Between the 8 – 15 of November, 8 students from VRG Djursholm and VRG Odenplan attended a MEP, Model European Parliament, session in Luxembourg arranged by the school Lycée Aline Mayrisch together with Lotta Nordgren and Alexandra Koumi.
During this week we, the 8 students, got the opportunity to experience new things, form new relationships and evolve as intellectual beings. It is somewhat like a personality boot camp as you leave the MEP with many new perspectives – on current situations in the world, on EU member countries and their populations and, perhaps most important, on yourself.
It is hard to imagine what a week of MEP really does to you and what the experience means to you once you get home. Anyone that has participated in a conference such as this one can tell that once you return home you feel as if you know a secret no one else is aware of: the secret of Europe. Sweden is a part of Europe. It might not show in our everyday life but when you go abroad it is definitely a part of the Swedish identity. It is 
also a part of identities with a different nationality than Swedish. We have found this to be a key thing when getting to know students from other countries. In many ways we are alike, even though are nationalities or the differences between our countries. Being a part of the European Union is only one of these ways.
A part from the new relationships and the personal experience you also learn a lot of new things. Not only do you develop your English-speaking skills (as this is the spoken language – 24/7) but you obtain a greater knowledge of the European Union and its purpose. As a whole, the participation in an international MEP sessions truly is an invaluable experience and should you be given the opportunity we recommend that you seize it – right away!
The Luxembourg session was the 41st International MEP session held so far. The actual session started off with committee meetings where all Swedish delegates were a part of different committees, who all created their own resolution. After three days of committee work, all delegates traveled to Schengen in Germany for a lobbying session over the day. During the lobbying we mainly discussed the resolutions with other delegates, whereas some created amendments against other resolutions and therefore collected signatures for their amendment. The atmosphere during the lobbying, where around 160 delegates are together in one room debating and discussing, is beyond words.
During the two last days of the week the General Assembly, also known as the GA, is held. At the GA all resolutions are debated and then voted on. This time the GA was held in the Hemicycle which is The European Parliament’s official secretariat, a place where actual EU parliament sessions has been held. The feeling of speaking at the Hemicycle cannot be described in words.
The week ended with a farewell party in the city of Luxembourg, a lovely party bringing a great week to its end.
/Swedish delegation
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