“A day in the European Parliament! Getting off the bus, you can’t help but gape at the imposing building of this place, and when entering inside, you’ll be fascinated by its modern interior. Yet, the most important thing about it are the people who care about our rights and our future as EU citizens. We observed their work in the large plenary hall. We met with MEPs reps of Bulgaria and other EU countries. They told us about their efforts and answered our questions. I thank my school and our teachers for giving me the opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg!”
This is what Petar Todorov, 8.b class, shares about a recent trip to the heart of Europe – a memorable experience for all our students who were invited to visit the European Parliament!
On 17th July this year, at the invitation of Mrs. Essen Alieva, administrator at the European Parliament, 37 students from the “Geo Milev” English Language School in Burgas visited the famous global institution in Strasbourg. The youngsters were accompanied by Mrs. Neicheva, the school principal, Mrs. Miteva, deputy principal, and Mrs. Panteleeva, psychologist and teacher of Philosophy. The visit started at the Simon Veil House, with a few multimedia guidelines that introduced the visitors to the history of EU cooperation, the working methods of the European Parliament and the challenges faced by its members today.
The group had the chance to attend the parliamentary election of Quaestors of the Parliament. Imagine the excitement during the Second Ballot, when Mr. Andrey Kovachev was elected Quaestor of the Parliament. Mr. Kovachev serves as member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Internal Market & Consumer Protection Committee, and the Special Committee on External Intervention, including disinformation, in the democratic processes across EU. Interesting discussions were held with the host of the visit – Mrs. Alieva, who introduced the group to the role of the Parliament as an institution. There were also talks with the MEPs from ENR, with Ms Eva Maydell, member of the Commission for Industry, Research and Energy, and with Mr. Andrey Novakov, member of the Regional Development Commission. Finally, the visitors had the honour to talk with Mr. Peter Bonnor – Inquires Officer at the Cabinet of EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly. He explained the institution’s role in protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring transparency of the parliamentary work, also highlighting the current challenges the European Parliament has faced in maintaining ethical standards and public trust, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement of regulatory practices.
In a talk with Ms Eva Maydell, who has a key role in the development and regulation of artificial intelligence, the need for collaboration between various stakeholders on a vast scale – from the academic community to the private sector – was highlighted as a method to advance research and further perspectives in this truly important area. Ms Maydell expressed her confidence that with the right regulation and the right approach, Europe can become the standard for the AI development and use, combining innovation with the due high standards of safety and ethics. Students had the opportunity to express their opinion on current issues related to green energy, electric cars, global warming, common currency, and business ethics in Europe.
In their meeting with Mr. Andrey Novakov, the young people commented on the development of policies for electric vehicles and the green transition across Europe. The participants got acquainted with the work of the European institutions and shared their views on decisions taken at the highest level of the EU.
Acting as true reporters, the youngsters interviewed MEPs about the future of the EU and easily came to a unanimous conclusion that, regardless of differences, the strength of a united Europe lies in the absolute necessity for all its citizens to discuss, listen and show respect to each other. During the talks, the most intimate feeling shared by all participants was the opportunity to be in the building where decisions are made not just for one country, but for an entire continent!
Here are a few other personal impressions, shared by the youngsters from the ELS “Geo Milev” in Burgas:
“I am grateful to the teachers at our school for this unique opportunity to visit and experience closely one of the driving forces in Europe, namely the European Parliament. Upon our arrival, I instantly noticed the massive building in which we were supposed to spend a few hours during our visit. I expected it to be big and beautiful, but it truly is a genuine artwork of modern architecture.
We were greeted by some very nice people who made sure we felt comfortable until the end. They showed us around the building, meanwhile explaining to us the purpose of most of the halls in the building. We arrived at the plenary hall and settled comfortably to listen to an actual voting procedure. I was astounded at how ultramodern it all looked, held with the latest technology, there were no paper ballots or long queues, the whole process happened digitally and within a few minutes. The voting ended and we were directed to a much smaller room.
We were given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a conversation with two representatives of our own country and a representative of the Cabinet of the current European Ombudsman. The conversations were so interesting, indeed, that time passed imperceptibly. We had covered many topics that young people like us would be excited about, for example: ecology, finance, political crises in some countries, etc., and we received answers to important questions concerning our continent and its peace. The mission of the European Ombudsman was also explained to us in detail.
Unfortunately, our visit soon came to an end, and we were escorted to the exit. If I could describe that experience in a couple of words, although they would not be enough, I would say it was like a bright drop of hope that turned my worldview in a completely new direction. I sincerely hope more people can get a closer view of that important institution.”
~ Karmen Peneva, 8.b class
“My visit to the European Parliament was an unforgettable experience that gave me the opportunity to observe firsthand how one of the most important institutions of the European Union works. As soon as I arrived in the building, I felt the grandeur and seriousness of this place. The architecture was impressive and the atmosphere – professional.
I was struck by the size of the plenary hall and the modern technologies used for communication and voting. I saw where the MEPs debate important issues and how decisions are made that affect millions of people in Europe. It gave me a sense of the importance of the democratic process and the responsibility of those who represent EU citizens.
I was most impressed by the opportunity to attend discussions and ask questions to Mr. Andrey Novakov, Ms. Eva Maydell and Mr. Peter Bonnor. After the talk, my faith in the European Union became even stronger.
My visit to the European Parliament not only gave me a better idea of how the European Union works, but also inspired me to participate more actively in our public life. I saw how important it is for us to be informed and engaged as citizens of Europe.
This experience motivated me to learn more about EU politics and processes and made me think about my future within the Union. I feel that I now look at the world differently and feel more connected to the other Europeans.”
~ Petar Petrov, 9.d class
“Dream or Reality? Well, for me, it was both. With the help of our amazing teachers, our principal and deputy principal, and the lecturers at the Euro Parliament, this awesome visit was made real and went off in the best possible way.
Of the entire educational trip, I personally was mostly impressed by the French city of Strasbourg, where the European Parliament is located. Without any doubt, all the other places were breathtaking, undeniably interesting and beautiful, but Strasbourg for me was the so-called “golden midway”. Because of the modernism (the European Parliament) that intertwined with the Ancient World (the architecture and the appearance of the city).
Visiting the European Parliament was a great opportunity that very few people can get. The professional attitude and the on-spot organization both for the MEPs (quite evident during the plenary session), visitors and speakers, was at a truly high level. Thanks to the visual presentations prepared by our lecturer, Mrs. Essen Alieva, we understood a lot about the structure on which the parliament work leans and about the individual units that support it.
The discussions held with some MEPs, among whom – Andrey Novakov and Eva Maydell, gave us the answer to many questions concerning the development, future changes and the current state of our own country and, in general, the world in which we live. Of course, the conversation with the representative of the Cabinet of the European Ombudsman – Mr. Peter Bonnor, as our last meet-up, out a wonderful end to the entire visit.
The meetings broadened my view, giving me some new and very specific understandings of the Western world, out of which I believe I took the most positive ones.”
~ Kristiana Petrova, 9.b class
A day to remember at the Eu Parliament in Strasbourg, with extremely valuable experiences that greatly enriched the young people’s understanding of the processes inside the European Union and the challenges the institution is facing. The high professionalism of all reps, their commitment to the assigned responsibilities and the dedication to their work were inspiring for the students.
After that exciting adventure, everyone believes: each citizen should experience such a day to realize the importance of working together for the common good of Eu countries!
