We had the amazing opportunity to get in touch with three EYP Alumni and ask them about their work and their time with EYP. Here’s what Daniel Johnson (UK), Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Southern for the Labour Party, Goran Jutrisa (HR), Deputy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Croatia and Nina Selmer (NO), Adviser to the European Union’s Delegation to Norway said:
Why did you choose to take public office
and what is your mission?
Daniel: It certainly wasn’t my mission, I have spent
most of my career in business but an inability to say ‘no’ resulted in my
standing in 2016 and being elected. Ultimately my reason for standing is I hate
seeing things that don’t work properly and my view of politics is that it
should be finding solutions and building consensus around them- not that that
has been happening much in British politics recently!
How is it working in the public service?
Goran: The
experience is great because you can work with your network of contacts and
really contribute to achieving the goals you have set. You have a feeling of
doing good and important things for your country. I am grateful because I work
in the field I am passionate about and studied for, and it builds on my experience
with EYP, international law and foreign policy. I am grateful to have the opportunity
to use the fruits of all my experience.
Nina: Having worked both as a
trainee at the Norwegian embassy in the Hague, and now as an adviser to the EU,
I have been given a great opportunity to see how diplomatic relationships work
both on a bilateral level and from the perspective of the EU. In a world that
often can seem defined by deteriorating diplomatic relationships, increasing
isolationism and putting own interests first, it has been refreshing to work with people who are
dedicated to further the idea of how working together is beneficial for all
parties, and how learning from each other help us grow.
If there were things from EYP that you could bring to real-world international
relations what would it be?
Daniel: EYP has much in common with real-world politics, but the one
thing it has in spades is a sense of optimism and a focus on bringing people
together. These can all too often be absent form our politics tomorrow.
Goran: People.
The fundaments of whatever you do is knowing the right people and having a connection
with them. EYP taught me to
stop thinking of countries as countries – countries became people. I got
to know what they think, what they feel, how they behave and how they smile. Behind
all the ministries, departments and offices it’s about the people and how you
engage and get them to trust you. EYP teaches you to
trust others and get others to trust you.
I have used a lot of my EYP contacts and network in all my previous jobs in the last 5 or 10 years. Even when I spoke to the Prime Minister, we remembered we ran into each other 16 years ago in EYP events. Involvement with EYP shows that you are an active citizen, open minded, open to discussion, foreign affairs, communicative – it gives you a stamp of approval as I call it. You have a certain set of values that are appreciated and welcomed in certain things.
Nina: Seeing how youth from
40 different countries across Europe are able to come together and find
solutions, always writing resolutions showcasing good and innovative ideas to
complex questions is something world leaders and policymakers could learn from.
Compromise
gets you far, and EYP taught me that my listening and developing my ideas they
could only become better, and that learning from each other makes everyone more
enlightened.
What should Europe mean to youth in 2040?
Daniel: I don’t think young people should wait for 2040- politics is
relevant to them now. My
message is if you believe in Europe get involved, get campaigning and make the
arguments for Europe to people now. My reflection on the standing of
Europe in my country now is that if more people in Britain had been making a
positive case for Europe twenty years ago, we would not be facing Brexit.
Goran: It should mean a sense of belonging, a feeling of additional identity, which is defined by a common set of values as well as approach to things – a certain mentality. A certain mindset, which means all kinds of things from freedom to meeting people to doing business and travelling.
Nina: I hope that Europe in 2040 is a
place where youth feel hopeful, inspired and at home. I hope that that is the
case both for youth who have only just arrived in Europe, and youth who have
had Europe as their home since birth, and for youth who might not always feel
like they fit into the Europe of 2019. I also hope that Europe in 2040 is still a place where
thousands of youth get to experience EYP every year, and be able to develop
skills and confidence through the organisation, just as I was able to.
EYP has always been a home to me, and a place where I have been able to develop leadership skills, broaden my understanding of the world and meet people I otherwise wouldn’t have been lucky enough to meet. I hope EYP continues to be a place where youth can experience this, and want to thank all the wonderful people who help keep the organisation strong and kind.
