November 13-14, Venice International University
Venice International University (VIU), Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Venice Diplomatic Society, with the support and participation of Europe Direct of the City of Venice and the European Parliament Research Service will organise the fourth edition of the Venice Universities' Model European Union on November 13-14, 2020.
The Model European Union is a simulation of the EU legislative procedure. The participants will adopt the roles of the members of the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union, following the steps of the ordinary legislative procedure by which directives and regulations are adopted.
The VeUMEU is an excellent opportunity for students to gain an understanding of multilateral diplomacy, and to hone their negotiating and leadership while practising public speaking.
Students will learn about the legislative process, rules of procedure, revision and introduction of amendments, and how to draft EU Directives and Regulations.
A group of students will also form the Press Corps, reporting on developments during the weekend of activities.
For the 2020 edition the Directives that will be adopted for the simulation are:
- Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Work-Life Balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU (read here).
- 2018/0178(COD) Framework to facilitate Sustainable Investment (see text at read here).
The VeUMEU is organized with the support of Europe Direct of the City of Venice, and is included in the Venetian celebrations of Europe Day which are also postponed this year. During the 8th edition of the Europe Day Festival the City of Venice will host a range of events and initiatives on "The Future of Europe, Europe of the Future", October 2-31, 2020.
#FestaEuVenezia2020
The VeUMEU is supported also by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). Three policy analysts will participate in the VeUMEU, providing their expert advice and guidance to the students during the deliberations:
Monika Kiss - Worklife balance directive
Stefano Spinaci - Sustainable Investment
Joanna Apap (Strategic Liaison for Academia and Think Tanks), who will present "The work of EPRS - Evidence-based analysis for the European Parliament"
EPRS has provided Topical Digests on the issues that will be discussed and debated during the simulation. See the documents below in the Support Material section.
Applications and attendance
The participation is open to students of Ca' Foscari, Global Campus of Human Rights, VIU, and VIU member universities.
This edition was originally scheduled for May 2020. The participants who were admitted in the spring have the option of confirming their place.
Applications are now closed.
The selection of the participants and attribution to institutions/committees is supervised by the Organizing Committee in order to reach the highest level of international participation.
A preparatory intensive workshop will be held online on October 24.
Participants must attend at least 70% of the activities (VeUMEU November 13-14 and the preparatory workshop), a certificate of attendance will be issued.
The selected participants will be informed by October 16.
Support material
Directive on Work-life Balance
Legislative briefing
Topical digest (pdf file)
Directive on Sustainable Finance
Legislative briefing (not updated)
Legislative train (updated)
Topical digest (pdf file)
Organized by:
The Venice Diplomatic Society (VDS) is a non-profit association created in 2015 by students of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy. The main aims of this association are giving students and citizens the chance of acknowledging the complex functioning of the greatest international organizations, introducing them to their inner dynamics, organising workshops to train them to speak in a foreign language in front of an international audience, debating on the hottest topics of the planet’s agenda – from current geopolitical crises to environmental issues, but also the theme of refugees, the allocation of foreign investments and violations of international law, gender equality, on-going conflicts and wars, human rights issues. It also puts students in contact with the reality of Model United Nations (Model UN or MUNs), which are extra-curricular activities where students play the role of Delegates of the United Nations and simulate the inner proceedings of UN committees. After the first VeUMUN on 2016, Venice Diplomatic Society is glad to announce the first edition of the simulation of European Union, VeUMEU 2017, with the collaboration of their new partner Bringing Europeans Together Association, BETA Italia.
For more information: Venice Diplomatic Society FB page
www.venicediplomaticsociety.com
Venice International University (VIU) is something unique in the international academic environment: a group of 20 Universities from all over the world sharing a common Campus on the beautiful Island of San Servolo, in the Venice lagoon. These Universities collegially devise study programs to prepare their students to face today’s global challenges: Sustainable Development, Ageing and Welfare, Global Ethics and Cultural Heritage are central topics of VIU programs. Students who choose to spend a term studying at VIU are taught to move across disciplines and through cultures with a flexible approach, an open mind and creative thinking. VIU offers its support for research programs involving the various Universities that form its network, and develops specific programs for advanced training.
For more information: http://www.univiu.org
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice was born as the first business school in Italy and the second in Europe. Today it provides several courses in various departments, such as Languages, Management, Environmental studies, Philosophy, Science, Humanities International Relations and more. Just like the city that hosts it, it is a crossroad of cultures, fields of research, ideas and creativity; a modern university that keeps abreast of things by realizing, within its eight departments, advanced research projects and innovative study programs that guarantee an excellent educational experience. Through its five interdepartmental schools, Ca’ Foscari works with cross-cutting and integrated educational approaches. Whoever studies in Venice can this way acquire a wider range of and more articulate skills: economy interfaces with cultural heritage, languages intersect with economics, restoration meets science just to cite a few examples.
For more information: http://www.unive.it
With the support and participation of:
Europe Direct is a European Commission information network designed to inform citizens about the activities and opportunities offered by the European Union. Europe Direct aims to reinforce citizens' sense of attachment to the European Union by involving them in the process of building Europe. The Veneto has a Europe Direct information relay, set up by the City of Venice - as leading figure - and 18 institutional partners: the Veneto Region, the Prefettura di Venezia, the Provinces of Venice, Belluno, Padua, Rovigo and Treviso, the Venice Chamber of Commerce, the Eurosportello of Unioncamere Veneto, the Cities of Bassano del Grappa, Chioggia, Jesolo, Padova, Thiene and Valdagno, Università Iuav di Venezia (Architecture and Design), ESU of Venezia (Students' Union) and USR (the Veneto Regional Schools). 32 centers in the region support citizens in accessing information relative to the areas of activity of the European Union. Since 2008 the information relay has also hosted Eurodesk, providing young people and youth workers with information on the sector-opportunities offered by the European Union and the European Council.
For more information: http://europa.eu/contact/ , www.comune.venezia.it/europedirect
Email: infoeuropa@comune.venezia.it
European Parliament Research Service | EPRS’ mission is to provide Members of the European Parliament, and where appropriate parliamentary committees, with independent, objective and authoritative analysis of, and research on, policy issues relating to the European Union, in order to assist them in their parliamentary work.
EPRS provides a comprehensive range of products and services, backed by specialist internal expertise and knowledge sources in all policy fields, so empowering Members and committees through knowledge and contributing to the Parliament’s effectiveness and influence as an institution. EPRS also supports and promotes parliamentary outreach to the wider public, including universities.
For more information: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/at-your-service/en/stay-informed/research-and-analysis
And with the participation of:
Further information
Participation and logistics:
Venice International University
Isola di San Servolo 30133 Venice - Italy
e-mail: student-services@univiu.org
Tel. +39 041 2719 511
VeUMEU 2020 content and preparation:
Venice Diplomatic Society
e-mail: info.veumeu@gmail.com
