This is it! Our delegation's group project for the April 2013 National Session in Limoges!

Magical mystery tour!

« A l’occasion de l’entrée de la Croatie dans l’Union européenne le 1^er juillet 2013, concevez et présentez-nous, sur le support de votre choix, une activité originale et ludique retraçant les étapes de l’élargissement de l’Union européenne depuis sa création ».

We decided to make a short film to show to our school mates and teachers... Enjoy the trip!

Armand’s favourite well-known European figure is Winston Churchill

I chose Winston Churchill because at a crucial moment in the history of Europe, during World War II, when most of Europe was subject to Hitler’s rule, Churchill took the leadership of the United Kingdom and of the alliance against Hitler. Largely thanks to him, Europe was eventually freed.

Winston Churchill was the son of an American mother and a British aristocrat. He was first an army officer (therefore he understood war and how to win it), then a journalist/war correspondent, then a politician.

He wasn’t always successful; as First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I, he lost a key battle against the Turks and was thereafter ousted from the government.

Out of office in the 1930s, he was one of the first to warn against the danger of the rise of Hitler. He succeeded in coming back to Government and became Prime Minister.

As Hitler gained ground, he always refused to accept the possibility of defeat or even compromise (unlike Neville Chamberlain…). He inspired the British and the Allies to victory. Through diplomacy, he paved the way for the American entry into World War II. He understood de Gaulle’s potential and “promoted” him as leader of Free France, despite opposition from other French resistance leaders.

Had it not been for his moral strength, political judgement, vision, leadership, military skills, and stirring speeches, Europe would not be what it has become today. That’s why I have chosen him as my favourite well-known European figure.

Lucile LESTANG's experience as a Chair at the Nantes National Session of the EYP!

Teambuilding!

Last December, I took part as a Chair (i.e. person-in-charge of a committee) at the 33^rd National Session (SN) of the EYP (European Youth Parliament), better known in France as Parlement Européen des Jeunes or PEJ, in Nantes.

A National Session, held over four days, is the meeting of the of the nine high school delegations  from all over France that have been selected. A NS consists of team-building games, committee work, and, on the last day, the General Assembly during which the delegation which will represent France in the International Session is chosen. A National Session is a unique experience which the participants will never forget.

My role was to welcome and supervise the delegates of a committee (a committee has to discuss an important European issue, it is made up of nine pupils in Première, all from different schools). They didn't know each other and so I was there to help them build their team and trust each other in order to be more productive during their committee work. This involved fun games and lots of laughter! It’s really exhausting, but it’s so great to see them get to know each other.

The other role of a Chair is to help the delegates work on their resolutions, i.e. the proposals they will be submitting, after all their discussions, to the vote of the General Assembly (the GA is the most important moment of a National Session, the most solemn part of it).

What do you have to be like to be a Chair? Sociable, basically, that is open to others and tolerant of their ideas. You also need a lot of stamina, i.e. to be able to go without sleep for four days! You also need patience because sometimes the delegates have complicated problems...

This was such a good experience for me… I learnt a lot during these three days: how to manage stress (my own and that of others) and to manage a team. I learnt too that helping others is very important to me. Actually, I can’t wait to take part in the next EYP event!

Eva's favourite well-known European figure is Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard is a famous French actress. She is 37 years old. She is successful in both her work and in her family life. In 1999 Marion Cotillard was nominated for the César for Taxi. In 2002 she was nominated for the César for Les Jolies Choses. In 2005 she won the César for Best Actress in a supporting role. In 2008 she won a César for Best Actress as well as a Golden Globe and the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for La Môme.

She seems breezy, independent and free. She enjoys being on the move and exploring new territory. Harmony and balance are her key notes. She is diplomatic and socially aware. She is a person who prefers sharing and doing things with others rather than on her own. Being alone feels very unnatural to her. She has a lot of energy and most of her films have received acclaim from both critics and the public.

She succeeded in convincing Hollywood that you can be French and a woman and still be a great actress! That to me makes her a great European figure!

Emma's favourite well-known European figure is Jeanne d'Arc

Jeanne d’Arc was born in 1412 during the Hundred Years War period which set France against England. She became a war hero, and Saint of the Catholic Church. She is also well-known outside France as an extraordinary person: young, courageous, and a woman in a man’s world…

At the beginning of the 15^th century, this seventeen year old girl succeeded in convincing the Dauphin Charles to let her lead the French troops against the English armies, to raise the siege of Orleans, and to have the Dauphin crowned in Reims, thus contributing to changing the course of the Hundred Years War.

During this war, Jeanne d’Arc was captured by the Burgundians in Compiegne. She was sold for ten thousand pounds to the English by Jean de Luxembourg. She was condemned to be burnt alive in 1432 after a trial in heresy led by Pierre Cauchon.

This trial was declared void by Pope Calixte III in 1456 and she was declared innocent and raised to the rank of Martyr. She was beatified on April 18^th 1909 and canonized on May 30^th 1920.

The story of Jeanne d’Arc has inspired a multitude of literary, historic, musical, dramatic and cinematic works.

I consider Jeanne d’Arc to be a great European figure because she showed bravery and willpower; she did what she believed had to be done…

Coraline's favourite well-known European figure is Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is a world famous English actor, comedian and screenwriter.

He was born on 6^th January 1955. Mr. Bean is his best-know creation. For most of us, he is one of the funniest people in British comedy. He has also had cinematic success with his performances in Mr. Bean movie adaptations like Mr Bean’s Holiday.

In 1979, Atkinson wrote for and starred in the BBC’s Not the Nine O’clock News comedy series. Then he starred as Mr. Bean in the eponymous TV series. Mr. Bean and his teddy bear, Teddy, faced unexpected situations. There is an almost total absence of dialogue; the humour comes from the situations and the clowning of Atkinson.

Atkinson has achieved the extraordinary feat of making many people all over the world laugh, like Chaplin had done in his day. In a way, he reminds us of our common humanity, which, nowadays, is no mean feat… Thank you Mr Bean!

Sophie's favourite well-known European figure is Chalie Chaplin

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in 1889 in a poor neighbourhood of London in the UK.

He became a director, actor, composer, writer and producer of a many films. The Kid (1921), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940) are three of the best known.

His most famous character was The Tramp, a homeless person with the manners of a gentleman who wore a bowler hat and carried a walking stick.

His career started in 1913 in Hollywood. He received two honorary Oscars and an Oscar for best music. He died in 1977 in Switzerland aged 88.

I think his work is amazing because most of his films show the problems of society like poverty but with humour and pathos. For me, he was a true artist because he was hard-working and his films still make people laugh.

Mathilde's favourite well-known European figure is Coco Chanel

Gabrielle Chanel was born on the 19^th of August 1883 in Saumur and she died on the 10^th January 1971. She was from a poor family. She had two nicknames: Mademoiselle and Coco.

She became a world-famous fashion designer. She is the symbol of French elegance; she revolutionized fashion in many ways, for example by making women wear men’s clothes.

I admire her because she was so strong-willed; despite the pain of losing people close to her, and no matter how difficult a situation might become, she always fought for her dignity and never gave up.

Benjamin's favourite well-known European figure is Jean Moulin

Jean Moulin, a famous French politician and resistance fighter, is certainly the historic figure I admire the most because of his actions for our country.

He was born in 1899 in Béziers. He spent a peaceful childhood with his brother and sister.  He was influenced by his father, a regional councilor, and became interested in politics. In 1917 he decided to integrate the Law faculty of Montpellier. After a short year of study he was sent to Vosges to fight in the First World War in 1918.

He became General Secretary of the Prefecture then Under Prefect, the youngest in France.

In 1936 he became a member of staff of the Minister of the Air force for the government called “Front populaire”. He was able secretly to help to Republican fighters in the Spanish Civil War by sending them planes. In 1937 he was named Prefect in Rodez, the youngest in France. On the eve of the Second World War he became Prefect in Chartres.

Because of the rise of political extremes in Europe the Second World War broke out. This confrontation was the theatre of Jean Moulin’s heroic and exemplary actions. At the beginning of the war he tried to integrate the French army but the Home Office forced him to keep his position.

In 1940 for the first time he acted against the Germans and refused to sign a declaration which accused some Africans of killing civilians. As a result Jean Moulin was imprisoned and tortured. He decided to commit suicide by cutting his own throat. His attempt failed and since that day he wore a scarf to hide his scar. Due to this experience he began to strongly hate the Nazis.

In 1941, Jean Moulin went to London after having crossed Spain and Portugal. Over there he met Charles de Gaulle who gave him his mission: to unite all the resistance movements. He returned to France in 1942 and set up his base in Lyon. “Rex” (his code name) succeeded in creating the secret army in 1942 which included soldiers from the three groups of resistance fighters: “Combat”,”Libération” and “Franc-tireur”.

He went back to London in 1943 and was decorated with the liberation cross. He went back to France and set up the CNR (Conseil National de la Résistance) in order to improve the organization of the different actions of resistance.

In 1943, Jean Moulin was recognized by the Gestapo. He was arrested and tortured. He did not speak and showed his courage during the many interrogations. He was transferred to Germany but died during the journey in the train on the 8^th July 1943.

His ashes were sent to the Panthéon to lie among the major figures of the country. He well deserves his place there. Who can’t admire this man for his actions? It is really uncommon to find a man with so much courage to defy the biggest dangers and suffering. He was a great leader. It is important to say that he wasn’t the only one who showed a lot of bravery during this Second World War; however he became the symbol of this heroic movement and a major historic figure who fought to make Europe a better place, free from tyranny.

Margaux's favourite well-known European figure is Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot was born on 28^th September 1934 in Paris. She is a French actress and singer, activist for animal rights, founder and leader of the foundation which bears her name.

She is world-famous, a star, muse of the greatest artists of our time, an emblem of the emancipation of women.

"BB" is one of the most famous French artists and was the biggest star of European cinema after the War. She put an end to her career in 1973 to devote herself to the defense of animals.

In 1976, after seeing a documentary about seal pup culling, she started a major international campaign. This amazing woman said during an interview: “If I'm here, it’s not for tourism or to be photographed but to find a solution to the problem and I beg the Canadian government to find a solution to this problem. [...] We must tell you that, even if seal hunting is over 300 years, traditions change and only idiots never change their minds.”

In 1986, Bardot created in Saint-Tropez the Brigitte Bardot Foundation which is an organization to protect animals.

She said: “I gave my beauty and my youth to men. I give my wisdom and my experience and the best of myself to animals”.

In my opinion, Brigitte Bardot is an amazing woman because she fights for something dear to her heart and is not afraid of people’s opinion about her. She is a role model for all Europeans.