First meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Parliament in Berlin
26 May - 3 June 2007

Some 100 young people from both sides of the Mediterranean met in Berlin from 26 May to 3 June to experience active participation by taking part in the first meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Parliament.

Divided into 10 committees, they discussed a wide range of topical issues for the Euro-Mediterranean region, namely: migration, employment, culture and arts, globalisation, energy, the future of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, justice and corruption, youth affairs, the role of the media, cultural diversity.

Each committee presented its set of recommendations in the form of a resolution that was debated, amended and voted following the procedures of a real Parliamentary Assembly.

Additionally, participants came up with a large variety of project ideas, which they will try to further develop and implement as a means of giving concrete follow-up to the issues they discussed.

Intercultural dialogue was the cross-cutting value of the entire week. Through their passionate debates as well as through a rich social and cultural programme, the young delegates had the chance to discover their respective cultures, to experience and enjoy diversity and to realise how many similarities actually unite them.

The spirit of the week was summed up in the closing address by two young delegates who invited their peers to keep up their commitment, vision and willingness to change beyond the EMYP arena: "Dialogue is our Similarity. Diversity is our Treasure. Dream is our Power"!

Read more on the activity's website.