With local elections coming up in Austria, we want to encourage our members to exercise their democratic rights by voting in state and regional elections on 26 September in Upper Austria and Graz!
Due to the federal system of Austria, some competences, such as conservation of nature, spatial planning, building regulations and youth protection, are delegated to the states, whilst municipalities are in charge of zoning plans, emergency services and compulsory schools, among other things. This means that a lot of important decisions are made at this level of government and that you can make a significant impact by voting in these elections!
In Upper Austria, state, municipal, and mayoral elections are taking place. Eligibility is different for state and local levels, so make sure to find out if and how you can vote here.
EU citizens 16 and over with their main residence in Graz (reference date 16 July 2021) can vote in the municipal and district elections in Graz. All details can be found here.
For both elections, you can request postal voting or a voting card, with which you can vote at any polling site. In Graz, there is even early in-person voting on 17 September. So make sure to make your voice heard by voting!
EYP goes EU policy making | 27 September
/in NewsWe are happy to share a cool opportunity provided by a fellow EYPer:
Hi there, thank you for your interest! My name is Ricarda and I am organising this Zoom Discussion.
Having been active in EYP for years now I thought I could combine my new profession with the youth organisation I love. I am currently working for an Austrian Member of European Parliament, Thomas Waitz, from the Greens/EFA who is a rapporteur on a file called Climate and Defence (short: CLIMDEF). Before handing in his report he wants to have meetings with experts from all kinds of backgrounds and also mentioned he wants to consult the youth since it is us who will have to live with the consequences and climate change as a security threat. This is where you come into play – you have been an active citizen thus far through EYP and I am sure you can bring a lot to the table!
So here is your official invite to actively shape EU policy, have a say in the report and discuss with an MEP!
The discussion will take place via Zoom, on Monday, 27 September, at 17:00 CEST. Please register through this form until 24 September so I can send you the Zoom details as well as the unpublished report. Please do not leak it and handle it with care.
State of the Union | 15 September
/in NewsIn September each year, the President of the European Commission delivers the State of the Union address to the Parliament. The address takes stock of the achievements of the past year and presents the priorities for the year ahead.
The President also sets out how the Commission will address the most pressing challenges the European Union faces and ideas for shaping the future of the EU.
Follow it live to figure out how the EU is doing and where it’s heading today, at 9:00 CEST!
Call for Members Weekend Organisers
/in NewsWe are excited to hereby open the call for Organisers for this year’s Members Weekend, taking place from 15 to 17 October in Vienna!
EYP Austria’s Members Weekend 2021 will be our most important training event of the academic year, bringing together members from all generations for a weekend of training and socialising. Now we are looking for motivated individuals to take charge of putting together an unforgettable weekend for our members together with the Head-Organiser Anna Windisch.
Find the official call and application document here. You can apply until Sunday, 19 September 2021, 23:59 CEST.
We’re looking forward to your applications!
Elections in Upper Austria and Graz | 26 September
/in NewsWith local elections coming up in Austria, we want to encourage our members to exercise their democratic rights by voting in state and regional elections on 26 September in Upper Austria and Graz!
Due to the federal system of Austria, some competences, such as conservation of nature, spatial planning, building regulations and youth protection, are delegated to the states, whilst municipalities are in charge of zoning plans, emergency services and compulsory schools, among other things. This means that a lot of important decisions are made at this level of government and that you can make a significant impact by voting in these elections!
In Upper Austria, state, municipal, and mayoral elections are taking place. Eligibility is different for state and local levels, so make sure to find out if and how you can vote here.
EU citizens 16 and over with their main residence in Graz (reference date 16 July 2021) can vote in the municipal and district elections in Graz. All details can be found here.
For both elections, you can request postal voting or a voting card, with which you can vote at any polling site. In Graz, there is even early in-person voting on 17 September. So make sure to make your voice heard by voting!
Call for Understanding Europe Trainers
/in NewsWe are thrilled to announce that our call for Understanding Europe Trainers for the academic year 2021/22 is officially open. The Understanding Europe project depends on dedicated, talented, and inspired individuals to actively take part in its development.
Team Members will work together with Understanding Europe Coordinator Julia Kikel and will be part of the Understanding Europe Austria team as well as the international network of Understanding Europe Trainers. All trainers are volunteers who will be giving workshops to students in different settings to further their understanding of topics related to the European Union.
If you are interested, you can find all further details on our website. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 19 September 2021, 23:59 CEST.
We hope you’ll apply!
Global Climate Strike | 24 September
/in NewsWith the latest IPCC report again demonstrating the dramatic human influences on our climate, we want to encourage our members to stand up for our planet and our future. Therefore we hope that you will be part of the global climate strike on 24 September!
In Austria, Fridays for Future is organising protests in:
In Innsbruck, there will not be a protest, but an Open Picnic hosted by Fridays for Future (16:00 Rapoldipark) for anyone interested.
To make it as easy as possible for our members to participate, we are also trying to find contact persons going to the strikes so that others can link up and don’t have to go there alone. If you’re interested, please reach out to me (Philipp Leindl | philipp.leindl@eyp.at | +43 6645229286) – it would be greatly appreciated!
Active Citizenship in EYP Austria
/in NewsWith our call to take part in the global climate strike, we would also like to draw your attention to our active citizenship efforts in general. Whilst active citizenship was one of three guiding values of the previous Board, it has in the meantime been formalised as a floating portfolio (i.e. one of the portfolios that the Board Members allocate among themselves after their election). Additionally, it is represented in the new National Strategy 2021-25 of EYP Austria (1.1 Societal Impact, 1.4 Educational Value, 3.3 Pluralism), as well as the international EYP Strategy 2021-25 (first pillar, “A network that works as a catalyst for Active Citizenship”).
This year it is my pleasure to be in charge of this new portfolio, and I hope to realise projects that will inform our members on issues of our time and encourage them to actively shape their future and exchange their views among each other. To achieve this, I hope to have you on my side. If you are part of any interesting initiative that you would like to publicise or discuss, please reach out to me (Philipp Leindl | philipp.leindl@eyp.at | +43 6645229286 | Social Media | EYP AT Discord) so that we can find an adequate outlet! As the Board, we are happy to support constructive causes that are compatible with our articles of association.