The Chairwoman of MGERB Monika Panayotova participated in the annual congress of YEPP that took place in Rome, Italy; 2–5 April 2009

07/04/09

During four days (2-5 April) in Rome, Italy the future politicians of YEPP (youth organization of the Europen People’s Party) participated in the seventh congress of the organization on the topic ‘Europe on the crossroad’.

Except for the election of a new president of the organization, the members and the guests of YEPP were engaged in a series of round-tables, debates, formal and informal meetings with leading politicians from Italy and Europe.
The beginning of a round of ‘top-level conference’ was put by a welcome dinner that gathered the young people from the whole Europe with the vice-president of the European Commission – Antonio Tajani and the vice-president of the European parliament – Mario Mauro.

The second day of the conference was spent in different meetings – from visit of the Italian Senate, where the young people were received by the president of the Senate himself – Renato Schifani and the president of the European People’s Party – Wilfried Martens. After that there was a private visit in Vaticane, round-table about ‘Inter-religious dialogue’, conference on the topic ‘The voice of youth’, where together with representatives of YEPP and the other eminent politicians from Europe, the Secretary –General of EPP-Antonio Lopez and the Chairman of EDS (European Democrat Students) – Thomas Uhlen also participated, as well as representatives from other youth organizations of the parties – members of the European Parliament (Youth European Socialists, Youth European Liberals and Youth European Federalists).
At the end of the day there was a dinner-debate with the president of the European Parliament – Hanns-Gert Pottering on the topic ‘Our common values’.

On Saturday there was a lot of work for the members of YEPP, who except for the election of the new president – Lorent Chuteten from France, also expressed their annual report, voted for a new board and new working documents and discussed the membership of the Macedonian representatives in the organization. Maybe the most exciting thing that happened that day was the walk around the Ancient Rome, as well as the working lunch with the mayor of Rome – Giovani Alemano and the supper with the Italian Prime minister – Silvio Berlusconi.
It was also very interesting the festival ‘National folklore’, where the participants of the congress together with 2000 guests of the event had to present their country, dressed in traditional costumes.

As a final of the annual congress, the organizers from Italy had chosen a group visit at St. Paul’s square, where personally the Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the traditional Sunday mass.