Moldovan young people learn to be European at home

The members of the European debate clubs that have been recently set up in Moldova with the support of the EU Delegation in Chisinau aim to transform them into real thinking and behavior Europeanization schools with real impact on the internal processes taking place in Moldovan society, Info-Prim Neo reports. Invited to the opening of a Euroclub, Corneliu Cirimpei, former coordinator of the National Debates League, initiated the young members of the new public associations into the relations between the Euroclub and the format of debates. “We can speak about European values as we spoke during 20 years, through pathetic messages, but this does not mean that we will be Europeans. The right to opinion is one of the European values and everyone should enjoy it. The famous Austrian philosopher of the 20th century Karl Popper said: “Probably I’m not right or probably you are right, but we can come closer to each other by a discussion on our ideas.” This idea united thousands of young people at the end of the 1990s, when the totalitarian regimes in Central and Eastern Europe collapsed, and they created debate clubs,” said Corneliu Cirimpei. According to him, the realities in Moldova, in the context of the EU, are an important topic that should be discussed within debate clubs. “The relations inside the Alliance for European Integration are now widely discussed. We, as members of a club, must examine how the similar processes take place in Europe as the aim of the debates is to find solutions. “There are similar facets and alliances in the EU. During many years, Belgium could not form a government. The alliance in Greece for example is more fragile than in Moldova and has to cope with more serious problems. If we do not try to see what the people in the EU do, we will not achieve our objective by discussing and analyzing Moldova’s problems,” stated Corneliu Cirimpei. Another invitee Andrei Iovu spoke about the internal organization mechanisms and personal stimuli of the participants in the project, basing mainly on his own experience. “It is important that you take an active part in the EU programs and cooperate with colleagues from other states. You should adapt the good practices of other states, become involved in distance learning and internships abroad and be in contact with the European values and experience. This will help you better understand the present situation in Moldova,” he said. ”The political class in Moldova speaks about European values, but does not perceive them appropriately. The language is nice, but the deeds are not in line with the language.” Euroclub coordinator Cristina Alexa thanked the EU Delegation for launching the project “Bring Europe to Your Home” within which Euroclubs were founded in Moldova. “The initial goal of the project was to create a network of Euroclubs in Moldova, which would promote the European values among the young people and would help bring about changes in our community,” she said. ”The general aim of the project is to develop critical thinking and the oratorical skills of the young people. The activity will include a series of meetings that will take place at the Chisinau-based library “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” every week.” The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel explained were the idea of creating Euroclubs in Moldova derived from. “As you know, I earlier worked in Kiev. There are hundreds of such Euroclubs in Ukraine, where the young people and not only discuss issues concerning the integration with the EU and cooperation with the EU. I was surprised to find out that there were no such clubs in Moldova. The first Euroclubs outside the EU were set up in Russia in the 1990s. One of my first ideas when I came to Moldova, in November 2009, was to organize such clubs here. I’m glad that my ideas were borrowed by so many young people all over the country and that we opened this Euroclub,” said Dirk Schuebel, adding that the EU Delegation will always be near to provide support.