The Lebanese Forces Students Association participation in the YEPP Congress at Rome
The Italian capital Rome hosted a four-days Congress of the Youth European People’s Parliament, which is considered one of the largest conferences that bring together the Christian democratic and conservative parties from all across Europe. More than three hundred representatives of all the European countries participated in the event which is held once every two years. The most prominent figures meet during the assembly to discuss various political topics and cast their votes to elect a new council to lead the Parliament.
The Public Relations & Foreign Affairs Department in the Lebanese Forces Students Association (LFSA) was the only participant from outside the European continent, along with delegations from Germany, France, Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia , Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Romania in addition to the hosting country – Italy.
Over the four-days convention the participants met with important European figures, most notably the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Vice-President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Parliament Mario Mauro, President of the Italian Senate Renato Schifani, President of the European People”s Party Wilfried Martens, the former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, President the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering , Mayor of Rome Giovanni Alemanno..
The LFSA delegation met with the most prominent young leaders in Europe in exclusively held sessions such as the Italian Minister of Youth, the Romanian Minister of Youth and Annagrazia Calabria the youngest member of the Italian parliament, in addition to a number of representatives of European associations and organizations.
In one of the lectures, religious leaders discussed issues such as the dialogue between religions. The head of Public Relations and Foreign Affairs in LFSA Wissam Habchi spoke and expressed the importance of Lebanon as a platform and a centre of co-existence between different religions which reflects the image of the dialogue of civilizations.
The LFSA also attended the electing session of the YEPP Council which resulted a victory for Mr. Schouteten, a representative of the French UMP, as the new acting president of the YEPP. The LFSA issued an invitation for the new council to visit Lebanon in the upcoming summer. The convention was concluded on Sunday, in a ceremony headed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican.
The Lebanese delegation was received for an extra day by their Italian partners, discussing means to develop youth relations and joint ventures between the two countries – followed by a touristic visit to Rome. Finally the youth in Sforza Italia – Giovanni section received an official invitation to visit Lebanon.