Lymec-PM: Summercamp in Norway: Lymec prepares the UN copenhagen Summit (12. August 2009)
From the 25th until 30th of July around 150 young liberals gathered at Hove Leir in Arendal, Norway, for the joint LYMEC/NUV summercamp. The summercamp this year was hosted by Norges Unge Venstre (NUV) and gathered about 40 international participants from all over Europe on top of the local participants from Norway. It was the first time that LYMEC organised its summercamp in conjunction with the summercamp of one of its member organisations.
LYMEC participants debated about climate change and developed an open letter to the Swedish EU presidency providing recommendations in preparation for the UN summit to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.
LYMEC President Aloys Rigaut stated at the summercamp: "Liberals are in government in Sweden and Denmark, and I am confident that they will do their utmost to make this UN summit a success. Of course this also depends on the good will of our partners throughout the world, but still, the EU can and should play a leadership role", before adding "I am happy that this event could take place. NUV summercamp did definitely live up to its reputation! By our presence we also wanted to give support to NUV's cause for Norway to join the European Union as well as to their outstanding international work".
Mette Lykke Nielsen, LYMEC bureau member noted: "It is important that we as young liberals have a clear and ambitious view on climate policy. Our goal should be not only to reach a global and binding agreement in Copenhagen but also that the agreement should be sustainable and ambitious".
Besides participating in serious debates and workshops about climate change the camp also had a strong social and intercultural aspect. A soccer tournament, an 'extreme hiking' competition, a cultural evening and the traditional Eurovision song contest were notably organised, for the maximum enjoyment of all participants.The event benefited form the financial support of the EU Youth in Action programme.
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