MEET THE EU: Model EU
MEET EU is creating a new Model EU (MEU) circuit for selected teams of 6 participants (ages 18-32) — one team each from Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Each year 2021-22, teams will participate in the University of Pittsburgh’s MEU, the West Coast MEU in Seattle, and the Midwest MEU in Bloomington, Indiana. We are also working with BETA Europe (Bringing Europeans Together Association) to bring 12 participants per year to the MEU in Mainz, Germany.
US MEUs simulate a meeting of the European Council, while MEU Mainz simulates a full legislative session. We are creating a MEU webinar training series and mentorship activities to prepare participants. The experience will provide participants deeper familiarity with the EU’s processes. To better understand the EU, participants must understand the different roles each institution plays and how member states interact within those institutions.
Participants in the MEU circuit will not only learn about a variety of issues from a number of different local perspectives, but they will also have a greater understanding of decision-making at the European level. MEET EU staff will work with participants to create a network of “expert EU mentors” in the US. The network will work with high school students on Model EU simulations and the Euro Challenge, as well as support young adults participating in the annual Schuman Challenge.
The Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence at FIU is in charge of selecting 6 students from Florida International University (FIU) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and advising them.
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2021 MODELS EU
Here are the 4 FIU students who were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and who participated in the virtual Models EU at three different places this year:
- Ally Jackman, FIU
- Danny Vazquez Tarrau, FIU
- Abel Ramos Taype, FIU
- Jonathan Milian, FIU
► Feb. 26-27, 2021: University of Pittsburgh's MEU
► March 5-6, 2021: University of Washington’s West Coast Model European Union
► April 1-3, 2021: Midwest Model EU Indiana University Bloomington
Here are the 8 students who participated in the Midwest Model EU:
FIU
- Danny Vazquez Tarrau, FIU
- Ally Jackman, FIU
- Jonathan Milian, FIU
- Abel Ramos Taype, FIU
FAU
- Jaylene Kennedy, FAU
- Michael Berg, FAU
- Lorenzo Gari, FAU
- Angelo Ybarra, FAU
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► TESTIMONIALS 2021, click here
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► November 24-28, 2021: Model European Union Athens, Greece
Here are the 3 FIU students who were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and who participated on site in the Model European Union Athens, Greece from Nov. 24 to 28, 2021:
- Jonathan Milian, FIU
- Danny Vazquez Tarrau, FIU
- Abel Ramos Taype, FIU
► Danny Vazquez Tarrau's Testimonial: Model EU in Athens, click here
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2022 MODELS EU
Here are the 5 FIU students who were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and who participated in the virtual Models EU at two different places and one in-person place this year:
- Lauren Cibrian Castro, FIU
- Rita Kanazeh, FIU
- Salome Katsia, FIU
- Matthew Kertesz, FIU
- Shalva Otarshvili, FIU
► Feb. 18-19, 2022: University of Pittsburgh's MEU
Three of our FIU undergraduate students were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and participated to the University of Pittsburgh Model EU o Feb. 18-19, 2022. They represented the delegation of Austria, Czechia, and Spain.
- Lauren Cibrian Castro
- Rita Kanazeh
- Matthew Kertesz
After a very remarkable performance, Matthew Kertesz received the award for Best Delegate and Best Position Paper.
► March 4-5, 2022: University of Washington’s West Coast Model European Union
Four of our FIU students were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, and participated in the competition on March 4-5, 2022. They represented the delegations of Belgium, Bulgaria, and Germany.
- Lauren Cibrian Castro
- Salome Katsia
- Shalva Otarshvili
- Matthew Kertesz
After a very remarkable performance, Matthew Kertesz received the best Head of Government award.
► March 31-April 2, 2022: Midwest Model EU Indiana University Bloomington
To view pictures, click here
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► TESTIMONIALS 2022, click here
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2023 MODELS EU
Here are the 7 FIU students who were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and who participated in the in-person Models EU at three different places this year:
- Lauren Cibrian Castro, FIU
- Jose de Castro, FIU
- Vicki Gargano, FIU
- Sophia Gonzalez, FIU
- Salome Katsia, FIU
- Bitisho Muma, FIU
- Shalva Otarshvili, FIU
► Feb. 10-11, 2023: University of Pittsburgh's MEU
Four of our FIU undergraduate students were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and participated to the University of Pittsburgh Model EU on Feb. 10-11, 2023. They represented the delegations of Portugal and Sweden.
- Jose de Castro, FIU
- Vicki Gargano, FIU
- Salome Katsia, FIU
- Shalva Otarshvili, FIU
After a very remarkable performance, Salome Katsia and Shalva Otarshvili who represented Portugal, were awarded a distinction for Best Delegation and a mention for Position Paper; Vicki Gargano and Jose de Castro represented Sweden and were awarded a distinction for Best Position Paper.
To view pictures, click here
► March 3-4, 2023: University of Washington’s West Coast Model European Union
Four of our FIU students were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, and participated in the competition on March 3-4, 2023. They represented the delegations of Portugal and Romania.
- Lauren Cibrian Castro, FIU
- Jose de Castro, FIU
- Vicki Gargano, FIU
- Sophia Gonzalez, FIU
Jose de Castro and Vicki Gargano represented Portugal and Lauren Cibrian and Sophia Gonzalez were assigned Romania. A special recognition goes to Sophia Gonzalez who received the Outstanding Interior Minister Award.
To view pictures, click here
► March 23-25, 2022: Midwest Model EU Indiana University, Bloomington
► Four of our students (two from FIU, and two from FAU) were selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, and participated in the competition on March 23 - 25, 2023. They represented Portugal. Our students gained a realistic experience of how the European Union operates by competing in the 2023 Midwest Model EU (MMEU). The event, hosted by the Hamilton Lugar School Institute for European Studies (EURO), was attended by more than 120 students across the country, including FIU student delegation. Ingrid Ask, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Swedish Embassy to the U.S., was the keynote speaker.
FIU:
- Jose de Castro
- Bitisho Muma
FAU:
- Leann Mervilus
- Mariana Vallejo Velez
To view pictures, click here
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► July 12 - 15, 2023: Model European Union in Mainz, Germany
Congratulations to our four FIU-SIPA students who have been selected to go to Europe and represent FIU for the Model EU in Mainz, Germany this summer. We are proud of you! In July, Jose de Castro, Lauren Cibrian, Salome Katsia, and Shalva Otarashvili, along with eight students and recent graduates from the University of North Carolina and the University of Pittsburgh, will visit EU Institutions in Brussels (European Parliament, European Council, European Commission), and then participate in a Model EU in Mainz, Germany.
- Lauren Cibrian, FIU
- Jose de Castro, FIU
- Salome Katsia, FIU
- Shalva Otarshvili, FIU
To view pictures, click here
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► TESTIMONIALS 2023, click here
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WEBSITE
- Go to the Official WEBSITE for more information
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MEET EU is funded by a generous Getting to Know Europe (GTKE) grant from the Delegation of the European Union to the United States.
