here - European School Bergen

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.