EUROSCOLA
2022

After a video message of the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, welcoming the participants, students of this edition of Euroscola Hybrid will have the opportunity to talk with a Member of the European Parliament, Mrs. Katarina Barley, VicePresident of the European Parliament, (S&D, Germany) about the topics that interest and concern them. 

Moreover, the topic of the day will focus on the energy crisis in Europe, which will be examined from its most relevant angles for young people. In the Innovation Lab, students will have the possibility to interview Ms. Aleyda Hernandez Laviades, Administrator in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy at the DG for Internal Policies at the Union, on the European Union’s response to the crisis. In the afternoon, participants who are present on site will take part in a Q&A Workshop on our principle democratic values; a special focus will be dedicated to youth’s opportunity to vote for the first time at the next European elections 2024. Teachers will take part in a guided tour of the European Parliament, followed by a crucial networking moment with their colleagues from the participating countries. 

Euroscola’s main objective is to build long-term relationships, reinforce our European spirit and community, and strengthen our common European identity. 

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has stopped delivering natural gas to most of Europe in order to press the European Union to reduce its support for Ukraine. Europe, who imported almost 40% of its gas from Russia, has since witnessed an enormous increase in gas and energy prices, which are now some ten times their average level over the last decade. Some individual member states have since been trying to offer financial relief to their citizens and businesses, others have been considering to keep coal-fired power plants and to delay closures of nuclear energy generators. However, the European Union urged the member states to work together to better mitigate the impact of the crisis and reduce risks. The EU has proposed three EU-coordinated measures to cut down energy bills: Reducing electricity use, capping revenues of electricity producers and securing a solidarity contribution from fossil fuel businesses. On a long-term scale, the EU has moreover made plans to improve energy efficiency and to diversify the EU’s energy supplies.

The EU and its member states stand united in their unwavering support for Ukraine and firmly condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. To this end, the EU has provided Ukraine with humanitarian, political, financial and military support. In response to the military aggression, the EU has adopted a significant number of sanctions and unprecedented measures against Russia. The eight packages of sanctions that the EU has adopted since the 23rd of February 2022 range from individual targeted sanctions to restrictions on access to the EU’s market and or economic sanctions covering the finance, energy transport and technology sector. Furthermore, the EU has provided support to the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine and the countries hosting them.        

The main goal of Euroscola is to strengthen a European identity, to inform young people about their rights as EU citizens and to encourage them to make use of them, as well as to inspire those young people to become engaged in the future of Europe. The responsible unit at the headquarters of the European Parliament cares about developing the educational work of Euroscola. 

Finally, Euroscola aims to establish a link between the European Union and its young citizens. The event will offer them a unique opportunity to discuss challenges of the future with 

European decision-makers and personalities who can be a source of inspiration for them. Thus, the event will give them the opportunity to make their voices heard and discuss innovative solutions for the future of Europe. Students can continue their engagement with Europe by registering on the platform and participating in events: https://together.europarl.europa.eu 

The next European elections will take place in spring 2024, a crucial opportunity for youth to help shape their future in Europe.  

Stay tuned and join us on our social networks:  @Euroscola   

Profile of Vice-President Katarina Barley on Europarl.eu:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/lv/197433/KATARINA_BARLEY/home

Euroscola : https://youth.europarl.europa.eu/lv/more-information/euroscola.html
European Youth Portal: https://youth.europa.eu/home_lv
Ensemble.eu: https://together.europarl.europa.eu/lv/

Europass: https://europa.eu/europass/lv
European Council of the European Union: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/lv/

Youth Hub: https://youth.europarl.europa.eu/lv/more-information/euroscola.html
European Commission: https://eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu/index_lv
European Parliament Press room: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/lv/press-room
European Parliament Think Tank: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/lv/home