 the european young conservatives (eyc) is a grouping of youth wings of conservative and centre-right political parties in europe. as of 2012, the group has a membership of 17 political youth organisations from 16 different countries and territories. the eyc is independent and not affiliated with any european political party, but maintains 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. ==history== the eyc was founded in august 1993 by the youth wings of the british conservative party, danish conservative people's party, and icelandic independence party, under the leadership of andrew rosindell, then-chairman of the uk's young conservatives. 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/andrew-rosindell/25356 |title=andrew rosindell |author= |date= |work= |publisher=parliament |accessdate=26 august 201
International_Young_Democrat_Union Organizations_established_in_1993 Political_organisations_in_the_United_Kingdom Politics_of_Europe