2013, the EYP introduced EYP Councils in several areas to include more volunteers into our work on the international level. Each Council works on a specific area and with a specific set of objectives, outlines in policy. The Councils report to the Governing Body (GB) and work in close connection with the International Office. Any member of the organisation can apply to the council during selection process once a year. The four councils of EYP are: Academic Council, Educational Council, Regional Development Council, Training and Alumni Development Council.
Learn more about EYP on the international scale by visiting www.eyp.org