Model European Council Before Easter, ten students participated in the Model European Council (MEC) hosted by ES Karlsruhe although it took place in the prestigious buildings of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Our students were divided into two countries: Latvia and Greece. Latvia holds the Presidency at the moment and so the Latvians had to write two proposals each and guide them through their councils (indeed, Alex, as Head of the Presidency, often ran the whole show of 180 participants). It was a lot of preparatory work and sometimes a sharp learning curve managing councils of 28 others with strong opinions. Greece proved no less of a challenge given the election of the new government and its relations with the rest of the EU, especially Germany. We stayed in the A&O Hostel, Karlsruhe (a chain proud to be associated with the Basil Fawlty School of management) and travelled by coach to Strasbourg. Apart from the council sessions dedicated to amending draft legislation, our students had the chance to ask a member of the parliament questions, to be taken on a viewing of the parliament, to participate in urgent debates and press conferences and generally have a good time meeting students from other schools. These are the people who participated: Council Latvia Greece 1. Head of Government Alex.Holmberg Mark Cowles 2. Foreign Affairs (EN) Janis Rinaldi Tamia Peereboom 3. Eco/Finance (FR) Miryam.Vermaat Lena Tye 4. Justice/Home (DE) Ina Rock Benjamin Charest 5. Environment/Energy (EN) Masha Markova Isabella Timmer Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of all the 10 together but I hope you like the following ones (they were taken by Ina, Lena and Stuart Idell. The Greek and German Finance Ministers in an entente cordiale The Latvian Finance Minister being given ministerial support.