From April 16th to April 19th the European Youth Parliament Germany invites young Europeans to take part in the first Alps-forum in Prien am Chiemsee. Under the patronage of Barbara Stamm, president of parliament of Bavaria, 80 young people from 10 countries will deal with the session’s main topic: “water”.
“Climate change and growth of population make water scarce, more precious and therefore a good of strategic value” as the German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier put it recently. “Where water runs low, where there are arguments about water, there is the risk of strife, destabilisation and conflicts.” The session’s aim is to discuss matters on the future situation both of Europe and the world concerning water, and therefore to raise public awareness of this topic.

Like most sessions of EYP, the Alps-forum is composed of three parts:

• The session begins with teambuilding, ensuring that the delegates get to know and to trust each other, as they will work together in international committees for the following days.
• “Committee work” follows the teambuilding. Up-to-date questions of European politics concerning “water” are discussed, and the committees sum up their results in resolutions.
• During “general assembly” (taking place in the Bavarian state parliament) all committees get together. Each committee presents its resolution and after an open debate the plenum decides on the passing of the resolution.

In addition a panel discussion on the topic ” Privatisation of water – a waterproof way?” will take place, to which representatives from politics, economy and research will be invited. The delegates will therefore have the possibility of getting an even closer look at the topic.

Taking place in Upper Bavaria, the surrounding conditions of the Alps-forum are rather scenic. An hour from Munich, Prien is situated next to the beautiful lake Chiemsee, close to the Bavarian Alps. The larger part of the forum will take place on the Fraueninsel, an island of lake Chiemsee, which is quite idyllic, especially in the springtime.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the head organiser of the session, Jutta Wagatha.