Course Description

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.

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 online meetings of the
European Council to deal with these and other questions relating to the future of the European Union. We especially 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 Fridays, 12-14 hrs. The first part will give an introduction to the European Union as well as specific topics relevant to the debate prepared by participants. Starting in May, the European Council will meet in online meetings discussing 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).

Application

Applications are to be sent until 6 April 2021 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 21 April, 12.00 h, via Email)
2. The EU Strategic Agenda 2020-24 (Summary and Presentation due on 21 April, 12.00 h, via Email)

II. The European Union as an Economic and Monetary Union

1. Schengen (Summary and Presentation due on 28 April, 12.00 h, via Email)
2. The Euro Zone (Summary and Presentation due on 28 April, 12.00 h, via Email)
3. Trade (Summary and Presentation due on 28 April, 12.00 h, via Email)

III. The Common European Asylum System (Summary and Presentation due on 5 May, 12.00 h, via Email)

IV. The European Union and Migration (Summary and Presentation due on 5 May, 12.00 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 12 May, 12.00 h, via Email)
2. The European Green Deal (Summary and Presentation due on 12 May, 12.00 h, via Email)

VI. The European Union in the World

1. Enlargement (Summary and Presentation due on 19 May, 12.00 h, via Email)
2. Neighborhood Policy (Summary and Presentation due on 19 May, 12.00 h, via Email)
3. International Organizations (Summary and Presentation due on 19 May, 12.00 h, via Email)

Schedule

16 April 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Introduction to the European Union, Online Delegations Meeting Dr. Peggy Wittke
23 April 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	The European Union: Identity and Values Fundamental Rights and Freedoms and the Rule of Law The EU Strategic Agenda 2020-24
30 April 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.30 hrs (c.t.)	The European Union as an Economic and Monetary Union Schengen The Euro Zone Trade
7 May 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	The Common European Asylum System The European Union and Migration
14 May 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	The European Union Action on Sustainability The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the EU The European Green Deal
21 May 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.30 hrs (c.t.)	The European Union in the World Enlargement Neighborhood Policy International Organizations
25 May 2021 Tuesday	Submit Proposals for the Agenda Setting (Attention: 5 Sponsors needed!) to Peggy Wittke (peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de)
28 May 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Online Meeting of the European Council Preliminary Agenda Setting
4 June 2021 Friday 12.00 – 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Rules of Procedure
7 June 2021	Submit Position Papers to Peggy Wittke (peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de)
9 June 2021 Wednesday	Submit Proposals for the Agenda Setting (Attention: 5 Sponsors needed!) to Peggy Wittke (peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de)
11 June 2021 Friday 12.00 - 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Online Meeting of the European Council Opening Statements and Adoption of Agenda
18 June 2021 Friday 12.00 - 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Online Meeting of the European Council Delegations’ Statements (30 sec.) Debate on Agenda Item
25 June 2021 Friday 12.00 - 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Online Meeting of the European Council Delegations’ Statements Debate on Agenda Item
2 July 2021 Friday 12.00 - 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Online Meeting of the European Council Delegations’ Statements Debate on Agenda Item
9 July 2021 Friday 12.00 - 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Online Meeting of the European Council Final Voting Procedure and Closing Ceremony
16 July 2021 Friday 12.00 - 14.00 hrs (c.t.)	Feedback Meeting

For further information please refer to our Website www.fu-berlin.de/mun or contact
Dr. Peggy Wittke:

Chair Univ.-Prof. Dr. Helmut Philipp Aust

Faculty of Law, FU Berlin

Tel.: (030) 838 547 05

Email: peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de

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