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EDITORIAL Dear Delegates, Welcome to EYP-France’s 35th National Session, in Grenoble! National Sessions are particularly challenging. In three days are packed many different important elements of a session: Welcome, Teambuilding, Opening Ceremony, Committee Work, Eurovillage, General Assembly... From knowing only your fellow delegation, you will meet, learn the names of, problem solve, discuss, debate, and defend with students from schools all over the country. All these faces which were new this morning will become people you will have to work closely with in the next three days. National Sessions are challenging not only because of this intensity, but because they are ultimately a competition, where one delegation will be selected to represent France at the next International Session of EYP, and organise the National Session next year. So how do you handle all this pressure? We, the media team, are hoping to provide you with content that will make you think about things other than your committee topic, that will help you understand what EYP is about, and that will debrief the main session events. We hope this will help you de-stress a little, take a step back and think about the broader picture of what it means to be a participant in EYP. We aim to broaden your mind on EU politics, reflect your ideas through interviews, encourage you to become active in this organisation. And to add to the session atmosphere, we will also organise a few activities where we hope you will have a blast. As the session passes at an incredible speed and you won’t be able to realise when it comes to an end, we will try to capture memorable moments of the session, thanks to words, photos and videos that will last even once the session has ended. We hope to help you get a better grasp of what EYP is all about: debate, exchange of ideas, dynamism, and unforgettable moments with the people you just met. So get ready to be interviewed, be open-minded, enthusiastic and always smile to the camera! We hope that you will have an amazing experience here, and that it will be the first of many. Yours, Tuna Dökmeci & Rebecca Smith
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CONTENTS
HOLA! Head Organisers Welcome to Europe, Welcome to EYP Ici, Ici, c’est Grenoble Building up a team The Chair’s team “Fight or we are not worth freedom” Le PEJ et l’initiative populaire Cliché Killed Creativity La magie du travail en commission EYPassport Comic
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Nina Thomic and Marko Kazic ont eu le plaisir d’interviewer les Head-Organisers très occupés Claire Liaubet et Abdelilah Asshidi.
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Pourquoi avez-vous décidé d’organiser une session ? Quels étaient les facteurs cruciaux pour prendre une telle décision ? Claire : En France durant les sessions nationales, un lycée est sélectionné pour participer à la prochaine session internationale et pour organiser la session nationale un an plus tard. À Nantes, en décembre 2012, mon lycée a donc été sélectionné en fonction de notre participation durant le travail en commission et dans l’assemblé plénière. Ainsi notre motivation, état d’esprit et notre niveau d’anglais nous a permis de partir à la session internationale de Munich. Pour moi les facteurs cruciaux pour pouvoir organiser la 35eme session nationale du PEJFrance étaient d’avoir une équipe d’organisation motivée et sérieuse en qui je puisse avoir confiance. En voyant le manque de motivation de la majorité du groupe PEJ du lycée Europole, nous avons décidé avec Abdelilah, l’autre Head-Orga, et Johanne et Jessica du lycée Europole, de former une équipe motivée sur qui nous pourrions compter. Nous avons donc fait appel à des membres du club PEJ du lycée Aristide Berges et du lycée Jean Prévost de Villard de Lans pour par-
ticiper à l’organisation de la session. Quand avez-vous commencé à organiser cet évènement ? Comment se déroulait le processus de l’organisation en général ? Claire : Nous avons commencé l’organisation dès juin 2013 en constituant l’équipe d’organisation et en remplissant des dossiers de demande de subventions. Nous avons commencé à faire des réunions d’organisation dès septembre. La recherche de subventions et d’hébergement ont été les premières démarches que nous avons effectuées. Apres tellement de temps et d’efforts investis dans l’organisation, comment vous sentez-vous ? Abdelilah : A cinq jours de l’événement, je suis satisfait de l’avancement de l’organisation de la session mais un peu paniqué, il reste des points d’organisation à finaliser mais le gros du travail est fait. Il vous faut assumer presque toute la responsabilité si quelque chose se passe mal, vous pouvez le gérer? Claire : Pour les éventuels problèmes qui pourraient subvenir, nous essayons de prévoir et de nous organiser au mieux pour que rien
que l’on ne puisse gérer n’arrive. Je pense être capable de rester calme si quelque chose arrive. Si un problème avec les délégués, les chairs, les journos ou même les invités se pose, nous essaierons de le résoudre calmement et du mieux possible sans aggraver la situation. Après tout ce travail, sentez-vous que la session est déjà aussi proche? Claire : Sous la charge de travail que nous avons eu et que nous avons encore à cause de l’organisation, nous réalisons de plus en plus l’approche et l’importance de nos travaux finaux pour l’organisation et le bon fonctionnement de la session. Quel était le moment le plus réussi? Abdelilah : Le meilleur moment de l’organisation était sans contester le premier jour où j’ai rencontré mon équipe d’orgas. J’étais tellement heureux de connaître cette super équipe ! Depuis, c’est un plaisir de les voir à chaque réunion. Pouvez-vous décrire l’ambiance de l’équipe d’organisateurs à l’approche de la session ? Claire : Le travail ardu que nous fournissons tous soude l’équipe de plus en plus et de jour en jour. Aussi le sentiment d’excitation et d’appréhension à l’approche de la session nous aide
à nous rendre compte de l’importance de notre travail et de l’importance de la communication au sein de l’équipe. Qu’est-ce que vous espérez pour le déroulement de votre session ? Claire : J’espère que durant la session nous n’aurons pas de problèmes, et qu’après avoir gagné en maturité et en expérience avec notre travail antérieur à la session nous pourrons vivre une expérience intense et pleine d’émotions. J’espère aussi que tout se passera bien et qu’il n’y aura pas de contre temps ni d’imprévus qui pourraient mettre en péril la session. Abdelilah, quels sont tes espoirs et attentes pour cette session? Abdelilah : J’espère voir au cours de cette session chaque participant s’épanouir et se sentir bien. Je souhaite vivement que chacun trouve sa place au PEJ et s’y sente bien à l’issu de ces trois jours. As-tu un message pour les délégués ? Abdelilah : Si j’ai bien un message à faire passer aux délégués, c’est éclatez-vous ! Prenez du plaisir à participer à la session ! 5
Welcome to Europe Confused about the complexity of the EU institutions? Our journalists Nina Thomic, Triantafyllos Kouloufakos and Zabeth Wagemann are here to help.
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ver the years, the European Union, consisting of 28 Member States, has grown and developed incredibly. Especially when discussing about the problems within this supranational body it is important to be informed about the way its institutions function. Apart from the European Commission (EC), the European Parliament (EP) and the Council of the EU, the functioning of the Union is supported by organisations such as the European Central Bank or the European Court of Justice.
European Commission: This body determines the foreign policy of the European Union. Composed of the commissioners from 28 Member States, with one member for each Member State and one of them elected as the President of the European Commission, currently José Manuel Barroso, they are the executive and legislative power of the European Union. Based in Brussels, they propose legislations, implement decisions and defend EU treaties. Ensuring the implementation of European Union’s treaties, such as the Schengen Agreement, they are initiating the executive power. On another hand, the legislative power is initiated by their power to make formal proposals for legislations.
European Parliament: The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution of the European Union. Together with the Council of the European Union and the European Commission it exercises the legislative power of the EU. This first part of the EU´s legislative branch consists out of 754 parliamentarians elected for 5 years by all EU citizens and shares power over the EU budget with the EC and the Council of the EU. The European Commission is responsible before the Parliament. Moreover, the Parliament elects the President of the Commission, and approves or rejects the appointment of the Commission as a whole. It can subsequently force the Commission to resign by adopting a motion of censure. It meets either in a plenary session or in its 20 different committees, which are all responsible for specific areas. It is currently presided by Martin Schulz.
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Welcome to EYP
European Council: This institution gathers the Heads of States in summits about 4 times per year, together with the presidents of the European Commission, the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The EC determines the guidelines and set general goals and incentives for the further development of the EU.
Council of the European Union : This institution, also known as the Council of Ministers, is structured in issue-specific councils with the respective ministers of the Member States (e.g. Council on Justice and Home affairs with all ministers responsible for interior affairs). The presidency of the council changes every six months and supplies the different councils with a chairperson; a position currently held by Cyprus. The position of chairperson on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security is elected for an unlimited period of time, which is occupied by Catherine Ashton since 2009. The council shares its legislative competences with the European Parliament and holds executive powers too.
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ICI, ICI, C’EST GRENOBLE! Depuis le temps que vous passez par cette ville pour aller aux stations de ski, il est peutêtre temps d’en savoir un peu plus, non ? Grenoble n’est pas seulement une ville très polluée, et Elodie Metral va vous le montrer sur le modèle de « Ce qu’un Grenoblois ne dit pas ».
“Je suis claustrophobe.” Un Grenoblois ne peut pas être claustrophobe, car comme vous avez pu le remarquer, Grenoble est une cuvette entourée de montagnes. Belledonne, la Chartreuse ou encore le Vercors sont les principaux massifs que vous pouvez admirer. Le Vercors est principalement connu en tant que refuge pour les résistants durant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale.
“La Bastille est une ancienne prison parisienne, et me rappelle la Révolution.”
Aucun Grenoblois ne vous dira ça, vous pouvez me croire ! La Bastille est un ancien fort militaire dominant la ville. On peut y accéder à pied, en voiture, mais surtout en téléphérique ou comme communément appelé en bulles. Au sommet, nous avons une magnifique vue sur toute la vallée et les montagnes voisines.
“L’avenue des Champs-Élysées est la plus longue d’Europe.” Ne vous méprenez pas! L’avenue la plus longue et rectiligne d’Europe se situe bel et bien à Grenoble. Alors que les Champs-Élysées ne font que 2 kilomètres, l’avenue de Grenoble en fait 4 fois plus, soit 8 kilomètres. Cette avenue en revanche ne comporte pas un seul nom car elle est divisée entre plusieurs communes. Elle commence donc au pied de la Bastille en tant que cours Jean Jaurès, pour devenir cours de la Libération et du Général de Gaulle, avant de redevenir cours Jean Jaurès pour finir en tant que cours Saint-André.
“Stendhal a écrit Les Misérables il me semble ...” Henri Beyle, dit Stendhal, est encore plus connu à Grenoble car c’est ici qu’il naquit. En se baladant dans la ville, on peut observer des plaques signalant la résidence de son grand-père ou d’autres lieux de son passage. Il dit une phrase très juste sur Grenoble, ce qui devint comme la devise de la ville, « Au bout de chaque rue, une montagne ... ». 8 8
“Je n’ai jamais mangé de noix.” Les noix sont aussi une spécialité d’ici ; il y a même une variété de noix appelée « Noix de Grenoble ». On peut les manger seules, mais c’est tout de même meilleur avec de la salade. Le prix reste cependant assez élevé entre 5 et 6 € le kilo si l’on ne connaît personne qui possède un noyer.
“La Chartreuse est juste une chaîne de montagnes.” Eh non! La chartreuse est aussi une liqueur créée en 1605 par les moines chartreux. Il existe principalement deux types de liqueur : La verte dont la couleur est dû à la chlorophylle à 55° d’alcool, et la jaune, fabriquée de la même façon que la verte mais avec différentes proportions, à 40° d’alcool.
“On ne peut pas faire de sport à Grenoble sans être dans la pollution.” Peu importe la saison, on peut toujours monter dans la montagne pour s’oxygéner. En hiver, une heure suffit pour accéder à la plupart des stations. Ski de piste, snowboard, ski de fond, ou luge, toutes les occasions sont bonnes pour aller côtoyer la neige ! En été, la température pouvant atteindre les 40 degrés, il est toujours bon d’aller dans les Vouillants, ou les Cuves pour retrouver un peut de fraîcheur, tout ça à moins de 30 minutes de la ville. Pour l’intersaison, les montagnes regorgent de balades et l’on y retrouve de tous les âges !
“Je ne sais pas quelle ville est la plus agréable en tant qu’étudiant...” Grenoble est la 1ère ville étudiante où il fait bon vivre pour l’année 2013/2014. Avec plus de 58 000 étudiants, Grenoble est définitivement une ville jeune et dynamique. De plus, le magazine Américain Forbes a élu Grenoble « la cinquième ville la plus inventive au monde ». À noter que c’est la seule métropole française à être présente dans le classement. 9
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Building up a team Nina Thomic thought about the real importance of teambuilding and the many characters coming together in this process.
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e probably got to know it as our very first, already weird, experience within the EYP and we often spend as much time on it as on other parts of the session agenda. We also have the aim of getting to know all the people we are going to work and discuss with – welcome to teambuilding. Very often the real importance of these few “funhours” is not realised by many session participants. In fact all activities happening during teambuilding are creating much more than only entertainment. After getting to know the people’s names and overcoming physical barriers, the tasks get more and
more demanding. Psychology has found that intimacy within a group is directly connected to trust. Due to this, we reveal vulnerability, are more likely to make a commitment of any kind, and regulate distress as well. In groups the phenomenon of interdependence occurs often, meaning that individuals’ actions, thoughts, feelings and experiences are determined partly by others in the group. Additionally, members of a group are not connected randomly, but in organized and predictable patterns. These facts are indispensable if we want to understand certain occurrences within a team. By solving the first prob-
lems together, a basis for a balanced working atmosphere should be created. It is up to you to agree upon solutions and get to know your stand within the committee. Apart from that, everyone can get familiar with the others instead of diving straight into committee work with its heated discussions and stances on the topic. It is simply preferable to engage in the whole process in order to establish a solid base for the work to come. In this process we are able to identify many different characters coming together. There are three noticeable types that people tend to fit into more or less.
The Enthusiast
The Balanced
This person has a very enthusiastic and motivated attitude towards nearly everything in life and also likes to display this approach when it comes to teambuilding. He/ she is not afraid of challenges and loves being involved in a game’s assignment of tasks. On the other hand, this character should especially take care to give others the chance to take part actively too, as they have the tendency to be dominant. However, their great energy can help create a great committee atmosphere.
The fundamental aspect for this person not only during teambuilding but also in their daily environment is structure and balance. To these individuals teambuilding is really important in order to feel comfortable within the committee, but they actually prefer the rather factual programme parts such as committee work or GA. These people can help a committee by supporting an organised approach and by taking a balanced position between all of the different characters.
The Silent This character is of a settled and content nature. However, people displaying these characteristics get bored quite easily and do not really understand the importance of playing games for hours. Thus, they could try to be a little more open during this part of the programme and should maybe try to realise at some point what they have missed so far.
In conclusion, the many different and also exciting characters are vital in order to make a committee lively and ensure thrilling discussions within the committee. Thus, every member should not only learn to respect colleagues and others’ opinions, but also to think about ways to adopt individual characteristics in order to spend some unique moments of teambuilding together.
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THE CHAIRS’ TEAM by Zabeth Wagemann
The Serbian chair of LIBE II, Aleksandar, whose most memorable session was the International Session in Helsinki, stays awake during the session with coffee and power naps. His best way to enjoy a session is socialising and therefore, he gained friends with places to crash all around Europe. He would like to meet the love of his life.
The French chair of LIBE II, who says that the Regional Session of Kuopio was her most memorable session, drinks coffee and laughs a lot in order to enjoy a session and to stay awake. She would love meeting Quentin Tarantino. Thanks to EYP, she now knows that traveling from France to Serbia in a bus is not a good idea.
The Serbian chair of LIBE I, Jana enjoys a session in being between free and responsible and of course, with many coffees. Her most memorable one was Zurich’s IS from where she gained friends and knowledges like how many hours of sleep she needs in order to function. Malala Yousafszai is one person she would like to meet. The French chair of TRAN, who would love to meet Boris Diaw, chooses the French National Session she head-organised as most memorable one. “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” is what she asks herself in order to enjoy a session. That way, and by drinking juice and eating chocolate to stay awake, she gained confidence and amazing friends. The Romanian chair of JURI, Alexandra remembers the Balkan’s Exchange Forum as exceptional. Depended on espresso shots and laughs in order to stay awake, she would love to meet Anna Wintour or Johnny Depp. She enjoys a session by having fun and not taking herself seriously. That way, she gained friends, memories and valuable skills for the outer world.
The French chair of AFCO, Anais’ most memorable session was the International Session in Istanbul. By drinking tea, coffee and forgetting that she’s tired, she enjoys a session by living every second of it. Accordingly, she met amazing people, learned a lot and had fun. She would have loved to meet Ray Charles. The French chair of CULT, Julie would have loved to meet Romy Schneider. She enjoys a session by socialising and gained therefore friends, experience and self-confidence. During sessions, coffee and happiness keep her awake like her first French National Session, which she stated as the most memorable. The French chair of AFCO, Emma, would chose to meet Peter Higgs if she could. In having fun and tying not to fall asleep thanks to coffee, she enjoys sessions like the last French NS she remembers as memorable. EYP brought her friendship.
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The French chair of JURI, Samuel, just doesn’t fall asleep during sessions, like at the French National Session of Limoges, which he preferred. He would like to meet the philosophy teacher he had last year again. His way to enjoy a session is to listen to others. That way, he gained friends, memories and love.
In our Irish President, Lucy’s opinion, the more you put into EYP, the more you get out of it. This is how she gained friends, knowledge and maturity out of sessions like the Iberian Forum, which she particularly remembers as memorable. She would like to meet her future husband, in order to know if he really exists.
The French chair of ITRE, Leonard, who would choose to meet Barack Obama, stays awake thanks to coffee. He advises making friends in order to enjoy EYP sessions, as doing so; he gained the quality of respecting others. His most memorable session was Athens International Session.
The French chair of LIBE I and also one of the two Vice-Presidents of the session, Clement, who has something against quatre-quarts, names the Antwerp Forum as memorable. He stays awake by smoking, drinking coffee and speaking, which brought him a lung cancer and insomnia. He would love to meet Jesus, to learn how to walk on water.
The French chair of EMPL, Jean, who would like to meet the Pope, gained curiosity, knowledge and great relationships out of sessions, like during the Summer University of Lille, which he found amazing. He uses tea and matches for his eyes so he can stay awake, in order to make new friends and write good resolutions.
The Spanish chair of TRAN, Bernat, drinks plenty of water in order to stay awake. His way of enjoying a session is winning a ninja game like he probably did at Lviv International Session, his favourite session. He would love to meet himself to know how he acts in front of others. EYP brought him maturity and crazy friends.
The Italian chair of ITRE, Lavinia, drinks monster energy drinks, takes hot showers so she can stay awake and forgets that she has to return home during a session. That way, she enjoys a session as during the Antwerpen International Forum and gained friends all over Europe by whom she can crush when visiting another place. If she could, she would like to meet Jennifer Lawrence.
The Swiss chair of EMPL, and also one of the two Vice-Presidents of the session, Nora, who recalls the IS of Tallinn as most memorable, would love to meet Gandhi. She sleeps as much as she can before a session in order to enjoy the most of it. She also uses multivitamins, coffee, tea and a bit of sleep to stay awake. That way, she gained friends, memories, a wiser horizon and a better understanding of European politics.
The Swiss chair Mohamed of CULT, who would love to meet Nelson Mandela, stated the Istanbul IS as the one he found most memorable. He usually drinks coffee to stay awake and open his mind in order to enjoy sessions. That way, he gained a lot of friendships.
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“Fight or we are not worth freedom“
-Yulia Tymoshenko
Freedom or dictatorship – that is the question Ukraine has to answer. Due to the lack of establishment of human rights, bloody demonstrations are taking place all over the country. Is the future lying in our hands or are we just followers of destiny’s path? Anna Morokhovska takes an in-depth look at the current struggles of Ukraine to establish human rights.
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ttacks on journalists, hacker attacks on free media and the opposition party, an attempt to prevent the broadcast of Savik Shuster’s talk show on the Inter TV channel, and terrorist attacks on university directors who allowed their students to go out to Euromaidan. All this is only a glimpse of the dictatorship Ukrainians have to face at the moment. You may have seen articles and videos with hundreds of thousands of people protesting on public squares in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. What are these people actually aiming for? It is all about freedom and basic democratic rights. The current question is whether Ukraine should look towards Moscow or the Euro-
pean Union. At the moment, the Ukrainian government’s stance seems unclear since the President Viktor Yanukovych, who at first seemed keen to sign the Association Agreement with the EU, refused to sign it at the last minute. By joining the EU, they would not receive the necessary financial aids from Brussels. The Ukrainian government is concerned about an $8 billion loss by the end of this year, while EU is only offering $1 billion Euro aid by demanding political and economic concessions from Kiev. In case Ukraine joins the European free market, it would face economic instability, as the demand for Ukrainian products in Europe would not be as high as it is in Russia. Moreover, Ukrainian producers
would find themselves facing increased competition from European imports. A number of experts suggest that a range of domestic industries would fail during Ukraine’s European integration. Other demands that kept Ukraine from rushing into the EU have to do with Russian threats of increased gas prices and tariffs for domestic consumers. Even though the aforementioned points may sound quite convincing, Ukraine would gain far more from getting closer to the West. The core of the EU is respect for human rights, rule of law and democratic regimes. Trade is shifting to what is, in overall terms, a much bigger and richer market than the Eurasian Union could ever be. The EU has a well-tried formula in helping to reform
and liberalise economies from the former Soviet block. More competition from the EU will encourage Ukrainian firms to modernise their companies. An association agreement could even be a precursor to eventual EU membership. Ukraine has a long history of struggles. After gaining its independence from the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991 they faced a time of transition. The presidents Leonid Kravchuk and Leonid Kuchma maintained close ties with their neighbours, even though Ukraine was officially independent from Russia. On June 1996, Ukraine became a non-nuclear nation by signing the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances in January 1994. The 2004 Orange Revolution prevented pro-Moscow
Viktor Yanukovych from stealing an election, only for voters to return him to power in 2010. The Government imprisoned Pussy Riot, or more known as FEMEN, in order to prevent the opposition raising its voice. In 2011 even Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the opposition party and former Prime Minister of Ukraine, was imprisoned for “political reasons�. She states that she is innocent and the incarceration is all part of a move by President Viktor Yanukovych to keep her out of politics. People all over Ukraine expressed their compassion and support. They went out on the streets, not afraid of violent policemen or any other threats. Even the European Union started putting pressure on Ukraine by making a condition. In order to
adhere to the EU, Ukraine has to free Yulia. Now it is all about deciding whether Ukraine will show the willingness to join the European Union or follow a pro-Russia policy. The fact that the signature of the Association Agreement with the European Union recently failed is not a reason for Ukrainians to stop fighting. Ukrainians are strong. Ukrainians stand up, they fight and even though there is oppression and struggle, they will never surrender. Revolutions have often been violent, and so will this one. Fight or we are not worth freedom. For a world worth living in. For a Europe and Ukraine we can be proud of.
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Le PEJ et l’initiative populaire Gabriel Plathey vous montre comment le PEJ s’inscrit dans une initiative populaire.
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e Parlement Européen des Jeunes et ses sessions à travers le continent européen offre par son action l’occasion de découvrir notre place en tant que citoyen-ne. Chacun-e d’entre nous se découvre une conscience politique suffisante pour appréhender les enjeux majeurs qui arpentent ou arpenteront les sentiers ne nos vies. Cette initiative pour comprendre nous ne la prenons pas seul-e-s. D’autres nous aident, nous forment, à la vie associative, aux échanges et à l’écoute de nos pair-e-s. Le PEJ est un bon exemple de cette émulation sociale qui émane de la base. C’est une porte ouverte pour tous, un bon tribu pour l’éducation populaire. Les formations et cet apprentissage associatif nous permettent dans découdre avec cette forme de domination des élites et de 16
cette pseudo-oligarchie latente. C’est un excellent moyen de prendre part aux débats. Mais ce n’est qu’un exemple, et le concept est à généraliser. Cette éducation populaire qui s’étend au dehors des cadres institutionnels traditionnels et encadre toujours plus de personnes. C’est un moyen parallèle de répondre aux problèmes d’exclusions que posent les systèmes éducatifs standards. Ces derniers, par leur impossibilité à s’adapter aux difficultés et aux particularités de chacun et ne font qu’imposer des normes dont la seule utilité est l’intégration au monde du travail. Le conformisme des esprits est la ruine de la société et tant à appauvrir la culture populaire endogène, aux profits de médias dominants, loin d’être neutres politiquement parlant et inculquant une certaine vision des
relation humaines. L’entraide et la solidarité doivent devenir des normes et non des valeurs auxquelles une part toujours moins nombreuses de personnes se rattache aux profits d’un individualisme lattant, si ce n’est un rejet de l’autre avec la xénophobie, l’islamophobie ou encore le racisme. Comprendre l’autre, l’aider, c’est apprendre de lui, il ne tient qu’à toi lecteur de réaliser l’ampleur du pouvoir entre tes mains. Pour résumer, rien ne vaut l’éducation et la formation par les pair-e-s. L’auto-médiation et l’autogestion sont émancipatrices pour les personnes, il faut nous en saisir.
Cliché Killed Creativity Clichés today versus clichés in the past. What do you mean exactly when you say something is a cliché? Marko Kazic tries to answer this question and put it in an EYP context.
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here is a quote which captures the essence of a cliché: “The first man who compared woman to a rose was a poet, the second was not.” This quote at first was obviously impressive and striking. Some time passes, you constantly repeat it and then it turns into a cliché. If you take a look at what we consider clichés today you will see something different. “Cliché” is usually used in a negative way. When you want to say that something is predictable or easily noticeable you say it’s a cliché. I see a problem in modern culture when talking about personal preferences, because if I say that I prefer iPhones, then everybody is going to say that it’s a total cliché. You might see now that clichés seem very close to stereotypes. Today, a cliché would be a sign of inexperience and lack of the originality. Having said this, the cliché lost its meaning forever. Let’s take a look at the clichés we come across in European Youth Parliament:
a couple of seconds. You shout: clichés, haven’t they? “What a cliché!” Being original implies not to use clichés, and then one “Butt spelling” might conclude that clichés killed originality. Whatever There are many silly games you choose you’ll see that the which are played over and over more you use clichés in your again. If you are willing to start every day life, the less creative a game you definitely have you are and vice versa. Utterly, to chant: “Form a circle, form it would mean that the biggest form a circle…” Many name brains in history stand for not games are joining the list of cli- using clichés and as an antché games simply because they onym we may use the word euare always played no matter reka. “Law and politics” where and why. I almost completely forgot to mention the always-ecstatYou come for the first time Whatever you’re about to ic-reaction media campaign clito a session and see many peo- say it might be considered a ché. That should have been inple. Out of them you are go- cliché. Why wouldn’t you then cluded at the beginning of the ing to meet at least one who is make a cliché out of everything text but then again it would be studying law or politics. Well, and satisfy all those people say- such a cliché to do so. not just one of course. After ing “Oh, such a cliché!” Having that, you come across a person said that, wearing clothes, makkeen on mathematics or phys- ing coffee, going out, eating, ics and make that weird face for loving and living have become 17
La magie du travail en commission Le travail en commission peut être très prenant. Particulièrement pendant une sélection nationale, quand il y a un grand enjeu, il est important de donner une bonne impression. Claire Defossez vous illumine sur ce qu’est exactement le travail en commission et comment y participer au mieux.
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’Assemblée plénière est souvent considérée le moment suprême d’une session lorsque beaucoup de délègues bien vêtus tiennent leur discours avec les mains tremblantes et les visages tendus. Quoique ceci est compréhensible, la véritable magie a lieu avant l’Assemblée Plénière: pendant le travail en commission. C’est la partie la plus importante de chaque session, car c’est pendant celle-ci que vous vous attelez à résoudre les problèmes les plus complexes européennes en gérant différentes opinions. À votre sélection nationale, vous allez travailler en commission une journée entière. Pendant celle-ci, vous êtes supposés écrire une résolution solide, que chacun des délégués de votre commission doit pouvoir défendre. Ce qui veut dire que vous allez avoir beaucoup de discussions, compromis et persuasions avec toute la recherche que vous avez faite. Très important à retenir est que pendant ce travail il est mieux de se concentrer sur une coopération florissante que d’essay-
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er d’avoir le dernier mot sur toutes les clauses. La résolution ne peut pas passer à l’Assemblée Plénière si chaque délégué n’est pas fondamentalement d’accord sur son contenu. Ainsi, écouter ses co-délégués – même si certains peuvent être agaçants avec leurs arguments gauches - et leur donner l’espace de parler est essentiel pour un compromis. Bien sur, cela ne veut certainement pas dire qu’on ne peut pas présenter son propre avis avec persévérance. En particulier, dans une commission qui comporte différentes nationalités, on représente son propre pays en prenant une position ferme. Alors mettez vous sous les feux de la rampe et faites une contribution glorieuse aux débats les plus importants en politique européenne. Les chairs de la commission sont là pour une raison, qui n’est nullement pour vous patronner comme un professeur qui impose ‘la réponse’. Ceci est exactement la beauté du travail en commission : c’est vous, les délégués, qui construisent ‘la réponse’. Les chairs sont là pour vous guider dans le procès d’écriture d’une résolution en assurant que tout le monde peut participer dans la discussion et que le sujet est maintenu. Ayant dit cela, je vous souhaite le meilleur pendant les jours magiques du travail en commission. Dernier point, mais non des moindres : profitez de votre jour de travail en commission, et profitez du PEJ !
EYPassport Have you ever found yourself wishing to travel around Europe but you were set back because of the cost or the lack of chance? Triantafyllos Kouloufakos explains how you can overcome these obstacles and fulfil your wish, with EYP.
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he majority of people love traveling. I, myself, belong in this majority but coming from a not particularly rich family I always found it financially difficult. That was the case until some days after my first national selection conference, I got a call and I was told that I could spend 8 days is Spain, in a magnificent conference, for a cost of under 450 euros. From this day onwards I have visited a lot of different places and all thanks to EYP. Looking at it more thoroughly, the main thing that a session gives you is opportunities. Opportunities to meet new people, opportunities to talk about a variety of topics, opportunities to broaden
your horizons, and of course, opportunities to travel. Travelling is not only about finances, which of course play a very important role, but mainly it’s all about opportunities. A session gives you the best excuse to visit a new place. It organises a programme, it finds you a location to sleep, something to eat, and a lot of activities to do, the usual EYP activities. The best things about it is that you do not have to travel to the place you really want to visit, you are already there. This is an opportunity that without a doubt you should not let fly away. Think smart, you have already paid for your ticket. Why not prolong your visit one or two days after the session? The expense is not that
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great, and it gives you time to visit the place where you are. There is a saying from a known Greek poet C.Cavafy: ‘What matters is the journey, not the destination’. That is exactly the case for EYP. It doesn’t matter the place you are going to visit, it matters that you will have the chance to visit it. From a small Finnish city, to busy Berlin, everything has its own beauty. My advice is, get this passport that is generously given to you, and use it as much as you can. Every session, a new opportunity. Every opportunity, a new journey.
By Marko Kazic
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Ils nous ont soutenus pour cet évènement :
Ils soutiennent le Parlement Européen des Jeunes-France toute l'année :
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