May 9-10-11, 2025, 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 seventh edition - in person - of the Venice Universities' Model European Union on May 9-10-11, 2025.
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 practicing 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 which will continue throughout May.
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).
Two policy analysts will participate in the VeUMEU, providing their expert advice and guidance to the students during the deliberations.
Applications and attendance
Participation is open to students of Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Università Iuav di Venezia, 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 to reach the highest level of international participation.
A 2nd call for staff is open to contribute to VeUMEU 2025 in the following positions:
_Vice-President of the EU Council
The Vice-President of the EU Council co-chairs the debates in the Council and ensures they run smoothly. Additionally, they will assist in the opening, work on parts of the study guide, and also select and divide participants into different factions. They will also have a role during the workshop presenting several matters such as the rules of conduct. During both the workshop and the main event, the Vice-president should be ready to clarify any issues amongst the council and keep the peace.
Selection criteria: Experience chairing conferences or guiding debates.
_Vice-President of the EU Parliament
The vice-President of the EU Parliament co-chairs the debates in the Parliament and ensure they run smoothly. Additionally, they will assist in the opening, work on parts of the study guide, and also select and divide participants into different factions. They will also have a role during the workshop presenting several matters such as the rules of conduct. During both the workshop and the main event, the Vice-President should be ready to clarify any issues amongst the Parliament and keep the peace.
Selection criteria: Experience chairing conferences or guiding debates.
_Secretary of the EU Council
The Secretary of the EU Council follows the debates in the Council by timing them, ensuring they run smoothly, and that the set limits are respected. Additionally, the Secretary will assist in the opening, work on parts of the study guide, and also select and divide participants into different factions. The Secretary will also have a role during the workshop presenting several matters such as the rules of conduct. During both the workshop and the main event, the Secretary should be ready to clarify any issues amongst the Council and keep the peace.
Selection criteria: Experience chairing conferences or guiding debates.
_Secretary of the EU Parliament
The Secretary of the EU Parliament follows the debates in the Parliament by timing them and ensuring they run smoothly. Additionally, the Secretary will assist in the opening, work on parts of the study guide, and also select and divide participants into different factions. The Secretary will also have a role during the workshop presenting several matters such as the rules of conduct. During both the workshop and the main event, the Secretary should be ready to clarify any issues amongst the parliament and keep the peace.
Selection criteria: Experience chairing conferences or guiding debates.
PRESS TEAM
The Press team reports on everything that happens in the simulation, whether in the Council or Parliament, on the paper of the simulation: EUNOW. They hold press conferences at the end of every simulation day, coordinate the participants that will act as journalists and edit their articles, also after the simulation is over for the day.
_EUNOW Vice-Editor in Chief
The Vice-Editor in Chief contributes to the Press Team by helping with the final editing of the articles and taking care of the final layout of the daily issues. They work mostly during the night so that the EUNOW issue is ready to be sent in the morning before the beginning of the plenary sessions.
Selection criteria: Experience in writing and editing roles, strong communication skills, ability to manage a team of writers, strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills.
_Parliament Press Coordinator
The Press coordinators of the Council and the Parliament are responsible for editing the articles, following and guiding the journalists of the Council and Parliament respectively.
Selection criteria: Strong communication skills, ability to manage a team of writers, strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills.
_Council Press Coordinator
The Press coordinators of the Council and the Parliament are responsible for editing the articles, following and guiding the journalists of the Council and Parliament respectively.
Selection criteria: Strong communication skills, ability to manage a team of writers, strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills.
Application deadline: March 4, 2025, at 11.59 pm
Students interested in participating in VeUMEU as general participants will cover the roles of members of the Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the Press.
! Application deadline: March 24, 2025. The application form is available in the box at the top of this page.
A preparatory intensive workshop for both staff and participants will be held on April 4, 2025.
Participants must attend at least 70% of the activities (VeUMEU May 9-10-11 and the preparatory workshop). A certificate of attendance will be issued.
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 2025 content and preparation:
Venice Diplomatic Society
e-mail: info.veumeu@gmail.com
