EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT ROMANIA

Delegate Handbook

Authored by: Andreea Pop

Designed by: Mihai Popa
Dear participants,
Welcome (or welcome back) to the EYP Romania community! We are excited about
your involvement in this next session and we hope you are too!
This little Handbook was designed to highlight the ins and outs of EYP so that you
are prepared for what’s to come. Read it carefully, discuss it with your parents and
teachers, and have it close-by in case you ever need answers to anything EYP-
related.

TIP!
We recommend you download the
Handbook on your devices prior to
the session as it will be highly useful.

2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT ...................................................................................................................... 4
What is the European Youth Parliament (EYP)? ................................................................................................... 4
What are its values? .............................................................................................................................................. 4
What is its aim? ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Who is supporting it? ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Who is managing it? .............................................................................................................................................. 4
THE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT ROMANIA ..................................................................................................... 5
What is the European Youth Parliament Romania? ............................................................................................. 5
What is its aim? ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
What is its structure? ............................................................................................................................................ 5
What events does it organise? .............................................................................................................................. 6
How does the selection process work? ................................................................................................................ 6
THE SESSION ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
What are the roles in a session?............................................................................................................................ 7
What does a session entail? .................................................................................................................................. 8
What is the structure of a session? ....................................................................................................................... 8
How should I prepare? .......................................................................................................................................... 9
Emails ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Deadlines........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Research ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Transport ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Packing List ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Dress Code....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Highly recommended extras .......................................................................................................................... 11
What NOT to bring .......................................................................................................................................... 11
How should I behave? ......................................................................................................................................... 11
What happens after a session? ........................................................................................................................... 12
APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE ..................................................................................................................... 13
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLACARDS ......................................................................................................................... 13
RESOLUTION MODEL .......................................................................................................................................... 14
RESOLUTION CLAUSES ....................................................................................................................................... 16
REGULATION FORM............................................................................................................................................. 20

3
THE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT

What is the European Youth Parliament (EYP)?

Founded in 1987, EYP is a unique educational programme which brings together young people from all over
Europe to discuss current topics in a parliamentary setting. As a network of independent associations, EYP is
present in 40 European countries and organises more than 500 events every year which amount to more than
1.200 days of EYP activity every year, involving 30.000 participants. Over 3.500 members are active as volunteers
all over Europe, making EYP a programme truly for young people, by young people.

What are its values?

EYP’s current International Strategy is based on four areas of development: inclusion, empowerment,
contribution, and the stability and continuity of the network.

What is its aim?

Who is supporting it?

The patron of EYP is the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Honorary Committee of EYP also
includes the President and Vice-President of the European Commission.

Who is managing it?

In 2004, the Berlin-based Schwarzkopf Foundation became the international umbrella organisation of the
European Youth Parliament. Together with the help of the Governing Body, EYP Councils and The Board of
National Committees, it ensures that the project runs smoothly on a global level.

4
THE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT ROMANIA

What is the European Youth Parliament Romania?

A subdivision of the initial EYP project, the European Youth Parliament Romania is an initiative of the EYP
Romania Foundation. It is officially registered as an NGO with its headquarters in Oradea, Romania.

What is its aim?

Besides the above-mentioned general EYP goals, EYP Romania aims to select the best possible delegates to
represent Romania in the International Sessions organised by EYP.

What is its structure?

5
What events does it organise?
EYP Romania has two seasonal series of Regional Selection Sessions per year, one in Spring and one in Autumn.
Each is comprised of three sessions: Muntenia, Transylvania and Moldavia. Similarly, there are also two
seasonal National Selection Sessions per year. Occasionally, some sessions are catalogued as Forums, meaning
that applications from foreign delegates are welcomed. Past examples include Tomis Forums and Oradea
Forums. Additionally, EYP Romania organises an annual Chairperson, Journalist, Organiser (CJO) Training.

How does the selection process work?

Regional Selection National International

Sessions Selection Session Session

You will be marked in the selection process based on your performance at the session. Criteria include:
teamwork, adaptability, communication, leadership and academic preparation. Your marks will be reflected in
an individual Feedback. From each stage of the process, the best delegates according to both Feedback ratings
and involvement in EYP, will be chosen, exacerbating competition incrementally. From an initial pool of
approximately 300 participants, only 20 will advance from each Regional Selection Session, meaning that a
usual National Selection Session will host 60 or so delegates. Afterwards, Romania will be represented on an
international level by 7-9 delegates.

6
THE SESSION

What are the roles in a session?

7
What does a session entail?
Simulating the European Parliament, delegates will be divided into Committees. Each Committee will receive a
Committee Topic, meaning thematic issues from different areas of concern that need solving. During the
session, delegates will have to devise a Resolution, a document containing their proposed solutions to the
given Topic, defend it and attack the other Committees’ Resolutions in plenary debates.

What is the structure of a session?

These represent the backbone of the event, but other activities can take place as well! They provide the perfect
backdrop for a mix of academia and fun, intercultural exchange, talent showcasing, friendships, and a close-
knit community.

8
How should I prepare?

Emails
Keep an eye on your email inbox and add the email addresses of the Organisers and of your designated Officials
to your contact list – often time, messages from Officials contain deadlines and it would be unfortunate to miss
a task for the sole reason that it was trapped in Spam.

Deadlines
Complete all assignments while respecting all deadlines.

TIP! Do not leave your tasks until the last minute!

Research
Prior to the session, you will be required to conduct an individual research on your given Committee Topic to
ensure a minimum understanding of the issues you will be discussing. Specific guidelines for your analysis will
be provided by the President of the session and by your Chairperson. General guidelines for conducting your
research include being clear and concise, selecting only valid sources of information (avoid Wikipedia; check
EU-oriented news sites, official records and EU-institutions websites instead), approaching your topic from
different perspectives and reading extensively. The Chairs’ Team will support you by creating an Academic
Preparation Kit closer to the session, containing a helpful Topic Overview for each Committee.

TIP! Structuring your analysis chronologically may help you visualise the development of your topic.

Transport
Arrange your transport at the earliest convenience. In order to avoid extra accommodation costs, try to arrive
when the session begins and to leave the same day it ends.

TIP! Travel with other participants from your area to benefit from group discounts! Alternatively, inquire about
student discounts.

Packing List
Here is some guidance for what you should include in your luggage.

Must-have items:

• medicines
• identity card / passport
• transport tickets
• towels
• committee work research material
• Village food and presentation

TIP! The Village always goes wonderfully, but there’s a small logistical detail that can change its status from
good to great: bring cutlery, plates, glasses, napkins in addition to the delicious traditional cuisine. Not only
everyone will love your table, but your life will also be made easier once you’re in the process of setting
everything up!

9
Types of clothes, according to the Dress Code that delegates must follow:

TEAMBUILDING
Sportswear, Outerwear, Casual

VILLAGE
Traditional attire

COMMITTEE WORK
Smart casual

EYP CAFÉS/ PARTIES

Casual + Thematic costumes (if requested)

10
THE CONCERT
Elegant clothing

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Formalwear, Office and Business Clothes

TIP!
Do check the weather forecast and pack accordingly, as Teambuilding will most likely be held outdoors.

Highly recommended extras:

• Your energy
• Your enthusiasm
• Your creativity
• Your teamwork skills

What NOT to bring:

• Alcohol
• Drugs

How should I behave?

Even though a session involves lots of fun activities, the event is still an educational undertaking set within
formal boundaries. Thus, participants need to act accordingly. To ensure this, upon arrival to the session,
delegates will need to sign a Regulation Form that states the rules they need to abide by for the duration of the
session. Main points include: following the Organisers’ guidance, treating fellow participants with respect, not
leaving the venue without approval, participating to all activities and respecting the programme, not drinking
alcohol and not using drugs. The latter two are under a zero-toleration policy. Check the Appendix section for
the full Regulation Form.

11
What happens after a session?
Firstly, the (in)famous PED (Post EYP Depression) will commence. Secondly, you will receive your Feedback and,
later on, if the session you have participated in was a stage in the selection process, you may be invited to attend
the next phase.

Worry not, however, if you were not among those selected further – there are still plenty of opportunities to stay
connected with EYP! Regardless if you were selected or not, you could:

• Participate as a delegate to other sessions that do not involve selections!

• Get involved in the administrative part of EYP Romania by running for County Coordinators or other
Board positions!
• Become an Official if you have completed the necessary training!

As mentioned earlier, involvement in EYP counts heavily for selection purposes as well. For instance, if you
dedicate yourself to the project and help EYP Romania grow, you could still participate in an International
Session on a Wildcard position!

If the session you attended was not in the selection scheme, then what are you waiting for? Collaborate with
your County Coordinator, form a delegation and apply to the first Regional call! The challenge awaits!

EYP Romania will generally keep in contact with you via email once you are added to our national Alumni Yahoo!
Group. Additionally, you can join our Facebook Group, like our Facebook page, follow us on Instagram,
subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out our website. Keep in touch!

Alternatively, if you wish to venture into foreign EYP challenges, we recommend you check out the official
Sessions! Facebook Group and the official EYP Delegate Calls. Imperative for your further involvement is
registering on the Members’ Platform.

12
APPENDIX
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE

1. Presenting of the Motion for a Resolution

2. Presenting of the Friendly Amendments
3. Reading out the Operative Clauses
4. Defence Speech (3 min)
5. Attack Speech (3 min)
6. Response to Attack Speech (1.5 min)
7. Open Debate (composed of 3 rounds)
8. Sum up Speech (3 min)
9. Voting Procedure (In Favour, Against, Abstention)
10. Announcing the Votes

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLACARDS

• The Committee Placard indicates the wish to speak.
• Point of Personal Privilege requests a delegate to repeat a point that was inaudible.
• Point of Order requests the Board to review if they have properly followed the Parliamentary
procedure.
• Direct Response requests, maximum one time per open debate round, the approval to directly
intervene in the last point of the debate.

13
RESOLUTION MODEL

14
15
RESOLUTION CLAUSES

INTRODUCTORY CLAUSES

16
17
OPERATIVE CLAUSES

18
19
REGULATION FORM
At an EYP Romania session, you will be required to sign upon arrival your consent to the following rules:

1. Participants will accept and conform to any rule or guidance that the Organisers give throughout the
session.

2. The session is a working event and thus a serious and decent behaviour is expected at all times. Fellow
delegates and Officials will be treated with respect. During the whole session, a respectful and decent
language will be used, participants must be sensitive to ethnic, cultural, religious, gender and sexual
diversity.

3. All participants must follow the programme and attend all EYP activities.

4. Leaving the group without first consulting with the Organisers is forbidden.

5. Trips, shifts, parties will be done with the group as/if mentioned in the programme.
6. Participants will comply with the sleep hours and rules established by the hotel/chalet and mentioned
in the programme.
7. Parties, noisy activities in the rooms or simply the presence of other EYPers not accommodated in the
respective hotel is strictly forbidden (except the common activities mentioned in the programme).

8. Non-EYPers (such as local friends etc.) are not to be brought in the hotel or group.

9. Room arrangements are to be respected by all participants. One shall not switch places under no
circumstances. Rooms must be kept clean. Organisers have the right to check rooms at any moment
(including night hours) in order to observe situations.

10. In case of damages caused to the hotel/villa, participants will be charged accordingly.

11. Socialising activities, games and discussions are only to take place when organised by the Officials.
12. The use of alcohol and smoking is prohibited during working hours and inside rooms or hotel and is
permitted only within reasonable limits during free time.

13. Stupefying, hallucinogen substances of any kind are strictly forbidden.

14. Underage participants (under 18 years) are not allowed to drink alcohol.
15. Participants are fully responsible for eventual accidents caused by their lack of caution. In case of such
unfortunate events, EYP Romania will not be held responsible.

16. The breaking of any of the rules above will be fined with 30 Euros. At the 2nd breaking of any of the rules
presented here, the participant will be sent home on their own expenses.

17. Depending on the gravity of the situation, EYP Romania has the authority to send the participant home
on first rule breaking, at their own expense and will let the parents/legal guardian know about the
exclusion from the session. In such cases, the participation fee will not be refunded, and the participant
will be excluded from EYP.

20