INTRODUCTION LETTER

EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT EYP GEORGIA BATUMI INTERNATIONAL FORUM

WELCOME TO GEORGIA HOST CITY - BATUMI

SESSION METHODOLOGY SESSION PROGRAMME

VENUES

ESSENTIALS DRESS CODE EYP POLICY

TRAVEL INFORMATION

ORGANISING TEAM

CONTACT INFORMATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dear applicants, It is our great pleasure to invite you to Batumi’14 – 5th International Forum of EYP Georgia. The Forum will gather about 150 participants from all over Europe to discuss current European affairs under the theme of ‘’Eastern Partnership Countries and their integration with the European Union”. There is actually a reason why we have chosen Batumi as the host city for an International Forum. Apart from being one of the most gorgeous seaside cities in the entire world, Batumi has always been known for its multiculturalism and diversity. It is a city where people with different ethnicity, race, religion and cultural beliefs have always been able to find a common language. Frankly, at the end of the day, is not that what EYP is all about? The Organising Team is working very hard to make Batumi’14 one of the most unforgettable events in EYP Georgia’s history. Creating a session of this importance is a big responsibility for us to take as the expectations have been in-credibly high from the early beginning. We are doing our best to make a session worthy enough not to just be another international forum but to let it leave its own mark with its uniqueness and originality. We have strong hope that these five days will be an incredible opportunity for all of you to challenge yourselves, to meet new friends and to help create something special.

This information booklet was created to provide you with the necessary information regarding the event. We believe everything you read here will make all of your doubts, about applying for the session, disappear. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to Batumi’14 – 5th International Forum of EYP Georgia.

Please fill in the application form here

INTRODUCTIONLETTER

The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a non-profit and non-partisan educational project designed to actively engage young people in the molding of their future society. The organization offers people aged between 16 and 25 years old the opportunity to express their opinion concerning Euro-pean political topics. Since 1987, for more than 27 years, the European Youth Parliament has en-gaged young Europeans in dialogue, discussion and debate. One of the overall aims of the European Youth Parliament is to raise awareness of European issues and to motivate young people to become active citizens engaged in politics. The EYP enables students to experience directly the different perspectives of young in Europe and allows them to explore the European and global dimension of several contemporary political issues. The EYP encourages independent thinking and socio-political initiative in young people. It develops young Europeans across a wide range of skills: from rheto-ric to event management. By offering a challenging international learning experience, contributes essentially to its participants personal development. Thanks to its activities EYP allows the young participants to acquire long-term competences, such as communication and social skills, teamwork, multitasking and being at ease in a multicultural environment. This organization promotes interna-tional understanding and the diversity of ideas and cultural expression.

It has already become a successfully tradition of EYP Georgia to host an international Forum on the black sea cost in a beautiful city of Batumi. It all started in the summer 2009 and is held annu-ally since then. The very first event gathered more than 100 youngsters from different European countries under the motto “changing the sense of possible”. Hosting the first international event, EYP Georgia faced many problems; however the event turned out to be a great success. Following the development of EYP Georgia, Batumi 1st International Forum was followed by more advanced forums. Following successful Forums in previous years, BIF’14 is promising to exceed the expec-tations. This autumn November 14-17, 2014, beautiful city of Batumi will host 5th International Forum of EYP Georgia, which will be head-organized by two experienced EYP-ers Mr. Giorgi Metskhvarishvili and Mr. Giorgi Elisashvili, who will do their best in order the session to become the unforgettable experience for every participant.

EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT

EYP GEORGIAEYP Georgia is an official member of EYP family since 2008. European Youth Parliament Georgia started as an initiative in 2007.However, in 2008 at the International Session in Prague; it became an official member of EYP. Since its establishment EYP Georgia has organized 37 sessions, includ-ing 8 National Selection Conferences and 4 International Forums. 4 International Youth Forums took place in Batumi for the past 4 years, in which many foreign delegates and officials were in-volved. The most important session in Georgia was Tbilisi 74th International Session; In 2012 EYP Georgia received a right to host an 74th International Session in the capital of Georgia-Tbilisi. The session was held in October 4-12 in this period over 300 delegates from all over Europe got ac-quainted with the splendid culture, cuisine, architecture and people of Georgia.

BATUMI INTERNATIONAL FORUM

Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Georgia is a land filled with magnificent history and unparalleled natural beauty, land of endless wonders, unspoiled by modern tourism and still retaining its authentic char-acter. It doesn’t matter where you go but Georgia’s nature will keep you speechless. With sublime-ly perched old churches, watchtowers and castles dotting its fantastic mountain scenery, Georgia has to be one of the most beautiful countries on earth. This is a place the human hand has much enhanced that of nature. Georgia’s depth of history – both ancient and modern – is laid bare right before your eyes. Georgia with its favorable geographic location has a unique and ancient cultural heritage. From outrageously beautiful towns of Svaneti and Kazbegi in the Caucasus Mountains to Batumi, a fun-loving semitropical town on the Black Sea coastline, Georgia abounds in natural variety. Tbilisi, the capital and by far the biggest city, has the atmosphere of an age-old Eurasian crossroads, yet it’s also a 21st-century city with European-style nightclubs and eye-catching new architecture. Perhaps its greatest treasure is the Georgians themselves: warm, proud, high-spirited, cultured, obsessively hospitable and expert at enjoying life. The Georgians have exceptionally strong traditions of hospitality, chivalry, and codes of personal honor.

Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara.Batumi was an Ancient Greek colony, a Roman port and was fought over several times in battles between the Georgian Kings and invading Ottoman forces. Today it is Georgia’s main port and seaside holiday destination. Batumi is blossoming. It is Georgia’s summer playground and has seen much development over recent years, much of it with new building, but some with a sympathetic understanding of the city’s history. Sub-tropical climate, warm sea with its health properties, seaside tourist and resort infrastructure, unique combination of the costal and mountainous climate create the best recreational conditions for tour-ism. Since 2010, the face of the city has been transformed by the construction of new high-rise landmark buildings and the renovation of the Old Town. Batumi is distinguished by the abundance of diverse architectural buildings which make the city more modern and beautiful. Today Batumi has become not only one of the most beautiful cities of Georgia but a distinguished tourist center on the Black Sea. It has always had resources necessary for resort cities. However, the recent years saw unprecedented measures accomplished for the touristic development. Batumi is distinguished by the abundance of diverse architectural buildings which make the city more modern and beautiful.

GEORGIA

BATUMI

BATUMI INTERNATIONAL FORUM

Day 1- Friday - 14.11.2014BreakfastTransfer to General Teambuilding venueGeneral TeambuildingCommittee teambuildingLunchCommittee teambuildingCoffee breakCommittee teambuildingFree timeWelcome Party

Day 2- Saturday - 15.11.2014BreakfastTransfer to Opening Ceremony VenueOpening CeremonyTransfer to Committee Work VenueCommittee WorkLunchCommittee WorkCoffee BreakCommittee WorkDinnerEurovillageTransfer to Hotel

SESSION PROGRAMME

Day 3 - Sunday - 16.11.2014Breakfast Transfer to Committee Work VenueCommittee WorkCoffee BreakCommittee WorkLunchCommittee WorkCoffee BreakFinalizing ResolutionsDinnerTransfer to Euroconcert VenueEuroconcert

Day 4 - Monday - 17.11.2014BreakfastTransfer to General Assembly VenueGeneral AssemblyCoffee breakGeneral AssemblyLunchGeneral AssemblyCoffee breakGeneral AssemblyDinnerClosing CeremonyTransfer to Hotels and preparations for farewell partyTransfer to Farewell Party venue Farewell Party

SESSION PROGRAMME

SESSION

Teambuilding is one of the core elements of the Session. It will provide you with a fun and challenging way of getting to know your committee and pre-paring yourself for the days to come. During the Teambuilding, you will be challenged to carry out several activities that are aimed at ensuring you get along well with your fellow participants and that your committee becomes a well-functioning team. Bear in mind that Teambuilding will at times take place outside.Dress Code: Comfortable

OPENING CEREMONY

TEAMBUILDING

COMMITTEE WORK

EUROVILLAGE

The Opening Ceremony marks the official opening of the session. At the Opening Ceremony several prominent speakers will deliver a key-note speech to the session participants. The session will also be addressed by the Session President and the Head Organisers.Dress Code: Casual Smart

Committee Work is one of the hardest parts of EYP sessions. This one usu-ally contains lots of discussions and brain storms. In the first day delegates have to write problems related to their topic. On their second day they have to write solutions. But at the end committee composes a resolution which one delegates have to defend at the General Assembly.Dress Code: Smart

Teambuilding is one of the core elements of the Session. It will provide you with a fun and challenging way of getting to know your committee and pre-paring yourself for the days to come. During the Teambuilding, you will be challenged to carry out several activities that are aimed at ensuring you get along well with your fellow participants and that your committee becomes a well-functioning team. Bear in mind that Teambuilding will at times take place outside.Dress Code: Casual/Tradiotional

METHODOLOGY EUROCONCERT

CLOSING CEREMONY

GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)

FAREWELL PARTY

General Assembly is the final part of the session where all the committees are given the floor to present and then defend their resolutions. General Assem-bly is the place where you show others how hard you worked during past two days and are encouraged to prove that you deserve to get it voted in favor. At GA participants discuss their work and debate on every controversial issue that is mentioned in their resolutions. They are asked to deliver their speeches in front of the audience. In the end there is a voting process which declares the outcome of each resolution. The Resolution successfully passed if more than half of delegates voted in.Dress Code: Formal

As the very final event of the session, the Farewell Party will truly be one of the most exciting and amazing parties you will attend! Farewell Party is not just going to be your average party. Farewell Party will be the night to “dance like it’s the last night of your life”!Dress Code: None

Euro Concert is the ideal opportunity for talented musicians, singers and dancers to showcase their creativity and talent to the rest of the Session! Please note that the Organising Team will not be able to provide any kind of instrument. Instruments that you need for your performance will have to be brought by yourself! If you believe you have what it takes to impress your fellow delegates with your musical, or other, abilities, you are hereby strong-ly encouraged to go on stage and take the spotlight!Dress Code: Smart/Formal

The closing ceremony marks the official closure of the session. It follows right after General Assembly. EYP representatives, the editors, head organis-ers and the president will be speaking at this ceremony.Dress Code: Formal

SESSION VENUES

Committee Work VenueShota Rustaveli State University

Euroconcert VenueBatumi State Musical Centre

General Assembly VenueSheraton Hotel

Opening Ceremony VenueIntourist Palace Batumi

SESSION VENUES

Committee Work VenueShota Rustaveli State University

General Assembly VenueSheraton Hotel

Hotel Oasis

Opening Ceremony VenueIntourist Palace Batumi

Teambuilding VenueNuri Lake

COMFORTABLE

DRESS CODE

FORMAL

This dress code applies to the part of the session, where you will be doing variousexercises and games, both indoors and outdoors. You are free to wear any type of clothing you feel comfortable in, as long as you are able to run around and are not afraid to perhaps get a little bit dirty!

During Opening Ceremony, Euroconcert and General Assembly you will be expected to dressformally. This means suits with ties for gentlemen, and suits, dresses or long skirts for the ladies!

EYP POLICY

DRESS CODE EYP POLICY

ALCOHOLDuring the evening programme, wine and beer will be available at some events for anyone who is 16 or older. EYP law will be respected, meaning that beer and wine (<15% alcohol) will be available to those who are 16 years and older, and spirits (>15% alcohol) will only be available to those of 18 years and older.” EYP has a good reputation (for example, European Commissioners often suggest discussion topics for us) and we would like to keep it that way. Also, we need you to participate fully in the debates and discus-sions. For this reason, overindulgence is forbidden. If you drink so much that you get sick or lose conscious-ness, you will be removed from the session and be sent home. You will have to pay for this yourself and the participation fee will not be refunded.

DRUGSIf you use drugs or have them in your possession, then you will be removed from the session and be sent home. You will have to pay for this yourself and the participation fee will not be refunded. Should you be suspected of carrying drugs or of drug use, then the organisers will reserve the right to subject you to a drug-test and to search your luggage. Any pos-session of hard drugs will be reported to the police and could result in your arrest.

LEAVING THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMMEManaging a conference with over 150 participants is not easy and requires us to know where you are at all times. This means that you cannot leave without the permission of an organiser and your chairperson.

TRAVEL AND CONTACT INFORMATIONFlights To Tbilisi The most important airport of Georgia is Tbilisi International Airport: located 30 minutes from the city cen-ter. The airport has frequently connecting flights to European cities and hosts number of well-known air-lines. Mostly connecting flights are arranged through Istanbul, Munich and Kiev. There are ATMs, multiple SIM card vendors, a CIP lounge, and free Wi-Fi (Silknet) in the airport

The following airlines operate service to/from Tbilisi: airBaltic, Austrian Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Czech Airlines, Estonian Air, Euroline, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Ukraine Inter-national Airlines.

Flights To BatumiBatumi International airport is located 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Batumi, a city on the Black Seacoast and capi-tal of Adjara, The airport is 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Hopa, Turkey and serves as a domestic and interna-tional airport for Georgia and northeastern Turkey. Batumi is one of three international airports in operation in Georgia

The following airlines operate service to/from Batumi International Airport: Aerosvit, Belavia, Georgian Airways, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines

By TrainAn overnight sleeper train runs from Yerevan to Tbilisi on even days of the year starting at 5600AMD (ap-proximately 15 $) Tickets can be bought at the Yerevan train station, cash only (for detailed information visit http://www.ukzhd.am/ru_passenger.html)Georgian Railways operates trains between Batumi and Tbilisi. There’s currently one night train every day, which departs Tbilisi at 22.45 and arrives at 7.25 (the one from Batumi to Tbilisi leaves at 22:25). So the travel time is 8h 40min. The train makes lots of stops all night long (like ~20).There’s also one daytime train (each way) daily, which is a lot faster, 5h 15min. (It leaves at 8.30 from Tbilisi and at 17.55 from Batumi (www.railway.ge). First class (sleeper) ticket in the night train costs 40 GEL; (Second class is just 23 GEL. Buying the ticket early may be a good idea to secure a sleeper. Make sure to have your passport with you!

By BusLuks Karadeniz operates a daily bus from Turkey, costing 70 TRY. Neo-Turs bus company offers bus trans-fers Tbilisi -Thessaloniki - Athens and back, starting from Didube bus station (price: 100 US-$).Buses and minibuses (marshutka) operate regularly between Batumi and Tbilisi. Travel time is around 6 hours. The fare is 20 GEL. The scenery along the way is breathtaking. The best place to take the marshutka in Tbilisi is from Didube metro station, they leave approximately every hour. But they will wait until the bus has enough passengers on it before they leave. Daily buses also operate between Batumi and Trabzon, Turkey, with stops in Rize and the border crossing at Sarpi. Make sure you have all your documents with you before crossing the border.

TRAVEL AND CONTACT INFORMATIONFor more information about the session, please visit the official facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/batumi14EYP Georgia website: https://www.eyp.org.geEYP Georgia Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eypgeorgia

Should you require any further information regarding the session do not hesitate to contact to the Head Organisers:

Giorgi Metskhvarishvili: +995593473747; +995599080107Giorgi Elisashvili: +995555030022

E-mail: batumi14@eyp.org.ge

Please fill in the application form here

ORGA TEAM

ORGA TEAM