Winners of the CoR/EA Group Essay writing Competition 2019 and their teachers visited Brussels on 26 and 27 June. The successful participants had completed a quiz about the European Union and written very topical essays on the ways in which young people's participation in the European elections can be increased. In the morning of 26 June they met the President of the European Committee of the Regions Karl-Heinz Lambertz before taking part in a meeting with EA Group members. The students gave interesting and colourful presentations about their schools and regions so we were all privileged to hear about the regions of Kose in Estonia, Mohill in Ireland, Verres in Aosta Valley (Italy), Panevėžys in Lithuania, județul Dâmbovița in Romania and Prešov in Slovakia.
In the afternoon participants had the opportunity to meet the CoR 1st Vice-President Markku Markkula before observing part of the 135th Plenary Session which took place in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament. They then visited the European House of History where exhibits document the history of Europe. The following day they enjoyed an educational tour of Brussels before returning to their home countries.
After meeting the students at the CoR, President of the EA Group Karl Vanlouwe said: "Our Secondary Schools Competition has for many years been bringing together talented young students from all across Europe. In addition to celebrating the diversity of our continent, it stands as an example of how the European institutions can strengthen the bonds with their local roots and with the generations that will be shaping the future of the EU. I found this year's edition particularly interesting as young people's active participation in political life is something we need to work on and it was very insightful to read what young people themselves have to say about it."
