May 13-14-15, 2022 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 organize the sixth edition - in person - of the Venice Universities' Model European Union on May 13-14-15, 2022.
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.
The VeUMEU is part of the City of Venice's Europe Day celebrations "Towards a Sustainable Europe" which will continue throughout the month of May. Go to #FestaEuVenezia2022 program.
For the 2022 edition the Legal Acts that will be adopted for the simulation are:
- Artificial Intelligence Act: The proposal for an AI Regulation aims to lay down harmonised rules for the EU (Artificial Intelligence Act) This proposal delivers on the political commitment by President von der Leyen, who announced in her political guidelines for the 2019-2024 Commission “A Union that strives for more” 1 , that the Commission would put forward legislation for a coordinated European approach on the human and ethical implications of AI. The EU’s approach to artificial intelligence centres on excellence and trust, aiming to boost research and industrial capacity and ensure fundamental rights. The European approach to artificial intelligence (AI) will help build a resilient Europe for the Digital Decade where people and businesses can enjoy the benefits of AI. It focuses on 2 areas: excellence in AI and trustworthy AI. The European approach to AI will ensure that any AI improvements are based on rules that safeguard the functioning of markets and the public sector, and people’s safety and fundamental rights. The proposal is based on EU values and fundamental rights and aims to give people and other users the confidence to embrace AI-based solutions, while encouraging businesses to develop them. AI should be a tool for people and be a force for good in society with the ultimate aim of increasing human well-being. Rules for AI available in the Union market or otherwise affecting people in the Union should therefore be human centric, so that people can trust that the technology is used in a way that is safe and compliant with the law, including the respect of fundamental rights. Following the publication of the White Paper, the Commission launched a broad stakeholder consultation, which was met with a great interest by a large number of stakeholders who were largely supportive of regulatory intervention to address the challenges and concerns raised by the increasing use of AI. (Read here)
- Social Climate Fund: The Commission proposed a Regulation of the EP and the Council establishing a Social Climate Fund as part of the revision of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) under the Fit for 55 legislative packages, as the European Commission is proposing to extend emissions trading to the building and road transport sectors. Emissions from these sectors will not be covered by the existing EU ETS but by a new, separate emissions trading system. To address any social impacts that arise from this new system,
- To finance temporary direct income support for vulnerable households;
- To support measures and investments that reduce emissions in road transport and buildings sectors and as a result reduce costs for vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users.The new emissions trading system will place a yearly declining cap on emissions from road transport and buildings sectors, within which all allowances will be auctioned.
The size of the Social Climate Fund will correspond to a dedicated share of the revenues from the auctioning of emission allowances under the new system.
The Fund should provide funding to Member States to support measures and investments in increased energy efficiency of buildings, decarbonisation of heating and cooling of buildings, including the integration of energy from renewable sources, and granting improved access to zero- and low-emission mobility and transport. These measures and investments need to principally benefit vulnerable households, micro-enterprises or transport users.
Pending the impact of those investments on reducing costs and emissions, the Fund will also be able to finance temporary direct income support for vulnerable households. (Read here)
Support Material
Topical Digest on EU Climate Action Policy.
Topical Digest on European Climate Law.
Topical Digest on Identification and assessment of existing and draft EU legislation in the digital field.
Topical Digest on Just Transition Fund.
Topical Digest on Review of the EU ETS.
Topical Digest on Social climate fund: Fit for 55 packag
Topical Digest on Artificial Intelligent ACT
Topical Digest on What if AI took care of traffic as well as driving?
Topical Digest on What if objects around us flocked together and became intelligent?
Topical Digest on Publications
The VeUMEU is organized with the support of Europe Direct of the City of Venice.
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:
Gregor Erbach - Head of Section of Climate Action Research and Tracking Service, EPRS.
Andrés García Higuera - Policy analyst at EPRS-STOA and Full Professor at UCLM-Spain.
Joanna Apap - Strategic Liaison for Academia and Think Tanks in the Strategy and Coordination Unit, EPRS.
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 University, Global Campus of Human Rights, VIU, and VIU member universities.
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 on April 22, 2022.
Participants must attend at least 70% of the activities (VeUMEU May 13-14-15 and the preparatory workshop), a certificate of attendance will be issued.
The selected participants will be informed by April 15.
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: https://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: https://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: https://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: https://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 2022 content and preparation:
Venice Diplomatic Society
e-mail: info.veumeu@gmail.com
