Youth-led organisation

National Committees implement the bulk of EYP events across Europe. There are currently 40 national member organisations with around 2,500 young volunteers who are actively involved every year. Each committee is led by democratically elected young boards.

National Committees organise regional and national sessions, international forums and outreach programmes, promote international EYP activities and run training programmes for their members.

If you are interested in joining the EYP, your country’s National Committee is a good place to start. Click here to find out who to contact in your country.

As an EYP member, you can engage in a wide variety of activities on the regional, national, or international levels. You may start by joining an event in your country of residence as a delegate, and from there expand your horizons and take part in EYP events all over Europe.

One of the best parts is that once you try your hand as a delegate enough times and become ready for new challenges, you can stick around in the EYP and help organise, document, or academically guide events of your choosing! After developing your skills through more events and training, EYP volunteers can take on bigger roles by steering their National Committee, joining international working groups focused on bettering our organisation, and other projects of similar calibre.

We are proud that our network always has something in store for active volunteers at every stage of their EYP journey!

The Governing Body is the EYP’s International Board which represents the interests of the network as a whole. It is mainly responsible for the strategic development of the EYP and for facilitating the work of the organisation at the international level. In collaboration with the National Committees and the members of the organisation, it establishes guidelines that ensure the quality and safety of the EYP’s activities, and it oversees the three annual International Sessions.

The Governing Body is composed of six members, which are elected by the National Committees and by the EYP’s members. A representative of the Schwarzkopf Foundation also sits on the Governing Body. The Executive Director of the EYP participates in every meeting.

The International Office (IO), also known as the EYP Office, supports and coordinates the activities of the EYP network, including the National Committees, the Governing Body and the Board of National Committees. It facilitates the successful implementation of the EYP strategy and fulfilment of its mission by ensuring continuity and coherence of the mutual efforts of everyone involved.

The IO team includes project managers, long-term volunteers and assistants led by the EYP Executive Director.

The Board of National Committees is the general assembly of National Committees and acts as their voice on the international level. The Board of National Committees gathers twice a year in Berlin and has full co-decision powers with the Governing Body; meaning that any policy proposals made by the Governing Body must be approved by the Board of National Committees. The Board of National Committees can also take the initiative and make proposals and recommendations to the Governing Body.

Besides decision-making, the Board of National Committees acts as a platform for the EYP’s national organisations to share knowledge and know-how. The work of the Board of National Committees is facilitated by a board, which is elected annually by all National Committees.