EUROPEAN YOUTH TEAMS PARLIAMENT GREECE 27TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE Theresa Lindlahr
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All for one and one for all
Your opinion
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META Marie Poupinel
The Road
POLL Ilias Mavromatis & Giorgina Giani
MORE GRAPHS Bernat Just
The Session in numbers
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27TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT GREECE MEDIA TEAM ISSUE 1
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EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT GREECE 27TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Most likely you arrived at the session feeling a bit awkward or even scared of what it would be like to participate in an EYP event. When you first heard of the zulu dance you might have thought “something is wrong, what has happened with the political correctness of the European Youth Parliament?" We hope this is not what you think after a proper taste of the session. After Null, here comes the Slash; for a different prespective, for bits of insight, for your enjoyment. Find out what a session looks like in numbers and check the pulse of the Greek crisis by reading what the delegates think about it. You would not want to miss the chairs’ interviews featuring blasts from the past. Let us go on a trip with Marie while approaching
the end of the session's journey, successfully referencing Ithaca by K. P. Kavafis. But do not hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you are old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you have gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
—LEFTERIS AND SOFIA & SIGNE
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SLASH Issue 1 PRODUCED FOR the 27th National Selection Conference of EYP Greece IN Athens, Greece E-MAIL media-team-eypgr-27@googlegroups.com CLICK http://media27nsc.eypgreece.org EDITORS Lefteris Mikros & Sofia Zafeiriou EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Signe Rudoviča JOURNALISTS Bernat Just, ES; Charlotta Lahnalahti, FI; Christos Papadogeorgopoulos, GR; Gaia Paalma, IT; Giorgina Giani, GR; Ilias Mavromatis, GR; Marie Poupinel, FR; Olek Musiał, PL; Theresa Lindlahr, DE; Triantafyllos Kouloufakos, GR; Tuusa Eriksson, FI; Vasilis Koutsomarkos, GR ATTRIBUTES Photography by the media team; made possibly by the work of our beloved organiser, Maria Oikonomou LICENCED UNDER a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Greece License 27TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE Athens 2013 20-22 APRIL European Youth Parliament Greece EYPGREECE.ORG
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TEAMS
All for one, and one for all What teamwork is all about, by Theresa Lindlahr.
H
aving played in the premier
league with my field hockey team, I have gained a lot of experience that other people my age have not. Real teamwork. Pressure. Fights, verbal and physical. Joy and disappointment. Support and feeling let down. Victory and defeat. Not giving up. Having to contribute to a common goal and in a way that is advantageous for the whole team. But the most important thing I have learned from my day-to-day trainings through pain and exhaustion was not that eventually all the effort pays off, but the fact that every time you challenge yourself to go further and do more than you imagined you could do, you push your own limits. This is an experience I could never have gained without my team. On my own, I would not have even considered pushing myself that hard, much less pulled it through. "All for one and one for all," that is the famous quote from ‘The Three Musketeers’ by Alexandre Dumas and it is often quoted when it comes to team sports. There really is more truth to the saying than it would initially appear. The urge not to disappoint the others and the inner refusal to be the one who gives up is the main drive to push your boundaries. Even though the talents and ideas of the different players might not be the same – or even because of
that – there is a more productive and weighed-out approach to tactics. Of course, team sports stay individual competitions after all: You need to fight, occasionally with your own teammates as well, for your place on the field. But that is how it is done! It is the competition that ensures effort, quality in performance and eventually produces the best possible results. In this Selection Conference there are many teams with several goals, like to get to know the other teams, to have
fun with newly gained teammates, to learn new techniques and ideas from them, and to develop adequate tactics in order to win the match at the end of the season. But most importantly, to get qualified for the higher league! I wish all the teams a great tournament and may the best 'athletes' win! ■
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FUTURE
LAWYERS & ECONOMISTS Tuusa Eriksson is wondering why engineers rule in EYP Greece, interviewing multiple EYPers on their career choices.
O
ne of the best things about being a member of
the EYP are all the new acquaintances we gain at every event we attend. In EYP there is a variety of different people; people, who have different cultural backgrounds, different interests and lead completely different lives. However, there seems to be one common factor that unites EYPers all across Europe. And, no, I m not referring to their coffee addiction! After having met quite a few people in sessions all around Europe, I have found that what truly unites many people in EYP family and shows our underlying similarity are our career choices or more significantly, the choices we make concerning our studies.= There is no great surprise that it is quite easy to name the typical EYP career paths. A huge majority of us study either political sciences, law or economics; things that you would typically associate with EYP. However, more interesting than simply wondering about why we study these subjects, it is essential to think about how EYP has influenced many of the lives, even in this area. A number of us may have been considering a completely different direction than the one before we were introduced to the phenomenon that is EYP. Despina, the Chairperson of CRIM, has some personal experience of this. "I didn’t really know what I wanted to study before I came to EYP, so it definitely had some influence on why I do what I do now." Despina, along with many other Greek EYPers, studies law. “ I chose to study law, because EYP made me feel like I wanted to pursuit this career, and it made me believe that it was somehow possible to make a difference in the world and to inspire people." In the countries across Europe the typical career paths of EYPers differ quite a bit. For example, in Finnish National
Committee it is quite typical for alumni to study economics. On the other hand, in Greece, computer engineering and law are definitely the most popular. Barbara, the committee organiser of FEMM, explains the reasons behind the popularity of law studies among Greek EYPers. “Many of the things we study in law at Greek universities are really the same topics we discuss in EYP.” This just goes to show how the academic aspect of EYP sessions is truly important to many of us. But not all of us are here just for the political debates. The Editorial Assistant of the session, Signe, who studies in Scotland, says that she is not quite sure as to whether EYP really affected her choice of study, but that it can also affect us in other ways. “EYP gives us a unique great experience of cultural exchange and may give us the courage we need to leave home and go study abroad. It also gives us an opportunity to learn the socalled soft skills that may be very useful in our future careers.” EYP changes us. This may sound like an overtly grand statement, but it is something that can be easily proven and you might get to witness it youselves. This weekend, all of you will experience something really special. Maybe tomorrow or maybe in a few years, you may notice that it has changed you even more than you ever thought possible. ■
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Alex Nompilakis/ chair & aspiring sociologist
Varvara Metallinou/ organiser and law student
H/ Christos Papadogeorgopoulos/ journalist & economics' student
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POLL
Your opinion Ilias Mavromatis and Giorgina Giani ask your own opinion on politics and the financial crisis.
L
oans, austerity measures, debts. These are words that nowadays one can hear on a daily basis. Budget cuts,
increased taxes and lowered social benefits have affected millions of lives. What is more, young people are not an exception. The work of the EYP focuses on giving youngsters the platform to debate these issues with their peers. This is one of the reasons why we wanted to give you the chance to voice your opinion on these issues.
58 delegates from 6 committees participated in the survey, 40 of whom were female. Their age varied from 15 -18 years, more than half of the participants being aged 17. The questioner revealed that almost all of the participants have never been to an EYP session before. The opinions were divided on whether an interest in politics had influenced the delegates’ attendance of the EYP session. Concerning the part of the survey that regards the Greek crisis, most of the delegates seem to believe that the governing political parties and their actions are responsible for it. Only 5% of the respondents said that they believed that the EU was to be held accountable for the economic turmoil, whereas 2% responded that the German chancellor Angel Merkel is responsible for the Greek crisis.
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More than half of the delegates (55%) also admitted that the conditions the crisis has created over the past few years have influenced their studies, too. They say that the situation Greece faces today is not only financial, but also social, political and cultural. Despite this, 83% of the respondents say that they are optimistic about their future. ■
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THE CHAIRS' TEAM Triantafyllos Kouloufakos and Gaia Palma digging for old facebook photos, volume 1.
Juliette, FEMM, 17 France, Studying Economics and Sociology:
Indra, President, in her 20’s, Latvia, Politics & Philosophy: Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: (Some thinking) When I was Head Organiser I wanted to have a Wild West-themed party, but in the end not many people showed up and the room was filled with hay and some were allergic to it. Q: What do you like most about Greece? A: I love the way you make Freddo Cappuccino. Q: Who do you find the most attractive among officials? A: Torn between Mariela Apostolaki and Dimitris Zacharias.
Q: What annoys you most about your co-chair? A: My co-chair is a little too stressed about being on time. Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: During my last session I thought a Latvian guy was Spanish and talked to him in Spanish the whole day while nobody corrected me. Q: What do you like most about Greece? A: Weather, food, and people.
Alex, FEMM, 24, Greece, Studying Law: Q: Have you ever managed to maintain a relationship that started in a session? A: I have never had a relationship inside EYP. Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: Rats showed up at the accommodation venue at a session I was Head Organising. Q: What annoys you most about your co-chair? A: She is too beautiful and that does not let me concentrate. Despina, ENVI I, 20, Greece, Studying Chemistry: Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: I was at an Opening Ceremony and made a Christmas tree fall down. Q: Have you managed to maintain a relationship that started in a session? A: Not a romantic one, but I met one of my best friends at a session.
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FOREVER YOUNG Waltter, EMPL, 21, Finland, International & European Law: Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: Dressing up as a girl, but I was an extremely pretty one. Q: What do you like most about Greece? A: The people and the food. Q: What annoys you most about your co-chair? A: She is too perfect. Haana, ENVI I, 20, Finland, Studying French: Q: What do you like most about Greece? A: The thing I like the most about Greece is definitely the sun. Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: I met a guy at a session some time ago and we really liked each other, our relationship only lasted for two letters. He never replied. Then after eight more months we met again and he blamed it on me.
Gio, EMPL, 22, Greece, Studying Electrical and Computer Engineering: Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: This one guy had a very weird accent and I couldn’t understand what he was trying to tell me; I had to ask him to repeat seven times and felt really awkward. Q: Have you managed to maintain a relationship that started in a session? A: Yes, yes I have. I won’t tell anything more though. Q: What annoys you most about your co-chair? A: He is too perfect.
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Manto, LIBE, 22, Greece, Studying Industrial Engineering: Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: The first time I was editing and I had to give my speech from a podium. Q: What annoys you most about your co-chair? A: He is too Hapi! Q: Have you ever managed to maintain a relationship that started in a session? A: Yes, I had a relationship with another EYPer.
Dimitris, LIBE, 24, Studying Chemical Engineering:
Robin, ITRE, 20, Sweden, on a gap year; working as a substitute teacher:
Irida, ITRE, 21, Greece, Studying Psychology:
Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: The first time I met Waltter I kept staring at him, I couldn’t help it. Q: What do you like most about Greece? A: Souvlaki! Q: Have you ever managed to maintain a relationship that started in a session? A: No, but I hope I will!
Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: I was very, very anxious the first time I had to give my speech as an editor from a podium. Q: Have you ever managed to maintain a relationship that started in a session? A: Not a romantic relationship, but I have met 3-4 really close friends. Q: What annoys you most about your co-chair? A: She is extremely well organized, much better than me.
Q: Who do you find the most attractive among officials? A: Achilleas, I used to date a guy who looks like him. Q: What has been your most awkward EYP moment? A: When I was a delegate I had to give a direct response, but when it was my turn to talk I forgot what I wanted to say and just kept repeating “My name is Irida, my name is Irida…”
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FUTURE
27th year
NSC of EYP Gr eece, 2030
Vasilis Koutsomarkos and Christos Papadogeorgopoulos are looking at what the first day of the session would be like in some time in the distant future.
I
t is a warm sunny afternoon in Nea Erythraia, Greece
and a lot of people gather in a school yard. There is a session just about to start; the 27th National Selection Conference of EYP Greece. When everyone registers him or herself by scanning their personal electronic bracelet they received via mail, a loud call is heard from the people outside and they all start forming a really big circle. Then, a lovely young lady steps into the centre of that circle. Her name is Indra, the President of the session. The officials’ team is now introduced, let the fun begin! Songs and sing-alongs, people running around and eventually they are all divided into smaller groups, their committees. The games continue; this time the focus is on the delegates divided in their committees so that they get to know each other better and bond. Shortly after that, comes the coffee break where delegates enjoy their refreshments from organic plastic cups. The most interesting thing is the amount of the material that is recycled by the organising team due to the strict rules of environmental policy. Afterwards the more constructive games take place aimed at forming a strong team through building trust between each other. There are two more astonishing facts worth of mentioning. Firstly, as surprising as it may sound, journalists no longer use normal cameras to take photos, but rather use their smartphones. This is because of the improved technology and quality of mobile phones’ cameras. Secondly, the chairs now constantly press their hand on their ear to listen to what the President is
trying to tell them through the internal communication system that is set up. As the day comes to a draw, the delegates are handed the first issue via a webpage link the media team provided instead of a printed issue. It is 2030 after all! For many years now no one has printed any newspapers. Why? because all of the delegates are now using their tablets, which are much cheaper than 20 years before. Finally, the delegates enter the Opening Ceremony room, which is furnished in an old style but, all the modern equipment offers opportunities that were not there in the past. This way, one of the main sponsors, who was not able to attend the ceremony, appears on stage as an hologram and give his speech expressing his support towards the session. Late at night, the delegates are ready to go home and brace themselves for committee work on the following day. They prepare for a long discussion on the issues concerning the acts of the newly established Federal European Union. ■
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META
The Road "Travel and experience makes for a vigorous mind" —Senec By Marie Poupinel
L
ife, when you try to picture it metaphori-
cally, resembles a long and dark winding alley with many divergences and innumerable intersections. This ‘life’ we have been propelled into, has set us on a fated course towards an unknown destination. A perpetual challenge, a progression towards fulfilment; as commonplace as it must sound, life is a journey, a voyage which molds and defines who we intrinsically are or are yet to become. Venturing into the world of EYP and exploring the unknown territory marks a decisive turn, a loop in the path of your life, adding to the zigzagging thread of footprints already embedded into your road. This departure, this introduction to a new chapter of your life requires you to break your routine and shake off the fetters of habit, throw off the cloak of fears and prejudices and take a leap faith, a leap forward. EYPers are inexhaustible travelers of the world, seekers of uprooting experiences and fulfilment to satiate this unalterable desire to explore. Discovery. Daring. Risking. Grasping the opportunity that lies in front of them are the hallmarks that are enshrined deep within the core of EYPers being. Indeed, embarking on a journey into unknown realms shapes a personality as you decipher the obscured corners of your inner self, the darkened facets are alit. One who uproots the status quo and challenges him or herself by opting for the road less traveled, gains greater knowledge of him or herself as the pile of experience garnered along the way grows. Life is a journey to the edge of knowledge, which inextricably links it to the EYP journey. Going beyond limits that we thought were impossible to overcome, interacting and exchanging ideas
VENTURING INTO THE WORLD OF EYP AND EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN TERRITORY MARKS A DECISIVE TURN, A LOOP IN THE PATH OF YOUR LIFE, ADDING TO THE ZIGZAGGING THREAD OF FOOTPRINTS ALREADY EMBEDDED INTO YOUR ROAD.
EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT GREECE 27TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE
with individuals of different backgrounds and commingling with strangers, strikes the mind as a reflection of what we are capable of. This environment nurtures personal growth, helps to discard narrow-mindedness and preconceived ideas, disrupts seemingly anchored prejudices and tackles false beliefs. You could envision EYP as a pilgrimage, an expedition unveiling the unforeseen goods and ills of our personalities – a new reality unfolding that broadens our horizons. Echoing Aristotle’s enlightened mind - “man is by nature a social animal”. Naturally, amidst this ocean of individual lives that form our society, we seek the companionship of others for comfort. A hub of interconnected peers, EYP fosters sociability. Engaging with your kindred, so similar yet so different, invites you to experience an unprecedented cultural voyage. Each connection, each exchange becomes a fundamental ingredient in the completion of your learning process. As a window to the world, the realm of EYP includes a multitude of cultures where you are enabled to discover a whole new set of mindsets and perspectives. By travelling to a far corner of Europe physically or savouring the delicacies at the Eurovillage, EYP tentacles stretch far out. It is a speedway envigorating your mind with unforgettable memories. ■
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THE SESSION IN NUMBERS Organizers trapped for 40 min in an elevator:
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15.000 A4 sheets lt of coffee served during Coffee Breaks:
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Bernat Just doing some math.
President – HOs hours of Skype sessions: 12
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GA/
Challenging the General Assembly – mode d‘emploi Aleksander Musiał & Charlotta Lahnalahti in how to avoid alienating people.
T
he General Assembly of
the European Youth Parliament differs considerably from other parts of the session. Having spent plenty of time playing Haydooken and debating in a rather informal atmosphere the members of the committees have to be transformed into honorable delegates. Such a metamorphosis cannot occur without some maladroit mistakes caused by the understandable lack of experience. However, we are here to stop you from making the most severe ones. To begin with, formal clothing is obligatory during the GA; putting on jeans and T-shirts should be postponed until the Farewell Party. Formal clothing is important not only in terms of the aesthetic impression it leaves, but it could also affect the result of the debate, because sometimes people pay as much attention to the external appearance as they do to the content. So, carefully consider choosing a provocative, semi-transparent shirt, as it will not help the listeners in focusing on your point. Furthermore, it is quite often the case that delegates happen to mispronounce a variety of terms. Have you ever debated on the future of the European Onion? Surprisingly, it happens to Finnish delegates quite regularly. Obviously, each country has its common mistakes that ought to be avoided. Even
the full name of the EYP confuses some people, when instead of the ‘European Youth Parliament’ some speakers talk about the ‘Juropian Yath Parlijament’. Pay attention to this issue in order to present your resolution as well as possible. The procedure of the General Assembly is based on the respective one in the European Parliament itself, so there are many conventions that need to be considered when you are given time for a speech or the microphone at the time of debate. Firstly, wait to be recognised by the board and then you have to speak into the microphone loudly and clearly to avoid any misunderstandings. Secondly, it is important to use certain, fixed phrases both when saluting the audience and thanking them. When it comes to the salute at the beginning of your speech on the podium, it is advised to start as follows: “Distinguished guests, Honourable members of the Board, Fellow delegates”. A decent speech deserves an astonishing ending as well. End with a memorable sentence or a quote and please do not thank your chairperson or your dog as this is better left for the Oscar’s Gala.
EYP is an ideal platform to develop one’s public speaking skills and social interaction as EYP offers such a supporting environment. Everyone is encouraged to do his or her best and no one is discouraged or criticized because of failure or stress. Many people may be brave on the dance floor or when bungee jumping, but bear in mind that nothing can be compared to speaking in front of an audience. All the officials participating in the GA have been in the same situation and have been nervous during their speeches just like you. If your paper shakes or you are asked to repeat the question, do not worry; it has happened to all of us before. GA is the place where to share knowledge and influence others using your skills. The outfit you have chosen for the assembly represents you and gives you the opportunity to present a more professional aspect of yourself. Practice pronunciation and rhetorical figures of speech within your committee in order to feel more confidence when talking during the GA. This is a moment you will remember for the rest of your life and you do not want to regret not speaking up. Challenge yourself and step up, you are recognised! ■
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THE 27TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIEMENT GREECE IS SUPPORTED BY: