A Young Parliament for Europe

47 Voices united in Diversity

300 young people “representing” 47 European nations form a „Young Parliament for Europe“ that makes the voice of youth for Europe better heard.

The European Dream lost its dynamics and attractiveness. It needs new impacts. However there is still the strongest support for the European idea among young people. But it is precisely the young people who have the least opportunity to participate in the actual design of Europe.

To engage for Europe. Give a voice to the youth.

The „Young Parliament for Europe“ will give a voice to young people between 14 and 18 who engage themselves for Europe and are ready to empathize with other Europeans. This should be done in an exciting and fun-filled event and address their age mates as well the Austrian public.  The Young Parliament with nearly 150 members and the same number of substitutes, so all in all 300 young people, can be organized for one year with less than 20.000 Euros.   

The model: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe may serve as a model for such a young assembly for Europe. The Council of Europe is not only the oldest intergovernmental institution of European unification but also the most comprehensive one. It is composed not only of the 28 members of the European Union but of nearly all European states (except Belarus, Kosovo and the Vatican State). Hence it represents with 47 member states the „greater Europe“, its Parliamentary Assembly is of pan-European dimension and speaks for 800 million Europeans, from Akureyi in Iceland to Lanarka in Cyprus, from the Portuguese  Azores to  Vladivostok at Russian Pacific coast.

47 nations – 47 schools – 47 delegations.

This Assembly is to be replicated in the "Young Parliament for Europe" formed by students. In cooperation with the competent authorities (Stadtschulrat für Wien, Landesschulräte für Niederösterreich und das Burgenland) delegations representing the 47 member countries of the Council of Europe shall be formed by 47 schools for young people between the age of 14 and 18 can be extended by “Observer states”). Delegations should (unlike the model) uniformly consist of three members and three substitute members. Members of the delegations shall be selected autonomously by the schools, possibly through written or oral competitions. The Assembly shall meet in the month on a Saturday for a session of about 3 hours, 8 times the year. The Assembly elects a Presidium (President, 5 Vice-Presidents, Secretary General and Deputy 2) for one year that is not re-eligible (to allow for a change).

What is on the agenda?

In a "truly European" discussion, which reflects the diversity of Europe, "Young Parliament for Europe" elaborates standpoints, wishes and recommendations of young people under the motto "unity in diversity". A guest speaker - an interesting personality - could always be on the agenda followed by question time and two to three thematic debates.  In any case a debate shall be devoted to a long-term subject established by the Assembly itself, at the end a report with recommendations to be adopted, an urgent debate shall be devoted to current issues. On voluntary basis rapporteurs are to be elected to prepare the reports and recommendations, as well as representatives for different tasks (media, website, Facebook, etc.)

To empathize European positions.

The delegations are to empathize and represent “their countries” in the debates on the basis of information of the country's position acquired on the Internet. The embassies of the countries in Vienna could be asked to cooperate by providing additional information. But, like in the original, the "deputies" are not tied to the standpoint of the governments of the countries represented and can express them freely in every respect. The Assembly sets out its rules and procedures itself; only provisional rules of procedure stipulate how this will happen.

Public sessions, media, website.

Like in a parliament or a parliamentary assembly sessions will be public. In particular editors of the youth and student pages of daily newspapers and the electronic media and youth magazines are invited to the meetings. Of course, a website should also inform about the Young Parliament for Europe and its deliberations. In particular the urgent debates on current issues promise to provide the Young Parliament with publicity.

How it could look like:

A session could have an agenda like the following:

1.       Adoption of the agenda

2.       Election of a Vice-President to replace N.N. (Norway, Oberstufenrealgymnasium Wien…)

3.       Application of Kazakhstan for observer status (represented by Bundesrealgymnasiums Wien…)

4.       Vote on the suggestions for an urgent debate, the following topics have been proposed‘
4.1. „Is Europe overtaxed by the current flow of refugees? "(Hungary)
4.2. "How can refugee tragedies in the Mediterranean be avoided?" (Italy)
4.3. "Should the UK leave the EU?" (Ireland) "

5.       Guest speaker Dr. Christian Konrad, Coordinator for Refugee Affairs

6.       Question time with Dr. Christian Konrad

7.       Urgent debate „Is Europe overtaxed by the flow of refugees "

8.       Resuming the general debate „How can the youth get a stronger voice in Europe”

Unfortunately inevitable: the costs.

Costs should be kept to a minimum, invitations and documentation are sent electronically, the free provision of boardrooms by an institution or company as well as sponsors for the buffet should be sought. Those participants who have no season tickets for public transport will be reimbursed for their transport expenses. After the meeting the young people who spend their spare time for the European commitment are invited to a buffet.

For one year the calculation is:

Proportionate Secretariat costs (staff, phone etc)                 5.000 Euro

Office supplies                                                                        1.200 Euro

Website                                                                                  5.000 Euro

Reimbursement for those without season ticket                    1.320 Euro

Buffet and beverages                                                             5.000 Euro

Insurance                                                                                  480 Euro

Other expenses                                                                      2.000 Euro

Total                                                                                      19.000 Euro

Sustainability: a project not just for one year

The first year should be financed through crowdfunding and respect.net and must be used to make the Young Parliament for Europe well known and interesting for a broader public in ordert o safeguard ist existing after the first year. That means that new opportunities of funding must be found, through subsidies, sponsoring by companies and private donors, e.g. through an association of friends of the Young Parliament. 

The (just assisting) organizer.

The Vienna resident World Public Forum - Dialogue of Civilizations, recognized by the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs as an international NGO that is committed to the dialogue among cultures and mutual respect of all peoples, wants in terms of its own objectives to provide  "Young Parliament for Europe" with the necessary logistics and organization fully respecting its substantive autonomy.