Over 100 Young People Took Part in the Second Edition of Model European Union Moldova

More than 100 young people from the Republic of Moldova participated in the second edition of Model European Union Moldova (MEU), an interactive simulation of the EU’s decision-making process. Held from March 28–30, 2025, at the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the event gave participants the opportunity to step into the roles of Members of the European Parliament, European Commissioners, political advisors, and journalists. They debated real legislative proposals, negotiated amendments, and worked together to find solutions to citizens’ challenges.

Throughout the three-day event, participants formed political groups, mirroring the composition of the European Parliament. This allowed them to familiarize themselves with different political ideologies and positions on key issues. By taking part in this hands-on experience, they learned how political alliances are built, how European legislation is negotiated, how amendments are formulated, and how decisions are made at the EU level.

Doina Gherman, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova: “Today, I see the future in front of me. You are the future parliamentarians, ministers, and state secretaries. I have full confidence that the Republic of Moldova is in good hands because you are the European Union generation. You, young people, are our hope, the ones we count on to carry forward the European agenda of our country.”

Jānis Mažeiks, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova: “Moldova has set the goal of becoming an EU member by 2030. In just five years, many of you will be leading this country and directly contributing to this historic transformation. And that change starts today, right here. Model EU gives you the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the complex decision-making processes at the European level. You will see how EU institutions work and how they shape the daily lives of people.”

Margret Maria Uebber, German Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova: “The growing involvement of young people in European processes is becoming essential. We firmly believe that simulations like this offer valuable opportunities for young people to deepen their understanding of the European Union and become active supporters of Moldova’s European integration.”

The Debate Topics

This year’s MEU edition focused on two major topics:
– Moldova’s EU accession process and the European Parliament’s non-legislative procedure for approving the accession treaty
– The debate on the European Digital Services Act (DSA) and its provisions related to combating online disinformation

The parliamentary sessions were covered by a team of young participants acting as journalists from major EU and Moldovan media outlets.

To ensure a high-quality debate, participants took part in dedicated workshops covering the two main topics, the functioning of EU institutions, debating techniques, and public speaking skills. The exercise aimed to develop critical thinking, effective communication, cooperation, and leadership among participants.

Ovidiu-Artur Harunjen, Model EU Moldova participant:
“Taking part in these legislative simulations and my passion for politics motivated me to join this year’s MEU team. This event is a great opportunity to learn more about the European legislative process, build new friendships, and create lasting memories with other young people.”

About Model European Union Moldova

Model European Union Moldova (MEU) is an interactive simulation of the EU’s decision-making process. The first edition took place in April 2024, bringing together over 80 young participants. This year, more than 100 young people from 20 districts across Moldova engaged in realistic decision-making simulations, learning about political alliance-building, European legislative negotiations, and decision-making at the EU level.

Model European Union Moldova is organized with the support of the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, as part of the “EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment” project. The initiative is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in collaboration with the Young European Ambassadors, the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM), and the EU Information Center in Chișinău – Europe Café.

For more details on the first edition of Model EU Moldova, visit https://eu4moldova.eu/ro/model-european-union-moldova/