08/04/2024 More than 160 young people participated in the forum 'Young people and Europe: #UseYourVote' under the auspices of the Committee on the European Union Affairs, the[...]

08/04/2024

More than 160 young people participated in the forum "Young people and Europe: #UseYourVote" under the auspices of the parliamentary Committee on the European Union Affairs, the Schengen Area and the Еuro Area. The event was organized by the EP Bureau in Bulgaria and was attended by MPs and MEPs.

The vote of young people in Europe is of great importance, said Denitsa Simeonova, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on the European Union Affairs, the Schengen Area and the Еuro Area at the opening of the forum. "Your votes matter, your ideas are valuable and your actions can have an important impact on the European Union," she addressed the young people.

The fact that the Bulgarian Parliament is hosting such an event means that the institution is open to hear the ideas and proposals of all young Bulgarians, as well as to include them in the debate on the future of Europe, Denitsa Simeonova said. She pointed out that Bulgarians have a unique chance to live in the largest peace project in the world and to take advantage of the privileges that EU membership gives us. The elections for MEPs are also a responsibility for you, as already voting Bulgarians, to choose and shape the future of the EU, Denitsa Simeonova added.

Young people do not vote as often in Bulgaria and are not active, said the head of the EP Bureau in Bulgaria, Teodor Stoychev. He called on young people to seize the opportunities provided by democracy and to be active citizens. It is important for young people like you to do so, Teodor Stoychev added.

The EU is strong and together we can face any challenge, Atidzhe Alieva-Veli (Renew Europe) told the young people. She noted that during the conference on the future of Europe, young people have asked for a new reformed Europe and have signalled that they expect a Europe that meets their expectations, is committed to solving their problems and provides the conditions for which every young person wants - good education, high income, access to housing. Regarding the upcoming European elections in early June, the MEP stressed that every vote matters.

Be active and participate in European political life, the MEP of EPP Andrey Kovatchev urged. The EU is not something foreign to Bulgaria, the EP is also an internal Bulgarian parliament, do not succumb to suggestions that someone from the outside wants to change something, he stressed. We are the ones who want to live better and safer, Andrey Kovatchev added.

The most important thing is to convince the young generation of Europe that peace is not a given, Andrey Kovatchev said. He stressed that Europe faces huge challenges - war and disinformation campaigns that try to change people's attitudes.

It is not at all irrelevant what kind of people we send to the European Union, said MEP Petar Vitanov from the Socialists and Democrats group. The EU cannot be a reward for Bulgarian politicians, but is a responsibility, he stressed, adding that there must be highly motivated people who actively participate in the legislation and in line with the Bulgarian state.

In the last five years, the EU has gone through turbulence and problems, but it has shown something important, namely solidarity, Petar Vitanov stressed. This solidarity manifested itself during the pandemic in terms of the fact that there were vaccines for all countries, the economies stagnated and then again there was solidarity, as those who had more gave the opportunity to the smaller ones to catch up, the MEP pointed out.

When you do not vote, someone else decides for you, said the MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Angel Dzhambazki. Who votes determines who will allocate both the state and the EU budget, he pointed out. This is not money of the state, the money is yours, of the taxpayers, the MEP added.

The main reason for the lack of interest or for the apparent scepticism, especially among young people, is in fact the behaviour of most of the European leaders who put labels and say who is what, Angel Dzhambazki believes.

The forum "Young people and Europe: #UseYourVote" has enabled more than 160 young people to meet MEPs and MPs and discuss issues that concern them. The young people took part in four practical activities on various topics related to civic activity and youth participation, democracy, the future of Europe, disinformation and waste reduction. Moderators of the activities were representatives of the National Youth Forum, the environmental association "For the Earth", the social entrepreneurship organization "Zemlevezh" and Stefan Popov-Chefo.