Europolis
Europolis is organised twice every year, these two sessions traditionally take place in February and March. Twice, about one hundred students from different schools come together for two days in the European Parliament in Brussels. The pupils, divided in their school delegations, get a committee and a matching topic assigned on beforehand.
The necessary preparatory work at school before the session results in a draft law, a resolution. In this resolution, the committee clarifies its concerns and proposals concerning the topic. During General Assembly, which takes place at the session, the different committees present their resolutions to each other. Every resolution is subject to a formally guided debate including speeches, amendments, etc. … A debate always ends with a voting procedure. In this way, the students get to experience for a few days what it’s like to be a real Member of the European Parliament.
A president and vice-presidents, appointed by a selection panel, guide the debate. Due to the aid of student-interpreters from colleges from different regions of the country, each participant is able to address the assembly in his or her mother tongue. This experience is generally perceived as very enriching for all participants. Often the debates end in a mixture of the three national languages.
When all resolutions have been discussed, a panel debate with Members of the European Parliament is organised on Friday afternoon. As our sessions take place at the European Parliament in Brussels, our Belgian MEPs are very eager to debate along with the enthusiastic delegations. The subjects of these discussions are always a highly topical issue in European politics. The theme of the 2011 panel debates was the following: “Steps following Cancún: how should Europe seek to approach the next UN Climate Change Conference, Durban 2011?”
These politicians joined us for the panel debates in 2011: Ivo Belet (MEP - EPP), Isabelle Durant (Vice-president of the European Parliament / MEP - Greens/EPA), Saïd El Khadraoui (MEP - S&D), Bart Staes (MEP - Greens/EPA) and Dirk Sterckx (MEP - ALDE).
A busy evening programme (for example Eurovillage with delicacies from multiple countries) gives the participants an opportunity to network in an informal context and get in touch with peers from all over the country. Yet again, this is one of the core values of our project: the students do not only get the chance to familiarise with Europe and its institutions, they are confronted with the different communities within our own country as well. During the two days in Brussels, the students bring the Belgian communities closer together.
Topic examples (Europolis 2011)
Committee on Foreign Affairs I (AFET I)
Putting ideas into practice: With the creation of the positions of President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, how can Europe maximise its influence in world politics?
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs I (EMPL I)
With over 20% of young Europeans aged 16-24 unemployed, what more can be done to ensure that this generation of potential workers does not become irreversibly excluded from the labour market?
