Euroscola - 17 January 2020

"We, young Europeans, have a big responsibility to safeguard the EU as its founders envisaged it: a Europe of solidarity, harmony and unity. A peaceful Europe which will embrace all people, regardless of colour, sex or religion." said a school representative at the #euroscola session of 17 January 2020, which gathered 500 high-school students and their teachers from 21 classes across Europe in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg Parlement Européen - Strasbourg.

"There are many who fled their country, seeking for a better life, and among them, many youngsters and children" he added, referring to the issue of migration and integration, one of the six themes tackled by the #euroscola working groups.

"After all, the most important thing we can do is to increase, among teenagers in Europe, the feeling that we are citizens of the world. And it is both our duty and our right to act and react!" said another school representative.

For one hour, the participants had the opportunity to ask their questions directly to the French MEP Younous Omarjee.

Questions raised ranged from EU plans to overcome the climate emergency or the Eastern/Western Europe growing divide and rising nationalism, through to recommendations for youth to get more involved in EU affairs.

In the afternoon, students worked on six thematic issues in groups, beforing reporting back in the hemicycle and voting on their peers' proposals.

Undoubtedly, an experience of EU living democracy to be remembered!