Model European Union
| Type | NGO – Simulation |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Education |
| Location |
|
Official language | English |
Director General | Philomena Taylor |
Deputy Director General | Lia Ibragimova |
| Website | Official Website |
Model European Union (commonly known as MEU) is an annual international simulation of the European Union’s legislative process organised by BETA e.V. The conference gathers around 180 young people from across Europe to the Seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Participants assume different roles - from being ministers in the Council of the European Union, Members of the European Parliament to being Interpreters, Journalists and Lobbyists. The first MEU took place in 2007, and has run on an annual basis ever since.
About
Conference
Model European Union (MEU) is a simulation of European Union Politics and legislative procedures. It usually features two legislative proposals for a Directive or a Regulation, selected by each year's organising team.
Participants are divided into Members of Parliament(MEPs), Ministers of the Council of the European Union, Interpreters, Journalists and Lobbyists.
Throughout the course of the week, participants discuss, debate, negotiate and try to reach a compromise on the given proposals. This is achieved by following exactly the same procedures that actual MEPs follow in the exact setting and location of the European Parliament.
Location
MEU takes place every year in Strasbourg, France, at the Louise Weiss Building, the official Seat of the European Parliament.
Organising team
Each year a different group of organisers work together to plan and ensure the conference runs smoothly. According to the needs of the currently organised MEU, the positions in the organising team vary.
The organising team is selected primarily by the Director General and the Deputy Director General of each year's MEU.
The Director General and the Deputy Director General are appointed by BETA e.V. (Bringing Europeans Together Association), which is the organisation responsible for Model European Union.[1]
BETA e.V.
Bringing Europeans Together Association e.V. is a European, politically independent, non-profit association which articulates and promotes European integration and international understanding. BETA consists of more than 150 politically active young Europeans who are in favour of European integration and believe in the fundamental principles and values upon which the European Union is founded.[2]
History
Model European Union emerged from AEGEE-Osnabrück as an idea to simulate the European Council in 2005. Soon afterwards, it expanded to simulate the entire decision-making process of the European Union. In April 2006, AEGEE Strasbourg offered to host the event. Following some funding issues, the first conference successfully took place between the 4th and 10th of March 2007 and has grown ever since.
| Organisers | No of applications | No of Participants | Countries Present | Topic A | Topic B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | AEGEE | N/A | 150 | N/A | Regulation of a Funding Instrument for the Western Balkans (incl.: Kosovo Listed Among Recipient Countries) | Regulation on the Recognition of "Non-Formal Education" |
| 2008 | Informal group of young people | 250 | 100 | 25 | Regulation for Compulsory Licensing of Patents Relating to the Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Products | Directive on the Laws, Regulations and Administrative Provisions Relating to the Advertisement and Sponsorship of Alcoholic Products |
| 2009 | BETA e.V. | 400 | 120 | 26 | Act Concerning the Election of the Members of the European Parliament by Direct Universal Suffrage | Regulation on Setting Emission Performance Standards for New Passenger Cars to Reduce CO2 Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles |
| 2010 | BETA e.V. | 800 | 180 | 27 | Regulation on Genetically Modified Food and Feed | Directive on Common Standards and Procedures for Returning Illegally Staying Third-Country Nationals |
| 2011 | BETA e.V. | 1076 | 180 | 27 | Directive on the Application of Patient's Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare[3][4][5] | Directive on Working Conditions of Temporary Workers |
| 2012 | BETA e.V. | 998 | 193 | 29 | Directive on the use of Passenger Name Record data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime | Regulation establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Borders |
| 2013 | BETA e.V. | 750 | 182 | 27 | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online uses in the internal market[6] | Simulation of Croatia’s EU membership accession negotiations |
| 2014 | BETA e.V. | 745 | 173 | 30 | Negotiations towards a European Social Fund Regulation | Negotiating Mandate for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) |
Participation criteria
Residents of any of the 28 Member States of the European Union, EFTA , EEA countries and Turkey, between the ages of 18 and 26 are eligible to apply to take part in Model European Union. Such criteria are to maintain the project's goal of youth inter-European learning and networking. All applications are done online via the website.
Partners
Model European Union is also partnering up with other similar youth organisations such as the Brussels-based organisation Young European Leadership.