sábado, 20 de diciembre de 2014

The conference is over…


During my way back to Madrid I was planning too write down my own emblematic memories of these wonderful and also fruitful days.

As on outsider, because so many of you know that I am originally a music teacher, I had just few knowledge about the Model European Union. So I was looking forward to go to Granada. As yesterday I saw everybody's’ lovely and friendly faces I felt like we should be proud of our talented and socially sensitive generation.

The days passed in a really running way from the beginning till the end of the conference and in my humble opinion all of the participants did a very great job.
These topics of the Cross Border Healthcare-System as well as the Stabilization and Association Agreement int he case of the Serbian issue make a challenge for all to talk about everything in a serious way as a university student.
Fortunately we also had time to be together and had some informal discussions for more than 10 mins long. We have momories of the athmosphere of the city of Granada, La Alhambra, debate, motion, point of information, fruitful discussion, yes indeed, etc. These words mean so much in our MEU Granada 2014 World.

I have just one more sentence. Distinguished Chairs, Honourable Ministers, Members of the Parliament, the organizing team, my dearest collegues of the press room I send a huge hug to all and last but not least… Thank you.


By Boglarka Olimpia Burkus

Interview with the Minister of France


The first interview of mine shows us a really motivated member of the Council who strongly believes that the MEU is one of the best places where we are able to share our opinions of the most important issues between the countries because it depends on our generation what the future will be.

First of all I would like to ask you the following. What was your motivation to apply for this Minister position?

Ok. We’ll start with the beginning. I was at a conference of Sustainability last April in Scotland where I met Daniel (one of the organizers of this conference) and I was totally inspired by this invitation. I wanted to apply for it. The problem was that I was doing an Erasmus during this October so I wouldn’t sure if I could come but then they shifted the conference from October to December and this was a great opportunity for me to apply for the Minister of the Council. I wanted to have the experience of the Council because I did already participated in a conference where I was representing the European’s People Party in the Parliament. And therefore I wanted to look at the other side of the medallion.

So it was not just the first time for your membership of this kind of simulation.

The topic was the same. We simulated the decision making but it was called ‘Eurocosmos’ (its bases is in Nancy, France by the Politic Science Faculty) and they invited us to come there because we had some relations of my home University. But it is my first time here at the MEU organized by the BETA and I am really impressed of how they organized it in a why that we have huge support of the institutions of Granada and also an overwhelming support of the BETA.

But now you are the Minister of France. Where have you been searching for the information which was needed for the Council for the discussions?

I think one of the challenge in a conference like this that you sometimes have to talk against your own personal goals concerning with the issue of Serbia. I think France nowadays has quiet defensive and radical attitude about this topic. I am of the opinion that France but also among with the other member states right now are trying to bind Serbia really into the EU. Which means that you should gain influence of the Balcans and this is also an issue of geopolitics because conflicts right now are happening in Ukraine and more or less reflecting right now to the issue of Serbia. As we all know the conflict with Ukraine is a part of it because the EU did this negotiations with Ukrania.

What is your real nationality? What do you think of your country situation in the EU?

I am German. I study Political Science in the University of Constance and right now I am doing Erasmus so I have really the outstanding opportunity to get in contact with people from all over Europe and of course we concern and young people are concerned the conflict and the situation with Eastern Europa and that is why we also talk about this. My opinion is that my country of origin, Germany should take over the leading role in this conflict because Germany balanced relation with good relations with both of the Eastern and Western Europe. It is a legend that a lot of European countries want Germany to take over the leadership in this relation because of the “double history” and therefore I’d say that Germany should go for an establishing political dialogue with Russia and also with Ukraine of this discussion.

What do you think about the yesterday’s discussion?

It is a good question indeed. I think that some delegates of this Council weren’t focusing on this issue what exactly Stabilization and Association Agreement means. We could argue that Stabilization and Association Agreement means that the EU wants to due to politically bind countries and gives them at least a chance to be a member but we could also argue that this policy of the stabilization only aims at everything for the countries but membership. So basically we think that the Stabilization and Association Agreement it is not enough for encouraging Serbia to really have this opportunity to become a new state member. Because we think that a lot of member state are a bit hippocratic about this issue because they have promised a lot that they really want to bind Serbia into the EU but they are not really appreciate Serbia as a full member of the EU.

What is your own opinion?

My own opinion is that the agreement is a basis where we should established this dialogue and also gives us a formal rule but I am of the opinion that the whole processes becoming a member of the EU means that once if a country or the government decided to become a member state of the EU they should take account on this then they should quickly start a dialogue with the EU. If the EU is capable to welcome a new member state firstly we have to talk about this and then we should really seriously talk with the new member state.

One last question what is your plan for the future?

It is difficult. I study political sciences and basically I am really inspired in the EU idea. I think EU is the best place where we should discuss issues that concern Europe. We have to come into a discussion and open a dialogue and also we have to exchange our ideas we have to do conferences like this because we all see that Europe the EU has serious problems. Some states are in a really bad conditions. I want with all of the young people that our willingness of a corporated European identity together so that is basically by motivation. I am really keen on working on the European issues. And more MEU conferences more beneficial friendships and relations with all over the Europe for my future.


By Boglarka Olimpia Burkus

Interview with Mariam Maazouz (France), Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes (Brazil) and Yu-Ru Hong (Taiwan)



Press team: So you are from Taiwan, Brazil and France. Are you currently study in Spain?

Yu-Ru Hong: I am currently studying in Madrid.
Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes: In Granada.
Mariam Maazouz: I am doing my semester aboard in Madrid as well.

Press team: What do you study?

Yu-Ru Hong: I study translation, English to Spanish.
Mariam Maazouz: Me as well, English, Spanish and French, but I also study economics.
Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes: I study law and political science.

Press team: So we are just interested in knowing your reasons why you decided to participate in the MEU in Granada?

Yu-Ru Hong: There is no Model European Union in Taiwan apparently and I am now having the chance to participate in such a simulation in a European country. I am going back to Taiwan next year, so I thought it is a great chance for me, so I decided to do it.
Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes: I share the same reason that she already stated. But besides, I believe that the EU is a new actor in the international scene. So for me it is interesting to study another possible great actor in the international scene.

Press Team: Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes, do you have European law as a central subject in your studies?

Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes: I have the option to choose some credits of European law. Well, I can chose from a range of different subjects, but for my personal preferences I chose European law.

Press team: What is your general opinion of Europe and the EU?

Mariam Maazouz: There occurred so many changes in The Parliament and Commission right now, plus there is a new President in the Council, so I am actually very excited to see what is going to happen and if they change or rather improve the current situation.
Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes: Well, I believe the EU is necessary for its countries in order to be able to compete in the same level as the big actors in the international scene, such as the United States, China and Russia. The countries of Europe need to unite in order to be a contrastable component to the other three and their political and economical power.

Press team: What do you think about the simulation? Have you had a good experience?

Mariam Maazouz: I learnt many things in the past few days and I could test and improve my English. But as I am not studying politics, I hold off a bit to contribute to the debate. But I tried my best. In conclusion it was a really interesting experience.
Yu-Ru Hong: Although I am not a citizen of the EU, I tried to participate as best as I could. Well, I think, I only have a basic knowledge of the EU, but nonetheless it is a really great experience for me to get to know how it is working. Further I believe, it is a good way to prove yourself.
Isaque Marcos Leite Mendes: First of all I believe it is a unique experience, but, well I can only speak of myself, I lack some knowledge of the European law and the procedures. Even though we learnt a lot of the procedures and rules, I think, in order to debate properly we lack knowledge.


Press Team: Well, thank you very much for this interview and we hope you will carry on having a great day.

By Marianthi Schreiber

Behind the screens

First of all I must write about the atmosphere of the Council shortly.
It was interesting to see how seriously they were working for their adopted country. It is also important to share with our readers that during the whole conference all of the participants of the Council are in a very special situation. They have to step up in the name of their nation which was selected by the organization team of the conference.

They job has already started when they read the welcoming message of the MEU Granada 2014. They had to search for so many useful information of their new country. It is a hard work but also an interesting one to discover a new way of thinking of another state from the European Union.

I was so amazed that many participants were very much intention to do as much as possible for their homeland and also important that they have enough knowledge of their current country to stand for it.

It was not a game. It was a real fight between so many talented and passionate experts.

From the first point of the day until the very end of the morning debate and also for the votes the discussion was very thoughtful.

And when the Chair of the Council (Guillermo Passas Varo) said “Please, sit, United Kingdom!” everyone knew the serious part had started.

In my knowledge on Wednesday they also had a great and fruitful job so they had to continue their topic of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia.

In the morning they started with an informal discussion which was 30 mins long. They made together 11 Amendments and 10 of those have been passed after the voting.

I would like to write about the longest discussion. It was of the second Amendment. The sponsors of this were the Minister of France (Nicolas Hegel) and Minister of Austria (Gemma Byrne) the co-sponsors were Italy (Maria Ruiz-Canela Donaire) and Germany (Dimitros Tsordas). The amendment said a New Article is needed for the Title I “General Principles”.  The first sentence says “The Serbian government underlines its European destiny.” This was one of the main points from which they were discussing about a lot because there were so many ideas against each other. The Minister of Bulgaria (Martina Calleri) said that Serbia has already been not a member state but the EU’s job does not mean that they can protect the neighbour area of the invited or a member state. The Minister of Portugal (Adna Baycic) said that “Serbia is a second class European Country” that is why it is needed to reformulate the issues of the security. The Minister of Germany (Dimitros Tsordas) said that his state realizes the danger and this amendment underlines it. “Everybody knows which country we are talking about”. But also the Minister of France (Nicolas Hegel) mentioned that Eastern Europe is a delicate area but the peace is needed and he told to the other members of the Council that “Serbia applys for a double game”. Italy suggested that rewrite the second part of the article together can be perfect to resolve the problem and make a discussion for 10 mins. After this time they said more 3 mins are needed and the Minister of Portugal (Adna Baycic) said that it could be a good idea that the article should be written later. The Chair (Guillermo Passes Varo) of the Council also shared this option so they discussed the main point after the 11th amendment.

Another interesting and longer topic was the 8th Amendment. This was sponsored by the UK (Foteinos Gaitanakis). It says “Modifying article 8 and replacing six years to ten years”. The Minister of the UK said that six years are not enough for Serbia. The Minister of Italy (Maria Ruiz-Canela Donaire) said that this country has to reach and resolve its issues take part of the EU. The Minister of UK said this ten years means that this is the maximum of the time-limit.  But if it is quicker it could be better.

In my opinion this long morning discussion was a fruitful one and I am really pleased that our generation is in a perfect way to have the rights and do a serious job for an equal European Country.


By Boglarka Olimpia Burkus