Nearly one year ago, in October 2025, Ali-Maeve FitzGerald, the President of Málaga 2025 – the 103rd International Session of the EYP, and currently our Governing Body Member, addressed 270 young people from 34 countries at the opening ceremony of our flagship event in Spain. Read her inspiring words:
“Over 7 years ago, I was in your shoes, sitting and listening to the countless speeches of my first Opening Ceremony at my first EYP session as a delegate. If I had imagined that day, that many years down the line and almost 2000km away from home, I would be standing at a podium and delivering a speech as President of this International Session, I wouldn’t have believed you. Before entering EYP, I was terrified of public speaking, knew nothing about the EU institutions, and although I still struggle with the basics of European geography sometimes, EYP has offered me the opportunity to attend almost 60 events across Europe, make friends from every corner of our continent, and grow in myself in the process. EYP is simply indescribable; it has changed my entire life for the better.
Besides what you may think, what makes a great delegate is not your extensive research on the topic, a loud booming voice in the General Assembly, or being the leader of the committee. A great delegate is so much more than that. Just like the session’s theme of ‘Uniting shores through changing tides’, EYP is built upon diversity – across divides of geography, with different opinions, of completely opposite backgrounds. But one thing connects all the great people I’ve had the honour of encountering in my journey in EYP – a passion to try new things, the bravery to step outside of your comfort zone, and the wish to find common ground with someone you never would have had the opportunity to meet before. The fact that you are here, listening to these words, is something you should be proud of: you took the first step in becoming a part of this session, and, in turn, stepped out of your comfort zone. Over the course of the coming week, I hope you will take many more steps into the unknown, trying new things, challenging yourself and making many friends and memories along the way.
An international session is a flagship event in our network. Gathering almost 300 young people from all across Europe, and, for the first time, across the entire Mediterranean region. Here with us today, we have young people representing our organisation & partners from:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and more.
Over the next few days, you will enter a bubble – a place where young people’s voices are heard & uplifted. A place where all are welcome, as long as they share the vision to better the world around them. Hear what others have to say, bridge divides, unite the shores that connect us & divide us.
I hope you’ll go forward over the next few days with your eyes wide open, trying new things, meeting new people, and making new memories. I’m eager to see what each and every one of you can uniquely bring to the session. Welcome to Málaga, welcome to EYP.”
