Treaty of Middelburg
I would like to maintain peace in the EU and somehow get rid of the tensions that might threaten that peace. This means that as the EU, we need to become more autonomous and less reliant on the US or Russia for our gas or other vital raw materials that keep our economy functioning. However, good trade relations must be kept and therefore, a certain level of globalisation is a must. On the other hand, I would like to focus on the societal pressure I mentioned in the previous question and lower the pressure on youngsters in society. The economy has changed, and it is no longer feasible to go through the same life path at the same speed as our parents did. For that, we need to focus on alternatives: house sharing, for example, is a good option with a lot of single households in the EU. Let's make that easier and let us not be bound by old rules from old times. Another alternative is to normalise being human in studies and jobs. Introduce menstrual leave and make it accepted in society with campaigns. Introduce a national campaign that normalises taking breaks when you are exhausted or so. And more of these kind of alternatives...
Team members
- ■ Esmeralda de Zwart
Why do you want to participate?
Freedom is something very present in our day-to-day politics nowadays. Sadly, the developments around the Ukraïne-Russia conflict make us question every day whether we might retain our freedom in the near future or whether we might lose it someday and end up in the war as well. Therefore, I feel the intrinsic motivation to join this International Youth Freedom Conference to craft the 'Verdrag van Middelburg' to make a statement to the NATO saying: "Freedom is important for us youngsters, so please do everything you can to maintain it"
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom, to me, is having the ability to do whatever you want to do without being restricted. To not be restricted in the choice of study or job, not by gender, descent or nationality (so being able to study /work internationally, as in the EU, is a freedom as well). To not be restricted financially by having to turn every penny because your income is too low to live a comfortable life. To be able to obtain a house when you want to live on your own and not to be restricted by the housing market. And so on..
What are the biggest challenges?
One of the biggest challenges for young people is defining who they are and what they really want in life. Many youngsters get stressed and overwhelmed by the pressure to get their life together and some of them develop mental health issues because of that. The suicide rates in the UK and Spain, for example, are sky-high. This means young people are not free of (societal) pressure. This also has to do with high workloads and expectations at studies and at work places. Burnout is mostly present among young people.
Do you have a message?
No other messages than I already shared in the previous questions.
