Still want to be picked for the team to represent the school at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office European Youth Parliament Debating Forum?

Prepare a two minute speech on one of the following issues mentioned at the EU Commission during our discussions on 29th November. You will need to research it carefully and talk about it in front of a panel (probably myself, Josh and Aaron but also possibly another teacher). We will hear you make your speech in January as we do not need to pick the team until we have the debating motions. If you are not picked, then at least you will have researched a topic that interests you and you can say that you participated in the European Society/visited the EU Commission on your UCAS form. We will work around January modules and probably pick the team at the end of January or as soon as we have the debating motions and date for the Forum, whichever is the sooner.

You can choose one of the following to talk about;

-How democratic is the EU?
-How will enlargement of the EU affect Britain?
-Do you think the EU should have an army and the power to levy taxes?
-What impact is the EU having as a political force on the rest of the world?

Please ask me for guidance if you are unclear.

Make sure you read below for feedback on our visit to the Commission. Well done to all of you! You were impressive.

Visit by European Society to the European Commission in Storey's Gate, London on 29th November 2006.

EU Commission in UK

Greta Hopkins at the Commission, welcomed 13 boys from the European Society and described their questions as "brilliant". She was very impressed by the level of detailed knowledge the boys have on the EU and had to talk for 30 minutes longer than planned in order to accommodate many questions. We learned how the EU works and discussed issues that interest the year 12 boys such as the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, the nature of Democracy in the EU and how to influence policy. Some of the boys were Eurosceptic but discovered that economically, Britain has benefitted from membership over the past 23 years and is now one of the richest members despite only giving 1% of its GDP to the EU.

We discussed the impending inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria into the Union and how this will impact on the institutions of the EU, immigration, crime and the general economy. We also learned about areas of legislation that the EU has no power over, such as taxation, the right to declare war, enforce conscription or dictate the school curricula of member states!

All in all, a sunny afternoon in the beautiful surroundings of the Government buildings and St James' Park. We are now really looking forward to the debating forum at the Foreign Office.