Utrecht 2021

This webpage contains all organisational information, academic content and media output of Utrecht 2021, a Regional Selection Conference of EYP The Netherlands. The event is head-organised by Bente Presse and Constanze Sendler and will take place from January 8th till 10th.

Resolution Booklet

[embeddoc url=”https://archive.eyp.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Resolution_booklet-RSC-Utrecht.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]

Session Information

Schedule

All times are in Central European Time (CET)

Thursday (officials only)

17:00 Welcome words & Introduction to Digital Environment

17:30 Officials’ Teambuilding

19:00 Officials’ Night – Cooking and Quiz

Friday

08:00 (voluntary) Zumba morning workout

09:00 Officials Teambuilding and training (flexible breaks)

16:00 Delegates’ “arrival” – Welcome words & Introduction to Digital Environment

16:30 – 19:00 Teambuilding in Committees

20:00 – 21:30 (voluntary) Evening Program – Game Night

Saturday

08:00 (voluntary) French crêpes with Louise

09:00 Committee Work (flexible breaks)

13:00 Lunch break

14:00 Committee Work (flexible breaks)

19:30 Utrecht’s Got Talent!

Sunday

08:00 (voluntary) Yoga class

09:00 Opening & Explanation of Digital GA Environment

09:15 General Assembly: 1st Resolution

10:00 General Assembly: 2nd Resolution

10:45 Break

11:00 General Assembly: 3rd Resolution

11:45 General Assembly: 4th Resolution

12:30 Lunch break

13:30 General Assembly: 5th Resolution

14:15 General Assembly: 6th Resolution

15:00 Break

15:15 Closing Ceremony

16:30 Departure

To Do’s before the session

  1. Make sure you download and install Zoom before the session: https://zoom.us/download
  2. Make sure you download and install Discord before the session: https://discord.com/download
  3. If possible, please already make an account on Discord, as to ensure a smooth check-in on the first day of the session: https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/360033931551-Getting-Started
  4. Read your Topic Overview at the bottom of this webpage
  5. Get excited!

Welcome

Welcome from the Head Organisers

Dear all,

As the Head Organisers of Utrecht’21, we would like to wholeheartedly welcome you to this digital European Youth Parliament session! No matter if this is your first EYP-session or you already consider yourself as an experienced EYPer: we are very happy to have you here and hope that you will enjoy attending the session as much as we have enjoyed organising it. We have started working on Utrecht’21 in the April of 2020, and now, nine months later, we are excited to see how things are finally coming together. 

The session theme of Utrecht’21, Moving into a healthier future by advancing the cause of justice, is inspired by the famous Martin Luther King quote that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. The underlying idea of these words, namely that whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly, shall be the spirit of Utrecht’21. The fact that we have the opportunity to connect with young Europeans from all across the continent despite an ongoing pandemic highlights the interconnectedness of the world we live in. 

We hope that the session will let you discover the concepts of interconnectedness and justice from various perspectives, and that you indeed begin to feel connected with the people you meet, your team or committee, or even the EYP network as a whole.

But, most of all, we hope that you will enjoy the weekend and make the most of it. The organising team, in any case, is prepared to make this session as fun and inspiring as possible for you, and we are looking forward to (digitally) seeing your faces during various activities. 

See you soon!

Bente and Constanze

Welcome from the President

Dear all,

The beginning of the new decade was certainly a rough start. Especially over the holidays, we all experienced how strange it was to be apart from many people we care about. But 2020 has also brought people together over causes like social justice or the climate crisis. And in spite of all the obstacles, people have found ways to stay in touch and be sympathetic to each other’s lives.

This is especially true when we talk about Europe: By now, the existence of Euroscepticism and populism and the threat they pose to the European ideas of democracy, human rights and prosperity are well known. Now more than ever, it is important that the next generation of young Europeans come together, learn about each other and take action in shaping the future of this continent.

So let’s start the new year in this spirit: We won’t drift apart, but rather grow closer to one another. Utrecht 2021 is just one opportunity to make good on this New Year’s resolution. I am so looking forward to welcoming each and every one of you at our session!

All the best and see you very soon,

Yours,

Fabian A. Eiden

Welcome from the Editors

Dear Delegates and Officials of Utrecht’21,

With 2020 having been one of the most challenging years for all of us, it is a great pleasure and opportunity to start 2021 with an event that allows all of us to connect over the distance. We are thrilled to work alongside our Media Team Members to make this a unique and creative experience, whilst expanding the possibilities of a digital format.

EYP events have had a long history of connecting over borders and creating long-term friendships, no matter the obstacles. Sticking to that tradition, the format provides an environment in which everyone can easily connect with each other and find friends on the other side of the continent. Being more open than ever, this session provides a unique chance to bring together our lives inside and outside the EYP. With the start of a new year, this is also a possibility to take on new challenges, learn more about ourselves and add the fascinating factor of international friendships to our lives.

With that being said, we are very thrilled that you’re taking this chance and will join us on our virtual journey to Utrecht!

See you somewhere on the Internet!

Anniina & Lars

Editors of Utrecht 2021

Welcome from the Head of Jury

Dear participants of Utrecht 2021,

Welcome to the first Dutch session of this new year! On behalf of the jury team, we’re really looking forward to meeting you all and the fruitful discussions you will all contribute to! 

During the session, my team will be evaluating and selecting who will be invited to the National Selection Conference in Breda. It’s important to remember though, that despite whoever is selected, participating in Utrecht 2021 means you will automatically become part of EYP Netherlands and be able to join other sessions here and abroad. I’m sure you will very much enjoy the unique world of EYP, and make the most of the short time we have together. The most important things are that you have fun, make new friends, and learn new things! We’ll also be providing you with feedback so that you can grow from this experience and “move into a healthier future”. 

Thank you for participating in this session and excited to work with you!

All the best,

Jason

Topic Overview

General Assembly Explained

The General Assembly is the large debate on Sunday, consisting of six topics to be debated. The total time set aside for one topic will normally be 40 minutes, though this is subject to time constraints. The setting of debate time, and changes in debate time, are entirely at the discretion of the President and the Vice Presidents. It is the responsibility of each proposing Committee to lead the debate and defend their resolution. In order to do so, enough opportunities will be ensured during the debate. Each of the eight debates has the following Procedure.
The conference’s board will read out the topic of the proposing committee. Afterwards, time is given for delegates to read through the operative
clauses.
The proposing committee will have the opportunity to deliver a three-minute defense speech, defending their resolution.
There will be three minutes in which a position speech (or multiple position speeches) can be delivered by other committees, explaining their opinion on the resolution of the proposing committee.

After the position speech(es) have been given, a member of the proposing committee receives one minute to deliver a response to the position speech(es).

The rest of the time is set aside for open debates among delegates. If you wish to make a point, your chairperson will raise your committee sign for you. You will be recognised by the board before taking the floor. Each round is closed off by a member of the proposing committee replying to all points made.
A member of the proposing committee closes the debate by giving a speech of 2 minutes to conclude all the points made or as a final defense.
Delegates will be given the opportunity to vote on the resolution or abstain from making a decision in favour or against. Chairs will collect the votes. A Board member counts the votes and announces the result after the debate on the following resolution. Each Delegates votes according to his or her own convictions.
Please note: the passing or failing of a resolution will not affect the jury’s deliberations on participants.

Media Projects

Session bingo - A project by the Media Team Member Azhda Masimova (AZ)

Statgraphics - A project by Azhda Masimova (AZ) and Maren Ludwig (DE)

Resographics – A project by the Media Team Members Azhda Masimova (AZ) and Maren Ludwig (DE)

The Resographics represent the great resolutions formed during the Utrecht regional session 2021 in a visual way. Check out what the committees have worked on during the last weekend!

Connected Over Distance – A project by the Media Team Member Erland Böckenförde (DE)

Utrecht ‘21 brought together young minds from 20 different nationalities across Europe to discuss current and pressing political matters. Although the session had to be held online, the participants were connected through EYP despite being up to 3000km apart.
This picture collage really shows that the participants are still connected no matter how far away they are from each other because EYP brings them together. Big thanks go out to the amazing individuals who participated in this project. 

A problem you want to solve – A project by the Media Team Member Azhda Masimova (AZ)

As the theme of Utrecht 2021 is justice, the project aims to encourage participants to get out of their comfort zone and speak up. The question was “Under the theme of justice, what do you think is a problem you want to solve?”, and these people shared their thoughts and opinions about what exactly they think should be solved in the nearest future.

Session Video

The video is edited by Erland Bäckenförde and Sina Liebel, participants interviewed by Maren Ludwig and music is made by Sina Liebel.

[embeddoc url=”https://archive.eyp.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Newspaper-Utrecht-2021-2.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]