Letter from the presidents

Esteemed Committee Chairs, Honourable Delegates, and Student Media Officers,

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 18th session of the national Model European Parliament in Tyrol!

2019 will be without a doubt a particularly divisive year for Europe. The upcoming European Parliament Elections are set to become a major turning point in an era of many challenges for the EU. From migration to climate change, from youth unemployment to digitization. We live in an ever more globalised, competitive world. At the same time, the utter chaos around the Brexit referendum has demonstrated that the EU might not be an irrevocable project. And while most of us take democracy for granted, it also seems under increasing threat, both in principle and practice. That is why this time it's not enough to just hope for a better future: this time we all need to take responsibility for it.

And what a better place to start than taking part in a youth parliament in the beautiful Tyrol. A region, known not only for its ski slopes and breathtaking landscapes but also for a notorious amount of tourists and transit traffic. The latter two posing a rather difficult issue, seeing as they provide Tyrol and the EU both with enormous benefits and considerable problems. However, the province has more to offer than its stereotypes.

The regional economic profile is additionally shaped by knowledge-intensive business-related services, industrial companies, trades, education, and possibly most importantly: two forward-thinking, dynamic cities Innsbruck and Schwaz. Which coincidently will be the venue for our upcoming MEP session. Over four days the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck, the Paulinum Schwaz, and their students will be happy to host you and show you what the mountains, we call home have to offer.

From snow to a world of crystals, from hearty food to even more snow, Tyrol has everything the heart desires. Just don't forget your gloves and you will love it. On a slightly more serious note, we would like to remind all of you to bring your A game next January. At the MEP you will meet the brightest young minds from around the country and in order to ensure your success, it is vital that you arrive motivated and well prepared. This is a preciously rare opportunity to make your voice heard but also hear the voice of others. Stay open-minded, be willing to cooperate, step out of your comfort zone, and perhaps most importantly: enjoy your time. 

We are certainly looking forward to meeting all of you in January,
Your Presidents,

Eva Werlberger, Rafael Ager and Julian Ennemoser