Shortly before taking office as President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen proposed to set up a Conference on the Future of Europe to be launched in May 2020. Her idea was endorsed by the European Parliament and the European Council. According to the Position of the European Council adopted on 24 June 2020, the topics of the Conference on the Future of Europe shall encompass sustainability, societal challenges, innovation, competiveness and digital transformation, fundamental values, rights and freedoms, as well as Europe’s role in the world. The official launch of the Conference, however, was delayed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. So far, a digital platform has been launched as well as European Citizens’ Panels dealing with various topics. The Panelists were selected with regard to reflecting the EU’s diversity with a special emphasis put on youth participation.

We invite you to represent one of the Member States of the European Union, the President of the European Council or the President of the Commission and take part in a meeting of the European Council to deal with the questions relating to the future of the European Union – even more urgent since the invasion of the Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022. We expressly invite European students to represent their home countries since we envision this meeting to be much more than "just" a simulation.

Students from all faculties may apply for participation. For your preparation, we will provide for a comprehensive Background Guide with information on the European Union as well as negotiation techniques and the Rules of Procedure.

The seminar will be structured in two parts with sessions held weekly on Mondays, 16-18 hrs. The first part will give an introduction to the European Union as well as specific topics relevant to the debate prepared by participants. On 7 July and 8 July 2022, the European Council will meet to discuss the various topics.

Participants are expected to research their respective country’s position independently and take over the presentation of a topic listed below by preparing a 6-8 page summary on the subject and present it to the class (up to 2 presenters per topic = team work). Delegations are also asked to prepare a two-page Position Paper. Each Delegation will consist of 1-2 persons. Please note that the conference language will be English.

It will be possible to get credits (5 ECTS-credits) for the seminar (Schlüsselqualifikationsschein, Faculty of Law).

Applications are to be sent until 21 April 2022 to Peggy Wittke (via email only).

 

Your application should include:

•          Personal Details (Name, Phone, Email, Studies, Student ID Number)

•          Short letter of motivation

•          3 preferences (EU-Members, European Council President or EC-President)

•          2 topic choices

 

Members of the European Council: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; as well as the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

   

Topics

 

I. The European Union: Identity and Values

1. Fundamental Rights and Freedoms and the Rule of Law (Summary and Presentation due on 1 May 2022, via Email)

2. The EU Strategic Agenda 2020-24 (Summary and Presentation due on 8 May 2022, via Email)

 

II. The European Union as an Economic and Monetary Union

1. Trade (Summary and Presentation due on 12 May, 12.00 h, via Email)

2. Schengen (Summary and Presentation due on 12 May, 12.00 h, via Email)

3. The Euro Zone (Summary and Presentation due on 12 May, 12.00 h, via Email)

 

 

III. The Common European Asylum System (Summary and Presentation due on 19 May, 14.00 h, via Email)

 

 

IV. The European Union and Migration (Summary and Presentation due on 19 May, 14.00 h, via Email)

 

 

V. The European Union Action on Sustainability

1. The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the EU (Summary and Presentation due on 26 May, 14.00 h, via Email)

2. The European Green Deal (Summary and Presentation due on 26 May, 14.00 h, via Email)

 

 

VI. The European Union in the World

1. Enlargement (Summary and Presentation due on 16 June, 14.00 h, via Email)

2. Neighborhood Policy (Summary and Presentation due on 16 June, 14.00 h, via Email)

3. International Organizations (Summary and Presentation due on 16 June, 14.00 h, via Email)

 

 

Should the COVID-19 Pandemic require it, this seminar will be held ONLINE.

 

 

 Schedule of the Conference on the Future of Europe

 

For further information please contact Dr. Peggy Wittke:

Faculty of Law
Chair Prof. Dr. Helmut Philipp Aust
Tel.: (030) 838 547 05
Email: peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de