Many would categorize him as a “famous” AEGEEan, others remember him as the former JC president with the Italian accent, some might know him for his current work for the Mediation Commission, and some may not know him at all. His name is Ermanno Napolitano, and he is one of the most active AEGEE members on the European level. The AEGEEan talked with him about everything that has happened from Agora Enschede to his another candidature at the Agora Budapest and more.
AEGEEan: The previous article focusing on you as the new Juridical Commission (JC) member was the most popular article in The AEGEEan for quite a while last year. How do you feel about that? Do you have any suggestions why that happened?
Ermano: It was very rewarding for me, I have seen much appreciation and many people have complimented me. I think it was the energy and enthusiasm that I put in the Juridical Commission, which awarded.
At the Agora Enschede you had a lot of work as JC member, how do you look back at your term as JC? What were the highlights? What could be improved?
Yes, Agora Enschede was one of the hardest Agorae for the JC.
The vote of confidence is something which is very uncommon. Before the Agora, we as JC studied all possible solutions on the consequences and how to proceed if this was going to happen, but we were hoping until the end that some internal agreements of the CD could avoid it. However, looking back I am glad that I was in a team with Atanas Nachkov and Alma Mozgovaja and I am happy with the work we have done. Among the most important results was how everything was organised in order to allow the JC to collect minutes and amendments during the Agora and to prepare the new CIA without minutes by the Chair coming usually very late. That has been a big step forward having in mind what happened in the past years.
An important change was a result of my proposal, to give the responsibility of the vote counting to the JC. There are still many things that need to be improved in JC, but I think that it is moving towards the right direction now.
Another important result was to see that the subcommies stood as candidates, one Denise Zonnebeld is the current JC President and the others (Diana Tupichiienko and Alin) still work for the Commission.
If I could suggest any further improvements then it would be having a faster external communication, but this depends very much on the number of people working in the commission, and how many questions they receive.
An idea might be to open the JC to three members elected, a secretary and two commissioners, even though it is not that visible that there is much work to be done, especially before and after the Agora. However, it is also true that with a good team of subcommies it is possible to work around this requirement.
What is very important – to keep the archive updated, the CIA should be reformed, and in general its structure should be reviewed.
Quite a few votes were invalid, what do you think could be done to make the voting system easier?
Together with Wieke van Der Kroef (the current speaker of Network Commissions) I have reformed the rules for voting. There have been noticeable changes from Agora Skopje, but we are still far from a perfect voting system.
Surely, the best way is the famous electronic voting system, which would greatly reduce the number of invalid votes. However, we must always remember that some votes are invalidated consciously by the voter, for example we had ballot papers with smiley faces, drawings or comments on the ballot paper, and the only thing to improve this area is to put the trust in the common good sense of the delegates.
If you were to recommend anybody to candidate for JC, what would you say?
If you have legal knowledge DO IT! It is one of the most beautiful experience you can do in AEGEE and in your life. Furthermore, it is also very useful, it teaches you to work in groups, to speak in front of 1000 people (I remember I was shaking in Agora Alicante, but after then Agora Skopje and Agora Enschede were much easier), to make decisions and take responsibilities. In general it is an experience that makes you grow.
You are now in the Mediation Commission (MedCom) which changed its name at the Agora Enschede. How has it been to work with the MedCom, do you have any different recommendations (than for JC) for people interested in running for the MedCom?
I love working in the MedCom, especially because the potential of this commission has in my opinion changed with the new setting.
Before, as Members Commission, we worked only upon activation, and usually the problem was already serious and not solvable. I remember that one of the consequences was the imposition of sanctions for situations that were not taken in time.
Now we can be contacted directly by the antenna or by any body itself and help them to solve the problem before it becomes irreversible.
I take this opportunity to appeal to antennae to contact the Mediation Commission more, even for what may seem easy. We would always be happy to give our contribution.
Obviously, the MedCom is also responsible for other things, but I think this new element is the central core of the Commission.
Are you going to run for MedCom once again? What lies in the future of your AEGEE life?
I think that answer will be “yes” (smiles). I think that being in the MedCom for a one year opens the opportunity to implement many things. About my future AEGEE life after MedCom – who knows, let’s see if I am going to be re-elected here.
You chose to go to Helsinki & Tallinn Summer University this summer, which is a destination with less sun than in Italy and Spain. Why did you chose that SU and how was it?
I chose it because I like to try something different from my country, like fresh air, sun at 3 am ☺ lakes, sauna…everything is different there. And I must say: Wow! It was such a good SU, and I miss all the participants and organisers.
I was shocked from Helsinki organisation – very uncommon, they were providing us food all the hours of the day and night, many activities, lots of amazing places and also the residence in Mariko felt like pure heaven.
The organisation was perfect, they received a support of sponsors not only for food, but also the parties were always in amazing places. Furthermore, they gave a lot of attention to the participants, lots of cultural activities from museums to city activities and workshops. I am proud to be participant in this Summer University.
You also managed to steal the flag of AEGEE-Tallinn. How did you manage to steal it?
Yes, I stole it with Carlos (AEGEE-Santander), but I also have to thank Seppo Hälikkä (AEGEE-Helsinki) and Emanuele (AEGEE-Messina). It happened in Tallinn during the welcome party, where we stole the flag from the president while she was dancing. I remember that, after having stolen, we ran across the main square of Tallinn showing it, and since then we never left it alone. We slept with the flag and we kept it also during the shower!
What will be the punishment for them to get it back?
I still don’t know, I have to contact other thieves, but I will promise that the punishment will be funny… at least for us… AEGEE-Tallinn be ready!
The AEGEEan is looking forward to seeing what happens next with the AEGEE-Tallinn flag as well as the progress of the Mediation Commission. The AEGEEan will of course report from the front row at Agora Budapest and keep you updated as much as possible.
Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København