e d a n e r Se ue 2 s S I Korรงa 2015 - 8th NSC of EYP Albania
Editorial
I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the Earth. Then I ask myself the same question © Harun Yahya
will notice for sure how much you changed through these five days, how much you developed and grew up in less than one week.
We remember our first time being a delegate. The time, when you cannot decide what confuses you the most: the terrific amount of new people around, teambuilding games or discussion of European issues on academic level. There is no better time than your very first experience within the European Youth Parliament and there is no better place to be than Korça sharing this moment with you.
As the session Media Team, we are here to capture all moments and save them forever through out newspaper, photos and videos. We made all the way from different corners of Europe to make everything possible for you in order to enjoy this event. Make sure you have seen all the pictures and videos, make sure you have read all articles, and that you have enjoyed your time here. We will make sure that you will remember it.
Through the past three days you already met a lot of new faces, you took a step out of your comfort zone and joined something completely new for you. Com- Oleksandra Gipsh & Elisa Martinelli ing back home won’t be the same anymore. Maybe Editors of the 8th National Selection Conference of you don’t realize it today, but weeks will pass and you EYP Albania - Korça 2015
Brought to you by Dafne Bajraktari (AL) Daan Brouwer (NL) Sibora Kashari (AL) Mateo Kuka (AL) Christ Ligori (AL) Marina Mantsai (AL/GR) Tea Rama (AL) Margen Stepa (AL) Arber Bozgo (AL) Eduard Kele (RO) Dimos Papadimitriou (GR) Oleksandra Gipsh (UA) Elisa Martinelli (IT)
Table of Content Freedom of media Quoting Mr Vrushi Learn the ropes! Tips for a striking GA The lost concept of cultural relativism Islamophobia Coffee is your best friend The power behind anonymous Calling the Mythbusters Unveiling taboos Kosovo and the EU Is economic growth essential for well-being? Love has no gender Why should people join the EYP?
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Freedom of media How are media interacting nowadays?
by Sibora Kashari (AL) The most important ingredient of democracy is the existence of free and fearless press. In a democracy, the press must enjoy freedom and should not be subjected to any restriction. The voice of the press is the voice of the people. Censoring the press means the suppression of people’s voice. So the very survival of democracy inevitably depends on the freedom of the press. But at the same time, the press must not fail to follow its code of conduct and misuse the freedom.
One of the most famous doctors from the Institute of Clinical Social Work in Berkeley, California, called Dr. Hein, addressed the prevalence of media exposure and the wave of celebrity breakdowns. Dr. Hein suggests that the intense media scrutiny brings mental issues to the forefront and expedites necessary treatment for people suffering these illnesses, such as Brittany Spears. Whereas years ago, when media coverage was minimal, many stars like Elvis Presley, fought their own demons behind closed doors and were not pushed The press plays a very positive and constructive role to receive the care they so desperately needed. in a democracy. It keeps the people informed of the national and international news and happenings. It Also, the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo is brings to the notice of people the programs, policies a perfect case for describing the limits of the press. Its and activities of the government. targets include all religions, all identity groups, minorities and majorities. In recent years it has been most The primary duty of the press is objective reporting of prominent for its refusal to apply different treatment the news and views in a calm and dispassionate man- to Islam. It knew that carrying on with satire, in the ner, but sometimes it seems like this duty is not being name of free expression, carried a real danger — its respected. Certain newspapers indulge in ‘Yellow Jour- office in Paris was firebombed three years ago on acnalism.” They give out biased and colored news. Their count of this, and it still carried on with its irreverence. aim is simply to indulge in sensationalism. Sometimes And then, in January 2015, some terrorists attacked they also spread rumors, by going to the extent of in- this magazine and gave it the final shot. dulging in character assassination, mudslinging and blackmailing. These activities are against journalistic Pope Francis said there are limits to freedom of speech, ethics. especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith. One other commenter wrote: “The French should take While the press should enjoy freedom to perform its this opportunity to reflect on their ethnic and religious role effectively, it should not treat such freedom as a policies.” license to defame anybody. It should not publish any views or support any movement which violates our It’s absolutely right for every media to speak their Constitution or is against the territorial integrity and mind, but before publishing, the information should unity of the country. be checked twice, in order to be coherent and objective and not hurt any population, religion, race, etc.
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Quoting Mr Vrushi
Interview with the President of Korça 2015 by Marina Mantsai (AL/GR) cause symbolises the bottom line to “a life chapter for him”. He described himself “really impatient for the next few days where he can make the most out of his last EYP experience”. As Albert Einstein stated “experience is the only source to knowledge” and who would be the most appropriate person to interview but Mr Vrushi, the President of the session? According to him, the particular ingredients for a session are activism, will to create new and unique relationships and the chance to re-shape the world. Therefore, the piece of advice he would give to the next EYP generations is not to face EYP as a “theoretical construct”. This organisation should be addressed as an outcome of all the personal experiences and the overall presence and devotion to it. Mr Vrushi has highlighted that EYP provides the participants with the chance to develop critical thinking and to learn the importance of using common sense to deal with challenging situations.
However, his greatest fear is to get emotionally overwhelmed and burst into tears while holding the opening and closing ceremony speeches. As he said “emotions are intimate so I don’t particularly want to share my innermost emotions in a big group of people. When intense sentiments come out, you get the impression that professionalism is jeopardised. Furthermore, there are high expectations for this event, among which, the biggest one is to encourage delegates to get involved in the theme of the session “in terms of transnational solutions and the interaction of different countries”.
Finally, we referred to the main responsibilities a president has. His job during the event will definitely not be to lead and control the flow of the session. On the opposite page, where he stands, he perceives that the role of president is mostly to support and help the chairs’ The interview became more interesting when Mr team, whenever needed. Vrushi was asked what emotions are haunting him while presiding this session. At that point he firstly As the session Media Team, we wish Mr Jon Vrushi a stated his excitement to be part of this event and then successful and a happy life. His absence from EYP will surprisingly revealed his decision to leave EYP behind, surely be felt and people who met and exchanged few after being directly engaged with it for about 7 years. words with him can tell how great his contribution and Consequently, this session is not only unique for the dedication to this association were. different people that take part in it, but especially be-
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Learn the ropes!
Your next step in the EYP Ladies and gentlemen, or should I say honorable delegates? It is great to have you here, it is great to see such an enthusiasm among your new and cheerful faces, but it is greater to realize that you are concerned about European matters and much more interested in engaging yourselves in decision-making process and fruitful debates.
by Mateo Kuka (AL) Foundation. The EYP’s status since then has been a programme of the Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa, and is hosted in Berlin, Germany.
EYP organizes three international sessions each year. Each country’s national committee selects a delegation to participate in each session, the size of the delegation depends on the country and how long its National Committee has been part of EYP. The delegations are then spread out in different committees, having a Some of you may have already participated in pre- specific topic each. This ensures a maximized cultural vious sessions, so you know exactly what I’m talking diversity in the committee and serves as a strong incenabout, while others who are undergoing this lifetime tive to socialize and make friends with people from the experience for the first time may seem a bit frustrated, committee. but the best part is yet to come. Just stay patient and you’ll see. In order to make it more “approachable”, Each International Session starts with of a two-day I would like to unveil for you the mystery behind the teambuilding part, in which delegates get acquainted very beginning of this magical event. with each other. They play different games which are meant to bring the delegates from an initial shyness It all started as a school project at the Lycée François stage to a comfortable, open atmosphere. I in Fontainebleau, in the south of Paris; that is where three of the first four International Sessions were held, This is followed by four or five days for Committee starting in 1988, about a year after the idea was con- Work. During this time the delegates discuss a probceived. lematic topic on current European political matters and write a resolution on how to deal with the issue. It then developed steadily for a few years until it moved to Witney, Oxfordshire, in 1991, and was legally rec- The session ends with a General Assembly, in which ognized as the European Youth Parliament Interna- the committee resolutions are looked through and distional Ltd., a subsidiary of a charity created in 1992 cussed by the delegates. If a resolution is approved, it for this purpose, the Fontainebleau Youth Foundation. is sent on to the European Parliament, for the considThe organisation experienced an enduring growth for eration of MEPs. the next ten years, its network counting an increasing number of National Committees and its activities be- Additionally, National Committees of EYP organise coming both larger and more numerous. several national and regional sessions every year. National sessions are to select a delegation for one of the In November 2004, however, the European Youth upcoming International Sessions. Parliament was reborn due to a mutual agreement between representatives of EYP’s Board of National Committees, alumni and the Heinz-Schwarzkopf
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Tips for a striking GA Your guide to survive the General Assembly by Christ Ligori (AL), Marina Mantsai (AL/GR) and Margen Stepa (AL)
You don’t want to catch up yourself wondering what the rest of the committees are talking about. Therefore, a preparation and just a brief look to the other topics will be a really useful weapon. General Assembly is perceived as the most serious part during EYP sessions. It is the last stage where committees are called to get actively involved into firing debate and fruitful discussions, so all delegates are required to be well prepared and ready to defend their resolution. However, it may happen that many delegates don’t dare to speak up and express themselves during GA. Below ,you can find some really useful advices on things you should or shouldn’t do in order to go and nail the GA.
Be confident. Your opinion matters, and since you have reasonable arguments to support it, don’t hesitate and speak your mind. Don’t be scared of public speaking and overcome your fears, it will go “wunderbar”. If you don’t, you will regret it later.
Stay focused. Keep attention even when the other committees are presenting their resolutions and especially at the debate round. Remember you have to vote for at the end of every open debate, so you want to know what they are dealing with and how have they First of all, get plenty of sleep. GA can be very tiring solved it. and you will definitely need it. The last thing we want is our delegates falling asleep. That would be a very Don’t take things personally. In previous experiences many delegates have started to get on each-other embarrassing moment for you, we promise. nerves because of what had been said at the attack You will need coffee, lots of it. If it’s not coffee you speeches or rounds of debate. That’s never a good thing. want, then any kind of energetic beverage will do. Wake up early. Everyone dresses up for GA; after all We hope that these few tips will help you in getting the it’s the most formal event of the session. And that best out of your first GA. We wish you the best. Take takes time. Guys, suit up. And girls, I’m talking to you it easy and enjoy it. as well. We all know how long that make-up takes. The earlier you wake up, the better you will look.
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The Lost Concept Of Cultural Relativism What does the world need it for? by Dafne Bajraktari (AL)
Nowadays people are torn between being ethnocentric, meaning that they evaluate other cultures according to preconceptions derived from their own culture, and xenocentric, having preferences for products, styles, or ideas of someone else’s culture rather than of their own.
solve the differences. They concluded that there are no objective values and see themselves as tolerant; they see other cultures, not as wrong, but as different. But just like any other concept, cultural relativism may be slowly slipping towards extremism. Some people argue that since cultures are various and each one has its own unique moral system, one cannot reject any expression of it, including homicide. This extreme relativist position is actually a form of absolutism with which few anthropologists would actually agree. However, many of them have been critical towards defending Western practices they see as harmful, such as cultural institutions emphasising violence.
Ideally, we should stand in a dimension where all beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within his own social sphere. In sociology, this space is also known as cultural relativism and only anthropol- The truth about our complex world soaked in cultural difference is that moral perplexity abounds. The ogists live by this theory. ability to accept that a contrast personal or cultural Cultural relativism is closely related to the ethical one, position is nevertheless rational or intelligible is the which considers truth as flexible and not absolute; stepping stone for establishing a civilised and fruitful right or wrong stops being objectively determined and discussion on cultural differences. the decision is made by society instead. If truth is not universally recognised, no objective standard should Relativism can be used as a way of living in harmony apply to cultures either. No one should be able to de- in the society of our century it allows any individual to cide whether someone is right or wrong. It is a matter understand than each and every human being has an of personal opinion, and no society can pass judg- equal right to make any ethical judgments on others. ment on another society. What is considered morally Therefore, relativism and universalism in cultural valcorrect in one society may be considered immoral in ues or practices should not be morally rejected, but another and since no universal standard on the matter they can be discussed, debated, and assessed by social can ever exist, no one has the right to judge another sciences, such as sociology and anthropology. society’s customs. Cultural relativists think that societies disagree widely about morality and that we have no clear way to re-
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Islamophobia
Why are people in the XXI century afraid of a religion? by Tea Rama (AL) often biased. Edward Said states in his book, “Covering Islam” that :”The American news media have portrayed ‘Islam’ as a monolithic entity, synonymous A phobia is defined as an irrational fear of something. with terrorism and religious hysteria.” Muslims in “Something” may refer to a certain object, animal, entertainment are almost always portrayed as backphenomenon, and lately, it often refers to a religion. wards, narrow, and savage. Islamophobia has been a part of the human society for decades, but the terrorist attack of 9/11 in the United States, organized by the terrorist group known as Al Qaeda gave the word a whole new importance. Since then, there have been more than 200 recorded terrorist attacks in the US. The Bush government did not hesitate on stating that Al Qaeda was a terrorist group led by muslims, a statement that initiated a more intense hatred towards Islam and Muslims. Most hatred comes from a place of ignorance. Unfortunately, the most exposure that an American receives regarding Islam, comes from the media, and that’s where the problem lies. Western media is overly opinionated and
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During the last few years in particular, islamophobia rates have increased deeply, due to attacks organized by the terrorist group known by the name of “ISIS”. One attack in particular, was especially shocking for the people of Europe. Back in January, 12 journalists were brutally killed by terrorists in the offices of the satirical French magazine “Charlie Hebdo”, in the centre of Paris, after the magazine had published an image that mocked the Muslim prophet Mohammed. This tragic event immediately became a worldwide campaign in defense of the freedom of speech.
Millions of people posted on their social media accounts, under the hashtag “Je suis Charlie”, in honor of those who lost their lives, and their families. World leaders also joined the massive campaign, by organizing and participating in a rally, accompanied by 3.7 million people with the purpose of condemning the shooting. Most people were very much impressed with the rally, while others were skeptical, suggesting that the rally only threw more gasoline upon the fire of islamophobia. Then there were those who felt as if the whole organization was a mediatic show, more than an attempt to make a statement. After all, why aren’t there any rallies organized in honor of all those muslim people who have lost their lives due to the wars happening in their countries? Are the lives of 12 french journalists more important than the lives of 12000 muslim people?
ly under scrunity in the Media, whether it be news or entertainment, or even massive rallies or demonstrations, and they hardly appear in a positive light. This has led to an inarguably difficult time for the Islam community in continents such as America and Europe. Society nowadays prides itself on the freedom it provides. Freedom of speech, press, religion. So when will we accept the Muslim community as we accept every other? Hopefully this question will soon be answered.
The fact that these questions actually exist in people’s minds today, are a proof of how present islamophobia is in today’s society, and how the increasing number of people who are afraid of a religion is becoming more and more preoccupying. Muslims are constant
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Coffee is your best friend Sincerely, from a coffee lover by Christ Ligori (AL)
You have been here for a couple of days already, so you should by now be familiar with how things work in EYP sessions. On the first day you play games during teambuilding, then you are busy during the committee work days until 19:00, working on your resolution or preparing for the GA. And every single night you like to stay up until late talking to those friends you just met. Because sleep is for the weak, right? So what is the one thing you will definitely need these days? Well, let me tell you, it is energy.
is not usually the most delicious drink there could be, what we need from it though, caffeine, is still there. You can for sure make a small sacrifice and drink some not necessarily delicious coffee, for the sake of staying awake. Through its particular molecular structure, caffeine is able to trigger the release of adrenaline in your body, making you suddenly become awake, sharp and energetic. However, you should not only drink coffee during the session and for the single objective of not sleeping. Studies have shown that coffee can make you smarter and improve physical performance. It also decreases, sometimes drastically the risk of Type II Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s syndromes. Moreover, contrary to a popular belief, coffee is not just black water. Many of the nutrients in the coffee beans do make it into the final drink, which actually contains a decent amount of vitamins and antioxidants.
Coffee is almost the most traded commodity on Earth, second only to oil. That makes it the most daily consumed source of energy. The EU is by far the largest importer of coffee, being the destination of some 45% of all exports; Europe has the highest per capita coffee consumption in the world. The EU also consumes 2.5 million tons of coffee per year, which equates to 4 kilos of roasted coffee per EU inhabitant, always per year. Every day around 725 million cups of coffee are Despite all the pro-coffee propaganda I have made so far, keep in mind that, unfortunately, it cannot truly drunk in the EU. replace sleep. So drink it, taste it, enjoy it, but also get Being a coffee lover myself, I absolutely enjoy the need a fair amount of sleep and rest; you will need that as for coffee in our sessions and drinking coffee is nothing well. but a small tasty change in my daily lifestyle. Doesn’t matter if it is an Espresso or a Cappuccino at the bar, or a Frappé on the beach or even the homemade Caffè Latte I drink at home, I would never refuse a good cup of coffee. Although coffee at big and crowded events
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The power behind anonymous
Preventing cyberbullying or becoming it by Tea Rama (AL) and Dafne Bajraktari (AL) Somewhere along the way Facebook and Twitter changed the way we defined the word “friend”. Putting a “Like” assumes the meaning of a compliment and shares have become approval while unfriending and blocking are our ways of showing that we have a problem with someone. But no one can have 5000 friends and no one would be comfortable in having so many people being around them in real life.
This could happen to all of us, we all can become victims. But at the same time, we can become bullies. This happens because bullies on the internet feel empowered to say things that they would probably never say in someone’s face and they feel safe behind their anonymous comments. Someone once said: “Your freedom ends, where someone else’s begins”. This is a message we should all keep in mind before contacting another person because there is a huge difference Nevertheless, teenagers today use more technology in between expressing a personal opinion and harassing a very advanced way. They have high speed Internet, someone. and non-stop access to social interactions with peers and strangers on a daily basis. This brings bullying out from school hallways, spreading it in a wider and potentially more harmful dimension. Cyberbullying is the use of digital-communication, such as the Internet and mobile phones to make another person feel angry, sad, or scared, and this usually happens repeatedly. Examples of cyberbullying include sending offensive messages, posting embarrassing photos or videos on social media, and spreading mean rumours online; not being able to see someone face to face makes it much easier to dehumanize them. It has become more and more prominent to in nowadays society and, depending on where you live, there are no restrictions or laws against it. People always say “sticks and stones may hurt your bones, but words will never hurt you”. On the contrary, the power of words can hurt a person mentally and physically, sometimes leaving permanent scars.
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Calling the Mythbusters! Countering Russian propaganda
by Daan Brouwer (NL) “Russia Today’s propaganda machine is no less destructive than military marching in Crimea.” —Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius Freedom of speech and the one of the press are vital parts of our globalized society. However, how should the West respond when a country seems to use freedom of information to deceive and di-vide? The role of the media in Ukraine’s crisis has been massive from its very beginning. The Maidan protests started when a well known Ukrainian journalist invited people to come express their grievances on the Maidan Square in Kiev. As the situation in the capital was deteriorating, there was a clear divide in how Western and Russian media portrayed the events. The former wrote about liberal pro-European protestors opposing the president, betraying his campaign promise to sign an association agreement with the EU, while the latter saw neo-nazi revolutionaries in every shadow and CIA agents as the organizers of the protests.
ity committed by Maidan supporters. Russian media spread a whirlwind of rumors, inaccuracies and straight up falsifications including reports of pogroms committed against Russian speakers. After seizing the parliament and police stations in Crimea, Russian troops moved to secure television broadcasting centers as soon as possible, illustrating the importance of media as a strategic weapon during the unrests. The conflict in eastern Ukraine, fueled by Russia’s policy towards the Maidan protestors and its propaganda has been called a hybrid war. In a hybrid war the fight is for hearts and minds as much as territory, thus information becomes a weapon of war.
In Eastern Europe, Russian media offers light entertainment, blended with biased news reports. It then extends westwards where RT, formerly known as Russia Today, and Sputnik News are two government owned news outlets. Amongst their writers are such figures as Scottish sepa-ratists, 9/11 truth seekers and far right politicians. Anti-Americanism seems to be the main criteria for being published in Russian state owned media. Moreover, also the internet is now a fiercely contested battle ground. Recently, when a NATO convoy travelled through the Czech Republic towards Germany, many well funded websites with shady ownership structures emerged in opposition. After intense street clashes and Yanukovych had fled News websites around the world have been flooded by for Russia, the flames in Euromaidan were fanned commenters parroting the Kremlin line. It is suspectout and spread to the East by Russian media making ed that these comments are spread by paid commentinaccurate reports of hideous crimes against human- ers, the so called Putin Trolls.
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Russian media does not seem to want to inform or persuade, it rather spreads confusion and disunity, reminding of the whataboutism used during the Cold War. This was exemplified particularly well after the downing of Malaysian aircraft MH17. Instead of spreading factual news or a particular explanation, wild theories circulated including that Ukraine had tried to shoot down President Putin’s personal plane and that MH17 was secretly the plane that had gone missing in Indonesia, flown to the Netherlands, filed with corpses and crashed to turn public opinion against Russia.
the population speaks Russian and consumes Russian media, is very different from the situation in countries such as Great Britain or Germany.
The Baltics, neighbouring Russia and intimidated by Russian nationalists calling for their annexation have been shocked into action. Estonia will launch a new publicly funded Russian language TV station, while Latvia has been calling for a pan-Baltic Russian language news service. Other countries are also responding; Germany and the US have both announced they will boost their foreign broadcasting budgets. Moreover, when discussing the annexation of Crimea In Ukraine there is a worrying development that the and the violation of Ukraine sovereignty, Russian me- government denies all collateral damage possibly dia cannot wait to bring up a long list of grudges in- caused by its soldiers. cluding the separation of Yugoslavia and perceived Therefore, when facing the Russian propaganda, the Western involvement in the “colour revolutions” West must maintain its credibility and not stoop to The Western response to Russia’s media offensive has producing its own propaganda in order to defend itself been disorgan-ised up until now. Federica Mogherini, from false accusations. the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs is currently preparing a plan on how to counter Russian propaganda as best as possible. Therefore, a task force with the working name of “The Mythbusters” has been created. It will monitor Russian media, debunk false claims and offer corrections. As difficult as it has been for the EU and Western countries to form a unified front to the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine a unified response to the weaponisation of information has proven to be even less achievable. This is because the threat faced in the Baltics, where a large portion of
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Unveiling taboos Making youngsters responsibly aware
by Marina Mantsai (AL/GR) of children aged five to 11, it was found that 59% does not agree with the introduction of sex education in schools. Moreover, also teachers are not always adequately trained to teach on this matter and introducThe increasing percentages of people getting infected ing this subject in education may violate their moral with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teenag- beliefs. ers having unintended pregnancies are the alarming sign that youngsters need to be educated about the “There’s No Place Like Home …” is a newsletter trydangers they can face. However, the problem lies in ing to prepare parents for getting engaged with such the existence of two extremist approaches of this con- discussions and assist them in becoming the first and troversial issue, creating a dichotomizing attitude to- more important educators of their children. Each issue contains relevant, age-specific sexuality informawards sex education. tion, useful strategies and suggested resources to supSurveys have shown that sex education aims at re- port parents in their endless efforts. ducing the risks of negative outcomes from sexual behaviour, by also enhancing the quality of their re- Often, sexual education in schools is considered as a lationships and their ability to make responsible deci- recreational course rather than a serious issue. At the sions over their lifetime. Studies show that many teen- moment, both primary and secondary schools have to agers often welcome opportunities to talk about issues teach pupils age-appropriate lessons about the scienwhere people have strong views and can be also con- tific aspect of this subject in order to make youngsters sidered taboos inside the family or society in general. be more aware of it. Experience tells us that most parents are afraid of talking openly with their children about sexuality, often feeling completely unprepared to do so. According to a survey which questioned more than 1,700 parents
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Kosovo and the EU; a long lasting relationship The country’s steps towards development by Mateo Kuka (AL)
the EU is by far the single largest donor providing assistance to Kosovo and the South Eastern European region as a whole. While assistance initially focused on emergency relief actions and reconstruction, it now concentrates on fostering Kosovo’s development of stable institutions and sustainable economic development and ensuring the country’s own European future. The EU has reiterated that Kosovo has a clear European perspective in line with the one of Western Balkans. The EU remains committed in playing a leading role in ensuring the stability of Kosovo through the European Security Long-term severe ethnic tensions between Kosovo’s and Defense Policy (ESDP) and its Special RepresenAlbanian and Serb populations left the country eth- tative, contributing to the International Civilian Ofnically divided, resulting in inter-ethnic violence. The fice. actions taken by NATO forced the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to withdraw its troops from Kosovo, which The European Commission accompanies Kosovo’s became a UN protectorate under UNSCR 1244. On European reform efforts and provides recommendathe 17th February 2008 Kosovo’s Parliament declared tions and helps the country in achieving the targets independence and since that it has gained diplomatic that the Council set out in the European Partnership. recognition as a sovereign state by 108 UN Member In a nutshell, taking into consideration all the above States. mentioned events, it is more than clear that the EU has always promoted the development of Kosovo Since the day it gained its independence, Kosovo has and it intends to do so for the upcoming years implerelentlessly tried to raise the living standards of its cit- menting long-term strategies aiming at improving the izens, enhancing the services provided by governmen- country’s economic and social welfare. tal institutions. Moreover, diplomacy has been a key factor to develop, as the country aspires to become a Member State of the EU in the future. It should also kept into account that the EU has been an integral part of the international effort to build a new future for Kosovo since 1999. If we take a look back at the world’s history we will probably see many examples of nations that in their effort to achieve their much desired sovereignty, have undergone terrible hardships, caused by a combination of factors in their disfavour. However, despite the discouraging and often helpless situations they found themselves in, they actually played their chances and this is exactly the case with Kosovo.
The European Commission plays a prominent role in the reconstruction and development of Kosovo and
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Is economic growth essential for well-being? Analysing the relation between these factors by Sibora Kashari (AL) The United States ranks among the highest countries in the world in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, but according to recent studies, it is only the sixteenth among 132 states in terms of social progress and environmental performance,. At the same time, New Zealand, Switzerland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway topped the Social Progress Index (SPI). Reading these data is seems that the two well-known concepts of growth and well-being are not getting along. “It is possible that economic progress and social progress reinforce each other”- says the report that came out together with the above mentioned statistics, - “but still, people should make the difference between them.” Speaking about the combination of these two, the most evident one was witnessed during the crisis of 2008. During that year and following ones, financial tycoons failed several times and were not able to get themselves back to the top where they were before; economic growth fell worldwide. The risk and incertitude of the economic agents and also the ratio of supply and demand soared. At the same time the inflation hit every country’s citizens and people’s life expectations started to be filled up with doubts. The relationship between economic growth, human well-being, and the achievement of a sustainable future has a long and complex intellectual history. So-
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ciety cannot return to the growth-based economy of previous times because it doesn’t move fast enough in technological terms to avoid financial and environmental catastrophe. In order to create a solid economy, society should know the limits of the of its economy, especially regarding the resources at disposal. Fixing the economy also provide the citizens with a good social welfare, so institutions do not rely on relentless consumption growth, and the macroeconomics does not collapse as soon as people stop spending money. Last but definitely not least, people should change the way they think and stop being just selfish, materialistic, individualistic consumers. Nowadays, the EU is doing its best to maintain a high level of social and economic welfare in its Member States. The most important question that is now arising all over the world concerns the possibility to design an economic system that delivers equitable, sustainable well-being, but the answer is still uncertain.
Love has no gender Securing the rights of LGBT communities by Marina Mantsai (AL/GR) The way to justice and egalitarianism is still a far destination to reach, since EU has many obstacles to overpass and many prejudices to eradicate. However, on an institutional level, huge changes have been noticed The concept of traditional marriage has changed over in order to protect the rights of LGBT in the Member time even though the definition of love was often not States. only related to a relation between people of opposite gender, especially in archaic civilisations. Despite the efforts made by all EU institutions to tackle the existing discrimination towards LGBT communities, the realisation of inclusive society is a long term political plan to be implemented. LGBT communities are differently approached in each Member State and the EU makes endless efforts to create a more friendly climate. The different attitudes that officers and government kept towards LGBT parades demonstrate exactly the controversy owning to the wide range of opinions in favour or against same sex marriage. For example, in the Dutch capital , which has long had a reputation for being gay-friendly, officers were in charge of making sure that the parades were held peacefully and respectfully. On the contrary, in UK and France conservative parties and organisations are strongly opposing same sex marriage, increasing the feelings of intolerance towards such communities. For instance the “Federation of Catholic Family Associations“ in Europe said that a positive approach towards marriage “threatens the right of children to have a father and a mother.” I However, the EU tends to act positively and is trying to actively favour same sex marriage. The European Parliament continues its legislative activism, encouraging Member States to have more liberal positions on social issues.
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Why should people join the EYP?
The perks of being part of a youth organisation
so, they also create new connections with people from around the world. The EYP is nowadays one of the biggest events regarding youth and its involvement in politics. Its mission is to support the development of young people into politically aware and responsible citizens by involving them in European political thinking and promoting intercultural understanding. EYP as an organisation, not only introduces youth to actual political, social and economic issues which Member States are concerned about, but it also facilitates its participants with important skills that will help them in being successful in various aspect of their future life. Some people join because they want to practice their debating skills, others because they want to feel more comfortable when speaking English. There are also people who wan to learn about politics and the EU, or they are excited to work in a different environment than the classrooms they are used to. Regardless of their reasons to join, they always leave their EYP event with more than what they arrived with. In EYP people get involved into different dialogues that can end with a flruitful debate with different people they have to meet for the first time and while doing
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All events are organised and conducted by young people starting with the Organisers’ Team, lead by the Head Organisers, followed by the Media Team and the Chairs’ Team. Even though they are attending the session with different positions, they need to collaborate with each other the whole time. Moreover, different teams need to collaborate with each other so they can come up with a flawless session. During one session, no matter what positing people apply for, they all create or explore something new which they didn’t know before . The experience you gain during EYP can be used in different ways in your life and you will feel a lot more comfortable with yourself and the people that surround you. You will be able to learn how to solve problems and work within a team with dedication. EYP is a life changing experience and make sure not to waste the opportunity of being part of it.