62nd MEP The Hague, 2025
- Mar 3
- 5 min read
NATO meets MEP
The trip to The Hague
For the Bulgarian delegation, the trip to The Hague was a real adventure – much more than just a flight. After careful planning and good coordination, in the later hours of the day everyone arrived in the city of diplomacy and peace. Most of the delegates, along with the vice-president, flew from Sofia to Eindhoven early in the morning. Patiently waiting was our national coordinator Marko, who had arrived from Prague. Together, they managed to steal a few hours of precious time to explore the Christmas-decorated city and recharge before the next part of their journey. After a short break and a few more train connections, they arrived in The Hague, where they were greeted by Martina, another member of the Bulgarian delegation, and Lexi, the chair of the EMPL committee, who had flown in from Milan. After a long day, everyone was finally together – tired but excited for the start of the session.
Opening Ceremony and Team-building
The day began energetically in anticipation for the week ahead. The first location – the Peace Palace - gave the Bulgarian delegation a warm welcome. Group photos, short interviews, and lively conversations with the other delegations kicked off the day before the official ceremony began with a speech by the mayor of The Hague, H. E. Mr. Jan van Zanen. His words were candid and expressed sincere faith in the delegates and the path they were taking. He found it inspiring to see a hall filled with enthusiastic representatives from different countries, ready to discuss important issues and work for the unity of the European Union.
The second part of the day was devoted to team-building activities by committees. A walk around the city, a visit to the Mauritshuis museum where delegates saw the world-famous painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring", as well as various ice-braker games, all helped the delegates get to know each other and forge valuable friendships.
Despite the typical Dutch weather, which was unfavorable for delegates from warmer countries, the evening passed in a welcoming atmosphere with dinner in an Italian restaurant. The conversations and laughter continued throughout the Christmas-lit streets of The Hague. Tiring but exciting, the first day turned out to be a wonderful start to the week.
Committee Meetings
It may have been Friday but in The Hague the hard work was just beginning. On the first day of committee meetings, the teams began drafting their resolutions – analysing the issues assigned and determining the necessary actions to resolve them. Our delegates tackled the transition to plant-based proteins, the "pink tax", the ethical issues of artificial intelligence, and the EU’s military readiness. The evening continued in a special way for the Bulgarian delegation – in celebrations of the birthday of our vice-president and valuable member of FEYA and MEP Bulgaria, Sofia. As the clock struck midnight, in both Bulgarian and later Dutch time, they marked the occasion in a small restaurant.
Meetings and Cultural Evening
The committees had a last chance to finish their resolutions and submit them before the deadline. Debates, compromises, and countless hours of team efforts led to 10 resolutions being submitted, which would be defended and voted on in the following days. After such intense work, it was time for the cultural evening – an event in which each country presents itself through a national custom, dance, song, or another tradition.
The Bulgarian delegation proudly represented their country with a horo dance to the song "Biala Roza" performed by the talented Lexi. Many delegates joined in on stage – whether familiar with Bulgarian traditions or not, everyone happily learned a few steps and immersed themselves in the spirit of our homeland. These few hours will surely remain in the hearts of the participants as proof that despite our differences, unity is possible.
Surprise Visit and Lobbying
The guest, whom the organisers had kept secret from the delegates, certainly surprised everyone and left many speechless. It was NATO Secretary General and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte himself. Many of the participants took advantage of this outstanding opportunity to ask their questions. It was an unforgettable experience for everyone – to hear the point of view of a someone who has achieved so much in the world of politics and proven himself to be an inspiring leader.
After the unexpected visit the delegation headed to a cozy restaurant, where they held their delegation meeting, working on the resolutions, finding their shortcomings and preparing arguments for their defense in preparation for the lobbying and plenary session. Of course, they couldn't help but spend some time playing with their new furry friend, who was eager to help... and succeeded in doing so. Ready for more work, the team headed to the school where the lobbying session was to take place. The necessary amendments to the resolutions were proposed and signatures were collected for their vote. And so, another day came to an end for the Bulgarian delegation – tired but motivated and even more united.
The first day of December marked the start of the Plenary Session in The Hague, which was held in the Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer). Three of the four resolutions that the Bulgarian delegates had engaged in drafting were presented. They performed admirably throughout the day, defending their proposed solutions to the key issues at hand and asking questions about the resolutions of the other committees.
Plenary Session and Farewell
And so, the session was coming to an end – the last five resolutions for the session were to be defended and voted on, followed by the closing ceremony and the speeches from the presidency. She gave an inspiring speech about the power of unity and the importance of not taking our future for granted, but rather perceiving it as something we must work and fight for.
The session was officially closed, and the only thing left was to say goodbye to all the new friends the Bulgarian delegation had made during their stay. This happened at the farewell dinner, where everyone had a chance to enjoy themselves one last time…until the next time.
The week was certainly not like any other for the Bulgarian delegation – it was highlighted by new friendships and unforgettable moments, difficulties and compromises. It helped everyone grow, broaden their horizons, and see representatives from across the European Union gathered in one room and united by the desire to resolve important global issues. This experience remains both a fond memory and an valuable source of experience and inspiration.
Auhtor: Anna-Maria Paunova
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Delegation: Ms. Sofia Valkova (Vice-President, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"), Ms. Alexandia Chaliovski (Committee President, "Bocconi University", Milan),
And the delegates: Ms. Anna-Maria Paunova (First English Language School), Ms. Alexandra Bogdanova (First English Language School), Ms. Martina Pingarova (National High School in Finance and Business), Mr. Aleksandar Chingov (Akad. "Lyudmil Stoyanov" Language High School).
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