YEPPYEARBOOK2008

/ Table of content5

0101 Tableofcontents 0402 Introduction02.1 PrefaceofYannisSmyrlis,YEPPPresident2007-2009 0602.2 Board2007-2009 0703 YEPPBasicValuesandPrinciples 12

04 Prefaces 14 05 VIthYEPPChairmen’sConference 17 Porto(Portugal):22-25May2008

06 YEPPActivities 2006.1 YEPPSeminarsin2008 2106.1.1 YEPPSeminar:Strasbourg(France):17-20January2008 2206.1.2 YEPPSeminar:Cork(Ireland),6-9March2008 2406.1.3 YEPPSeminar:Vilnius(Lithuania),4-7September2008 2606.2 YEPPSUMMERSCHOOLin2008:Varna(Bulgaria):2-6July2008 28

07 YEPPextraordinaryevents 3007.1 YEPPincooperationwithCESandCKID:Seminar10-12October2008(Rhodes,Greece) 3107.2 YEPPincooperationwithKASandEFF:BalkanConference,24-26October2008(Sarajevo) 33

08 Permanentworkinggroups 34

09 YEPPincooperationwithotherEuropeanYouthstructures 35 YEPPincooperationwithEDSandDEMYC 35 YEPPasactivememberofEuropeanYouthForum 35 YALTA(YES) 36

10 YEPPasaconstructivepartnerofEPPandEPP-EDGroupanditsassociations 37

11 AdoptedResolutionsin2008 38

12 YEPPmemberorganisations 40

13 Addressbook 42

14 Picturegallery 48

7

/ Introduction

The previous year can be recorded as one that has changed our vision for the future.

02During2008inYEPPwebeganworkingonourideasfortheforthcomingEuropeanElections.Wedidourbesttoensurethatthebeginningof2009wouldfinduswellpreparedtobeginourcam-paignfortheseelections,fromtheprestigiousandequallydemanding

positionasthebiggestyouthpoliticalorganisationinEurope.

Lastyear,theratificationoftheLisbonTreatyrepre-sentedamajorobjectiveforEuropeandabigchallengeforamore“European”futureforourgeneration.InthiswayweallturnedourattentiontoIreland.UnfortunatelytheIrishpeoplechosetorejecttheTreatyintheircon-stitutionalreferendum,stallingtheentireEUprocessandlaunchingagainafiercedebateinEurope:WhatcantheEUdo?CanweconvinceIrelandtoreconsidertheirjudgementoftheTreaty?Ifnot,howarewegoingtopro-ceedwiththenecessaryinstitutionalreforms?

Today,theissueremainsunresolvedandmostprobablynosolutionwillappearbeforetheforthcomingEuropeanElections.HoweverweliveinhopethatarecommitmenttoapositivecampaigninfavouroftheLisbonTreatywillseeeventualIrishratificationbyAutumn2009.Inaddi-tiontotheabove,during2008wehadtofacechallengessuchasthecontinuingproblemsofintergenerationaljustice,unemploymentandenvironmentalresponsibil-ity.ThatiswhyattheYEPPChairmansConferenceinPortowedebatedandachieved,alongwiththeheadsofourmemberorganisations,aDeclarationonthePrinciplesofYEPPforthe2009EuropeanElections.InthatDeclaration,thetextofwhichyoucanfindinthenextfewpages,weprovideourownanswerstotheissuesthatcontinuetopuzzleEurope.Moreover,theDeclarationwillconstitutethebasisforourelectoralcampaign.

NeartheendofthepastyearitalsobecameclearthattheaboveconcernswillbegreatlyaffectedbytheseverefinancialcrisiscurrentlyinmotionatagloballevelwhichisseverelyaffectingtheEU.Amongotherthings,thecrisishasproducedconsiderableinsecurityfortheyouth,withlittleforseeabilityastowhenthiscrisiswillease.Itappearsthat,giventheseverityofthesituation,wewillallhavetomodifyourEuropeanpoliciestoaccommodatethecrisis.

Inthisorganisation,wewillcontinuefightingforabetterfutureforEuropewithoutcompromisesandwithoutforfeitingourprinciples.ForthesearetheveryvaluesuponEuropehasbeengrowingformanydecades,theyarethehopesofouryouthforprosperity,theyarethefoundationsofthestrongerandmorepoliticalEUthatwewanttoseeintheyearstocome.

YEPPisworkinghard,withdedicationandambition,fortomorrow’sEurope.WetrytobethemosteffectiveyouthorganisationintheEU,whichisexactlywhywepromoteourideasintheinstitutionsoftheUnionandweremindthemwhyyouthshouldbetheirpriority.

Itisoftheutmostimportancethatourgeneration,theEuropeangeneration,isgiventheopportunitytofeelclosertothedesignofourcommonfuture.ThepassionoftheyouthrepresentstheidealmotionpowerfortheEU.TheUnionasawhole,inpartnershipwithourindi-vidualgovernments,mustcontinueinvestinginyoungpeopleand,ifwewanttoachieveamorepoliticalEU,weshouldensurethatthesepeoplewillhavetheoppor-tunitytotravel,workandlivearoundEurope,tofeelasEuropeans,andtoactasEuropeancitizens.

InJune,themostcrucialEuropeanElectionsofthelastfewdecadesaretakingplace.EPPremainsthepoliticalpartyclosesttotheprinciplesofthisUnion,since:> OurleaderswereamongthosewhocreatedtheUnion.> Ourleadersandourvaluesweretheoneswho

broughtaboutthemodernEU.> Ourleaders,ourpoliciesandourvalueswillgivethe

EUtheopportunitytogofurtherintothefuture.AnewEPPvictoryintheseelectionsistheguaranteeofastrongerUnion,onethatcanbemorepoliticalandthatplaysaglobalroleinthefuture.Thedilemmawefaceisclear:dowewantastrongEU,oranunsurefuture?YEPPwillbeattheforefrontofthisbattle.Throughourmemberorganisations,wewillimplementapan-Europeancam-paignthatisflexibleenoughtoaccommodatetheindividualneedsofeachcountryrepresentedinourorganisation.

ThisYearbookoverviewsourachievementsof2008astheYouthoftheEuropeanPeople’sParty.Inthefollowingpagesyouwillfindalltheinformationaboutourworkinthepast12months.Nothingofcourseislikeexperienc-ingtheseactivitiesinreality,butbyreadingthisbrochureyoucanunderstandthetruespiritofYEPP.

Asalastnote,IwouldliketothankallyoungactivistsfortheircontributiontoYEPPthroughout2008,allthosewhowillhelpusmaking2009evenmoresuccessfulandofcourseallthecontributorstothispublication.

Happyreadingandbestwishestoeveryone!

YEPPPresidentIoannisK.Smyrlis

/ Preface

02.1

9Vice-President: CarloDeRomanisstudiedinRome,ConnecticutandMadrid.HegraduatedinInternationalPoliticalScienceattheUniversityofRome“LaTerza”,withathesisontheEuropeanPeople’sParty.In2002hemovedtoBrusselsforaninternshipattheEPP-EDGroup,followingthe

EuropeanConventionontheFutureofEurope.From2004till2008hehasworkedasparliamentaryassistantintheEuropeanParliament.In2005hewaselectedCounselloroftheRoma2DistrictwithForzaItalia.Since2002hehasbeentheInternationalSecretaryofF.I.G.-Lazioandsince2006VicechairmanofF.I.G.InternationalBoardaswellasMemberoftheF.I.G.NationalBoard.He’scurrentlyworkingintheCabinetoftheVice-PresidentoftheEuropeanCommissionAntonioTajani,whichalsoservesasEPP

Vice-President: PaulaGómezDeLaBárcena-(29)wasborninMadridbutsheundertookherstudiesinothercountriesaroundtheworld(Sénégal,Paraguay,Switzerland).SheisSecretaryofInternationalAffairsofNuevasGeneraciones(YouthofPartidoPopular)andVice-Presidentofthe

YouthEuropeanPeople´sParty(YEPP).Shestudiedlawandworkedin,apublicenterpriseofMadridfrom2005to2007.CurrentlysheworksintheCityCouncilofMadridasaPoliticalAdvisor.

Vice-President: DarijaJurica(MHDZ,Croatia)wasborninDubrovnik,Croatia,in1981.ShestudiedEconomicsattheUniversityofZagreb.Currently,sheisworkingastheHeadofDepartmentintheMinistryofFinanceoftheRepublicofCroatiaandisalsoamemberoftwoworkinggroupsforthe

preparationofCroatianaccessionnegotiationswiththeEU.DarijaholdsthepositionoftheInternationalSecretaryandisamemberofthePresidencyoftheYouthoftheCroatianDemocraticUnion(MHDZ).PreviouslysheservedasthefinancialauditorofYEPPbeforebeingelectedasaVice-President.

Vice-President: JamesLawless(24)isanativeofNorthCountyDublinandhasbeeninvolvedinYoungFineGael(YFG)sincehewas15.HehasservedaschairmanandsecretaryofnumerouslocalassociationsofYFGandin2004wasamemberoftheYFGNationalExecutive,withresponsibilityforEuropeanElections.Heiscurrently

ViceChairmanoftheSwordsBranchofFineGaelinDublin.In2003hewasawardedtheJoanFitzgeraldMemorialShieldforYFGMemberoftheYear.JameshasservedasYFGInternationalSecretary.HehasstudiedlawandpoliticalscienceattheUniversityofLimerickandTuebingen(Germany)andcurrentlyworksasuniversityassistantattheSchoolofLaw,UniversityCollegeDublin.JamespreviouslyworkedasaresearcherattheEuropeanParliament.HecurrentlyrepresentsYEPPintheEPPWorkingGroupontheFutureoftheCommonAgriculturalPolicy.

Vice-President: IrinaPruidze(AMEGeorgia)wasborninTbilisi,Georgiain1976.ShestudiedMedicineatTbilisiStateMedicalUniversityandPsychologyatTbilisiInstituteofAnthropologyandPoliticalScience.SheischairwomanofAME(YoungRightsofGeorgia)sinceDecember2006.Sheisaboardmemberofthe

NationalCounciloftheYouthOrganisationsofGeorgiaandDeputyInternationalSecretaryoftheNewRightsPartyofGeorgia.IrinawaselectedasaVice-PresidentofYEPPinMay,2007.

Vice-President: LaurentSchouteten(JeunesPopulaires-UMP,France)wasborninTourcoingin1981andgrewupintheNorthofFrance.Aftergraduatingingeneralengineeringin2005,heworkedinERPimplementationintheagro-foodindustrybeforestartingadditionalpost-gradstudiesin

entrepreneurship.Henowworksasaninternationalprojectmanagerinthebusinesstravelsector.HavingbeeninchargeofinternationalrelationsamonghislocalassociationofJeunesPopulairesintheNorthofFrancebetween2003and2005,hewasappointedthedelegateoftheNationalBoardofJeunesPopulairesforinternationalaffairs.HehasbeeninternationalsecretaryofJeunesPopulairessince2006.

President:IoannisK.Smyrlis.-(28)wasborninAthenswhereheattendedbothschoolandUniversity.HehasaBachelorDegreeinPoliticalScienceandPublicAdministrationandaMastersDegreeinEuropeanandInternationalStudies.HewasPresidentofMAKI(School

StudentOrganizationofONNED)for3years(2001-2004)andSecretaryofInternationalAffairsandEmigrantHelenismofONNED(YouthofNeaDemocratiaPoliticalParty)for3years(2004-2007),permanentmemberintheExecutiveCommitteeofONNEDandalsomemberoftheExecutiveboardfrom2001.HewasVicePresidentoftheYouthEuropeanPeople´sParty(YEPP)2005-2007.HeworkedonaninternshipprogramattheNationalConstitutionofSocialSecurity(IKA)for3yearsandcurrentlyheworksattheMinistryforWorkers.

Secretary General:MartinHumer(JungeÖVP,Austria)grewupinLinzanindustrialtownhalfwaybetweenViennaandMunich.HecurrentlyservesasacounsellorresponsibleforhomeaffairsatthePermanentRepresentationofAustriatotheEU.BeforethisheworkedasSecretaryGeneralof

JungeÖVPfrom2000until2005andcontinuesasamemberofthenationalboard.HewaselectedSecretaryGeneralofYEPPin2005andwasre-electedin2007.

Deputy Secretary General: HuibertvanRossum,bornMarch41977DirkslandtheNetherlands.now31yearsold,liveswithwifeandbaby-daughterin,theCityofCheeseandSyrup-waffles,GoudatheNetherlands.HeworksasaliaisonandpolicyassistantonEuropeanAffairsfortheChristianDemocratic

GroupintheDutchHouseofRepresentativesandhasbeenamemberofCDJA(ChristianDemocraticYouthAppèl)since2001andasInternationalSecretarywithinYEPPbeforehewaselectedin2005asDeputySecretaryGeneral.In2007hewasre-electedforasecondterm..

Treasurer: SigbornAanes(27)(27)studiedPublicRelationsattheNorwegianSchoolofManagementinOslo.HeworkedasapoliticaladviserandnowadaysheisAdvisertoAabo&CoAS(PRAgency).HeisactiveatdifferentlevelsinUngeHoyreandheisprojectmanagerfordemocracyprojectsinTanzania

andUganda.HewaselectedasthefirstYEPPTreasurerinMay2007.

First Vice-President: ThomasSchneider(JU,Germany)bornin1976inMittweida(Saxony),closetoDresden(Germany).HestudiedEconomyattheTechnicalUniversityofChemnitzandtheSouthamptonInstitute(UK).HeworksasachiefdecabinetintheGermanBundestagandpart-timelecturer

inpolitics.HeisalsomemberoftheadvisoryboardoftheWorldSecurityNetworkFoundation.HeischairmanoftheinternationalcommissionofJUandmemberoftheworkinggrouponEuropeanAffairsofCDUSaxony.Since2004hehasbeenanelectedcouncillorinthecountyofChemnitzerLand(FreeStateofSaxony).Intheyear1990hejoinedJUwithfoundationofregionalorganisationsafterthefalloftheironcurtain.

Vice-President: VaidasAugunas(JKD,Lithuania)wasborninKaunas.Hereceivedabachelor‘sdegreeCumLaudeinPoliticalSciencefromtheUniversityofVytautasMagnus(1999)andgraduatedwithaMastersinLawfromtheUniversityofMykolasRiomeris(2006).Hecarriedoutan

internshipprogramintheBusinessManagementfieldintheUSfor2years.AfterhisreturntoLithuania(startingfrom2003),hewasofferedapositionintheMinistryofNationalDefenceofLithuaniawherehedealswithInternationalRelations.VaidaswasChairmanofJKD(YoungChristianDemocratsofLithuania)for2terms.HewaselectedasYEPPVicePresidentinMay2007.

/ Board 2007-2009

02.2

11

YouthoftheEuropeanPeople’sParty(YEPP)RueduCommerce10B-1000Brussels

Tel: +3222854163Fax: +3222854165 +3223008011

yepp@epp-eu.orgwww.YEPP-EU.org

YEPP Office

Vice-President: CharlieWeimers(KDU,Sweden)wasborninHammarö,closetoKarlstad(Sweden)in1982.HehasstudiedpoliticalscienceatKarlstadUniversity.HeisChairmanoftheSwedishYoungChristianDemocratssince2008andworksinStockholm.CharlieisGroupChairmanof

theChristianDemocraticGroupinHammaröMunicipalCouncilsincetheelectionsin2006,andmemberoftheRegionalCouncilinVärmland.

YEPP Executive Responsible: Ann-PascaleMommerency(jongCD&V,Belgium)studiedPR&CommunicationaswellasMarketing.AfterherstudiesshestartedtoworkattheCabinetoftheMinisterofJustice.AfterwardsshewasparliamentaryassistantattheFederalChamberandalsoworked

for3yearsattheEuropeanCommission.AfterbeinginternationalsecretaryforJONGcd&vshewasaskedtoworkforYEPP.SheisalsoelectedVice-ChairwomanofCD&VandSecretaryofSME-Union(UNIZO)withinherregion.

YEPP Financial AuditorsMarialauraMarinozzi(GDC,SanMarino)AndrejaMilivojevic(ODSS,Serbia)

HumandignityYEPP affirms the inalienable dignity of every humanbeing.Weregardeverymanandeverywomanasunique,irreplaceable,andfreebynature.Everypersonhastherightandthedutytobefullyreponsible forhimselfandhisacts. Theprotectionofhumanrights is inseparablylinkedwiththeprotectionoftherightsofethnic,cultural,and/orreligiousminorities.

SocietyEach human being within society depends on others.Becausetheyare free,responsibleand interdependent,peoplemust takepart in theconstructionofapluralistsociety.Thefamilyhasacentralroleinsuchasociety.

ValuesOur thoughts and political actions are based on funda-mental, interdependent, equally important, and univer-sallyapplicablevalues : freedom, responsibility, funda-mentalequality,justiceandsolidarity.

DemocracyWeconsiderthatdemocracyistheonlypoliticalsystemsupporting and protecting the integral development oftheindividual.Thereisnoalternativetodemocracyandtheruleoflaw.

EconomyandsocialpolicyThe concept of market economy and competition iscentral in our approach to the economic life. Togetherwithdemocracyitmakesitpossibletoachievefreedomthrough the decentralisation of power. The economicandsocialsystemsareinseparablylinkedtoeachotheraccordingtotheprinciple“asmuchmarketaspossible,asmuchstateasnecessary”.Weconsiderthatitisvitaltoensuresocialjusticeandsolidaritybasedonpartner-ship and participation at all levels, non-governmentalandgovernmental,local,nationalandinternational.

EnvironmentOur concept of man calls for management of the earthwithrespectfortheself-regeneratingpotentialofnature.Protectionoftheenvironmentandtheconceptofsustai-nabledevelopmentareboundupwiththatofresponsiblegrowth and must be incorporated into every policy, atevery level of power. Political, social and economicactionmustbegearedtoensurethatallpotentialissafe-guardedforfuturegenerations.

PeaceandsecurityWebelieveintheneedofacommonsecurityarchitectureforEuropetoguaranteethepeace,stabilityandfreedomofthecontinent.

EuropeWebelieveintheEuropeanUnion,asitstandsforafutureof freedom and security, progress, prosperity and soli-darity. EuropeanUnionmembershipmustbeavailabletoallcountriesoftheEuropeancontinentthatmeettherequirements of democracy, human rights and marketeconomy.Hand in hand with the enlargement must go furtherintegration. Forusthere isnoalternative toEuropeanintegration.

SubsidiarityWe believe in the sovereignty of states which enablesthem to work freely and as good as they can to ensurethe well-being and development of their people and todefendandreinforcethe international legalorder. Thisalsomeans,however,thatstatesmustsharetheirsove-reignty insupranationaland internationalorganisationswheretheycannottakeeffectiveactionindividually.TheEuropeanUnionasadecentralisedcommunityofnationsandpeoples,notasaunitarysuperstate,musttakeintoaccount local, regional, national and European levelsaccordingtotheprincipleofsubsidiarity.

ParticipationItisthecitizensoftheEuropeanUnionwhobytheirsup-portgiveititslegitimation.TheEuropeanUnionrequirestheactiveparticipationofEuropeancitizens. Europe isnot-andcannotbe-theaffairofgovernmentsalone.

/ Basic values and Principles

0313

15JánFigelEuropeanCommissioner,ResponsibleforEducation,YouthandCulture

Dearyoungfriends,

2008wasanotheryearofimportantdevelopmentsanddecisionsintheyouthfield.Wehadalsoareasontocelebrate–the20thanniversaryofEuropeanprogrammesforyouth.Morethan1.5mil-lionyoungpeoplehavetakenpartinEUyouthprogrammessofar.OuryouthprogrammeshaveprovedagainandagainthattheymakearealdifferencetoyoungpeopleandtoEurope.Theyhave

oneunifyingpurpose:tosetupdialogueandexchangessothatyoungpeoplediscoverwhatisbestinEurope.Thatbysharingexperiencesandvalueswithother,ouryoungpeopledevelopsanewsenseofpurpose,newskills,andalsonewconnectionsandfriendshipsthatroot“Europe”inourdailylives.Youcanconfirmthattakingpartinsuchaprogrammeisagreatwayoffindingoutaboutothercultures,ofrecognisingthatyousharethesamevalueswithpeoplefromdif-ferentcountries,andofdevelopingasenseofbeingEuropean.Youhavebeenabletoexplorethemeaningofsolidarityandrespectfordiversity.Youhavehadachancetodevelopyourskillsandtalents.Now,youhaveanewresponsibility:tosharethisinvaluableexperience.

DespiteallthesepositiveimpactsoftheEUforyoungpeople,thereisstillmuchlefttodo.ThisspringIwillpresentproposalsforarenewedEUCooperationFrameworkforYouthforthenextdecade.Theseproposalswillreflectamongotherstheresultsofapublicconsultationofyoungpeoplethatwascarriedoutlastautumn.

LastyearwasmarkedbytheEuropeanYearofInterculturalDialogue.CulturaldiversityisrealityandanassetforEurope,butweneedtolearnhowtomanageit,andthiscontinuestobeachallengebeyond2008.Interculturaldialoguehelpsustolivetogether.Usuallyareyoungpeoplebetteratinterculturaldialogue.Youaremoreopen-minded,enthusi-astic,curiousandcreative.Europeisboundtobecomemorediverse.Wehavetheresponsibilitytocreatethebestcondi-tionsforourpeopletoacquireandfurtherdevelopinterculturalskills.Iregardmobilityandvolunteeringbeingidealtoachievethis.

Finally,thisyearwefacetwonewchallenges:electionsfortheEuropeanParliamentandtheEuropeanYearofCreativityandInnovation.Apromotionofhumantalentsthroughlife-longlearningbringsmoreself-fulfilment,butalsoempowerspeopleforeconomic,socialandculturalparticipationandcooperation.AndinnovationisoneofthemostimportantvalueandfruitEuropeshouldsupporttoimproveitscapacitytocompeteglobally.Wearecountingonyourmobilisationandyourinvolvement.Europeneedsyouasmuchasever,becauseyoubringfreshstrengthandfreshideas.

JánFigel

WilfriedMARTENSPresidentEuropeanPeople’sParty

2008,averyhistoricyearindeed:globalclimaticcalamities,Olympicgameswith“citius,altius,fortius”andbiggestineveryway,remarkableAmericanpresidentialelections,thedemiseofWallStreetfollowedbybankbail-outs,foreclosures,plummetingstockmarketsandastheyearcametoacloseaglobaleconomiccrisis,beingthemostpressingchallengewhichwillalsobethefocusofEPP’sManifestfortheEuropeanelectionsinJune2009.

Todaywearelivinginaworldofuncertaintywithevergrowingchallenges,e.g.climatechange,energy,demography,theeconomiccrisis,illegalimmigration,inter-religiousintolerance,threatstooursecurityetc….

Ourbeliefsandvaluesrootedinpersonalism,socialmarketeconomy,afederalanddecentralizedEurope,subsidiarityanddemocracywillbeessentialcriteriainfacingthesechallengeswithstrengthandconviction.

ForthefuturegenerationswehavetosafeguardaprosperousEurope,aworldpowerwithacommonvoiceasmodelforglobalcooperationforthecommongoodandasalwayswewishtoinvolvethecitizensofEuropeintheprocessbecauseitisthepeoplewhomustbeatthecentreofourpolicies.

IamalwaysimpressedbythelivelyandcommitteddebatesinYEPPandthefreshnessofdiscussionbyyourspiritedyouthconcerningtheissuesoftomorrow.Itisnowmoretheneverimportanttobuildtrust,andencourageconfidenceinourcommonbeliefsandvision.IcountonallYEPPactiviststoengagefullyintheupcomingEuropeanelectionswithcommitmentandinsolidarity.

Leadershipisthepreconditionofsuccessfulpolitics.Politicianswhohavemadehistoryarethosewhoshowedintegrityandanironwillintheirdeterminationtoresolvemajorproblems.YEPPshouldbethecradlefromwhichEPPleadersemergeandassuchYEPPbearsagreatresponsibility.

IwelcomedyourimportantpublicationoftheYEPPCharterinMay2008.InappreciationofsameIencourageyoutofurtherengageyourselvesinpoliticalinitiativesandinnovationandlookfor-wardtoyourcontinuedclosecooperationintheorgansoftheEPP.

WilfriedMartens

/ Prefaces

04

17AntonioLopezIsturizSecretaryGeneraloftheEuropeanPeople’sParty

DearYEPPmembersandsupporters,

IwouldliketocongratulateyouforbeingpartofthelargestpoliticalyouthorganizationinEurope,representingmorethanfiftynationalmemberorganizations.

Letmealsoremindyouthatyouare12yearsoldnow,but“nonearesooldasthosewhohaveout-livedenthusiasm”,asThoreausaid.Eachyearhastobeachangingpoint,inwhichonelookstowardthefuturefromarenewedperspective.

Asadynamicorganization,youprovedtobecommittedtoknowledge,innovationandthesharingofdevelopmentsandideasintheEuropeanpoliticalarea,strivingtoimproveresearch,educationandpracticewithinourEuropeanPeople’sPartyfamily.

Youhaveanimportantresponsibility,whichistoensurethatyourchildreninheritabetterEuropeandthisrequiressteadyworkanddedication,mostlytakingintoaccountthehugechallengeswhichlaybeforeus,inthesetimesofeco-nomicturbulence.

Forthisreason,itisimperativethatin2009wecontinuetoworktogether,justlikein2008andfocusnowontheelec-toralcampaign,asthisisthecentraleventfortheEPP.

Continuetocomment,rate,share,beitthroughforums,viainternet,orseminars,summerschoolsandcouncils.

Iherebystronglyurgeyoualltobeactiveandinvolveyourselves,byproducingreportsandkeepingouraudienceinformedaboutwhat’snewinourgroup.AndalsobeingenthusiasticanddynamiccarriersoftheEPPmessages,princi-plesandvalues,usingtheinnovativetoolsthattheneweraofcommunication,andforthatmatterofpoliticalcommuni-cation,isofferingus,suchasthegroundbreakingwebtoolsthattheEPPhasimplemented.

The2009VIICongressinRomeisagreatopportunityforyou,YEPPmembers,toactivelytakepartinthedecisionmak-ingandalsogettoknowyoungcentre-rightpoliticiansfromaroundthecontinent.IknowyouwillbethereandIknowyouwillgive,asalways,thebestofyourselves.

TheEPPwanttopromotetogetherastrongerEurope:Ihavenodoubtthatyouwillmakeyourenergyandyourcreativityservethischallenge,andthattogetherwewillworkfortheEPPtobepartywhichwillcountforthemajorityofEuropeans.

Yourdedication,energyandyourcreativityhavealwaysbeeninvaluableforusandIamconvincedthatthe2009yearbookofYEPPwillbeevenricherinactivitiesandsuccesses!

AntonioLopez-Istúriz

05Every2yearsYEPPorganizesaspecialeventforallitschairmen.ItoffersanopportunitytodiscussEuropeanpoliticsbutalsotoenjoytheparticipationofthosewhohavebeenactiveinanimportantpartofourshortbutintensehistory.YEPPhadthehonourofbeinghostedinPortofrom22-25May2008byYEPPFullmemberJSDforit’sVIIthChairman´sConference.

TheconferencewasopenedduringtheThursdayeveningwithaWelcomeCocktailattheVilaNovadeGaiaTownHall,inthepresenceofMayorLuísFilipeMenezes.

OntheFridayseveralsessionstookplaceandallsessionswerereceivedcommentsfromthechairmen.Thefirstses-sionwastitled“TreatyofLisbon:Whathaschanged?”withguestspeakerMEPCarlosCoelho,ChairmanoftheCIAFlight´sInvestigationCommitteeintheEuropeanParliamentandHeadofthePortugueseDelegationtotheEPP-EDgroup.YouthreflectionsweregivenbyGiorgosPapanikolaou(PresidentONNED,Greece)andSimonBjerre(PresidentKDU,Denmark).AfterthissessiontheparticipantshadthehonourtovisitthePortoWineCellars.Afterlunchasec-ondsessiontitled“IsEuropearealeconomicalpower?”washeldbyVitorGaspar,DirectoroftheEuropeanBureauofSpecialPolicyAdvisorsofEuropeanCommissionPresident.SylviaFuhrmann,MP,ChairwomanofJungeÖVP,AustriaandBarryWalsch,PresidentofYFG,Irelandalsogavetheirviewsonthetopic.AthirdsessionwasheldbyMónicaFerro,internationalpoliticsanalystaboutEuropeanUnionForeignPolicy.FrancescoPasquali,PresidentofFIGItalyandPeterMarkovic,MP,PresidentofNGSlovakiaconcludedthesessionwiththeircon-tributions.AfterwardstheYEPPBoardMeetingwasheld,whileotherparticipantsenjoyedavisittothehistoricalcentreofPorto.TheinterestingdaywasclosedbyagooddinneratCupertinodeMirandaFoundation,wherewehadthehonourtohearMr.MarioDavid,(Vice-PresidentofEuropeanPeople´sParty)andMarcoAntónioCosta(ChairmanofthePortoPSD).

Saturdaystartedwithinternalworkinggroups.AftertheseworkinggroupsthePresentationandtheSigningofYEPPCharterwascompletedandfollowedwithaPressConference.TherewerealsoofficialStatements/videomessageofMr.Poëttering,PresidentoftheEuropeanParliament,Mr.Barroso,PresidentoftheEuropeanCommission,Mr.Daul,ChairmanoftheEPP-EDGroupintheEuropeanParliamentandMr.Martens,ChairmenofEPP,aswellasaspeechofMr.ChristianKremer,DeputySecretaryGeneralofEuropeanPeople’sParty.

AfterthelunchtheYEPPCouncilmeetingtookplacewherethePresentationoftheMid-TermreportoftheboardwasgivenandtheYearbookfor2007waspresentedinthepresenceofesteemedrepresentativesoftheKaramanlisFoundation–InstituteforDemocracywhosupportedthepublication.TheChairmen’sconferencewasconcludedwithanofficialdinnerinthecompanyofMr.RibauEsteves,GeneralSecretaryofPSD.

/ VI th YEPP Chairmen’s Conference! Porto (Portugal) - 22-25 May 2008

19CHARTEROFPRINCIPLESFORTHE2009EUROPEANELECTIONS

Morethanahalf-centuryafteritsfoundation,EuropeanintegrationleadingtothecreationoftheEuropeanUnionremainsacreationthatisadevelopingpolityandthatweintendtodevelopfurther.HoweverEuropeansofallagesoftenfeelmoreindifferencethanenthusiasm,whichreflectsthefactthatEuroperemainsinsufficientlyrootedintheheartsandmindsofthepeople.

ThislackofenthusiasmforEuropeshouldandcanbetackledthroughabetterunderstandingofthepositiveinflu-encesofEuropeanpoliciesontheEuropeans’everydaylives.Europeanintegrationhasofferedtheyounggenerationthechancetotravel,study,workandinteractmorefreelyacrossMemberStatesmorethanatanyothertimeinthepast.

Concernsabouttheso-called“democraticdeficit”oftheEU,combinedwiththeperceptionthatEuropeangovernanceisopaqueandinaccessible,hasmademanyyoungEuropeansdisillusionedwiththeintegrationprocess.

That’swhyitisnecessarytoimplementstructuresandprocessesthatreplicateattheEuropeanlevelthehabitsofgov-ernmentalcontrolandparliamentaryaccountabilitythatarecommonintheMemberStates.

ThelastEuropeanelectionin2004resultedinthelowestturnoutsince1979.We,themembersoftheYouthofthelarg-estpoliticalgroupintheEuropeanParliamentaredeterminedtodoeverythingpossibletochangethistrend.Therefore,wethepoliticalyouthleadersoftheYEPPorganisationsbelieveitisessentialfortheEuropeanelectionsin2009tohaveajointeffortandcommonguidelinesinordertobringthecampaignandtheEUinstitutionsclosertotheEuropeans–andmostparticularlytotheYouth.

PRINCIPLES

THELISBONTREATYTheLisbonTreatyshouldberegardedasagoodopportunitytorevivethe“EuropeanSpirit”asitintroducesimportantnewamendmentstotheTreatiesthatwillstrengthentheaccountabilityoftheEuropeaninstitutions.Inthiscontext,thenewroleofthenationalparliamentsinthedecision-makingprocessandthestrengtheningofthelinkbetweenthePresidentoftheEuropeanCommissionandtheparliamentaryelectionsshouldbeseenaspositivestepstowardsamoredemocraticEU.TheyouthleadershipoftheYEPPorganisationsstronglysupportstheratificationandtheimplementa-tionoftheLisbonTreatyandthestructuralchangesthatitwillbring.

ENVIRONMENTALRESPONSIBILITY“Theenvironmentisnotsomethingweinheritfromourparents;it’ssomethingweborrowfromourchildren.”Inthissensedevelopmentshouldbeapproachedwiththeunderstandingthatthesametechnologythatincreasesourwellbeingandhumanproductivityshouldbeusedtoobtainenvironmentallyfriendlysolutionsformankind’sdemandforenergy.

YEPPbelievesitshouldnotbeapoliticalprioritytoenquireaboutthefactorsthatstartedorboostedglobalwarming,itistimetoacknowledgetheproblemandlookforaglobalsolutionwithintheframeworkoftheinitiativebegunwiththeKyotoProtocol.

YEPPendorsestheconclusionsoftheIPCCconcerningclimatechangeandstatesthatEuropehastoplayaleadingroletolimitglobalwarmingbymaximum2degreesby2050.Thischallengemustbeconsideredasanopportunitytoincreasewellbeing,health,independenceandsocio-economicdevelopment.

INTERGENERATIONALJUSTICEOvertimewehavecometoacknowledgethenecessitytoensureequalparticipationintermsofgenderaswellasabal-ancedparticipationofthoseofdifferentcreedsandethnicgroups.Asayouthorganisation,YEPPalsorealizestheneces-sityofhavingdifferentagegroupsactivelycontributingtosociety.Inmanysituationsexperienceandmaturityarefunda-mental,otherswherethecontributionofnewandirreverentideasarevital.Ifthenewgenerationcancalluponitselfthe

taskofinnovatingandmakingadifference,theoldergenerationcannotabstainfromtheresponsibilityofeducatingthenewgenerationandshareacquiredknowledge.Onewithouttheotherwouldresultsinanincoherentcommunity.

ThejusticeandsolidaritythatexistswithinourEuropeansocietiesshouldalsoexistacrossdifferentgenerations.Withanageingpopulationandade-greeningofEuropeansocieties,thecurrentmodelsofintergenerationalsolidarityareunderalotofpressure.TheYouthoftheEuropeanPeople’sPartycallsuponEuropeanleaderstomaintainacertainbudgetarydisciplineinordertoensurealifetimeofjusticeandwelfarebothfortheyoungergenerationsandthegen-erationstocome.

EUROPEANVALUESThepublicdebateonthefutureoftheEUisfrequentlypolarizedeitheraroundthespecificfunctioningoftheEUanditsefficiencyand/ordemocracy,oraroundtheolderdebate:“statesovereigntyversusfederalism”.ItishightimetobringthefocusbacktothefactthattheEUisauniqueproject,asuigeneris;onethatisbuiltonveryspecificvalues.TheEUwascreatedinordertodefendandprotectaway-of-lifesetonabedrockofideals–principleamongthemfreedom,sol-idarity,democracy,humanism,Christianheritageandtheruleoflaw.YEPPacknowledgesthattheEUshouldbeclearwhenstatingitsvaluesandstrictindefendingthem.InthisregarditisaprioritythatallthemembersoftheEuropeanUniondevelopapolicytorespecttheEuropeanYouthPactaspertheWhitePaperalreadysignedin2005

InordertoimplementtheseprinciplesandtocombatEuroscepticismandEUalienationthatgrowsamongsttheyoungergeneration,YEPPstronglybelievesthatallEPPmotherpartiesineachEPPmembercountryshouldgiveatleastoneyoungpersonarealisticchanceofgainingaseatintheEuropeanParliament.SuchayoungEuropeanparliamentar-ianwouldbeanactivevoicefortheyouthperspectiveonpolicies,butalso,importantly,willattractinterestamongtheyoungergenerationandthereforemobilizethisdemographicintheupcomingEuropeanelections.

Itisourdutytoprovideyoungcitizenswithsomeonewhomtheycanrelateto.Youngpeopleshouldbegiventheopportu-nitytoinfluencepoliticsatalllevels–especiallytheEuropeanlevel.Inourview,theEuropeanParliament,thehighestlegislativebodyintheEuropeanUnion,can,andshould,benefitfromtheknowledge,experiencesandvigorofyoungwomenandmen.

YEPPbelievesthatthisistherightmomenttoreconnecttheEuropeanUnionwithitscitizens.TheimplementationoftheLisbonReformTreatyandtheparticipationofyoungpeopleinnextyear’sEuropeanelectionsaretwowaystomeetthisobjective.Europecannotaffordtomissanotheropportunity.

Onthe24thofMayof2008,inpreparationfortheEuropeanParliamentelectionsof2009,theyouthleadersoftheYEPPorganisations,gatheredinVilaNovadeGaia(Portugal),attheYEPPChairmenConference,clearlystatetheseastheguidingprinciplesfortheircampaignsandfundamentalideasforthefutureoftheEuropeanUnion.

WetheTheUndersigneddoherebyEndorsethisCharter

OnbehalfofYEPPOrganisations:

IoannisSmyrlis(ChairmanofYEPP)

PedroRodrigues(JSD,Portugal)

SilviaFuhrmann,MP(JOVP,Austria)

AlexandrShumkevich(YCSU,Belarus)

RodolpheSagehomme(JeunescdH,Belgium)

MiroslavMihov(MSDP,Bulgaria)

MislavBanek(MHDZ,Croatia)

ChristoforosFokaides(NE.DI.SY,Cyprus)

PetrJurcik(MKD,CzechRepublic)

SimonBjerre(KDU,Denmark)

GiorgosPapanikolaou(ONNED,Greece)

BarryWalsh(YFG,Ireland)

FrancescoPasquali(FIG,Italy)

PiersanteMorandini(GiovaniUDC,Italy)

GunarsElksnis(YLPP,Latvia)

IngaAuguniene(JKD,Lithuania)

PeterMarkovic,MP(NG,Slovakia)

RobertIlc(MSI,Slovenia)

RokRavnikar(NGSLS,Slovenia)

SimonOberbeck(JCVP,Switzerland)

JONGcd&v,Belgium

KNL,Finland

JeunesUMP,France

SAQDA,Georgia

JU,Germany

UDEUR,Italy

JSD,Luxemburg

CDJA,TheNetherlands

KRFU,Norway

ODSS,Serbia

NNGG,Spain

DemocraticAlliance,Ukraine

YoungRukh,Ukraine

MaladyFront,Belarus

YCSU,Belarus

/ Activities / YEPP seminars in 2008

06 06.121

23

06.1.1/ YEPP Seminar: Strasbourg (France) 17-20 January 2008

ParliamentaryCounciloftheCouncilofEuropefacili-tatedtheclosingsessionoftheday.

Afteratransferbacktothehotel,3guidedtourswithinStrasbourgcitycentrewereorganizedsimultaneouslyinGerman,FrenchandEnglish,whiletheboardmeetingtookplace.

Afirstinterestingandlongdaywasclosedinarestau-rantwhereatypicalAlsatiandinerwasserved.

OntheSaturday19thJanuary,theseminarcontinuedintheEuropeanParliamentaryAssociationbuildings.ThemorningwasreservedfortheYEPPworkinggroupswherevariousresolutionswerediscussedaswellastheworkingpaperonculturaldiversity.

IntheafternoonYEPPhelditscouncilmeeting.Thevariousreports,documentsdiscussionsandinformationlastedthewholeafternoon.YEPPalsoadopteditsdraftbudgetfrom2008.Theeveningwasclosedwithinatypi-calrestaurantintheheartoftheoldtown.

Working paper on Cultural diversity.TheuniqueculturaldiversityhasalwaysbeenaEuropeanmainstreamcharacteristictogetherwithafundamentalpoliticalgoalintheEuropeanbuild-ingprocess.Acceptingculturaldiversityisafactorforsocialcohesionandtolerance,ameantoacceptdiffer-ences,identificationandmutualunderstandingbetweenpeople.Theculturemakespeoplegettogethersinceitcreatesemotionsandeasetoovercomedifferences.Itisakeyconditionforhumansocieties,andimpliesasingularimportanceinbuildingofinformationandknowledgesocietyfor21stcentury.Developmentofinformationtechnologies,globalisationandevolutionofmultilateraltradepolicieshavearealimpactonculturaldiversity.ItisafundamentalassetforEuropeanculturalidentityandthisculturaldiversityshouldbepromoted,valuedandsupported

Inthisworkingpaperthefollowingitemswerediscussed(forcompletetext:seewww.yepp-eu.org/activities)

I. Culturaldiversity:astrengthforEurope >Culturaldiversity:anEuropeangoal >Culture:astrategicassetforEurope >Programmestosupportculture >Languagediversity:achallengeandachance

II. Promote,value,supportEuropeanculturaldiversity PRESERVE AND MAKE EUROPEAN CULTURAL

DIVERSITY ALIVE >Creationofa„localEuropeanculture“label >Usageofofficialandnationallanguagesin internationalevents European culture capital – an European day for cultural diversity > Promoteculturaldiversity,fromschoolto

University > AcommonbasisofEuropeanculturalhistory > DevelopEuropeansectionsEuropewide Cultural diversity toward students NEW TECH-

NOLOGIES TO HELP CULTURAL DIVERSITY > TowardsaEuropeandigitallibrary > Developmultilinguismthroughnewtechnologies > Encourageandpromotecitizenblogs EUROPEAN CULTURAL DIVERSITY AS AN

INFLUENCE FACTOR > Theroleofculturaldiversityinrelationswith

partnercountries > DevelopexternalpromotiontoolsforEuropean

culturaldiversity

ThenationalboardoftheJeunesPopulairesandtheInternationalCommissionwerepleasedtowelcometheYEPPdelegatesandBoardtoStrasbourgfrom17-20January.Almost90participantswerepresentfromapproximately30countries.

TheopeningoftheSeminarstartedattheStrasbourgtownhallwhereFabienneKELLER,MayorofStrasbourg,gaveawarmwelcometotheYEPPdel-egates.Sheexpressedherspecialinterestintheseminartopic“culturaldiversity”.AlsoYannisSMYRLIS,PresidentofYEPPandBéatriceGORAWANTSCHY,directoroftheKonradAdenauerFoundationinFrance,gaveusafewwelcomingwordsasstartofafruitfulseminar.

OntheFridaythedelegatesweretransferredtotheEuropeanParliament,weretheopeningsessionwasreservedforMr.JosephDAUL,PresidentoftheEPP-EDgroupintheEuropeanParliament.Mr.DaulsspeechwasfollowedbyMr.AndréWOJCIECHOWSKI,MPforMoselle,whocommentedonvariousexistingprogramsrelatedtoculture,initiatedand/orsupportedbythedepartmentofMoselleand/orhiscity.

Afterthelunchbreak,thedelegateshadtheopportunitytomeetMr.LaurentBURINdesROSIERS,GeneralCommissionerfortheEuropeanculturalseason2008.HeoutlinedanumberofprogramstobesupportedbytheFrenchPresidencyoftheEuropeanCouncilrelatingtoculture.Mr.RenéVanderLINDEN,Presidentofthe

> AdoptedWorkingPaperonCulturalDiversity

> ResolutiononEuthanasia> EmergencyresolutiononrecentdevelopmentsinRussia> Emergencyresolutiononthehumanitarianand politicalcrisisinZimbabwe> Emergencyresolutiononpreventingviolenceon

politicalbackground> EmergencyresolutiononKenia

AdOPtEd PAPErs

opportunityduringthecampaigntoadvancepartyinterestsinthecontextofaneverweakeningFiannaFailgovernment.

ThesecondpaneldiscussionofSaturdayfollowedlunchandwasentitled“TheCommonAgriculturalPolicy–Multifunctionalityforthe21stCentury”andwaschairedbyJamesLawless,YEPPVice-President.RichardDeasy,anagriculturalexpertandMemberoftheNationalForumonEurope,spokeofthechangesthathaveoccurredinEuropeanfarming.Thesecondpanelist,MichaelCreedTD,FineGaelSpokesmanonAgriculture,pointingoutthechangesthathaveoccurredinIrelandsincejoiningtheEUin1973.Uponaccessionaveragehouseholdsspent30%oftheirdisposableincomeonfood,todayitis10%.TheDeputydiscussedtheCommonAgriculturalPolicyanditspost-warEuropeanrootsinexpandingagricultur-alproduction.Climatechangeisalreadyhavinganeffectonfoodsuppliesandagriculture.InlightoftheseglobaltrendsfoodsecuritymustbeprioritizedbyEuropeanagriculturalpolicy.Prof.B.Andreosso-O’Callaghan,DirectoroftheEuro-AsiaCentreattheUniversityofLimerick,spokeofthedecreasingrolethatEuropeisplayinginagricultureglobally.

AfterwardsparticipantswereaddressedbyformerFineGaelMEPJohnCushnahan,whospokeabouttheimportanceofEuropebuildingaunitedmessageonthemostpressingglobalissuessuchaspovertyreduction,humanrightsandconflictresolution.

ThelastsessionwasentitledTheLisbonAgenda–DeliveringSustainableEconomicandSocialProgress.ItwaschairedbySenatorButtimer,SeanadSpokespersononCommunity,RuralandGaelteachtAffairs.FineGaelSpokesmanonEnterprise.DrVaradkarspokeof

howEuropewasn’tandcouldn’tbeacompetitorinthemanufacturingindustryanymore,duetothelowcostofmanufacturingproductsinChina,andthereforeEuropeneedstomovetoaknowledge-basedeconomy.TomLynchoftheInstituteofEuropeanAffairsalsoaddressedparticipantsonEuropeaneconomicpolicy.

ThateveningtheparticipantswereaddressedatdinnerbyJamesEllisMEP,formerlyoftheEuropeanIdeasNetwork(EIN),abouttheworkoftheEINasathink-tankforthecentre-rightpoliticalfamilyinEurope.

OnSaturdayparticipantswerebroughttotheBrookfieldMedicalCentreatUniversityCollegeofCork,whereasessionentitled“EnergyandEnvironment–FuelSecurity,ClimateChangeandSustainability”washeld.ChairedbyChristianKremer,DeputySecretaryGeneraloftheEPPthesessiondealtwiththeenergyneedsoftheUnion.SimonCoveneyTD,FineGaelSpokesmanonEnergytoldparticipantsofthetoughdecisionsthattheEPPandEuropemustmaketocombatthechallengesofclimatechange.ThebigchallengeforEuropeisenergysecurity.HepointedtotherelianceofEuropeonRussiaforitsgas.Thelastspeaker,Dr.BrianÓGallachóir,UCCLectureronEnergyEngineering,gavehispresen-tationontheEU’senergyneeds.

AfterlunchtheYEPPWorkingGroupsontheconferenceworkingpaperandresolutionstookplace.

TheYEPPCouncilmeetingwasheldintheafternoon.ThemostsignificantelementoftheCouncilwasthedebateovertherecentdeclarationofindependencebyKosovo.

Theeveningwasclosedwithafinediner.

25

06.1.2/ YEPP Seminar: Cork (Ireland) 6-9 March 2008

“AEuropeFitforFutureGenerations”

YEPPgatheredinCork,Irelandfrom6-9March.Thetimingwascrucialasittookplacebeforethereferen-dumontheLisbonTreaty.YEPPFullMemberYoungFineGaelhostedthisseminarinconjunctionwithFineGael,EPPandtheKonradAdenauerFoundation,London.LocalsupportwasalsogivenbyIrelandSouthMEPColmBurke.

TheseminarbeganwithareceptionhostedatBlackrockCastleObservatorybylocalMPDeirdreCluneTD,FineGaelSpokespersononInnovation,whowelcomedYEPPtoCork.Cllr.LauraMcGonigle,CorkCityCouncilspokeofthegreatleapsforwardthatCorkhasmadethankstotheCelticTiger.FollowingthiswasBarryWalsh,PresidentofYoungFineGaelandYannisSmyrilis,YEPPPresidentwhomentionedthegreatopportunitytheseminarrepre-sentedforotheryoungEuropeanstoshowsolidaritywithYoungFineGaelintheireffortstoensureLisbonTreatyratificationinJune08.ThefinalspeakerwasThomasStehlingfromtheKonradAdenauerFoundationLondon.

OnFridaythe7thofMarchtheparticipantstransferredtotheVertigoConferenceCentreinCorkCountyHall.Themorningsessionbeganwithapaneldiscussionentitled“DeliveringontheObjectivesoftheLaekenDeclaration:TheInstitutionalChangesoftheEUReformTreaty”.ThepanelistsforthissessionwereDeputyLucindaCreighton,MartinTerritoftheEuropeanCommissionRepresentationinIrelandandBrianMurphyoftheFineGaelExecutiveCouncil.

LucindaCreightonTD,FGSpokespersononEuropeanAffairs,statedherbeliefthatFineGaelhadaresponsi-bilityasapartybelongingtotheChristianDemocraticfamilytoplayabigroleinthereferendum.Adiverse

campaignhadbeenplannedinco-operationwiththeEPP,targetingyoungpeoplewhoattendeventssuchasconcertsandsportsevents;therewillberegionalandconstituencypublicmeetings;andleafletswilldistributedtoeveryhomeinIrelandadvocatingaYESvote.MartinTerrit,HeadoftheEuropeanCommissionRepresentationinIreland,outlinedtheCommission’sconvictionthatratificationofthetreatywouldinthelong-termbringbetterjobstoMemberStates,stabilityofgovernanceandprepareEuropeforthechallengesofglobalization.ThetreatywouldalsoremedysomeofthedemographicdeficitwithintheUnionaswellastheintegrationofimmigrantsintheMemberStates.BrianMurphy,formerPresidentoftheYoungEuropeanChristianDemocrats,notedhowFineGaelhadsup-portedeachandeveryEuropeantreatyreferendumthathascomebeforetheIrishpeoplesinceaccessionin1973.AfterthedefeatoftheNiceTreaty,FineGaelcam-paignedvigorouslyinthesecondreferendumonNice.FineGaelhasalwaysputthecountryandEuropefirstaboveinternalpartypolitics.

InthelatemorningFineGaelLeader,andEPPVicePresident,EndaKennyTDaddressedtheconferenceontheimportanceforIrelandandEuropeofLisbonTreatyratification.Hespokeoftheopportunitytotacklekeychallenges–demographicchange,theneedtoexpandtheknowledge-basedeconomyandtacklingclimatechange–throughthenewdecision-makingmechanismsinherentintheLisbonTreaty.Politicallyhestressedtheimportanceofastrongcampaignforratificationwhichwouldengagedirectlywithcitizens.HealsostressedthattheFineGaelpartywouldneverplaypartisanpoliticswithsoimportantanissueasatreatywhichfacilitatedenhancedEuropeanintegration.Hewouldnottakethe

> Adoptedworkingpaper:AEuropefitforFutureGenerations-Towardsaplatformforthe2009EuropeanParliamentElections

> Resolutionon„FightingforCorruption“> EmergencyResolutiononColombia

AdOPtEd PAPErs

27

> Adoptedworkingpaper:EuropeanNeighbourhoodPolicy-TheimportanceofRegionalCooperation

> ResolutiononBelarus> ResolutiononthecrisisinGeorgia> ResolutionontheMiddleEast> ResolutiononBorderControl> ResolutiononDevelopmentCooperation

AdOPtEd PAPErs06.1.3/ YEPP Seminar: Vilnius (Lithuania) 4-7 September 2008

catedtopresentationsaboutBelarusiandemocraticforces’leadership.DuringthethirdpanelthefollowingparticipantsgavetheiroverviewonthesituationonthisneighbouringcountryoftheEUandelaboratedonthetopicofaunitedBelarusianopposition:Mr.LyavonBarshcheskyi,ChairmanofBelarusianPopularFront,Mr.PavelSeverynets,politicalprisonerandleaderofBelarusianChristianDemocrats,Mr.YaroslauRomanchuk,Vice-ChairmanofUnitedCivilParty.Theyallhaddifferentapproachesonmanydifferenttacticalissuesbutagreedonthenecessitytocooperatecloseramongeachotherandconductmoreactiveelectoralcampaigns.ThelastpanelofthedaywasdevotedtotwoVIPspeakers-Mr.AlyaksandrMilinkevich,candidateoftheunitedoppositionfortheelectionsofthePresidencyandMr.AlyaksandrKazulin,candidatefortheelectionsofthePresidencyandprominentpoliticalprisoner.BothofthemarenamedasfavouritesasPresidentialcandi-datesincampaignsinthecomingyears.Theaudiencehadplentyquestionsandcomments.

AfterwardstheparticipantswerebroughttoNorviliškėsCastle,locatedontheborderoftheRepublicofBelarusandtheRepublicofLithuania.Theretheycouldliter-ally“touch”the“ironcurtain”thatiscurrentlydividingtheEUanditsimminentneighbourBelarus-thelastdictatorshiponourcontinent.Mr.EgidijusVareikis,MemberofParliamentandMemberofEuropeanAffairsCommittee,wasinvitedtogiveaspeechonthesubject.

OnSaturdaytherepresentativesofYEPPorganizationsmetintheworkinggroupsanddiscussedimportantinternalissues,aswellasworkingthroughandapprov-ingtheresolutionontheyouthinBelarusandthework-ingpaperontheEuropeanNeighbourhoodPolicy.

Theseminarhadalotofmediaattentionandwasseenasveryfruitful.

InthemeantimealotofattentionintheEUisdevotedtotheinitiativeofFrenchPresidentNicolasSarkozytocreateaUnionofMediterraneanthatwasofficiallylaunchedon13July2008.Initiativeofregionalcoopera-tionintheframeworkofENPwasconstantlydevelopedbyintensifyingitsSoutherndimension,launchingEasterndimensionofENPandincludingRussiaintoit.Somestrengthsandweaknessesofregionalcoopera-tionintheframeworkofENPhavetobenoted.Amongthestrengthsthefollowingcanbementioned:1)TheinitiativesofregionalcooperationsupplementEuropeanNeighbourhoodPolicy–thisbroadensthepossibilitiestosolveproblematicissuesintheframeworkofENP;2)TheinitiativesofregionalcooperationstimulatethecooperationamongEasternandSoutherndimensionsofENPcountries.

Amongtheweaknesses,thefollowingmightbenoted:1)Excessivelybroadagendaofregionalcooperation;2)Therearenospecificfinancialresourcessetforcar-ryingoutregionalcooperationintheframeworkofENP;3)Regionalinitiativescoverthecountrieswhichrela-tionstotheEUarebasedondifferentgrounds;4)Belarusisnotincludedintoanyofregionalcoopera-tioninitiativeintheframeworkofENP;5)InclusionofRussianFederationtoseveralregionalcooperationini-tiativesintheframeworkofENPreducesitsauthentic-ity;6)PresentformatofregionalcooperationinitiativesdoesnotcorrespondwiththeneedsandrequirementsofENPEasterndimensioncountriesintheirrelationswiththeEU.

Basingontheanalysisabove,YEPPsuggests:1. Togiveanewpoliticalimpetustostrengthenand

streamlinetheEasternPartnershipfollowingtheexampleofeenhancingpoliticaldimensionofMediterraneanregion.

2. TheregionalcooperationinitiativesintheframeworkofENPhavetohaveclearprioritiesonthefieldsofcooperation.

3. ENPagendashoulddifferentiatefromtheagendaofRussianFederation–EUrelations.

4. TheparticipationofBelarusintheregionalcoopera-tioninitiativesshouldbeconsidered.

5. ENPregionalcooperationinitiativesshallimprovethepossibilitiesofENPcountriestomoveclosertowardsEUintegration.

YEPPwashostedfrom4-7SeptemberinVilniusbyYoungChristianDemocratsofLithuania(JKD)andkindlysupportedbyEduardoFreiFoundation,KonradAdenauerFoundation,IRI,EPP,theLithuanianParliamentinadditiontotheMinistryofForeignAffairs.ThiseventbroughtaroundthetablehighlevelspeakersrepresentingBelarus,severalEUCountries,theUS,theOrganizationfortheSecurityandCooperationinEurope(OSCE),EuropeanCommission(EC)andothernationalandsupranationalbodiesandwasalsoattendedbyanumberofrepresentativesofmassmedia.Morethan110participantsfromabove30countriesofEuropeattendedtheconference.

TheconferencewasbegunbythewelcomespeechesofMs.IngaAuguniene,ChairpersonofJKD,Mr.YannisSmyrlis,PresidentofYEPP,Mr.EmanuelisZingeris,MemberofParliamentofLithuania(ChairmanofEuropeanNeighborhoodSubcommittee),Mr.StephanMalerius,HeadofKAS-BelarusandMr.AndrewOlson,ResidentCountryDirectorofIRI.TheycoveredthewiderangeofissuesontheEuropeanNeighbourhoodPolicyandinparticularonthesituationinBelarusthreeweeksbeforetheelectiontotheParliament.

ThefirstpanelwasstartedbythespeechofMr.JacekProtosewicz(EPP-EDgroup),MEPandChairmanoftheDelegationfortheRelationswithBelarus.HetalkedabouttheviewofEuropeanParliamentconcerningtheENP,theinstrumentsitisusingandinparticulartheattentionbeinggiventothesituationinEasternNeighbourhood.HewasfollowedbyMr.ŽygimantasPavilionis,UndersecretaryoftheMinistryofForeign

AffairsofLithuania.TherepresentativeofLithuanianMFAdevotedhispresentationtotheeffortsthatLithuaniaundertakestoencouragecloserEuro-AtlanticintegrationintheENPregion,aswellaselabo-ratedmorepreciselyonthesituationintheEasternNeighbourhood.HealsohighlightedthesimilaritiesbetweenLithuaniatwodecadesagoandthecurrentsituationinsomeneighbouringcountries.Thethirdspeakerofthepanel-Mr.BjornLyrvall,UndersecretaryofMinistryofForeignAffairs,KingdomofSweden-con-tinuedonthesimilarnote.

ThefirstpanelistofthesecondpanelwasAmbassadorHans-JochenShmidt,theHeadoftheOSCEinBelarus.HetouchedbrieflyonthesituationinEasternEuropeandfocusedonthetopicoftheelectionsinBelarus.Heinformedparticipantsoftheviolationsthatwereobservedduringelectionsandaboutthepresentsituationinthisregard,aswellcoveringsomepossiblescenariosthatcouldevolve.Thesecondspeakerofthepanel-Mr.Jean-EricHolzapfel,HeadofECdelegationinBelarus,explainedtotheaudiencetheperspectivesofastrongENPintheregion,coveringsuchissuesasENPI,thecrossbordercooperationcomponent,TAIEXandtwin-ninginstruments,aswellastwonewinnovativefinancialmechanismsintroducedalongwithcountries’programs:NeighbuorhoodInvestmentFundandGovernanceFacility,etc.Mr.HolzapfelalsospokeoftheEU’scooperationwithUkraine,thePolish-SwedishProposalforEasternPartnershipandanumberofotherissues.

Astheconferencetookplaceonly30kilometersfromtheborderwithBelarus,therestofthedaywasdedi-

Working paper on European Neighbourhood Policy

29ChairmanoftheNationalAssociationofEmployeesofMunicipalitieswithresponsibilityfortrade,tourismandconsumerprotectioninBulgaria.Mr.PenchoPenchevstressedtheimportanceofthelinkingconsumptionwithsustainabledevelopment,especiallyfortheyounggeneration,whichwillhavetodealwiththeresultsofover-consumptioninEurope.Healsopointedouttotheimportanceofthesustainabledevelopmentpolicy.

OnSaturdaymorning,theMr.IvanButchvarov,SecretaryGeneraloftheBulgarianConsumerProtectionCommittee,presentedthetopic“ShoppingviaInternet-WhatShouldWeKnow?”Hefocusedontherightsoftheconsumerswhichweshouldallbeawareofwhenshoppingontheinternet.Healsopresentedthespecificmeasuresforconsumerprotection,theconsumer’spreliminaryagreement,

prohibitedgoodsfordistancetrading,obligationsofthesupplierandconsumerrights.TheprogramcontinuedwithreportsfromYEPP’smemberorganisations.

Afterthepresentation,conclusionsofthedayweremadeandtheparticipantsinvitedforasightseeingtourofMadaraHorseman.Themonumentdatesbackto710ADandhasbeenootheUNESCOworldheritagelistsince1979–itisregardedasthenationalsymbolofBulgaria..

Intheevening,thegoodbyedinnerwasheldinatypicalBulgarianrestaurantinGoldenSands,VarnawheretheparticipantscouldchoosefromavarietyoftypicalBulgariandishes.ThedinnerwashostedbyMr.AlexanderPramatarski,MPandPresidentoftheDP,whowelcomedeveryonetoBulgaria.

“Europeanyoungconsumers–thefutureisours”

TheYEPPSummerschoolonConsumers’Rightswasorganized2nd-6thJuly2008inVarna,Bulgariaandwasattendedby55youngpoliticians.ItwasorganizedbytheyouthorganizationofBulgarianmemberoftheEuropeanPeople´sParty(DP(DemocraticParty))-MSDP(YouthUnionofDemocraticParty),afullmemberofYEPP.

TheconferencewasofficiallyopenedonThursdaymorningbythePresidentofYEPPMr.Smyrlis,andthePresidentandtheSecretaryGeneralofthehostingyouthorganization-Mr.MiroslavMihov(MSDP)andMr.PetarJakimov(MSDP).

Afterwardstheconferencecontinuedwiththepresenta-

tionofMs.RalitzaGurkova-RepresentativefromtheNationalCenter/EuropeanYouthProgramsandInitiativesinBulgaria,whointroducedYouthinActionProgram2007-2013.

ThesecondpresentationwaspresentedbyMs.PlamenaPanova-chairwomanofAssociationforeffectivecivicactivity–SEGA,youthNGO.ShefocusedmainlyonthegovernmentalpoliticsofimportancetoyouthinBulgaria..

ThethirdpresentationwasmadebyMr.BogomilNikolov-ChairmanofBulgarianNationalConsumerAssociation.HefocusedonconsumerassociationsinBulgariaandtheirachievementsandchallenges.OnFridaymorning,presentationsweregivenbyMr.PenchoPenchev,AssociateProfessor,UniversityofNationalandWorldEconomyandMr.KrasimirBorisov,

/ YEPP Summerschool: Varna (Bulgaria) 2-6 July 2007

06.2

“HowEUdecisionsaffectNationalPublicAdministration”“EuropeanYouthPrograms”

OntheFridayeveningallyoungstersgatheredfortheopeningandsomewelcomewordsbyYEPPPresidentIoannisSmyrlisandCESDirectorTomiHuhtanen..

OntheSaturdaytherewere5principlesessions.

Session1wastitled“HowEUdecisionsaffectnationalpublicadministration?-WhataretheconsequencesonYouth?”Dr. Charalambos Koutalakis,lectureroftheDepartmentofPublicAdministrationattheKappodistrianUniversityofAthens,analyzedtheextendoftheEuropeanizationofpublicadministrationthroughtheevolutionofEUinstitutions.ByComparingfullEUsupranationalcompetenceswithsecondpillarcompetenceshetriedtoprovetheindirectimpactofEUdecisionsonnationalpublicadministrationprocesses.Inthesecondpartofhisaddresstotheparticipants,heevalu-atedtheimpactofYouthpoliciespursuedsince2002toexaminetheprospectofamoreenergeticyouthparticipationinnationaladministrativesystems.Hisinterestingviewsaswellashisclearlecturergeneratedanextendeddebatebetweentheparticipants.

InthesecondsessionMrs. Christiana Papageorgaki,SpecialAdvisortotheSecretaryGeneralforYouthandAstasiaFilini,YouthinActionProgramcoordinator(InstituteforYouth,GeneralSecretariatforYouth),analyzedtheimpactofEuropeanYouthprogramsontheformationofEuropeanyouthidentityasaresultofextendedinter-statecooperation.Inthedebatethatfollowed,YEPPrepresentativesarguedthatyouthprogramsexcludedthemostvitalpart,youthpoliticalorganizations,fromthechancetoundertakeperipheralandregionalcooperationprojects.TherewasalsoabeliefthattheseprogrammesshouldbeextendedtopromoteyouthcooperationwithnonEUmemberstatesinthecontextofEUneighbourhoodpolicy.

Inthethirdsession Dr. Dimitris Terzis, DirectorofCommunicationsfortheSecretaryGeneraloftheRegionofWesternGreece,presentedanexampleofanelectoralcampaignrunforayoungfemalecandidateinthelocalelectionsofOctober2006.

Agapi Gerogiannaki,MemberoftheCentralCommitteeofNeaDemokratia,emphasizedtheimportanceofactiveyouthparticipationinelectioncampaigning.Throughactivecampaigningonthesideofalocalcandidate,youngpeoplecould

/ YEPP in cooperation with CES and CKID: Seminar 10-12 October 2008 (Rhodes, GR)

07.1/ YEPP extraordinary events

07

>

31

“YouthPoliticsandYouthPartyOrganizationsinSouth-East-EuropeHowcanyouthcontributetoapeaceful,stableandprosperousfuture?”

TheYouthoftheEuropeanPeople’sParty,KonradAdenauerFoundationandEduardoFreiFoundationorganisedaRegionalConferenceofmorethan35youngpoliticiansbelongingtothefamilyofthePeoples’Partiestitled„YouthPoliticsandYouthPartyOrganizationsinSEE-Howcantheyouthcontributetoapeaceful,stableandprosperousfuture?”,whichtookplaceinSarajevo,24-26October2008.YEPPwasrepresentedbyitstwoVice-presidents,VaidasAugunasandDarijaJurica.Thefirstpartoftheconferencefocusedontheperspectivesoftheregionvis-à-visEUenlargementandtheprocessofeconomicreformwhichwasbeingsetbytheEUagenda.ParticipantswereaddressedbyMr.NandShani,fromtheRegionalCooperationCouncilandMr.AhmedTurkiėfromtheDirectorateforEuropeanIntegration.Thesecondpartfocusedonyouthorganisations,whenMs.FennyHelfferichfromCDJANationalBoardforPoliticalAffairsspokeonCDJAstructureandgoals,whileYEPPVice-presidentDarijaJuricagiveapresentationonYEPPidentity,structure,goals,politicalprogramme,aswellasYEPPeventsanditscooperationwithitspartnersandfoundations.Furthermore,twoworkinggroupswereheldduringtheconference,thefirstfocusingonthefutureoftheEUandopportunitiesaftertheno-votesinFrance,NetherlandsandIreland,andthesecondfocusingonageingandpoli-ticsandtheroleoftheyouthinanageingsociety.

promotetheirviewsandopinionsinamoredirectwaythansimplywatchingotherstakingresponsibilityfortheirfutureanddreams.Thereforeshecalledoneveryyoungmanandwomantopromotetheirinnovativeideasandpureenthusi-asmthroughactivecampaigninginnational,regionalandlocalelections.

Inthenextsessiontheseminaradoptedtheworkingpaper“EuropeanDecisionMakingandPublicAdministrationEfficiency”presentedbyOrfeas Filos,O.N.NE.D.DeputyInternationalAffairsSecretary.

George Papadimitriou,Vice-MayorforPublicWorksintheNeoHeraklionmunicipalityinAtticaandInternationalAffairsSecretaryinO.N.NE.D.,intervenedandtriedtoputforwardhisexperience.HearguedontheevolutionofEUmonitoringmechanismsthatendedupforcingpublicadministrationunitsinlocalleveltofirstlymodernizetheiroperationalmecha-nisms,increasetheirmonitoringandaccountabilitycapabilities,enhancestheuseofinformationtechnologyinpublicservices.

InthefinalsessionclosingremarksweremadebyMr. Tomi Huhtanen,DirectoroftheCentreforEuropeanStudies,whocongratulatedtheparticipantsontheactivedebatesduringthedifferentsessions.CESwashappytobeaco-organizerforthiseventasyoungstersandtheroleofyouthisbecominganevermoreprominentpolicyissue.CEShopedthatwiththeirsupportaplatformwasprovidedfordebate..CESisalsoexploringfuturepossibilitiestolaunchyouthdebatesoverthecomingmonths.Mr.HuhtanenwashopefulforfuturecooperationwithYEPP.

Nikolaos Tzifakis,HeadoftheInternationalCooperationDepartment,oftheC.KaramanlisInstituteforDemocracy,thankedCESandYEPPforthegoodcooperation.CKIDislookingforwardtoafurthercooperationinthefuture.

Intheeveningtherewasanofficialclosingforeseeninthepresenceofalotofpress,acoupleofhundredpeopleandMr.Ioannis Valinakis,DeputyMinisterofForeignAffairsofGreece.Mr.ValinakisandMr.Smyrlisgaveaspeechbyempha-sizingalsotheroleofyouthandinternationalcooperation.FurthermoreMr.ValinakistookthetimetomeettheYEPPparticipantsinformally.Theconferencewasclosedbyareception.

/ YEPP in cooperation with KAS and EFF: Balkan Conference 24-26 October 2008 (Sarajevo - Bosnia & Herzegovina)

07.233

YEPPincooperationwithEDSandDEMYCSinceitsexistingYEPPhasalwayshadclosecooperationwiththeEuropeanDemocraticStudents(EDS)aswellasDEMYC.AtalmosteachYEPPseminarrepresentativesofbothorganisationswerepresentandYEPPfrequentlyvisitstheirevents.Fromtimetotimejointmeetingsofthepresidentsandsecretarygeneralsoftheseorganizationswereheld.The3organisationsarealsogoodalliesofYEPPinotherEuropeanstructuressuchastheEuropeanYouthForum.EDSandYEPParealsoworkingcloselytogetherwithinEPPinordertodefendyouthpolicyinthatforum.

YEPPasactivememberofEuropeanYouthForumIndependentlyestablishedbyyouthorganisations,theEuropeanYouthForum(YFJ)ismadeupofmorethan90NationalYouthCouncilsandInternationalNon-GovernmentalYouthOrganisations,whicharefederationsofyouthorganisationsinthemselves.ItbringstogethertensofmillionsofyoungpeoplefromalloverEurope,organisedinordertorepresenttheircommoninterests.

YEPPisafullmemberoftheEuropeanYouthForum,activelyengagedinallissuesthatconcerntheyoungpeopleofEurope.YEPPparticipatestotheYouthPoliticalPartiesmeetingsandfrom2009YEPPwillbealsoanex-officiomemberoftheEUadvocacygroupoftheEuropeanYouthForum.

InNovemberof2008YEPPsucceededinnominatingandelectingXeniaConstantinou(NEDISY,Cyprus)asVice-PresidenttotheExecutiveBureauofYFJ.Xenia’smandateisfor2years(2009-10)andshehasbeenassignedres-ponsibilityforEUrelations.

In2007-2008IrinaPruidze,YEPPVice-PresidentwasappointedbytheboardtofollowuptheEYF.BesidesattendingtheeventsoftheEuropeanYouthForum,YEPPisalsoactivelyrepresentedatthemonthlygatheringswiththeotherpoliticalyouthstructuresfromwithinEurope.AttheseParty-PoliticalYouthOrganizationsmeetingsYEPPisrepresentedbyYEPPSecretaryGeneralMartinHumeraswellasYEPPExecutiveOfficerAnn-PascaleMommerency.

35„TheincreaseoflifeexpectancyrepresentsasignificantadvancementinlivingstandardsforEuropeancitizens.However,demographicimbalancescancausetensionsatsocialandeconomiclevel.Thereforewehavetoreformoursocialsystemsinatimelymannertomakesurethattheywillbeabletomeetthedemographicchallenges.“YEPP’sPoliticalProgram2007-2009

YEPP´spoliticalprogramhashighlightedourkeeninterestinshapingtheEuropeanUnionasaspaceofpeaceandprosperityaswellasprovidingpolicysolutionsforthechallengesofourgeneration.Demographicchange,withmigra-tionamongEuropeandcontinuallylowerbirthrates,posethechallengeoffillinggapsincertainlabourmarketsinmemberstatesandofplacingdemandsonSocialSecuritysystemswheretheneedsoftheoldergenerationmustbemetbyanever-smallergroupofwageearners.Heretheburdenoftaxesandrepaymentofstatedebtarefallingoneverfewershoulders.

YEPPestablishedinthecurrenttermapermanentworkinggroupwiththeaimtotakedemographicchangeandinterge-nerationaljusticeasaspecialconcernofourwork.Weseeintergenerationaljusticeandsustainabilitynotonlyasprin-ciplesofenvironmentalpolicy,thoughthisisofcourseamainpoint,butalsoaspartofsocialandfinancialpolicy.TheworkofthenewPWGhasbeensupposedtocontributecontentforYEPPtoadvancetheinterestsoftheyoungergenera-tion-insideandoutsidetheEPP.InthetworecentyearswehaveenhancedthePWGchairedbyThomasSchneiderandLaurentSchoutetenintoameltingpotofgoodideasabouthowtoadvanceourpositionswithintheEPPandEuropeanpublicdiscourse.

/ Permanent Working Groups

08/ YEPP in cooperation with other European Youth structures

09

YEPPisrepresentedineachworkinggroupoftheEuropeanPeople’sParty(EPP)aswellasthePoliticalBureauofEPP.YEPPtriestoplayanactiveandconstructiverolewithintheseforaandallYEPPrepresentativestrytoputyouthissuesonthepoliticalagenda.InthepastYEPPcouldalwayscountonagoodsupportfromtheEPPandwelcomesalsothegoodcooperationwiththemotherparty.

In2008,duringYEPPsChairmen’sConference,Mr.Daul(ChairmanoftheEPP-EDGroup)andMr.MartensexpressedtheirsupportfortheworkofYEPP.Theirstatementsweremuchappreciatedbyallyoungsters.

www.epp.euwww.epp-ed.eu

In2008theYEPPboardcontinuedtoinvestincooperationwiththeEPPanditsorganizations,suchastheEPPWomen,EuropeanSeniorCitizin’sUnion(ESU),EuropeanUnionofChristianDemocraticWorkers(EUCDW)andtheSME-Union.

Besidesattendingsomeoftheirevents,YEPPwasalsorepresentedattheEIN(EuropeanIdeasNetwork)meetings

www.sme-union.orgwww.epp-women.orgwww.eu-seniorunion.orgwww.eucdw.org

www.ein.eu

YALTA(YES)Yalta European Strategy (YES) is an independent organization that brings together high-level participants in Ukraineand internationally: policy-makers, business leaders, thinkers, researchers and journalists in order to facilitate ‘rap-prochement’ between the Ukraine and the EU. YES was created at the initiative of a Ukrainian businessman and public figure, Victor Pinchuk, in spring of 2004.

OnSeptember13-16,2007YaltaEuropeanStrategyfirstSummerUniversitywasheldinKyev,Ukraine.YEPPVicePresidentIrinaPruidzerepresentedYEPPtogetherwithabout30participantsfromYEPPmemberorassociatedorgani-sationsinadditiontoaround30UkrainianparticipantsfromEPPassociatedparties’youthorganisations.Otherpartici-pantsrepresentedwereECOSYandLYMECduringit’sopeningceremony.TheopeningceremonywassignificantwiththeaddressesofthePresidentofUkraineVictorYushchenko,MinisterofStateandForeignAffairsofPortugalandPresidentoftheCouncilofMinistersLuisAmadoandEuropeanCommissionerMeglelaKuneva.ThesessionwasmoderatedbyYESBoardMember,EPPVicePresidentMarioDavid.

ThesecondYESSummerUniversitywasheldinOctober1-5,2008.ThistimethefocusofthesessionsandworkshopswasputontherecentEuropeanForeignPolicydevelopments,relatinginparticulartoCaucasuscrisisandenlargementissues.

YEPPwasrepresentedbythePresidentYannisSmyrlisand46participantsfromYEPPmemberorganisations.AmongtheguestswereEuropeanCommissionerforEducation,Training,CultureandYouth–JanFigel,PresidentofPoland(1995-2005)–AleksanderKwaėniewski,Vice-PresidentoftheEuropeanParliament–MarekSiwiec,SpeakerofParliamentofGeorgia(2004-2008)–NinoBurjanadze,ChairmanofParliamentofUkraine–ArseniyYatseniukandVice-PrimeMinisterofUkraineonEuropeanIntegration–GregoryNemyrya.

Thistimethepanelonthetopic-“ThreeDifferentperspectivesofEU’sfuture”wasaddressedbyIoannisSmyrlis(PresidentofYEPP),GiacomoFilibeck(PresidentofECOSY)andAlexanderPlahr(Vice-PresidentofLYMEC).ThesessionwasmoderatedbyMarioDavid,Vice-PresidentoftheEPPandMemberoftheBoardofYES.YESSummerUniversityturnedouttobeaverysuccessfulproject,sinceitgathersyouth,representingdifferentpoliticalfamiliesandgivestheyoungUkrainianleadersopportunitiestodistinguishdifferentpoliticalapproachesandplatformswithinEurope.

37

10/ YEPP as constructive partner of EPP and EPP-ED Group and its associations

39> AdoptedWorkingPaperonCulturalDiversity> Adoptedworkingpaper:AEuropefitforFutureGenerations-Towardsaplatformforthe2009EuropeanParliament

Elections> Adoptedworkingpaper:EuropeanNeighbourhoodPolicy-TheimportanceofRegionalCooperation

> ResolutiononEuthanasia> Resolutionon„FightingforCorruption“> ResolutiononBelarus> ResolutiononthecrisisinGeorgia> ResolutionontheMiddleEast> ResolutiononBorderControl> ResolutiononDevelopmentCooperation

> EmergencyresolutiononrecentdevelopmentsinRussia> EmergencyresolutiononthehumanitarianandpoliticalcrisisinZimbabwe> Emergencyresolutiononpreventingviolenceonpoliticalbackground> EmergencyresolutiononKenia> EmergencyResolutiononColombia

Alldocumentscanbefoundonwww.yepp-eu.org

/ Adopted YEPP Documents in 2008

11

41

Albania

ForumiRinoriPartiseDemokratiketeShqiperise

Austria

JungeÖsterreichischeVolkspartei

Belarus

MaladyFront**

YouthChristian-SocialUnionYoungDemocrates**

Belgium

JONGChristen-Democratisch&Vlaams

JeunesduCentreDémocrateHumaniste

Bosnia&Herzegovina

PartyofDemocraticActionYouthAssociation

Bulgaria

MladezkiSajuznaDemokraticeskaPartija

MladezkiSajuznaDemokraticniteSili

Croatia

MladezHrvatskedemokratskezajednice

Cyprus

NeolaiaDimokratikouSynagermou

CzechRepublic

Mladíkrest’anštídemokraté

Denmark

KristendemokratiskUngdom

Estonia

IsamaajaResRepublicaLiiduNoorteuhendus

FYROM(=FormerYugoslavianRepublicofMacedonia)

YouthForcesUnionofVRMO-DPMNE*

Finland

KokoomuksenNuortenLiitto

KristillisdemokraattisetNuoret

France

JeunesUnionpourunMouvementPopulaire

Georgia

AkhalgazrdaErovnulDemocrati

SaqartvelosAkhalgazrdobisQristianul-Demokratiuli

Germany

JungeUnionDeutschlands

Greece

OrganossisNeonNeasDimokratias

Hungary

Fidelitas

IfjúságiDemokrataFórum

Ireland

YoungFineGael

*Observerorganisations

**Permanentobservers

Italy

ForzaItaliaGiovani

GiovaniUnioneDemocraticiCristianiediCentro

GiovaniUnioneDemocraticiperlEuropa

JungeGeneration”ofSouthTyroleanPeopleParty

Latvia

TautasPartija

Lithuania

JauniejiKrikscionysDemokratai

Luxemburg

ChrëschtlechSozialJugend

Malta

MovimentZghazaghPartitNazzjonalista

Moldova

NouaGeneratiePartidulPopularCrestinDemocrat

TheNetherlands

ChristenDemocratischJongerenAppèl

Norway

KristeligFolkepartisUngdom

UngeHøyresLandsforbund

Poland

StowarzyszenieMlodziDemokraci

Portugal

JuventudeSocialDemocrata

SanMarino

GiovaniDemocraticoCristiani

Serbia

OmladinaDemokratskeStrankeSrbije

OmladinskaMrezaG17Plus*

Slovakia

KrestanskodemokratickámládezSlovenska

NovaGeneracia

Slovenia

NovageneracijaSlovenskeljudskestranke

MladaSlovenija

SocialdemokratskaMladina

Spain

NuevasGeneracionesdelPartidoPopular

UniódeJovesDemòcrataCristianadeCatalunya

Sweden

KristdemokratiskaUngdomsförbundet

ModerataUngdomsförbundet

Switzerland

JungeChristlichdemokratischeVolksparteiderSchweiz

Ukraine

Chrystyansko-DemocratychnaMolodUkrainy

All-UkrainianYouthPublicOrganization

/ YEPP Member Organisations

12

43KDUKristendemokratiskUngdomNorreAllé334.tv8000ArhusCDenmarkT 004533277800M kdu@kdu.dkW www.kdu.dk

IRLYIsamaajaResPublicaLiiduNoorteuhendusWismari1110136TallinnEstoniaM noored@irl.eeW www.irl.ee/noored

KNL KokoomuksenNuortenLiittoKansakoulukuja3A,3.krsFIN00100HelsinkiFinlandT 00358207488482F 0035896943702M international@kokoomusnuoret.fiW www.kokoomusnuoret.fi

KDNSuomenKristillisdemokraattisetNuoretr.y.Karjalankatu2C,7.krsFIN00520HelsinkiFinlandT 00358934882229F 00358934882228M kdnuoret@kdnuoret.fiW www.kdnuoret.fi

JeunesUMPJeunesPopulairesRueLaBoétie55,bureau204F75008ParisFranceT 0033140766191F 0033140766190M jeunes@u-m-p.orgW www.jeunespopulaires.com

AMEAkhalgazrdaMemarjveneebi3BevretiSt.0114TbilisiGeorgiaT 0099532722246F 0099532723858M youngs@caucasus.netW www.ycg.ge

SAQDASaqartvelosAkhalgazrdobisQristianul-DemokratiuliAsotziatzia26V.Dolidze,apt#270171TbilisiGeorgiaT 0099532331109F 0099532921891M saqda@cdu.geW www.saqda.ge

JUJungeUnionDeutschlandsInselstrasse1b10179BerlinGermanyT 0049302787870F 00493027878720M ju@junge-union.deW www.junge-union.de

ONNEDOrganossisNeonNeasDimokratiasLykourgou14-1610552AthensT 00302103250337,00302103312779F 00302103223146M international_Affairs@onned.grW www.onned.gr

FidelitasFidelitasSzechenyiRakpart19.1358BudapestHungaryT 003614415402F 003614415405M fidelitas@fidelitas.huW www.fidelitas.hu

YEPPFullMembers

FR-PDForumiRinoriPartiseDemokratiketeShqiperiseRrugaGeorgeW.Bush1TiranaAlbaniaT 00355682134429F 003554223525M g_strazimiri@yahoo.comW www.partiademokratike.al

JungeÖVP JungeVolksparteiÖsterreichLichtenfelsgasse71010WienAustriaT 0043140126611F 0043140126619M junge@oevp.atW www.junge.oevp.at

JONG-cd&vJongChristen-Democratisch&VlaamsWetstraat891040BrusselsBelgiumT 003222383890F 003222303301M info@jongcdenv.beW www.jongcdenv.be

JeunesCDhJeunesduCentreDémocrateHumanisteRuedesDeuxEglises411000BrusselsBelgiumT 003222380113F 003222380129M info@jcdh.beW www.jcdh.be

YASDAYouthAssociationofSDAMarsalaTita9A71000SarajevoBosnia&HerzegovinaT 0038733444095F 0038733444095M infoamsda@sda.baW www.sda.ba

MSDPMladezkiSajuznaDemokraticniteSiliHristoBotevbul.611303SofiaBulgariaM msdp@dir.bg

MSDS(YUDF)MladezkiSajuznaDemokraticeskaPartija134G.SRakovskiStr.1000SofiaBulgariaT 0035929306142F 0035929306144M international@msds.bgW www.msds.bg

MHDZMladezHrvatskeDemokratskeZajedniceTrgsrtavafasizma410000ZagrebCroatiaT 0038514553000F 0038514556409M mhdz@mhdz.hrW www.mhdz.hr

NE.DI.SYYouthoftheDemocraticRallyPindarou&SkokouCorner,P.O.Box253051308NicosiaCyprusT 0035722757999F 0035722755455M office@nedisy.orgW www.nedisy.org

MKDYoungChristianDemocratsMladikrestanstidemokratéKarlovonamesti512000Praha2PrahaCzechRepublicT 00420604858708F 00420731733722M info@mladikd.czW www.mladikd.cz

13/ Address Book

45NGPPCDNouaGeneratieaPartiduluiPopularCrestinDemocratStr.Nicolaelorga52009ChisinauMoldovaT 0037322224891F 00373234480M ng@ppcd.mdW www.nouageneratie.md

CDJAChristenDemocratischJongerenAppelBuitenom18-P.OBox2515XA2512XADenHaagTheNetherlandsT 0031703424851M secretariaat@cdja.nlW www.cdja.nl

KrFUKristeligFolkepartisUngdomOvreSlottsgate18-20-Postbks478,sentrum0105OsloNorwayT 004723102888F 004723102810M krfu@krfu.noW www.krfu.no

UHLUngeHoyreLandsforbundP.O.Box1352,Vika0113OsloNorwayT 004722829191F 004722829092M info@ungehoyre.noW www.ungehoyre.no

SMDStowarzyszenie“MlodziDemokraci”ul.Andersa2100-159WarszawaPolandT 0048226227548/9F 0048226225386M darek@dolczewiski.plW www.smd.org.pl

JSDJuventudeSocialDemocrataR.BuenosAires28/11200-625PT-LisboaPortugalT 00351210307100F 00351210307109M geral@jsd.ptW www.jsd.pt

GDCGiovaniDemocraticoCristianiViadelleScalette647890SanMarinoSanMarinoT 003785991193F 00378992694M pdcs@omniway.smW www.pdcs.sm

ODSSOmladinaDemokratskeStrankeSrbijePariska1311000BelgradeSerbiaT 00381113204720F 00381113204743M info@dss.org.yuW www.omladinadss.org.yu

KDMSKrest’anskodemokratickamladezSlovenskaBajkalska2582101BratislavaSlovakRepublicT 00421258233422M info@kdms.skW www.kdms.sk

NGNovaGeneraciaSancova7081105BratislavaSlovakRepublicT 00421257204616F 00421257204615M info@ngonline.skW www.ngonline.sk

IDFIfjúságiDemokrataFórumMunkacsyMihalyu.231063BudapestHungaryT 003613530624F 003613530624M idf@idf.huW www.idf.hu

YFGYoungFineGaelIreland51UpperMountStreet2DublinIrelandT 0035316198444F 0035316624659M finegael@finegael.comW www.yfg.ie

FIGForzaItaliaGiovaniViadellUmilta3600187RomaItalyT 0039066731393F 0039066731236M segreterianazionale@forzaitaliagiovani.itW www.clikkasulfuturo.it

GiovaniUDCGiovaniUnioneDemocraticiCristianiediCentroViaDueMacelli6600187RomaItalyT 0039066979100F 0039066791586M info@udc-italia.it organizzativo@udc-italia.itW www.udc-italia.it

GiovaniU.D.euR.GiovaniUnioneDemocraticiperl’EuropaLargoanerula3400186RomaItalyT 0039066872593F 00390668892816M giovani@popolariudeur.itW www.popolariudeur.it/giovani/index.htm

JGSVPJungeGenerationinderSüdtirolerVolksparteiViaBrennero7a39100BolzanoItalyT 00390471304030F 00390471304049M junge.generation@svpartei.orgW www.junge-generation.info

YLPPTautasPartijasJaunatnesOrganizacijaMeierovicaBoulevard1/21050RigaLatviaT 003717508683F 003717508684M samanta@tpjo.lvW www.tpjo.lv

JKD JauniejiKrikscionysDemokrataiTaikosg.88,Apt1105216VilniusLithuaniaT 0037061016079M jkd@jkd.ltW www.jkd.lt

CSJChrëschtlechSozialJugend4,Ruedel’Eau2018LuxembourgLuxemburgT 003522257311F 00352472716M csj@csj.luW www.csj.lu

MZPNMovimentZghazaghPartitNazzjionalistaTriqHerbetGanadoPTA1450PietaMaltaT 0035621243641F 0035621243640M mail@mzpn.orgW www.mzpn.org

47YEPPObservers

UMSofVMRO-DPMNEYouthForcesUnionofVRMO-DPMNEMakedonijabr.17a1000SkopjeFyromT 0038923217190F 0038923217191M runceva@yahoo.comW www.vrmo-dpmne.org.mk

YNG17PLUSOmladinskamrezaG17PLUSTrgRepublike5/411000BelgradeSerbiaM omladinska.mreza@g17plus.rsW www.omg17plus.rs

YEPPPermanentObservers

MaladyFrontUbarevichstr.166-83220050MinskBelarusT 00375447670002Mafinkevich@gmail.comWwww.mfront.net

YCSU-YouthChristian-SocialUnion“YoungDemocrats”SverdlovaStreet,22-41220050MinskBelarusT 00375172895009T 00375172895009Mbelycsu@hotmail.comWwww.ycsu.org

MSIMladaSlovenijaCankarjeva111000LjubljanaSloveniaT 0038612416660F 0038612416661M tajnistvo@mladaslovenija.orgW www.mladaslovenija.org

SDMSlovenskaDemokratskaMladinaTrstenjakova81000LjubljanaSloveniaT 0038614345470M kabinet@sdm.siW www.sdm.si

NGSLSNovaGeneracijaSlovenskeljudskestrankeBeethovnovaulica41000LjubljanaSloveniaT 0038612418814F 0038612418835M nova.generacija@sls.siW www.nova.generacija.org

NN.GG.NuevesGeneracionesdelPartidoPopularc/Genova13,5aplanta28010MadridSpainT 0034915577300F 0034913080276M nngg@pp.esW www.nngg.org

UCDYCUniódeJovesC/Nàpols35-3908018BarcelonaSpainT 0034932402200M info@uniodejoves.orgW www.uniodejoves.org

KDUKristdemokratiskaUngdomsförbundetBox237310318StockholmSwedenT 004687232530F 004687232510M info@kdu.seW www.kdu.se

MUFModerataUngdomsförbundetStoraNygatan30P.O.Box208010312StockholmSwedenT 004686768150F 00468203449M info@muf.seW www.muf.se

JCVPJungeChristlichdemokratischeVolksparteiderSchweizKlaraweg6-Postfach58353001BernSwitzerlandT 0041313573333F 0041313522430M info@jcvp.chW www.jcvp.ch

CDYUChrystyans’ko-DemocratychnaMolod’UkrainyGorkogo9503150KievUkraineT 00380445253511F 00380445253511M int@cdyu.orgW www.cdyu.org

YoungRukhAll-UkrainianYouthPublicOrganisation“YoungRukh”Obolons´kaSt.,21IIIFloor04071KievUkraineT 00380442392426F 00380442392426M moloduy_ruh@online.uaW www.mr.org.ua

49

14/ Picture Gallery

51

GoalsandObjectivesTheConstantinosKaramanlisInstituteforDemocracyistheofficialthink-tankoftheNeaDimokratia(ND)Party.ItwasfoundedinAthensinJanuary1998withtheaimtopromotetheprinciplesofliberaldemocracyandtheopenmarketinthecontextofamodernwelfarestate.ItisstructuredinfiveDepartments(InternationalCooperation,Publications,PolicyStudies,PoliticalAnalysisandPoliticalAcademy).ApartfromAthens,theInstituteoperatesofficesinfourlargeGreekcities(Thessaloniki,Patra,IoanninaandAgrinio),aswellasaninternationalofficeinBrussels,attheheadquar-tersoftheEuropeanPeople’sParty(EPP).

InternationalCooperationTheInstituteparticipatesinallmajornetworksoflike-mindedEuropeanandinternationalpoliticalfoundations.ItisafoundingmemberoftheCenterforEuropeanStudies,officialthinktankoftheEPP,andactivememberoftheEuropeanIdeasNetwork,whichformulatespolicypositionsonEuropeanissuesfortheEPP.Furthermore,theInstituteparticipa-tesintheEuropeanNetworkofPoliticalFoundationsthataimsatthepromotionofdemocracyanddevelopmentinthirdcountries.Onabilateralbasis,theInstitutecooperateswithseveralinternationalorganizationsforconferences,policyseminarsandresearchprojects.

PublicationsPublicationsfocusonpoliciesandideasthatshapethedomesticandinternationalpoliticalagenda.Theyinclude:thequarterlyjournal“LiberalEmphasis”,the“MonographSeries”,the“WorkingPapersonPoliticsandEconomics”,the“WorkingPaperSeries”,the“SpecialCollectionSeries”,the“E-LibrarySeries”,thee-journal“e-LOGOS”,aswellastheinternationalpublicationsseries(incooperationwithSpringer),namelythe“SeriesonEuropeanandInternationalAffairs”andthe“YearbookSeries”.

PolicyStudiesTheInstituteengagesinsystematicpolicy-orientedresearchcoveringtheareasofforeignanddefencepolicy,energy,environment,economy,educationandculture.Policyproposalsandpositionpapersarepreparedbyacademicsandtechnicalexperts,whoalsoparticipateinroundtablediscussionsandconferences.

PoliticalAnalysisTheInstituteconductscomprehensiveresearchandsurveysonsocial,electoralandpoliticalissuesasatoolformoni-toringideologicaltrendsandproposingnewpolicies.Italsodevelopscommunicationstrategiesandtechniques,andproducesrelevantmaterial.

PoliticalAcademyThePoliticalAcademywasestablishedin2002.Sincethenithasprovidedpoliticaltrainingtoover3.000policy-makers,journalists,professionalsandmembersofyouthorganizations,fromallregionsofGreece.TheseminarsofthePoliticalAcademyaretaughtbyprominentpoliticalanalystsandacademics.

10, Vas. Sofias Ave., 10674 Athens, Greece/ Tel: +30-210 7257495/ Fax: +30-210 7257510www.idkaramanlis.gr / e-mail: info@idkaramanlis.gr

/ Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy (CKID)

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