EYP 2nd In-School Session
European Youth Parliament: In-School Session on Friday, 7 December 2018
The second ever In-School session of EYP Switzerland took place this December in the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz and the Wirtschaftsgymnasium in Basel. Students from 3 classes participated in the event about current and interesting topics evolving around European Politics. During the session, the students discussed and debated the four following topics: migration of refugees, the south American trade bloc called MERCOSUR, freedom of speech vs. upload filter on the internet and Smart Cities.
At 8.00 am, about 50 students aged 15 to 19 gathered in the auditorium of the WG and turned their attention to an introduction about the EYP – what it is, the leadership team and how the In-school session will work. The leadership team consisting of 7 members presented the EYP as an educational program which brings together young people from all over Europe to discuss current topics in a parliamentary setting. As a network of independent associations, EYP is present in 40 European countries and organizes more than 500 events every year.
Committee work
Until 12.30 the students gathered in their committees which focused on their individual topics. Fun games, role plays and other amusing strategies were used to create a lively and interesting atmosphere while the participants got to know each other, then they worked on their topics and resolutions.
General Assembly
After one hour of lunch break and time to get to the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz, the delegates gathered in the auditorium well prepared for a debate. The General Assembly is the final stage of each EYP session, and the most significant one, during which the debate between the committees take place and the decisions are made by the three EYP associates on stage. Two representatives of each group may introduce their topic and their proposed resolution. During the debates, one member at a time was able to ask a question or make a statement. All students became very involved in the debate, and the announcements of the session presidents were exciting for everyone.
