BULGARIAN TEAM OF STUDENTS ACHIEVED A "CHANGE" IN THE FINAL TEXT OF THE DOCUMENT ADOPTED AT A SIMULATION OF THE EU COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS
09 February 2023
The Bulgarian team of students, representing our country in the ConSIMium simulation organized by the Council of the European Union, managed to achieve a "change" in the final text of the document concerning the reduction of carbon emissions in the field of transport.
Six Bulgarian students - Gergana Atanasova and Alessandro Tankis from Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", Joanna Nikolova and Georgi Georgiev from the University of Economics - Varna, as well as Anna Mihaylova and Yani Dimanchev from the American University in Blagoevgrad performed brilliantly during the simulation.
"The students from Varna Free University demonstrated excellent knowledge, self-control, brilliant teamwork skills and discipline. When summarizing the results, the organizers announced that the students' meetings differed minimally from the real meetings that these halls had seen", said the national coordinator of the team, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yuliana Mateeva - a teacher with over 20 years of experience at VFU " Chernorizets Hrabar" and long-time head of the Department of Legal Sciences at the Faculty of Law (2012-2020).
Student teams from all 27 EU member states participated in the simulation. Students from each national team took on the roles of President, Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador, journalist and experts. They participated directly in the simulated negotiations between the Member States in the decision-making process at European level.
The topic of the first simulation of the European Union, as expected, was related to the possibilities of reducing carbon emissions in the field of transport, and the critical point turned out to be the year when zero emissions should start.
"The project included pre-training and a number of successive simulations of meetings of the Council of the EU, the European Council and COREPER II "Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union", which prepares the work of four of the Council's bodies, those for ‘Economic and Financial Affairs', 'Foreign Affairs', 'General Affairs' and 'Justice and Home Affairs'. Briefings and press conferences were simulated with the participation of representatives of the administration of the General Secretariat and students in the role of journalists. All the meetings were held in their original places in the "Europe" Building, according to the goal set in advance by the organizers for maximum authenticity," said Assoc. Prof. Mateeva.
The Bulgarian group had a meeting with the permanent representative of Bulgaria to the EU, Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov. He introduced them to the main priorities of our country in the EU, as well as to the decision-making process in the Committee of Permanent Representatives and other working formats of the Council.
Varna Free University sent two of its excellent students to Brussels.
Gergana Atanasova, who assumed the role of Minister of European Affairs, is a third-year student majoring in Law. Last year, she was awarded the "Student of the Year" prize in the field of "Legal Sciences" by the National Representation of Student Councils. She is the recipient of the Annual Name Award of the Municipality of Varna for 2022. Gergana is an excellent student and a member of the Student Council of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". She also actively participates in the additional initiatives and trainings that the university offers. She is a member of the Criminology Club at the university and the programme Corps of Witnesses for the State Authorities. At VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", Gergana also acquired the additional qualification of "Teacher of Philosophy". She has been dancing folk dances for 15 years.
Alessandro Tankis, in the role of an expert in the simulation, is a second-year student majoring in International Business and studies in the English programme at Varna Free University. He defines himself as an ambitious young entrepreneur who likes to create a successful business. In his free time, he plays sports, improves his English and travels.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juliana Mateeva, the national coordinator sent letters of thanks to the rectors of the three leading universities praising the brilliant performance of the six Bulgarian students.
The ConSIMium project targets the best political science, economics and law students from universities in all EU countries, aims to improve students' understanding of the two institutions and introduce them to the career opportunities available to students. Two of the conditions for participation in the simulation are a good understanding and interest in topics related to the European Union and merit of the students, measured according to a mechanism established in the system of higher education in the country.
The Council of the European Union is the governing body of the European Union, which together with the European Parliament exercises the legislative power of the EU. It is also the leading decision-making institution.
Gergana Atanasova, in the role of Minister for European Affairs
Gergana Atanasova and Alessandro Tankis
Together with Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov
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