2018 - Project Management and Networking

board members: Iida Kalliokoski (today: Mikonmaa, president), Amir Abdelamir (vice-president), Tuomas Alm, Ida Eerola, Aleksanteri Kekonen, Matti Lötjönen, Anni Niemelä, Paula Närvänen

This year was again busy at home and abroad. Many board members spent at least some part of the year studying or working outside of Finland, which also meant some changes in portfolios and deputy members taking over to become full board members. The Secretary General also changed for the first time, as Maiju Tuomainen left the role after two years.

We successfully organised the National Session in Turku, and Regional Sessions in Salo, Kuopio, Tampere and, for the first time ever, in Vaasa. EYP Finland also took over the role of lead coordinator in the long-standing parliamentary simulations project, Nuorten Eurooppa, organised in collaboration with the European Parliament Information Office in Finland. Countless people have had their first contact with EYP through these school visits organised in primary and upper secondary schools.

EYP Finland again sent a delegation to the European Youth Event in Strasbourg, coordinated by the board member for international affairs Ida Eerola. Ida also represented us in Aachen, where we cele-

brated our second consecutive national win of the Charlemagne Youth Prize awarded by the European Parliament. We took part in this competition with the Your European Citizenship project consisting of the Regional Sessions and the school tour. The EYP Summer Academy took place in Niš, Serbia, where we were represented by Amir Abdelamir and Ville Jaara as trainees and Henri Haapanala as trainer.

Back in Finland, we organised a discussion panel on Youth and the Future of the EU together with Allianssi and the European Parliament Information Office. This event gathered 90 participants who got to present their ideas to Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen and three MEPs. We also participated in Turun Eurooppa-foorumi with volunteers from EYP Turku. For the second year running we attended Linnaseminaari, which is the annual summer event of Young European Federalists in Finland (Eurooppanuoret). Making connections with other youth organisations and EU professionals was one key objective in the new strategy and annual action plan.