‘Preserving the present, saving our future’ was the theme of a conference organised by AEGEE Valletta in March last year. It brought some 300 young participants to learn, discuss and propose recommendations about the future of Europe. The initiative has been chosen as the national project for Malta in view of the next step, which is the award of the prize from amongst projects from all 28 EU countries. The national jury was composed of MEPs Marlene Mizzi and Roberta Metsola, together with KSU representative Yanica Sant.
The project was submitted by Andrew Bartolo on behalf of AEGEE Valletta. It revolved around two parts in which participants learned about present Europe and then discussed perspectives for the future. Different workshops addressed issued such as the impact of the economic crisis on young people and recommendations to address new challenges for the European project. Panels brought together academics and representatives of the youth civil society, with a balanced representation of men and women and geographical origins.
According to the jury, “the AEGEE project was very strong in offering practical examples of Europeans living together as one community, as well as in the involvement of young people representing several member states”. The next step will see the project assessed by the European jury, consisting of three MEPs and the President of the European Parliament and four representatives of the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, which will select the winner from the 28 projects submitted by national juries.