Steven J. Green
School of International
& Public Affairs

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Miami-Florida Jean Monnet European Center of Excellence

Florida International University
Modesto A. Maidique Campus
SIPA II 520
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199
Phone: (305) 348-5949
Email: miamieuc@fiu.edu
Web: http://miamieuc.fiu.edu

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This website has been funded with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet European Union Center of Excellence at Florida International University and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

The Schuman Challenge is an academic competition for undergraduate students from U.S. colleges and universities to engage in rigorous dialogue on transatlantic issues.

There are three rounds to the competition:

• a preliminary round takes place online in a live format to a panel of three judges. The preliminary rounds take place on multiple dates.
  
• fifteen teams qualify to be invited to participate in the semi-final round to give their presentation in-person to officials and experts in Washington D.C. at the EU Delegation’s office. Teams receive a travel stipend and accommodation in D.C.
  
• Three teams go on to the final round which also takes place in Washington D.C.
  

• The winning team is awarded a 4-day Victory Tour of Brussels to visit the EU institutions and to give their winning presentations to officials.
  

The Preliminary Schuman Challenge for FIU students will take place via Zoom on February 20, 2026 at Florida International University.

The theme this year will be:

"Develop a policy proposal that analyses the current state of EU-U.S. cooperation on security and offers an initiative or policy by which it might be strengthened in the coming years."

The tasks:

Students will have to answer the question above and

• Propose a joint EU-U.S. initiative
• Make recommendations
  

• Use a specific example or case study
  

This year’s topic was: On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Within these past 250 years, the development of the transatlantic relationship – first between the United States and individual European countries and now more recently the European Union - has shown that the partnership of security that is central to EU-U.S. relations goes far beyond traditional defense.

In the rapidly changing landscape of a 21st century dominated by shifting geopolitical dynamics and ever-evolving innovations, this transatlantic partnership necessarily must also adapt to meet new, critical needs. Please develop a policy proposal that analyses the current state of EU-U.S. cooperation on security and offers an initiative or policy by which it might be strengthened in the coming years. The proposal must include consideration of 2 of the following areas:

• Defense
• Economy, trade and energy
• Technology and, digital
• Arctic cooperation
  

The topic brief and reading list for the 2026 competition is available here.

► Four of our students have been selected by the Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, and will participate in the Preliminary Schuman Challenge Competition on February 20, 2026: Claudy Hansen Louis, Ana Pena, Lautaro Pelegrini, and Fabian Ramos. We wish them all the best.

For more information, contact Christine I. Caly-Sanchez at calyc@fiu.edu

For more information on the Schuman Challenge, click here