About EYP

Since 1987, the European Youth Parliament has inspired and empowered hundreds of thousands of young people to be open-minded, tolerant and active citizens.

As a peer-to-peer educational programme, the EYP is much more than the sum of its events – it’s an ecosystem that provides its volunteers and members with an environment to learn, grow and take on responsibility in a multitude of roles.

Not only are all EYP activities driven by young people – the members of the EYP also jointly steer and shape the future of the organisation at large. With close to 40 member organisations across Europe, the EYP is a vibrant network of thousands of people.

National Committees (NCs)

National Committees (NCs) implement the bulk of EYP events across Europe. There are currently 40 national member organisations with over 3,500 young volunteers who are actively involved. Each committee is led by democratically elected young boards.

National Committees organise regional and national sessions, international forums and outreach programmes, promote international EYP activities and run training programmes for their members.

The Governing Body (GB)

The Governing Body (GB) is the EYP’s international board that represents the interests of the network as a whole. It is mainly responsible for the strategic development of the EYP and for facilitating the work of the organisation at the international level. In collaboration with the national committees and the members of the organisation, it establishes guidelines that ensure the quality and safety of the EYP’s activities, and it oversees the three annual International Sessions.

The GB is composed of six elected members, four of which are elected by the National Committees and two by the EYP’s members. A representative of the Schwarzkopf Foundation also sits on the GB. The Executive Director of the EYP participates in every meeting.

The Board of National Committee’s (BNC)

The Board of National Committees (BNC) is the general assembly of National Committees (NCs) and acts as the voice of National Committees on the international level. The BNC gathers twice a year in Berlin, and has full co-decision powers with the GB; meaning that any policy proposals made by the GB must be approved by the BNC. The BNC can also take the initiative and make proposals and recommendations to the GB. Besides decision-making, the BNC acts as a platform for National Committees to share knowledge and know-how. The work of the BNC is facilitated by a board, which is elected annually by all National Committees.

The International Office of the EYP and the Schwarzkopf Foundation

The Schwarzkopf Foundation is the international umbrella organisation of the European Youth Parliament. The International Office of the European Youth Parliament is run by the Executive Director, who is supported by a team of project managers, assistants and long-time volunteers.

Find out more about the EYP’s governance by clicking on this interactive graphic.

The European Youth Parliament is a unique educational platform that empowers young people from across Europe to be open-minded, active citizens. It provides participants with a forum to develop and express their opinions on a wide range of topics. By bringing young people from different backgrounds closer together, it also promotes intercultural dialogue and exchange.

What makes the EYP unique:

  • Non-Formal Education: Our programmes allow participants to learn and develop a diverse set of skills through a fully immersive social, cultural and educational programme.

  • Peer-Led: All our activities as well as the organisation and governance of the EYP network are organised for and by young Europeans.

  • Voluntary: The EYP is shaped by young volunteers with the primary purpose to create a much-needed platform for youth.

  • Diverse and Inclusive: Our programmes actively seek out young people from all social backgrounds to ensure a diverse mix of participants.

  • Active Alumni network: Through friendships and connections we create in the network, the network initiates bonds that can last for decades and have a lasting impact.

The main activities of the European Youth Parliament are “sessions”. These events bring together over 30000 young people per year to discuss, build mutual understanding,and gain expertise. EYP sessions vary in length, from two hours to ten days. Debates covera wide range of topics – often related to international politics or human rights, but also including fields such as climate change, health andenergy. The EYP does not reflect specific countrypositions or promote existing policy proposals. In all debates, it is the participants’ opinions that matter. Guided by peer moderators, in the typical EYP session, participants will undergo a three step process of Teambuilding, Committee Work and General Assembly.

Through our activities, our EYP participants and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to positively shape the world around them. The EYP network has an open, safe and welcoming environment – run by young people, for young people. Offering a range of non-formal and peer-led educational activities, the EYP provides young people with the space to grow, learn various skills, as well as to take responsibility for themselves and for others. Every year, more than 3500 young volunteers implement EYP activities across Europe, acting as moderators, organisers and facilitators during events. Moreover, it is young people who jointly steer our organisation at large and shape the future of the programme.

Our Impact

Large-scale evaluations of the EYP experience and societal impact of the programme, based on five International Sessions, our flagship events, in 2018 and 2019, have shown that the EYP:

Raises awareness of European issues and encourages active European citizenship

  • Almost all respondents agreed that by taking part in the event, their understanding of European decision-making improved, leaving them motivated to learn more about European topics.

  • 90% of respondents felt that their participation increased their willingness to get involved in society and/or politics

  • 99% of participants felt that they were motivated to address issues that affect the people and environment around them.

Promotes international understanding, intercultural dialogue and diversity of ideas and practices

  • 94% of respondents felt that their participation taught them to better recognise and respect different perspectives.

Contributes to the personal skills development of European youth

  • 72% of participants felt that participating in an EYP session helped improve their English.

  • 75% of participants felt that participating in EYP offered them insights into areas they could potentially work in in the future.

Provides a forum in which young people of Europe can express their own opinions, without reverting to role play.

  • There is a strong sentiment amongst all participants that taking part in an EYP session helps them become more confident in expressing their views in front of others.

  • 94% of participants said that EYP taught them to recognise and respect different perspectives.