Hacking Athens // Farewell by Milica Simeunovic

Changing Europe: From People to Newspaper

Editorial

Ten committees, three days, at least 10 new friends, priceless experience, countless memories, new horizons and pushed perceptions. Have you ever wondered how one outside observer sees EYP? What is the first impression of that person? Just like pose of Discobolus was considered to be ”unnatural for a human”, teambuilding activities might be perceived “unnatural”, “not suiting ”, “pointless”, but the truth is, as complicated as any part of the session may seem and ,for some, pointless,, in the end of the day product of the team is rhythmus, harmony and balance, just like pose of Discobolos that was perceived “unnatural for a human”. Speaking about outside observers and first impressions one might get, they say that first impressions are the most important ones, and they say that if first impression was negative, one needs seven positive impressions in order to put aside the prejudice towards that someone/something, prejudice created by negative first impression. That is the reason why we are here, to demonstrate our open mindedness, to prove that there are no unsolvable problems, to raise the bar together with our voices higher and higher every time, to chase the potential inside us that we can never reach because it grows each day. The Media Team of Athens 2016, hereby present to you the Farewell issue of our newspaper. The point of this issue is to provoke all the emotions you have towards the session, your committee, your co-delegates, your new friends. After summing up all the things that happened during the session, all the memories we created and all the emotions we experienced, we, the Media Team of Athens, would like to say that we officially hacked Athens! Milica Simeunović&Stefan Hadžović

Content

Who are we?.........................................................................................3 What is your reaction to.....................................................................5 Welcome to the family........................................................................9 A fruitful session...................................................................................11 From GA fails to lifetime memories...............................................13 Crossword.............................................................................................14 PED.........................................................................................................15 Is Arab Spring causing potential break-up of the EU...............17 The thing about EYP that keeps us going...................................19 Hey you..................................................................................................21 On the web..........................................................................................22

Brought to you by: Media Team Members: Anastasios Atzampos (GR) Eirini Papadopoulou (GR) Elissavet Sandal (GR) Irem Erduran (TR) Laura Libera (DE) Nikola MilenkoviÄ&#x2021; (RS) Nikos Mentesidis (GR) Susanna Carta (IT) Athanasios Theocharis (GR) Vayalena Drampa (GR)

Editors: Milica Simeunovic (RS) Stefan Hadzovic (RS) Editorial Assistants: Emil Bremnes (NO) Sofia Magopoulou (GR)

e r a

? e w

ris a h oc

R (G

)

he T s

io as n a

h At

Chairperson

A chairperson uses different teambuilding methods to unite a committee and help them work together. Their main responsibility is to prepare the delegates academically for the topic that they were allocated to. Most of all, chairpersonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; role is to faciliate the discussion between the delegates and guide them to consensus through compromise.

Editor

Editor is resposinble for Media Team and its output. The role of the editor is to shape up the ideas of the Media Team in order to provide lasting memories from the session for all session participants. This newspaper is one of the outputs of the Media Team, as well as the videos you had chance to see durig the session.

Head Organiser As a Head Organiser I consider the session a long journey, rather than a 3-day trip. The last few months were full of contacting people, not sleeping and drinking tons of coffee. During the session, I try to be there for everyone; help whoever might need help. In general there is lots of work to be done, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s positive to have all these people [organisers] around you. #underpressure 3

President

As a president, I am working very closely with EYP Greece and the organisation to shape the session, in terms of content and process. That means, that we drafted the committee topics well in advance and that we planned the program and the different program elements. At some point we put together a team - the chairpersons and editors - to put together the officials teams. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also about facilitating the team of chairpersons, making sure that we release preparational material for delegates and together with the VPs, train the chairpersons for the session. During the session weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to provide ad hoc solutions to every issue that might arise. Last but not least we make sure everyone has a good time,enjoys the session to the fullest and that every participant has a lot of fun both during discussion and breaks. In a sentence, make Athens 2016 the single most memorable session Athens has ever seen.

Media Team Member From my point of view, MTMs should provide a different outlook of the committee topics to the delegates, via articles and infographics. However, capturing all the wonderful memories in the making by taking pictures and filming videos is a signifact part of their tasks. Through several hours of the final output is created in order to showcase the vision, the joy and the energy of the participates of the session.

Organiser Organisers are responsible to provide anything, such as committee materials, food, information or announcements to anyone. We work in the background as a team, cooperating to sustain the whole session, to keep the flow going. Take care of the rest, so that chairpersons and delegates can devote to their tasks. 4

What is your reaction to... Susanna Carta (IT)

Committee work

Your resolution

Coffee break

Vayalena Drampa (GR)

find your focus; welcome to EYP.

Myrto Apostolidou, an experienced EYP Alumnus, is currently holding the position of the Treasurer of EYP Greece. What Myrto tells us, is that, yes, whatever you’ve heard about EYP Greece being a great company, is true. From your first experience as a delegate, you find it not only interesting, but also intriguing. Intriguing on what to expect, cause it looks like something with great potential. A potential to get to know people, people who know, people who already seem to be loving what they are doing. People forming a great company. Feeling like home, comfortable with each other and loving what they are doing. That’s exactly what EYP is about. It is not only about young people forming political opinions, and becoming active citizens. It is all about the EYP spirit. Team spirit, compassion, trust, open-mindness. Virtues you cannot so easily gain outside and that can be easily overlooked when you are not focusing right.

Despoina Dimitrakopoulou is the President of EYP Greece. For Despoina, EYP means a lot of things. Such a variety of things offered to you, among which you select what you want to keep. You select according to your needs and interests. Need to travel, to meet other cultures. But above all, as Despoina says, is the need to be around people. People your age, people who may or may not share your mentality or hobbies. People who listen to you, to your voice, what you have to say. People, who actually want you to belong with them. As Despoina recollects, around the age of 14, when she got involved in the organisation, her classroom was not the place she was feeling familiar. Maybe it was all the meaningless discussions about nails and hair, while, what was missing, was something to touch. Something to be absorbed into. And that’s what she found her first time in EYP. Incredible people, pacing at different rhythms, but all emitting one feeling; the

Myrto Apostolidou is inviting you all to 9

feeling of belonging… From the position of the President, Despoina

calls all of you to keep your minds and hearts open when you leave the session. No worries about results or places. Each episode is an independent one. The glue that joins them, though, is the feeling of being a family. That’s the secret you are going to need in order to proceed in the world called EYP. And it is this virtue that will give you the quality, not only to get involved with sessions of EYP Greece, but also travel abroad.

Your journey begins now, dear delegates. Share your love, share your feelings, your enthusiasm, your openness. Do not let go. In a family like EYP Greece, we want to see you, have you, listen to you, love you… 10

We welcome you into our family!

A fruitful session Irem Erduran (TR) & Nikola Milenković (RS)

One of the most noticed people on 33rd Natonal Selection Conference of EYP Greece must be Tim Keegstra. His spesific, healthy lifestyle and love for smoothies has caught the attention of thousands, from EYP and outside of it. Despite his busy vice-presidential schedule, he managed to save some time to share a few words with us.

What makes a perfect smoothie? Tim: The perfect smoothie needs to have two things: it has to look good and it has to taste good. Very often it happens that it looks good but tastes horrible or the other way around. So the perfect smoothie on my mind is Apple Pie Smoothie, you can check it on my Instagram! It is completely healthy, but tastes like apple pie. It’s seriously good.

Do-s and don’t-s? Dos: Post every single day, preferably more than once. Because then you’re a dependable person. Answer to comments. Don’ts: Don’t be a one-way medium. The cool thing about Instagram is that you can interract with people. Also, it should be beyond saying ‘Thank you’, but respect the fact that they’re interested. For example, someone asked me if I could help them with designing a diet. Go with that, roll with that and include them in your project. If you do it, make it a two-way street. And do it together with other people, that’s my main advice.

How did you decide to become a professional blogger/Instagrammer? I’ve tried quite often to stop drinking Coke and there was never a way to keep myself accountable and to do so I started posting on Instagram content regarding my issue. I didn’t expect this but I got so much positive feedback which was quite a good motivator and it keeps me going. I considered quitting at some point but there’s so much positive energy behind it that it keeps pushing you.

When you were starting, did you think you would become so recognizable? I hadn’t realized before this week that so many people knew about me, usually it’s one or two people that you meet that talk about it. This session I got a huge amout of comments. The amount of people that knew about the Instagram was insane, totally unexpected!

From GA fails to lifetime memories Laura Libera (DE)

When we enter the stunning venue of the General Assembly in the morning: We notice the goosebumps on our arms and how our heartrate increases. While taking a glance through the venue our eyes stop at the stage - the podium. This is where I will deliver the speech, this is where all eyes are on me. Trying to convince with the words that seem right to me.

What now? The speech is ruined. The performance is not valuable anymore. Yes, it is embarassing. Yes, people are going to laugh. But no, neither the speech nor the performance is ruined. We are humans, who make mistakes. This is what makes each of us unique. We took the courage to hold this speech with confidence and take the opportunity to have a voice that is heard. In the end only the content matters and not the little things that eventually happen to all of us. Ask any official at your session and you will always get an answer with laughter while telling the funniest stories how they screwed up. But guess what? They survived. They took it with pride and it only made them more confident. Screwing up in GA is just a methaphor of what happens when you screw up in life. It happens. You can not change anything about it, but it is going to be okay.

The placards rise and we get recognised by the board. This is the moment. Now its me in the spotlight. The walk to the podium seems endless. When finally standing in front of the microphone, hearing the silence in the room and seeing all the eyes staring at us, our wildest fear happen to pop up in our minds. Before the speech we take two very long breaths and start the speech we prepared all night. But then it happens. We mess up. The European Union switches to the European Onion or the European Nations. The board is addressed “Don’t worry about failures, worry as the honorable members of the about the chances you miss when boarders. The president suddenly you don’t even try.” - Jack Canfield became married or swaped its gender while being appealed. 13

Hacking Athens // Crossword puzzle Vayalena Drampa (GR) & Anastasios Atzampos (GR)

Down: 1. Which bird is the session mascot? 2.Name of the president of EYP Greece is… 4. What is Tim Keegstra’s favorite social media? 5. What is the surname of the president of the session? 6. Who composed European Anthem? 9.Where is Milica Simeunovic from? 14

Across: 3.What was for lunch on Friday? 7.Which MTM owns a “stone age” phone 8.How many stars are on the EU flag? 10.Where does the VP Dennis study?

PED:

Three letters, many emotions

Coming to the session, none of you could possibly predicted the feelings you would get. On the very first day you met people you never knew you would appreciate, miss, or even like in the first place. But there you were, standing in front of the Spider’s Web, carrying one of your co-delegates above your head, singing along to the “Jellyfish”, judging Abigail’s decision, being there for each other. Going through the warming process of Teambuilding was hopefully the very first time you felt included at this session. However, it did not stop there. Committee work might have been stressful and at times hard but you realized the power of common language and the perks of different ways of thinking. Here, a committee’s members get to embrace the weirdness from the beginning of the session which made them close in the first place. Combining individual characteristics and common knowledge you all went through a successful resolution making process on which we congratulate you. But, what is PED really? Do you know that feeling when you drop your ice cream? The sadness flowing through your body? This is what PED feels like. This is post-EYP depression. The existence of this term didn’t come out of the blue yet it’s a consequence of escaping everyday routine and taking a leap of faith by devoting yourself to an EYP session.

What delegates assume PED stands for: “PanHellenic Educational…” “Party Even Dead” “Political Educational Development” “People Eating Donuts” “Parliament European Democracy”

Meeting new people, bonding with random strangers and exiting your comfort zone becomes reality. Embracing and accepting diversity amongst peers makes experience all the more special. Even when the session technically ends your thoughts remain focused on the wonderful times and memories you have made during those delightful few days. You finish the session full of impressions which are hard to leave behind therefore you are exposed to the possibility of missing the overwhelming atmosphere a bit too much. At these moments all you really want to do is go back to the time you delivered your first speech or something as simple as exchanging a wink. You might even get to the point of not talking to people outside of EYP just because you can’t get over the fact that the session is over. Even though this might look like the end of this lovely journey, but the thing is, it has only just began. After this particular session you will get numerous opportunities for expanding yourself in fields you never believe you would but also making connection all over Europe. Although PED is a real and serious thing we have the perfect cure for you, fight fire with fire and apply to more sessions! Hope to see you somewhere in Europe! This might look like the end but if you allow it, it can also be an amazing new beginning. Eirini Papadopoulou (GR) & Nikola Milenković (RS)

Is the Arab Spring causing a potential breakup of the European Union? Laura Libera (DE)

Refugee crisis, reintrodruction of boarder controls in the Schengen area, terroristic attacks in capitals, economic anxiety, and unemployment. Do these conditions altogether epitomise Europe anno 2016? The European Union (EU) was founded in 1993 as a unification of the European Economic Community (ECC), which had strenghtened industry and commerce within Europe, and several idealistic goals for political stability and peace. These aims shaped a coalition out of now 28 countries, inducing a peaceful and common base for over 500 million people with different cultures, values and morals. Regrettably, this federation has increasingly been living in a society of fear since 2015. A fundament of those fears is a result of the various crises in the Middle East and Northern Africa (henceforth referred to as the MENA region). Harsh dictatorships, protests, political riots and civil rebellions have for decades shaped it politically. Some of the actions have resulted in civil wars, such as in Syria, 17

humanitarian distaster and anarchy, as in Libya, and to date 1.3 million refugees fleeing to the EU as a result of territorial coups by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (also known as ISIS or Daesh). The EU has realised the need for action, not just in the MENA region, but more predominantly in Europe. The EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s platform for solution resides within the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), under the authority of the European Council. Some of its responsibilities include framing a common EU defence policy. Its aim is to allow the EU to enhance its military capacities and deploy missions outside the EU for peacekeeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. In other words, the CSDP plays an important and complementary role in realising Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international security goals. However, the CSDP has had to withstand grave criticism recently, especially with regards to the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM)

in Libya and the introduction of the EU Battlegroups. The META region has also seen the involvement of several other international actors, including NATO and the United Nations (UN), who have intervened through a variety of projects. Some European countries are also said to be fighting their “own battles”, such as France, which joined the US-led coalition that is bombing Syria following the terroristic attacks in Paris last year. Other Member States such as the United Kingdom and Denmark also form part of the coalition. As the ‘strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must’, is the CSDP at all effective in shaping common policy? It is crucial for the EU to understand the limitations of the CSDP in its current shape. To fulfil the promise of width and ambition, it needs to be supported by real capability and greater political will. Too often EU Member States have sought to deflect attention with discussions on the CSDP’s future grandeur or even its existence, rather than what can be done to improve it. There are also significant

role challenges that must be addressed: how can we ensure that European states sustain their capability to act? And how can we ensure that the EU maximises the use of a comprehensive approach through its unique range of tools and partners to work more effectively? As terror threat levels are ‘as high as ever’ and arguably rising in Europe, it appears that the CSDP thus far has not generated results. People in Brussels for instance have expressed fear about possible future attacks, while others affirm that they will not let terrorism ‘dictate their lives’. Safe to say, the refugee crisis and the culmination of violence and fear in Europe have made the situation in the MENA region seem far less distant. The EU used to stand as one, but as Eurosceptisism flurishes in light of economic, political and social crisis, in addition to fearmongering and xenophobia, how can we save ourselves from complete rupture? 18

What is the thing about EYP that

keeps us going Elissavet Sandal (GR)

The thing about EYP that keeps us going and keeping participating in sessions is that EYP itself is a mosaic. A mosaic of different people, different opinions and different “stories”. This was the thought that led me into several discussions with the delegates of the 33rd National Selection Conference of EYP Greece and assisted me in writing a story that shows exactly how EYP can be felt by delegates and participants in general. The story goes as follows : There once was a little boy, let’s call him Tim (no there is no connection with our session’s VP). Tim has never felt welcome and accepted. He was feeling lonely and left behind, completely forgotten. The great paradox, though, is that Tim was never alone. The place he lived in was full of 19

people, full of cars and huge buildings. “Why did Tim feel lonely then?”, you ask yourselves. The place where he lived was mundane and gray. Litterally gray. The sky, the buildings, people. Every little thing was in the color black and its different hues of gray. The problem here was that Tim himself couldn’t fit in a place like that. Why? Because Tim himself was colourful. He had on him every colour you can think of. Red? Yes of course. Green? Yeah right, like green could be missing. Yellow, orange, lilac, pink, blue, turquoise and so it goes… The people of the gray place Tim lived in made him feel uncomfortable and isolated. They constantly ignored him, refusing to acknowledge his existence. It was because these people of that monotonous place put up a wall on anything that didn’t match

them. Unfortunately for Tim, he was on the “other” side of the wall. The days kept passing each as gray as the previous one, until one day Tim saw something that he never saw before, except for the times when he looked at himself in a mirror. He saw colour! A beautiful butterfly was passing through the gray garden of his house. The colour caught his eye almost immediately! He stood up and started following the butterfly, mesmerised by its wonderful wings, feeling that he found a piece of himself on them. The butterfly lead him to places unknown to him. He kept following it until they reached a spectacular place, a place full with colours! People of green, of red of lilac were all around him. They all were different hues, they all were different. But Tim didn’t feel left out anymore! How come? These people could see that being different isn’t a bad thing.

Tim noticed that there was no wall around him, as people around him focused on what connects them and not what devides and categorises them. The difference between those two places, as a result of their people’s way of thinking was truly noticeable if you could fly above them with an aeroplane. The first one seemed dull, gray, monotonous. The second one looked like a colourful mosaic, a delight to the pilot’s eyes. Don’t we all want to be part of something bigger and beautiful? Try to think like the colourful people and even if in our world people aren’t colourful, you will actually start seeing everyone’s “true colours” merging with yours in a great canvas that we like to call life.

Hey you

Hey you! Out there in the cold… Forming dragons and castles, jumping into strangers arms. Hey you, feeling lonely, awkward. Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve been a jellyfish, I’ve shouted. I’ve hit people in the heads with newspapers… Hey you! Standing in the aisles with itchy feet… You, who are afraid to come through a spider web, you, who jump on top of one’s back in a second. You, who could have been Swedish, or Hawaiian, or Robert de Niro, studying law, diplomacy, geoponics or art. You, who stood next to each other. I’ve stood there. I’ve drawn faces on your back, I’ve learnt the colour of your underwear, I’ve lied to you, I went on a speed date with you… Hey you! I got to spend the whole day with you. You, who are committed to solving the North-South disparities, you, who just want to chill out with other people. You, who prefer leaders over actors and you, who just wanted to skip school. Hey you, who remained quiet in the corner, and you, who shouted all over my face. I’ve shouted all over your face…. Hey you, open your heart. Share, express. Discuss. You, the aspiring politician, the friend, the party animal or the geek. Hey you, I’ve been there. I’ve felt strong, passionate, I’ve felt like a leader, a pusher, I’ve felt you… I’ve listened to you. You’ve given me space to be me. I’ve given you space to be you. Space to be together. Hey you, out there on the road, you have helped me. You, who shared your thoughts with me, your financial reform ideas, your master plans to save the world. You, who want to go beyond anything already existing and you, who just like the situation as it is… You, the delegates, the students, the geeks, the politicians, the doctors, the optimistic, the inspirational, the emotional, the trustworthy, the listeners, the companions.. Hey you, don’t tell me there’s no hope at all. You’ve co-existed, you’ve shared, I’ve shared. I’ve listened. I’ve relied upon, I’ve cried… Hey you! Remember, when you were feeling awkward, scared, nervous, angry, passionate, revengeful, peaceful, grateful…I’ve been there. I’ve evolved. I’ve seen you evolve. You. Me. Us. You gave me much. I’ve kept it. Hey you! Together we stand, divided we fall… I’ll be there. Will you? Vayalena Drampa (GR)

Facebook page of EYP Greece

Facebook page of the 33rd National Selection Conference

Web page of 33rd National Selection Conference

Changing Europe: From People to Newspaper

Athens 2016 // Farewell

Athens 2016 // Impressions