The European Young Conservatives (EYC) is a grouping of youth wings 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.[1] 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.[2] The group gave training to newly established democratic political parties in Russia, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.[3]
On November 1, 2010, at a special congress in the House of Commons in London,[4] 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.