The Source: The Global Issue (5)

72nd International Session of the European Youth Parliament — Munich 2013

#5The Global Issue

Editorial

Lara Lindlahr (DE)Lidiia Zhgyr (UA)

Erasmus Häggblom (FI)Fredrik Hultman (SE)

Daniels Grinevics (LV)Annmarie Kiiskinen (FI)Antonia Kerridge (UK)

Stan van Wingerden (NL)

Arriana Yiallourides (CY)Johanna Fürst (AT)Mike Whyard (UK)Amantia Muhedini (AL)David Meijers (NL)Christine-Bianca Hanganu (RO)Love Lyssarides (SE)

Editor: Sophie Hall (CH)

Editorial assistants:Oona Kiiskinen (FI)

Harm van Leeuwen (NL)Timm Brünjes (DE)

Journalists:

Gentle reader, This is the fifth and final time that I put pen to paper – figuratively at least – and try to say something meaningful to at once sign and introduce this publica-tion. But each of the four previous times I’ve been left with a niggling feeling that I shouldn’t be writing this. At

least not alone. For the past ten days, there have been eighteen more people behind The Source. My editorial assistants Timm Brünjes, Oona Kiiskinen and Harm van Leeuwen have been at my side to support the true Source (sic!) of this media team: Your journalists. That is why I won’t be writing an editorial. Instead, I leave this space for them to write to you what they want to say. I only have one thing left: Danke.

■ Sophie

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2 72nd International Session Munich 2013 3

Contents

Global issueForeword to the Global issue: Looking beyond Europe 4

EYP goes beyond Europe: A different perspective on international co-operation 5

Software, resource of growth 6

Global turm-oil: Gaining a global perspective on resource use 8

Looking through whose lenses? A different perspective on the role of the EU 9

Thank you 10

What’s the point? The impact of EYP 12

The ever-changing EYP: How we have changed as an organisation 14

Post-EYP: How do delegates want to stay involved? 16

EYP: political, yet apolitical 18

Meeting Ville Vasaramäki, the executive director of the EYP 19

Zurich awaits: Meet the man who orchestrates your next step in EYP 20

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Munich 2013 3

Look

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onom

ic is

sue EYP is an organisation that brings

together young minds to discuss Europe’s current problems and our

lovely delegates attempt to come to a con-sensus on how to solve them. It is important that at a session like Munich 2013, delegates do not become too introspective and just focus on internal European issues but also remember the EU’s place on a global scale. It is a big old world and EYP must remember that the EU takes on the responsibility to be a body that can tackle global issues as well as European ones. Hopefully this newspaper will show how some of our committees have been considering global issues from various corners of the world. Enjoy! ■ MW

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EYP goes beyond EuropeA different perspective on international co-operation

As a real representative of intercultural en-counters, political debates and exchange of ideas among young people, EYP invited the

first group of guests from Ghana to come to observe the 72nd International Session of EYP in Munich. Tony Arefin, Ewarafua Bailey, Frederick Jojo Kwofie and Seth Oteng recently approached the EYP Office in Berlin. They introduced their foundation Youth Bridge, which runs The African Youth and Govern-ance Conference (AYGC) in Ghana. The format of the conference is similar to an International Session as it involves 35 countries annually and encourages politi-cal debate amongst the youth.

After the meeting in Berlin, the Schwarzkopf Stiftung Foundation and Youth Bridge Foundation decided to see if they could collaborate to share their experience of engaging young people in politics. At the moment, this takes the form of mutual visits and best practice sharing from each other’s events, but the door is now open to further work together.

EYP is about multiculturalism, interaction and exchange. The problems of Europe are not isolated –they affect the entire world and vice versa. This global dimension is crucial; that countries and continents cooperate and work together. For example, one of the discussion topics in Munich 2013 discusses the Eu-ropean Union’s position towards China in the com-petition for the control of resources in Africa. The observers from Ghana feel that they are able to bring relevant knowledge and help the delegates better un-derstand the situation from an African perspective.

When 58.44% of the African voting population are youths, there is an urgent need to engage them in de-bates and in discussing the issues that affect them. As Seth Oteng, the executive director of the Youth Bridge Foundation affirms: “We have learned a lot from EYP. The passion and enthusiasm of the youngsters, the academic level and the organisational aspects are the things we want to carry back home with us. This could help our conference develop and engage more young-sters”.

The cooperation between Schwarzkopf Founda-tion and Youth Bridge Foundation could bring huge benefits for both sides by increased multiculturalism, tackling crucial worldwide issues and making better use of our global human resources. ■ CBH

EYP has already gone beyond the boundaries of the European Union by getting youngsters from non-EU

member states, involved in their events. With Munich 2013, EYP takes a step forward and welcomes the first

African delegation.

The Ghanaian initiative: Tony Arefin, Ewarafua Bailey, Frederick Jojo Kwofie and Seth Oteng

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Software, resource of growthAs the global economy is developing in a fast

pace, the role of intellectual property has transformed from the type of intangible as-

sets into the factor of economic progress. Taking its resources for development from intellectual achieve-ments of its participants, the world economy at mod-ern stage has a good reason to be fairly called ‘econo-my of knowledge’.

Without intellectual resources humanity would never be able to implement possible into reality even with all other resources available. Intellectual prop-erty rights (IPR) objects comprise all heritage of the civilization. Inventions, licenses, technologies, trade-

marks and software – this is only a small part of intel-lectual property objects.

IPR are an integral part of international trade and they require constant multilateral regulation. Inter-national system for IPR regulation was set on place in the 19th century as the first international agreements on copyright protection arose. IPR protection is espe-cially complicated due to their immaterial form. Cop-ying, illegal usage and hacking are the simplest ways of IRP breach.

Computer programs are the fastest developing type of IRP nowadays, as software is widely used for manufacture optimization in all branches of industry.

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Nobody rules out the absolute exhaustion of natural resources. Does humanity have the means to guarantee its survival in such a case?

Countries which produce such IPR objects usually posses high intellectual potential, and they are not necessarily highly developed. Post-soviet countries, China and India are the largest outsourcing producers of software in the world. Most of software purchasing power is concentrated in developed countries. The next stages of IPR trade is executed in illegal form. Particular amount of computer programs are bought by poor countries, where they are hacked. The major-ity of hacked software programs is produced in China but mainly sold and consumed in Asia and post-So-viet countries.

According to the survey, conducted with 20 par-

ticipants of the session, most of them (18 out of 20) use unlicensed (hacked) software, disregarding their age and country of origin. 17 of them do not have any licensed program, two uses only licensed software, one – combine. All of them explain it by high cost for software. Another motive is easy and unpunished way of its usage.

Urgency of the IPR protection is in the potential opportunities which they can comprise and in per-spectives of development they enable. In this era of information overload we need to focus on intellectual resources to guarantee progress. ■ LZ

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Global turmoil

With two committees dealing with foreign affairs at the session, resource acquisi-tion on a global scale will be extensive-

ly discussed in General Assembly. The EU’s resource needs, in particular with oil, can only be satisfied by sources from outside Europe. Many natural resources are only found outside the EU and so global strategies must be designed.

Currently, there is an enormous amount of oil in Africa that has not been extracted in an efficient way; countries such as Angola and Nigeria have huge oil potential that requires efficient and fair usage. In 2010 it was estimated that Sudan possessed over $9 billion dollars worth of oil and 40% of it was owned by Chi-na. The EU needs to not get caught napping in the pursuit of oil in Africa and find itself struggling to be self sufficient on a global scale.

If the Middle East has taught us something about gathering oil, it is that business relations can only be successful if they are preceded by making sure that international relations are as secure as possible. If the

EU allows China to possess a monopoly on the pos-session of oil in Africa then the lack of action right now will come back and bite them.

If money makes the world go around, then oil is a pretty good lubricant to help it spin. In reality we do not have the opportunity to hit the snooze button on the alarm and give it five more minutes; the EU must respond to this issue as soon as possible. The EU needs to increase its presence in Africa and make sure that they can provide a reliable source of energy and resources in the foreseeable future. ■ MW

Gaining a global perspective on resource use

The Middle East is well known for its oil production and the political problems that have stemmed from trying to extract it. With oil remaining one of the most valuable natural resources to mankind, it would seem extraordinary if African oil reserves are not eventually used in a similar way.

If money makes the world go around, then oil is a pretty good lubricant

to help it spin

With two Foreign Affairs committees, resource acquisition on a global scalewill be discussed extensively in the General Assembly.

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Looking through whose lenses?A different perspective on the role of the European Union

Sometimes, though, I wonder whether we are a bit too Eurocentric. We forget that Europe is only one continent out of five (or seven depend-

ing on where your learned your geography).As a European politics student in the United

States, I have talked about this with people from dif-ferent corners of the world. I always encountered an appreciation for Europe as the Old World full of art, culture and history. I also found that my friends from the US, Latin America or Africa, have the same conti-nent-bound pride that we foster in EYP. Seen through their lenses, the European Union is no more than an interesting political creature, once important and now about to be overcome by other superpowers. To justi-

fy this claim, my Colombian flatmate insists on point-ing out that art and business thrive in Latin America. That is where investors are turning to more and more. I have heard many similar arguments, and even with-out going into whether they are factually right or not, it is good to be aware of how our peers from elsewhere in the world perceive Europe.

Deniz Cekirge from Turkey (SEDE) thinks that it is the prolonged economic crisis that has really hurt the EU’s image in the world. While Europe struggles, China keeps growing at 9% per year, closely followed by Brazil and India. The US is also quickly recover-ing from its own crisis. Deniz says that, on top of the continuing crisis, the lack of a unified European voice also explains why Europe’s influence and importance in the world are declining. She thinks that concrete steps towards a federal Europe will enable us to add more weight in world politics. From a Turkish per-spective, a country that has been trying to join the European Union for the past 10 years, Deniz senses a decline in Europe’s importance and asks for more European integration.

Once again, the lenses we are looking through mat-ter. Yasmin Dinar from Sweden (SEDE) sees things differently. For her Europe remains strong and we are mistaken to see it as a federation. It is a collection of countries with different interests but a common goal and its strength rests in its diversity. Still, if strength is measured in numbers (both population and GDP), a divided Europe will not be able to measure up to the emerging economies. Felipe de Muerga from Uru-guay (SEDE) thinks that in the next 10 years Brazil and China will overcome Europe both economically and politically.

Currently, the economy of the European Union generates the largest GDP in the world. In spite of the crisis it generated about 2 billion USD more than the Unites States and around 9 billion USD more than China. Even with a stagnating economy the European Union seems to be doing fine. However, we do need to remember that at this very moment we are losing ground in the eyes of the world. ■ AM

In EYP we discuss current European issues and try to find solutions. We think, debate, and engage because we consider Europe important for its citizens. We, as EYPers and as young Europeans, want it to develop further because we consider it important for us and

for the world.

Felipe de Muerge (SEDE), originally from Uruguay, thinks that BRIC countries are overtaking us

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EYP aims at providing a platform for young Eu-ropeans to engage in discussions. Of course this has an educational value for every partici-

pant and creates visions for future European develop-ment. Still, one should not assume that we can change the future overnight by writing a resolution that pass-es in General Assembly. What we do in EYP is provide young people with the skills to actively engage in de-bates and express their individual opinion. This leads to a multiplier effect and creates an impact on other

young people’s opinions all over Europe. This is how EYP shapes the European future.

Besides its educational and academic output, EYP is all about personal development and learning from others. “Getting to know new people and discussing European politics” is what EYP means to Christiane from Norway (ECON). Engaging with different peo-ple and to call new ideas into question makes EYP a lively experience for her and her fellow delegates. Likewise, Culture chair Oksana (UA) says her motiva-

“Freedom is always the freedom of dissenters” – Rosa Luxemburg

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What’s the point?As you have read in a previous issue of The Source, participating in an International Session is a unique experi-ence. Meanwhile, our friends back home wonder what we do in EYP and most importantly what we get out of it. Every day we are challenged in several ways but does EYP actually have an impact on Europe’s youth? Do resolu-tions provide us with feasible solutions that can make a change?

tion for participating in EYP is “sharing of ideas and opinions with youngsters throughout Europe”.

Being surrounded by youngsters from 35 differ-ent nations lets you evaluate cultural boundaries and prejudices. You get to respect other people’s opinions by learning more about their background and cultur-al understanding. “Tolerance, respect and a genuine appreciation for democratic ideas is nowhere to be learned and practised better than in this organisation”, is Lydia’s (DE) opinion who is part of the organising

team.As this is the last issue of The Source, we want to

encourage you to stay involved in EYP to further en-gage with young Europeans and the friends you have already made. Keep sharing your opinion with others and let them know about your personal views on EYP and European politics.

Bis bald! See you soon! ■ LLd

The impact of EYP

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The ever-changing EYPHow we have changed as an organisation

Can you imagine it? There was no selection process for the officials in the spring and au-tumn; no Chairs Academic Trainings; not

many trainings at all, in fact; about half of the par-ticipants coming only from EU countries; foreign delegates and officials forbidden from participating in National Selection Sessions; and IS not completely organised by the host NCs. As incredible this list may sound to everyone who has been involved with EYP in the last four years, our quarter of a century old or-ganisation was a different sort of animal and has gone through a lot of changes.

There must have been some wind of change in Europe between 2004 and 2006. The European Un-ion had its enlargement towards the east, while EYP’s governance was changed. From a teacher run organ-isation, it turned into an alumni run one. What was originally called EYP International, based in Oxford-shire and largely managed by a teacher, became the EYP Schwarzkopf Foundation which is now based in

Berlin and is the responsibility of alumni. It essential-ly became more democratic as the Governing Body and the Board of National Committees took charge, and the Charter was written and signed.

These institutional changes brought a new spirit to the organisation as well. The last six or seven years were filled with the energy of alumni looking to im-prove EYP out of passion. From around 25 national committees, there are now 36 of them. Internation-al Sessions have between 200 and 300 delegates and emphasis is put on high quality chairing to allow for better experiences. In 2012 close to 200 sessions in-volved around 20 000 young Europeans, showing that whilst an International Session is still the pinnacle within EYP, there is an ever increasing focus on the strength of national sessions.

Munich 2013 is the 72nd International Session of EYP and there are many more sessions to come. Keep an eye out for developments – or rather, be part of them. ■ AM

Did you know that a few years ago delegates at spring and autumn International Sessions would stay with host families? Yes, believe it or not, up until Turin 2002 delegates did not stay in youth hostels. In fact, EYP has changed

a lot as these 72 International Sessions were happening.

The 23rd International Session in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1996. Our organisation was originally run by a teach-er, but is now largely the responsibility of alumni

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Dear delegates,You are about to leave the session and go back to your everyday lives. Leaving Munich 2013

also means leaving a lot of friends behind that you have made during the session. The ones

that you got to know best are your fellow committee members. We would like to offer you a

blank page which you can fill with your own thoughts and memories. Let's share some last

farewell wishes by expression your feelings below. The page is yours!

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Munich 2013 15

As the session draws to a close, all participants return to their respec-

tive home countries. But how do the delegates of the 72nd International Session in Munich plan to continue

their EYP journey afterwards?■ FH, JF

Ereckle Antadze from Georgia (AFCO)I am organiser for the 74th IS in Tbilisi!

Fatih Seyfi from Germany (AFCO)After school, I’d like to go to regional and na-tional sessions as a chair or as an organiser.

Olena Yermankova from Ukraine (JURI)I am a board member of EYP Ukraine in charge

of regional development. I will apply to the Zurich IS for sure!

Clea Southall from BritainI am thinking about applying as an official for

sessions in Ireland

Tom Cantiller and Tommy Mallen from IrelandWe will hopefully join the British National Se-lection Conference in Liverpool as an official

Post-EYP…

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Athina Firtinidou from Greece (ECON)I can’t get involved much this year. It is my final year in school and I have to be very fo-

cused on my studies

Julia Kurganovich from Belarus (BUDG)I feel that I have finally found the people I

have been looking for so long, who also care about the world. I will try to stay involved, but

in Belarus the situation is quite tough

Anna Melkina from Russia (AFET I)Maybe I will try being a journalist. I also plan to become a member of EYP Russia and per-

haps organise some event

Lara van Bladel from BelgiumI would like to make a first attempt at chairing

soon!

Katie Pennick from Britain (LIBE I)I can’t wait to register as a delegate for the

upcoming summer session in Zurich

Michail Heymans from Belgium (ECON)I plan to study languages. So I can use what I learn from EYP in my studies. I will try to

attend the 73rd IS in Zurich, if I have the time

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Political, yet apoliticalThe politics of EYP

As a non-partisan organisation, EYP has the incredible ability to create a discussion plat-form in which political ideologies are left

aside. Europe’s youth is content simply engaging in political dialogue without the party political aspect. Political ideologies seem to be a bit of a taboo. In many European countries, such as Britain, asking someone about their political views is considered rude. Since we follow this norm in EYP, it is perhaps time to ques-tion why.

Journalist Amantia Muhedini (AL) believes that a positive aspect of the lack of the political element in our discussions is that “you learn to appreciate people as people and not for their political beliefs”. Conflict-ing political views can be a deal-breaker in any envi-ronment and it could be a cause of disputes within EYP. So in that aspect, remaining politics-free is great. However, Amantia also voiced a concern: “I think we are missing out on clever people who would benefit a lot from each other through their different views.” Bringing alternative viewpoints to the discussion ta-ble could introduce a new aspect to EYP, where we

often choose to bypass potential conflict. On the other hand, it could also bring out the bias behind people’s opinions in EYP debates.

Nacho Arroniz (JURI) stated “we do discuss poli-tics but we lack the will to discuss realistic politics on the behalf of our own personal opinions.” If that was the case, then perhaps the misconception that EYP is just “an educational project” could be avoided. Nacho thinks that EYP “lacks the ambition of actually hav-ing a say in current European politics.” If we took ac-tive steps towards enhancing EYP’s political influence then perhaps Europe would listen to its youth.

“In the future, I would like to see an EYP with deeper political influence within European society.”-This could perhaps make for a better EYP utopia, it might be a good idea to pause and think about the content of our debates. ■ AY

EYP could easily be described as a political utopia. A place where we discuss politics without getting into the politics.

EYP has the incredible ability to create a dis-cussion platform in which political ideologies are left aside

Nacho Arroniz (JURI): “In the future, I would like to see an EYP with deeper political influence within European society.”

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Meeting Ville Vasaramäki, the executive director of the EYP

Ville summarises that he oversees the running of the organisation on an international level and functions between different elements:

the governing body of EYP, the board of nation-al committees of the EYP Schwarzkopf foundation, and international sessions of EYP. The Berlin-based Schwarzkopf foundation aims to involve people in Eu-ropean actions. It has supported EYP since the 1990s, especially when the old international level of EYP got into financial trouble and basically went bankrupt. EYP has been more financially stable since 2004 when the international level of EYP officially became the program of foundation.

“My job is challenging because EYP is in a really rapid phase of development but at the same time it is very rewarding work. EYP is better than ever before; it is bigger, stronger and growing fast. I started EYP in 2001, triggered by a girl I had a big crush on. I became involved on the board of EYP Finland and slowly moved through different kind of positions and finally got elected as an executive director. Step by step I got deeper and deeper into EYP.”

“I first wanted to quit EYP in 2006 after I had

head-organised a really big session but then I got swallowed back into the game when I was elected as president of EYP Finland. I was always thinking “I will quit after this!” but when a new challenge came out, I had to try it once more.

I think EYP is an amazingly impressive project but I see it becoming even better in terms of quality of ed-ucational experience we offer. I don’t want to change EYP much but I want it to become bigger and better. One vision is that I would like every young Europe-an to take part in EYP at some level. We also want to create new projects such as trainings events and

guides for alumni. At the same time we have to focus on the core of EYP which is the activities on an interna-tional level.”

Ville is slowly moving on with his life and quitting

his job at EYP office in Berlin. “I have three passions in life; politics, arts and sports. I already did sports when I was younger, then I moved to EYP for 12 years so now it is my time to work with art. I want start a business on my own, which is to be my new project.” ■ AKs

EYP is better than ever before; it is bigger, stronger and

growing fast

Explaining Ville’s position and the responsibilities of the executive director of the EYP is easier said than done. The title gives a hint, but his job is more diverse than could be suspected.

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Zurich awaitsMeet the man who orchestrates your next step in EYP

Without having taken part to any session as a delegate, Philip’s EYP experience started at the Swiss Nationals, where

he was unwittingly roped into helping out. Despite admitting that, with no idea what was going on, this first session was “the most stressful situation I have ever lived through,” the EYP bug had bitten, and amidst the bewil-derment a drive for fu-ture EYP took hold.

A few sessions later – including having head or-ganised the 2011 Swiss National Session in Ticino – the idea of organising an international session start-ed forming in his head. According to Philip, “first off me and Felix just joked around about organising an international session at some point. But it turns out that when we joke, we actually mean it.” The pair met at school before their involvement in EYP and organ-ised the Ticino- session together, so working together again felt natural. They created the bid in 48 hours, with help from EYP Switzerland in order to come up with the concept. Out of several possible locations they chose Zurich – described by Philip as “metropol-

itan, restrained and elegant”. The vision for the organising team was clear from

the start. Philip and Felix agreed that they needed in-volvement from their team from the very beginning.

They wanted variety of experience and commit-ment in the team: “We looked for a large group of young Swiss EYPers, who would be motivat-ed and feel a sense of responsibility before the session. Our team creat-

ed the organising with us and will not just turn up for the session.” Slightly unusually, the Swiss part of the team includes people with three different moth-er tongues – Italian, French and German. Because of this, communication within the team is done com-pletely in English. In Philip’s words: “That’s what EYP is all about – bridging cultural divides. In Switzerland, the best way to respect minorities is a constantly un-der debate.” Though this is an important issue, it is not the theme of the session. Instead, the theme for Zu-rich is “Global Europe: working towards sustainable economies.” This is particularly relevant for a session in Switzerland, the hosting country acting as a key

For someone who “slipped into this whole EYP thing” after graduating in 2010 with a Swiss Matura in English and German, 20 year old Philip Aiolfi has accelerated fast through a number of sessions. Now with a bank of knowledge behind him, he looks to the next stage: head organising the next international session in Zurich 2013, alongside good friend Felix Kurer.

“I love the stress of organising. It is a sort of buzz, it is a challenge. But it is worth it in the end: what you experience and what you create”

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player in the global financial market. Furthermore, as Philip notes: “Zurich is the financial capital of Swit-zerland.”

The theme also provides a fluent transition from Munich 2013. The focus on resources acts as a basis for discussion on sustainability. The sessions are also linked in terms of the people involved. Aside from Philip working on both organising teams, Kerstin Mathias, one of the organisers at Munich, will be pre-siding at Zurich. She was also the editor at Amster-dam 2012, meaning that the session can draw heavily on past experiences and use the potential from previ-ous sessions.

Indeed, focusing on past experience is one of the key things Philip discusses. He says that “I have tak-en a lot of notes in Munich to take into Zurich. The main thing is managing the organising team so that

everything functions smoothly.” The team will con-sist of 24 organisers alongside with four internation-al organisers. Philip also mentions that he is looking into planning the small organisational details, such as coffee breaks and printing placards, well in advance: “When you take care of that kind of stuff beforehand, the stress of the actual session is reduced hugely.”

As the discussion turns to delegates going to Zu-rich, Philip strongly encourages anyone from Munich to apply. “We are not an EU country, but we are in the heart of Europe.” This provides an interesting per-spective on a discussion relating to European matters. The aim of the session is to create a relaxed atmos-phere and allow it to fulfil itself. Philip promises a film night and the chance to hang out by a lake. He ends on an invitation:

“Come to Switzerland, chill and relax.” ■ EH, AKr

“Come to Switzerland, chill and relax”

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Munich 2013 21

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The activities of the European Youth Parliament are under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Bayerische Staatskanzlei

The European Youth Parliament is a programme of the Schwarzkopf Foundation.

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The Source: The Global Issue (5)