Young people from the Netherlands and Germany in debate about Europe
During the Young Europe event, young people from our German and Dutch border region get the chance to play different roles in a real simulation game on the theme of “Europe”. From the role of resident, municipality of Twente, the Dutch government, of the European Union they surprise their interests from their points of view. The event took place as part of the annual Germany Week in Enschede “Die Woche”, in the European Year of Youth.
Europeans of the future
Ben Sanders, deputy to the mayor, was called the young people took the city council of Enschede welcome: “Each year the European Commission chooses a theme to pay particular attention to in the year. This year’s theme is youth. And how important is the tribe of young people? The choices left today are encompass ten of twenty years. With this event, we wanted to translate Europe and the discussions that take place there to the Europeans of the future – from our own city and border region.”
A full program
In a busy afternoon programme, the young people first received a guest lecture by Ute Schürings from Berlin on cultural differences between the Netherlands and Germany in general and in an administrative context. Then they started working with Europe in a self-play. For the sustainability and mobility of the themes in different roles. From those roles they entered into a debate with each other. The two proposals in the border region were: ‘There must be a new nuclear power plant in the border region’. And ‘a reinforcement branch of the Betuweroute must be constructed through Twente and across the border to Germany’.
Learning from each other and discussing together
Willem-Jan Velderman, Twente Young Civil Servant of 2021, definitively discussed the debate and moderated the afternoon. He also has a great affinity with the EUREGIO: “There is so much to explore on both sides of the border. As a tourist, think of the German football culture, folk festivals, the city of Münster or the beautiful Teutoburgerwald. Our EUREGIO is very useful for society and business. We have covered both sides, although the context is different. What can you learn from each other and what can you solve together? The young participants have cleverly made today’s slimmer reality.”
Europe becomes reality in the border region
Christoph Almering, director of the EUREGIO: “Where does Europe become more reality than in the border region? The moral of this simulation game is that we all look through different glasses, but need each other to solve European, global, but also regional problems. It is very good that young people start thinking about this as early as possible. We are also very pleased that EUREGIO Youth has taken on an important role prior to the past few years. Also today, the members of EUREGIO Youth were an important driver for the event.”
EUREGIO Youth
Young people who want to participate in the discussion about the EUREGIO can contact the EUREGIO via [email protected]. EUREGIO Youth is a youth platform of Dutch and German young people (16-25 years) from the border area who are actively committed to cross-border cooperation in the Euregio, and is looking for new members. For more information: https://www.euregio.eu/projects/euregio-youth/
Schools can also use the simulation game themselves
Teachers who want to play the simulation game with their own class can borrow the game. Please contact Manon Koopman of the municipality of Enschede, [email protected], 0628344025.
The game is suitable for young people between the ages of 16 and 25.
The event was organized by the EUREGIO and the municipality of Enschede during the European Year of Youth. Made possible in part by the Niedersächsische Staatskanzlei.