Training tomorrow’s decision makers

Model European Parliament in Malta for the first time in 25 years

As national and European citizens it is important to raise young people’s awareness of public affairs and cultural diversity.

Today’s young people are tomorrow’s decision makers. Involving them in decision making processes, engaging them in dialogue, and providing the right training platforms are important measures to ensure they are well prepared for their future responsibilities. As national and European citizens it is also important to raise young people’s awareness of public affairs and cultural diversity.

It was with these aims in mind that in 1994, 5 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Anna and Leopold van Sminia founded the Model European Parliament in The Hague, Netherlands. The Model European Parliament is a leadership programme for young people aged 16-19. It is based on a simulation of the European Parliament intended to educate future political leaders about European integration history and peaceful cooperation. Since 1994 an international session has been held every 6 months with the

50th Jubilee edition taking place in Paris and Strasbourg last February.

The Model European Parliament programme has always been open to Maltese young people but regular participation was resumed in 2016 when Aġenzija Żgħażagħ took over as the local co-ordinating body for MEP Europe. The past three years have seen Maltese delegates and CPs participate in the bi-annual international sessions held in the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Spain and France, after successfully competing in National Selections organised by Aġenzija Żgħażagh. Aġenzija Żgħażagħ offers MEP as part of its Empowerment Programme, and ensures accessibility to all young people through subsidising the travelling costs of the delegates when they attend international sessions abroad. In Malta, the relevance of taking part in programmes like the Model European Parliament increased after 2018 with the passing of the Vote 16 legislation, which gave all Maltese young people the right to vote in national and European elections once they turn 16.

Delegates who participate in international MEP sessions return enthusiastically to train the next delegates competing after them. Some ex-delegates and committee presidents have been involved in National Selection training sessions since 2016. Their dedication and enthusiasm have been instrumental in Aġenzija Żgħażagħ’s acceptance to host the first ever international MEP session in Malta. It will not be an easy task to follow up the Paris / Strasbourg Jubilee edition, and there are a considerable number of hurdles that will need to be overcome in anticipation, but Aġenzija Żgħażagħ is gearing up to host the 51st international MEP session in Malta next November.

The theme of this conference will be Youth Resolutions European Solutions. Part co-funded through Erasmus+, it will promote youth dialogue, political participation and active citizenship at EU level. Young participants from different social and cultural backgrounds from 26 different countries will convene in Malta between the 9 – 16 November 2019 to take part in this transnational activity that will engage them in dialogue and debates in 10 different committees.

Following years of structured dialogue projects at national level, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ will be hosting this event as the next step in the dialogue ‘participation ladder’ to provide an even wider international platform for young people to consolidate their belief in the European project, understand how it works and give their valid input to make youth policy work for young people. This event will be the culmination of long months of preparation with two planned activities.

The first was a preparatory national seminar held last July to choose the committee delegates, train the Maltese committee presidents and to prepare the issues that will be debated. The main transnational event will consist of dialogue sessions, committee work, and preparation of resolutions, ending with a plenary session to agree on the final document to be presented to policy makers and experts. Apart from presenting a set of resolutions, MEP envisages other outcomes, namely the intercultural exchange of young people coming from many different countries and backgrounds, increased knowledge about European youth policy, and a better understanding of the effectiveness of the dialogue process as a space where young people can meet with policy makers and experts to give their views and guide future policy direction. MEP Malta will also contribute to the strengthening of the European network of MEP delegates and coordinators that will last beyond the duration of the event. For the young people taking part it will also serve as an opportunity to acquire and increase leadership competences and to reinforce their belief that they can shape their own future through youth dialogue, and that active participation should extend beyond casting a vote in regional, national and European elections.

For Aġenzija Żgħażagħ organising MEP Malta is an opportunity to create a space for young people where they can become better versions of themselves and to promote meaningful EU citizenship.

More information about MEP Malta on https://mep.mt