European Young Conservatives
Encyclopedia
The European Young Conservatives (EYC) is a grouping of youth wing
s of conservative, classical liberal and centre-right
political parties in Europe.
The EYC was founded in August 1993 by the former national chairman of the UK's Young Conservatives
, Andrew Rosindell
. It emerged from a split in the centre-right Democrat Youth Community of Europe
(DEMYC), which separated into two factions: the larger part, following a broadly Christian democratic
philosophy; and the smaller part, led by Rosindell, following a broadly conservative
philosophy. Two crucial points of disagreement were the scope of economic liberalisation and the desirability of a federal Europe.
From 1993 to 1997, the group was led by Rosindell. The group gave training to newly established democratic political parties in Russia
, Belarus
, and Azerbaijan
.
On November 1, 2010, at a special congress in the House of Commons in London, Vincent De Roeck from Belgium was elected Chairman of the EYC and the group's core principles as laid down in The Nine Pillars of Conservatism were updated.
As of 2010, the group has a membership of 20 political youth organisations from 16 different countries and territories, representing some 100,000 members. The EYC is independent and not affiliated with any EU-wide political party, but maintains an excellent, be it a non-exclusive, relationship with the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
.
The EYC is a full member of the International Young Democrat Union
and Margaret Thatcher
is its patron.
Youth wing
A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous or independently-allied front of a larger organization that is formed in order to rally support and allegiance for that organization's campaigns from members and potential members of a younger age...
s of conservative, classical liberal and centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
political parties in Europe.
The EYC was founded in August 1993 by the former national chairman of the UK's Young Conservatives
Young Conservatives (UK)
The Young Conservatives was the youth wing of the United Kingdom's Conservative Party until the organisation was replaced in 1998 by Conservative Future.-Origins:...
, Andrew Rosindell
Andrew Rosindell
Andrew Richard Rosindell is an English Conservative politician. He is the Member of Parliament for the Romford constituency in Greater London...
. It emerged from a split in the centre-right Democrat Youth Community of Europe
Democrat Youth Community of Europe
The Democrat Youth Community of Europe is an umbrella organisation of the youth wings of conservative and Christian democratic parties of Europe....
(DEMYC), which separated into two factions: the larger part, following a broadly Christian democratic
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
philosophy; and the smaller part, led by Rosindell, following a broadly conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
philosophy. Two crucial points of disagreement were the scope of economic liberalisation and the desirability of a federal Europe.
From 1993 to 1997, the group was led by Rosindell. The group gave training to newly established democratic political parties in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
On November 1, 2010, at a special congress in the House of Commons in London, Vincent De Roeck from Belgium was elected Chairman of the EYC and the group's core principles as laid down in The Nine Pillars of Conservatism were updated.
As of 2010, the group has a membership of 20 political youth organisations from 16 different countries and territories, representing some 100,000 members. The EYC is independent and not affiliated with any EU-wide political party, but maintains an excellent, be it a non-exclusive, relationship with the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
The Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, abbreviated to AECR, is a centre-right anti-federalist European political party defending broader conservative and classical liberal principles. It consists of twelve parties in nine EU member states and Iceland...
.
The EYC is a full member of the International Young Democrat Union
International Young Democrat Union
The International Young Democrat Union is an international grouping of centre-right political youth organisations, encompassing conservative, classical liberal, and Christian democratic traditions. It is the youth wing of the International Democrat Union , which brings together centre-right...
and Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
is its patron.