Students from three Slovenian universities participated in a Council simulation exeprience in Brussels (ConSIMium 2023)
On 2nd and 3rd of February 2023, students from all 27 EU member states participated in ConSIMium, a Council simulation experience that took place in Brussels. The students stepped into the shoes of EU decision-makers and discussed two regulations proposals by the European Commission – on CO2 emissions reduction for electric and light transport vehicles, and on alternative fuels infrastructure. Six students representing three universities from Slovenia participated in the simulation: Asja Lešnik (University of Maribor, Faculty of Law), Sebastjan Svete (Nova University, Faculty of Law), Una Vukotić, Tom de Haas, Matjaž Mavrič and Eva Omahen (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences). The National coordinator of the Slovenian delegation was Assistant Professor dr. Jure Požgan (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences).
During the simulation students took on different roles, i. e. of two national experts at the Working Parties level (Matjaž Mavrič and Sebastajan Svete), of an ambassador (Tom de Haas) within the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER), of an minister (Eva Omahen) at the level of the Council and of the prime minister (Una Vukotić) at the European Council meeting. The Slovenian delegation was also accompanied by a student playing the role of a journalist (Asja Lešnik).
On Thursday (2 February 2023) Head of States/Governments of EU member states upon arrival issued their doorstep declarations to the journalists and later participated in the European Council meeting. In the afternoon the two national experts took part in the simulation of Council’s Working parties for Environment and Transport.
On Friday (3 February 2022), the Permanent Representatives Committee simulation took place and was followed by the simulation of decision-making in the Council, where ministers adopted both regulations by consensus.
Next to the simulation the Slovenian delegation had a meeting with the Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the EU, ambassador David Brozina, to discuss negotiations in the Council and Slovenia’s position regarding the two regulation proposals. On Thursday the delegation was kindly received by the Member of the European Parliament, Milan Brglez, where participants discussed the relations between the European Parliament and the Council.
