The “Model European Union Simulation” (MEUS), which will be held in Florence in December 2022 will consist of the simulation of a decision-making process of the European Union. This MEUS has been organized by James Madison University with the collaboration of Scuola di Scienze Politiche “Cesare Alfieri” of Università degli Studi di Firenze since 2010, and is open to the participation of both JMU and UniFI students. The aim of the MEUS is to help students better understand the complexities of policy-making at the European and global levels, by familiarizing them with the EU decision-making process. It also promotes the development of policy analysis, written and oral reporting and presentation, discussion, negotiation, diplomacy, team-building, and cross-cultural communication skills.
The MEUS trainings provide an intensive academic immersion into the processes of EU policy-making, spearheaded by faculty and supported by practitioners from the EU institutions, who share with the students their invaluable insider views about the day-to-day workings of the EU’s most important institutions and the structural, organizational, ideological and political reasons behind each specific move by the Brussels politicians and administrators. Working on actual EU legislative materials, under the guidance of a dedicated team; stepping into the shoes of EU decision makers by representing actors from EU member states and institutions; having to negotiate solutions to the most controversial policy dilemmas of the day are all experiences which allow students to truly comprehend the inner workings of the European political system, as it navigates its dilemmas against global pressures and developments.
The MEUS requires participating students to interpret their assigned EU role in a proactive and very interactive fashion. Students will be divided into teams, and will be randomly assigned to an EU member state or institutional role, which they will represent and the policy position of which they will have to research, identify, articulate and present, in written and oral form. The MEUS is conducted entirely in English and is open to students of RISE, Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Relazioni Internazionali e Studi Europei, Università degli Studi di Firenze, who have a good command of English as well as knowledge of the EU’s institutions, proven by having completed at least one course about the European Union, either in undergraduate or at graduate level.
Don’t miss this opportunity! The notable practicioners of this year’s edition are:
- Alexandre Stutzmann, Special Adviser to the President of the UN General Assembly. Previously head to the Secretariat of the Foreign Affairs Committee (2014-2015) and served as the Diplomatic Adviser to three Presidents of the European Parliament (2007- 2014).
- Silvio Gonzato, Deputy head of EU Delegation to the UN. Previously Director for Strategic Communications, Parliamentary and Legal Affairs at the European External Action Service (EEAS).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Being a RISE (Laurea Magistrale in Relazioni Internazionali e Studi Europei) matriculated
student; - Good knowledge of EU institutions and decision-making procedures, shown through
attendance of at least one course about the EU in undergraduate or graduate studies; - Good written and oral knowledge of English;
- Punctuality, motivation, proactivity, availability to speak in public and be part of a team,
working on group presentations that will be presented in class during the meetings; - Availability to participate to all the meetings, as listed in the MEUS PROGRAM document.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
University of Florence students need to apply by filling out this written form and send it out to professor Enrico Borghetto (enrico.borghetto@unifi.it) by November 2022, by 23h59. Admitted students will receive official communication via email. First preparatory material will be send out to all participants after the first training meeting. See the details in the “MEUS 2022 schedule and activities draft”.
Administrative participation fee: 30€ (to be paid during the first meeting on November 11th).
NOTE:
All meetings, unless otherwise announced, will take place at:
James Madison University
Via dei Michelozzi 2, 50125 Firenze
Tel (+39) 055 2657661