Model European Union 2010 Strasbourg

The application period for Model European Union is open – young people from all over Europe are invited to apply to the largest simulation of European politics (Application period – 16^th December until 24^th January).

For one week the 180 selected participants will experience first-hand the functioning of the EU while playing the role of Ministers of the Council, Members of the European Parliament, journalists, lobbyists or interpreters. The topics under discussion will be a Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Regulation and the “Returns” Directive.

They will additionally attend workshops to prepare them for the task ahead and will evaluate the results of the week’s work in a panel discussion with experts at the end of the conference. There will also be a social program designed to complete the experience, exploring the beautiful city of Strasbourg, as well as providing an opportunity to exchange views and experiences with participants from different backgrounds and cultures. At the end of the simulation, participants will also have the chance to learn about opportunities to become involved in European associations.

Applicants with residence in the 27 European Union Member States, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Turkey, aged between 18 and 25, will be invited to submit a short essay and some further motivational comments via an online form. The three essay topics are/will be available at www.meu2010.org and deal with questions such as European identity, the content of a new Treaty and the future of the EU after the crisis. This essay should be a well thought-out and structured piece, written from a personal perspective. The organization is primarily interested in seeing that the delegates can express knowledge of and interest in European issues outside an academic environment; therefore, previous experience of simulations is not necessary. Essays should be written in English and approximately 700 words long.

Model European Union 2010 is funded by the Youth in Action programme of the European Commission and has the support of the European Parliament. It is organized by BETA e.V., a politically independent, non-profit association which pursues the aim of a better understanding amongst Europeans and the institutions of the EU. It was founded in 2008 in Mainz, Germany. It offers young, dedicated and politically interested Europeans between the age of 18 and 30 a platform to exchange ideas, debate world issues, and develop negotiation and leadership skills.

For further information, please contact us at pr@model-eu.org or visit our official website www.meu2010.org.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.