4th nMEP Sofia 2024

feyabulgaria
30.09.2025 г.
време за четене: 3 мин.

Актуализирано: 24.12.2025 г.

or my very first steps into the world of youth politics

Let me take you for a brisk walk down memory lane and indulge you in the story of how the Model European Parliament of Bulgaria shaped my own path forward and why this session holds such an importance for me – not only personally, but professionally as well.

Photos from the Opening Ceremony in the National Museum of Military History. Guests from the European Parliament and European Commission Liaison Office in Sofia, the administration and teachers of First English Language School

Imagine the early months of 2024 – you are in the middle of an English class in a stuffy classroom in the foreign languages high school of your small hometown. As you are trying to tune out the monotonous reading of a classmate, your teacher approaches you, smiles encouragingly, hands you a paper and returns to her desk. Bewildered, you peer curiously at what you later realise is the official invitation to the 4^th National Session of MEP Bulgaria. You have never heard of this initiative, yet you cannot help but be infinitely curious about it, so you decide to participate. You choose a committee, you excitedly prepare for the session, because once you acquaint yourself with the aims and procedures of the sessions, you become immensely interested. Then the little time left until the opening ceremony helps you realise just how nervous you are.

Photos from the committee meetings in First English Language School

Well, the nervous first-time delegate of this story was none other than me. Stepping into the opening ceremony venue, later being an actual part of the committee meetings and, as it occurred, not knowing anyone, having been completely unaware of the model until a few weeks prior, my excitement soon turned into doubt – whether I actually fit, whether I was competent enough, prepared enough. However, throughout the session, I took the courage to get to know fellow delegates better, to participate actively, to express my opinions and to attempt and make a worthwhile contribution to the work of our committee. I do not regret this decision in the slightest to this day – because we all made great friends along the way, improved our debating and public speaking skills, enriched our knowledge about the European Union and the issues that plague it in today’s world. As delegates, we all worked tirelessly on our resolution through meaningful discussions, that we would later have to defend during the Plenary Session, further demonstrating our efforts and joint determination to find our place in the field of youth politics.

Photos from the Plenary Session in Sofia University

The 4^th nMEP was a whirlwind of meetings, new ideas hastily scribbled on paper, debates, coffee breaks, formalities, speeches, new opportunities for self-expression, reflection and improvement, newfound motivation, budding friendships, a sense of belonging and of purpose.

Group photo

For many of us, that was, as much an event, a tool to make an important decision about our future – whether our education or further involvement in the field. For me personally, it opened doors I had never thought I would encounter and created memories that would never be lost in time. Moreover, MEP helped me find my voice, my confidence, recognise the leader in myself, understand that none of my efforts to make a change were, or would ever be, in vain.

I learned – through experience – that it did not matter where you come from when you truly wish your voice to be heard!

Author: Nadezhda Popska