Martin Schulz: Current President of the European Parliament
Dear Participants in this year’s EUropa.S.,
In times of crisis we need a strong and united Europe. Who, if not Europe, is able to regulate the financial markets and break the vicious circle of debt and speculation? Who, if not Europe, can provide prosperity, freedom, peace and social justice? And who, if not the European Parliament, is supposed to provide legitimacy, exercise control and ensure high quality in the decisions made in the interest of people? It is a pleasure to see that young Europeans are taking part in simulations like EUropa.S., an initiative of the Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs. This opportunity will give you first-hand experience of how the European decision-making process works. As a longstanding MEP, I can say that it is not always easy to make decisions within the European Parliament. With 754 MEPs from 28 -now- countries, with different cultures and languages, it can be a real challenge. Learning to listen, to negotiate and to interact with others while bearing in mind that the decisions you are about to make during the simulation concern all 500 million citizens.
I hope that you will use these four days as an opportunity to learn and understand the European Parliament. Moreover, I hope that the simulation will provide you with cultural understanding of the various EU Member States and strengthen your European identity. You are the next generation of EU politicians. This year will be the sixth edition of EUropa.S., which gives me especially, as President of the Parliament, a genuine sense of pride. May I wish you all inspiring and exciting discussions and negotiations as well as lots of fun! Good luck for your simulation.
Charles Sheehan: Ambassador of Irish Embassy in Greece
On behalf of the Irish Presidency, I wish to congratulate the organisers of this Conference on their initiative, once again this year. The Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs is to be commended for organising this European Institutions Simulation at a time when young people in Greece especially look to Europe for solutions to our common problems.
I feel very encouraged to see young Greeks who are ready to participate in the programme for the weekend of 3rd-6th of April, 2015. The European Union during the Irish Presidency was making decisions which affected the everyday lives of its citizens and which shape their lives long into the future. Young people in Europe will face the long-term consequences of Europe’s actions or inactions.
I wish you each of you success in your participation. I understand there are prizes for some participants. A visit to the European Parliament in Brussels is a great incentive and would be a great experience but, whether you go to Brussels or not, I hope that each of you will leave this conference with a greater understanding of the institutions of the European Union and, above all, an understanding that these institutions are in the service of the Europe’s citizens.
Argyris Peroulakis: Deputy Head of the EC Representation in Greece.
I am delighted to support this initiative of the Institute. Now that we managed to establish a partnership with the Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs (I.R.T.E.A.), we look forward to welcoming new exciting projects in the future. Although we are the other “Institution” we fully support the Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs (I.R.T.E.A.) in organising the European Instituions Simulation (EEUropa.S.) because it is our strong conviction that:
-The European Parliament is the basic partner of the European Commission and both institutions work together towards more participation, more debate and more democracy.
-Young people will get more actively involved in EU affairs and will start feeling European Citizens something not very usual in our country, although we count more than 30 years part of the European adventure.
Let’s not forget that 2013 was the European Year for Citizens and was dedicated to the rights that came with EU citizenship. Over this year, we encouraged dialogue between all levels of government, civil society and business at events and conferences around Europe to discuss those EU rights and build a vision of how the EU should be in 2020. Recently, the Institute was selected as our partner in the framework of Youth4Europe Network. This network will complement the work of the representation, as well as that of the 19 Europe Direct Information Centers across Greece. We look forward to working with all our partners during this exciting year!
Antonios Kailis: Public Relation Officer of European Parliament’s Office in Greece
The European Parliament’s Office in Greece supports EUropa.S., which promotes the European Ideas and gives a unique opportunity to young people to live and work in a European environment. The simulation practice is a very useful experience for young people as, through these workshops, they discover their own skills (leader or moderator attitude), they develop new ones (art of negotiating) and they also increase their adaptability (team work). Through this experience they gain a solid background for their school, professional and social life. The European Institutions Simulation is very profitable for young people as they can participate in the role play game intended to make them act as MEPs. This way they receive background knowledge in a vast range of European topics, they discuss current European issues, form opinions, challenge prevailing views and finally vote on common resolutions as a result of a hard negotiation and compromise method (Legislative parliamentary work).
Finally we must underline that those students, by participating in EUropa.S., they prepare themselves to become active citizens, by promoting their participation in the society, by becoming aware of what is at stake at the European level, by strengthening the EU legitimacy in the public opinion and by contributing with their involvement to a stronger European democracy.
Rodi Kratsa: Former Member of the European Parliament-European People’s Party (EPP), Vice-President of the European Parliament 2007-2012
I would like to congratulate the team of young visionary scientists and scholars of IRTEA for their initiatives and commitment in European affairs. The European Institutions Simulation, EUropa.S., provides a unique platform, engaging many different actors – students, academics, diplomats, government officials, representatives of the European institutions and the civil society – in european policy and decision-making processes.
Initiative EUropa.S. has a special importance during this period of the european elections and the european developments that will follow at institutional and political level.
European youth are our future leaders that will be shaping all future european policies. The engagement of our young european citizens with the european ideals, the procedures and political processes, the european integration and the challenges it entails is highly important, especially at a time when the european project has been greatly challenged. Giving youth the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the role of the representatives of the european peoples, shape opinions, discuss legislation, draft resolutions, negotiate terms and policies, form alliances, vote responsibly is key to strengthening the european democracy. An informed citizen is useful to oneself and to democracy.
Ria Oomen-Ruijten: Former Member of the European Parliament – European People’s Party, Dutch Representative
I give my full support to the EUropa.S. 2015 initiative. It is important that we educate our children the importance of the European Union and in this instance the European Parliament in particular. The EUropa Simulation provides students with the unique opportunity to enter in the role of Member of the European Parliament and participate in the legislative process. This is the best way to familiarize students with the important work that is being done here and in what way we are able to represent them at the European level.
Especially for Greece, in a time of deep crisis, it is important not to loose sight of the future and to remain strongly connected to the European Union project which remains for all the Member States and all the European citizens the greatest guarantor of stability and welfare. I wish you all a great EUropa.S. 2015!
Yours sincerely,
Ria Oomen-Ruijten
Dutch Member of the European Parliament
Maria Eleni Koppa: Former Member of the European Parliament-Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
I am glad that I am able to support the European Institutions Simulation- EUropa.S. organized by the Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs.
In difficult times as the one that the EU has been experiencing for the past years, it is important to support initiatives that promote the common European identity and vision. Our encouragement has to be even more emphatic considering the fact that this innovative event is organized by a group of young individuals who aim at the spreading of the European spirit and ideas. Everyone from its position should do its best to advocate for EUropa.S. and the effect it has on the hundreds of its participants over the years.
Prof. Dr. Chrysoula Paliadeli: Former Member of the European Parliament-Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
The European Institutions Simulation (EUropa.S.), organized by the Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs, is a programme of great significance, since it familiarizes the citizens with the function of the European Parliament and it enhances the much needed sense of common European identity. Such initiatives give especially to the young people participating the opportunity to combine the knowledge obtained in university classes with field practice, so as to enrich their skills and become actively involved citizens of the European Union.
Wishing you every success!
Prof. Ioannis A. Tsoukalas: Former Member of the European Parliament-European People’s Party
Dr. Theodoros Skylakakis: Former Member of the European Parliament-ALDE Group
Dear Participants of EUropa.S. 2015
I am delighted to see that over the past years there has been an effort promoting the European Identity in Greece. The European Parliament Simulation organized by IRTEA is an effort that is serving well its purpose. It brings together youth from all over Europe in an effort to reveal the functions of the most democratic institution of the EU to them. Supporting such an effort makes me feel more confident about the future of EU.
Nikos Chrysogelos: Formet Member of the European Parliament-Ecologists Greens, the Greens/EFA
Dear participants of EUropa.S. 2015,
I welcome you all. You are our present and future; you can become Europe’s driving force that will regain the hearts and minds of people. You are the ones who, today, travel all over the world through the internet as well as naturally; continue your studies; have already visited other countries; communicate with people outside your own city; make friendships – not only through facebook or social-media – with people of different origins and languages; you receive information and gain experiences in a way that no previous generation could ever enjoy. These possibilities, however, are not enough; society needs to create the necessary structures for you to grow. Society needs to mobilize youth on a European level in order to create a new European Union, a european confederation of citizens, our common home. Europe should evolve from today’s union, from states’ cooperation, to a political, economical and social union, based on solidarity; a colourful and tolerant Europe far from practices of racism and xenophobia. In Greece youth unemployment is climbing at 55%; the number of unemployed young people on a European level reaches 7.5 million; it is a matter of survival and social cohesion to create jobs for young people, by promoting coherent policies and initiatives, particularly in the field of environmental protection and social infrastructure as part of broader policies for young people.
I would like to congratulate the Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs for their initiative and for introducing EUropa.S. to the academic community of young people in Greece; it is a worthy Greek effort, with pan-European reach, for the understanding and practical education of young people in the real function of the European institutions. EUropa.S. highlights the most democratic institution of the European Union, an institute that today, in a time of economic crisis, can trigger innovative efforts.
Hence, I invite all young students to actively participate and negotiate for the future of Europe. Europe needs to respond to young people’s needs and aspirations for a sustainable future since they represent the present and future of Europe. In order for this to happen, young people need to be involved in the formation of a European federation of citizens, a Europe of solidarity, social cohesion and sustainability.
Paraskevas Avgerinos: Former Vice President & Member of the European Parliament-Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
I would like to congratulate the Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs for their innovated thinking in order to create EUropa.S.
I am moved to see that the Greek youth has such serious concerns about our future that lead to such initiatives. I have witnessed the very dawn of the European Institutions Simulation 6 years ago. Since then a lot of things have evolved leading to one well organized, international conference. It is of major importance that both the academic community and the European politicians will do their best to help preserve such actions from which Europe can only be benefited.