European Youth Parliament in Tromsø: – A unique experience

The European Youth Parliament – 300 youths from all over Europe – was gathered in Tromsø for ten days in March with the aim of educating and discussing socially and politically relevant issues.

– Tromsø is a unique experience, claims Ted Quamo from Albania.

– When you look at the map, Tromsø is very remote. I thought it would be just wildlife and nature here, and my parents were even a bit worried. They said: where are you going to live? So I was surprised that it's actually a real city here! says Luke Carroll from Ireland.

– We have learned a lot about the Arctic: we have met Saami youths and discussed Saami activism; we have discussed climate issues and many other interesting topics about the Arctic, explains Rores Boldan from Romania.

– I didn't know much about Northern Norway and the Arctic before, I just thought it was a cold place, but now I find it culturally very interesting. Tromsø is also a lovely city, and I would love to come back here again, says Athanasia Balasi from Greece.

– I will definately come back to Tromsø to study law or economics, says Karel Petrikovic from the Czech Republic.

F1ra v.: Karel Petrikovic,Eva Lytskjold Raknes, Athanasia (Asia) Balasi, Luke Carroll,Rores Boldan andTed Quamu. — From the left: Athanasia (Asia) Balasi from Greece, Luke Carroll from Ireland ,Rores Boldan from Romania and Ted Quamu from Albania. Foto: Jørn Berger-Nyvoll/UiT

A very timely and relevant theme

UiTs acossiated rector, Kathrine Tveiterås, held a speech to the delegates. She empahasized on the theme of this year's session, "Sustainable Arctic: A European Beacon of Cooperation", meaning it could not be more timely or relevant.

– A beacon of cooperation must be a beacon of trust, said Tveiterås.

The Arctic, warming far faster than the planetary average, presents unique challenges and urgency for building resilience.

– Circumpolar collaboration in the Arctic will remain difficult for many years to come. Russias invasion of Ukraine and the war in Europe is devastating. We need to rethink how we can solve border-less challenges while more hostile borders are our reality, said Tveiterås.

From the General Assembly of EYP at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Acossiated rector, Kathrine Tveiterås, speeks to the delegates. Foto: Jørn Berger-Nyvoll/UiT

Welcomed the youths back as students

As the northernmost university in the world, UiT takes pride in being a comprehensive Arctic university, said Tveiterås.

– We are strategically placed to develop and disseminate knowledge about the Arctic and the High North. We focuse on research and education about nature, society, technology, environment, culture, humans, and the interaction between these.

She welcomed the delegates back as visitors, students, or research fellows in the future.

About EYP:

European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a non-partisan, volunteer-run educational programme organised by youth, for youth. It brings together over 30 thousand participants in more than 500 different events annually all across Europe with the aim of educating and discussing socially and politically relevant issues. The EYP is one of the largest programmes dedicated to peer-to-peer political education of young Europeans on the continent.

Kortnytt fra Universitetsledelsen, Rektors stab

Moe, Trude Haugseth trude.h.moe@uit.no Kommunikasjonsrådgiver