Model EU's

Third Canadian Model European Union

On May 12-13, 2026 the European Studies Program of the University of Victoria hosted the 3rd Canadian Model EU. We welcomed 55 students that represented 16 universities from across Canada.  Students formed teams of two that adopted the roles of Prime Ministers and Ministers of Finance of the EU member states. Here were the country assignments and the Program of the 3rd CanMEU. 

UVic European Studies is very grateful for funding by the European Union which helped us and the participating students. Below you will find further information about the 3^rd Canadian Model EU, namely (in order of appearance):

• Summary information (organisers, format, topics, etc)
• Award winners
• Pictures of the event
• Participant testimonials
• Links to the documentation

 

3^rd CanMEU Summary information

Organisers: Drs Heather MacRae (York U) and Paul Schure (UVic) 

Dates:  Start 3:45pm on Tuesday May 12; End 8:30pm on Wednesday May 13 

Teams:  Two students per EU member state 

Formats and Topics:  

Room 1: European Council (Heads of State and Government): 

• Topic 1: Joint Defence Procurement 

• Topic 2: Arctic Security 

Room 2: ECOFIN Council (Economic and Finance Ministers) 

• Topic 1: Data Act Framework to enhance Digital Strategic Autonomy 

• Topic 2: Critical Rare Earth Minerals 

 

Award winners: jury awards

Overall Best Awards:

Madison Albert (McGill University), Finance Minister, Czech Republic

Amy Lang (McGill University), Head of Government, Czech Republic

Best Negotiator Awards:

Elizabeth Bettinson (Acadia University), Finance Minister, Slovakia

Kennedy Durrell-Vander Meulen (Carleton University), Head of Government, Hungary

Joanna Bannister (University of British Columbia), Head of Government, Italy

Honourable mentions:

Marcus Britnell (University of Victoria), Finance Minister, Germany

Eyasu Ayele (Wilfrid Laurier University), Head of Government, Finland

Anthony Chedid (York University), Head of Government, Sweden

 

Award winners: peer awards

Best Coalition Builder:

Elizabeth Bettinson (Acadia University), Finance Minister, Slovakia

Amy Lang (McGill University), Head of Government, Czech Republic

Most Fun Delegate:

Kenzy Khattab (Wilfrid Laurier University), Finance Minister, Ireland 

Christopher Reynold (University of Alberta), Head of Government, Poland

Think-Outside-the-Box:

Jasmine Kim (McGill University), Finance Minister, Spain

Anthony Chedid (York University), Head of Government, Sweden

Most Likely to Work for the EU:

Kennedy Durrell-Vander Meulen (Carleton University), Head of Government, Hungary

Marcus Britnell (University of Victoria), Finance Minister, Germany

 

Pictures of the 3^rd CanMEU

 

Participant testimonials

“Personally speaking, doing is far more edifying than reading or listening: the instructive capacity of practice is unparalleled, and this is certainly true of my experience at the Model EU. Through my preparation, I learned much about my country and the EU, but it was through the proceedings itself that I was better able to grasp mechanisms of diplomacy, the various soft interpersonal skills they require, and insight into ways in which the EU as an institution shapes and facilitates decision-making. It was a fun, warm, and immersive environment, and I left having learned as much from my peers as I did from the experts we were fortunate enough to hear from. I would highly encourage students interested in global governance and diplomacy to give Model EU a shot, as it is through immersion in the unfamiliar that we might learn best!“

Amy Lang, McGill University, Head of State: Czechia, Prize Winner: Best Head of State

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“The Model EU was a fantastic experience: not only did it help me strengthen my policy research, public speaking and diplomacy skills, but it also introduced me to like-minded and motivated peers across Canada. The program pushed us to create sound and rigorous policy on crucial topics like critical mineral supply chains and data security. I would recommend it to anyone with interests in politics, public policy, international relations, economics or related fields.”

Madi Albert, McGill University, ECOFIN Minister: Czechia, Prize Winner: Best ECOFIN Minister

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“The 3rd Canadian Model EU not only served as a unique opportunity to bring together university students from across Canada, but it also allowed participants to develop diplomatic skills that cannot be cultivated in the classroom. By engaging in contentious debates, forming last-minute coalitions, and frantically drafting new amendments, I gained a small taste of EU decision-making, as well as the energy and passion that drives negotiations behind closed doors. Through the Model EU, I saw how research, strategic leverage, and persuasive narratives can translate into tangible policy agreements; this strengthened my desire to negotiate, advocate, and lobby for the social justice and policy issues that I care about.”

Joanna Banister, University of British Columbia, Head of Government: Italy, Prize Winner: Best Negotiator (Head of Government)

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“Participating in Model EU was an incredible experience that allowed me to explore the European Union's supranational system in a practical and kinaesthetic way. Through the research and simulation, I developed a deeper understanding of diplomacy and international decision making while building meaningful connections with peers from across the country who share my commitment to civic engagement and democratic values.”

Kennedy Durrell-Vander Meulen, Carleton University, Head of Government: Hungary, Prize Winner: Best Negotiator (Head of Government)

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“One of my favourite parts of the Canadian Model EU was collaborating with students from different universities and learning how to work together to produce a final outcome. Preparing for the Model EU also gave me a much deeper understanding of how EU member states work together, and as a Chair I had to take the initiative to organize and manage the perspectives of all 27 member states. Overall, the experience gave me a greater appreciation for how much cooperation, preparation, and compromise are needed to make decisions within the European Union.”

Kiara Kale, University of Victoria (Chair of the European Council)

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Links to Documentation

Guidebook for 3rd CanMEU 

Background document for HOGs (Room 1 / European Council) 

Background document for Finance Ministers (Room 2 / ECOFIN) 

Model EU Dress Code: Professional, i.e. business formal or business casual (see McMaster University resource). 

Guidelines for judges

 

 

Left to right: Sam Shipley, Coco Cunningham, Skyla Thomas and Jenna Inch, UVic participants of the 2024 edition of the West Coast Model EU

Congratulations to the following UVic students who represented the Irish and Czech delegations:

Coco Cunningham -- Head of State, Ireland

Sam Shipley -- Interior Minister, Ireland

Skyla Thomas -- Head of State, Czechia

Jenna Inch -- Interior Minister, Czechia

2024 Model EU Topics:

The Communication of the Presidency explains these topics in further detail.

Heads of Government:

• Clarify the long-term status of Türkiye’s European Union membership application
• Stand up a coherent European defense capability parallel to NATO

Interior Ministers:

• Require media and communications companies to open all encrypted customer communications to government agencies
• Expand Frontex as a unified Coast Guard agency in the Mediterranean

Congratulations to the following UVic students who represented the Czech and German delegations:

Aidan Scarcella -- Head of State, Czechia

Jasper Van Weelderen -- Interior Minister, Czechia

Tara Matthews -- Head of State, Germany

Vanessa Aase -- Interior Minister, Germany

2023 Model EU Topics:

The Communication of the Presidency explains these topics in further detail.

Heads of Government:

• Adopt CSDP Sky Shield
• Establish new Energy Resilience Fund

Interior Ministers:

• Create Refugee Enhanced Solidarity Platform
• Expand Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

Congratulations to the following UVic students who represented the Cezch Republic and Cyprus delegations, and to Seamus Lim-Heley for winning a position paper award:

Laura Smith -- Foreign Minister, Czech Republic

Seamus Lim-Heley -- Head of State, Czech Republic

Svetlin Dimitriev -- Foreign Minister, Cyprus

Emma Judd -- Head of State, Cyprus

2021 Model EU Topics:

Please consult the Model EU website for a link to the Communication of the Presidency, that is, the detailed description of the MEU topics (downloadable pdf). In brief, those topics are

• Heads of Government:
  • Governance – Enhanced Cooperation in light of the challenges of COVID-19
  • Post-Brexit institutional realignment
• Foreign Ministers:
  • Migration – Maintaining or expanding the EU’s agreement with Turkey regarding retaining migrants on its territory
  • Expanding and normalizing certain ties, opportunities and programs with Russia

Portugal held the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first six months of 2021 and was represented by the University of Utah.

Left to right: Svetlin Dimitriev, Gabrielle Parent, Lily Hamilton

Congratulations to the following UVic students who represented the Italian and Romanian delegations:

Lilly Hamilton -- Head of State, Italy

Gabrielle Parent -- Labour/Commerce Minister, Italy

Svetlin Dimitriev -- Head of State, Romania

Emma Judd -- Labour/Commerce Minister, Romania

2020 Model EU Topics:

The Communication of the Presidency explains these topics in further detail.

Heads of Government: Major Climate Change Goals:

• Consider EIB Purge of Fossil Fuel Projects
• Support Lagging EU Members towards Compliance with Paris Agreement Goals

Labor/Commerce Ministers:

• Update 2016-2019 Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality
• Consider Job Training and Cultural Integration Programs

(Left to Right: Nicholas Sociedade, Katie Curry, Alina Sobolik, Caleb Laranjeiras, Malcolm Thomson)

2019 WCMEU took place at the University of Washington on March 8-9th, where UVic's delegates represented Poland and Finland.

2019 Team:

• Alina Sobolik, Head of State for Poland
• Caleb Laranjeiras, Minister of Energy for Poland
• Katie Curry, Head of State for Finland
• Nicholas Sociedade, Minister of Energy for Finland

In 2019, the WCMEU featured two concurrent summit negotiation sessions focusing on the following issues:

• Common Immigration and Border Scheme
• Pipelines/Projects of Common Interest/Energy Independence

Special thanks to Malcolm Thomson (2018 attendee) who helped the students prepare before leaving!

2018 WCMEU took place at the University of Washington on February 23-25, 2018, where UVic's delegates represent Belgium and Hungary.

2018 Team:

• Kadi Diallo, Head of State for Hungary
• Malcolm Thomson, Head of State for Belgium
• Moira Louw, Minister of Agriculture for Hungary
• Daphne Lewarne, Minister of Agriculture for Belgium

In 2018, the WCMEU featured two concurrent summit negotiation sessions focusing on the following issues:

(1) CAP Reforms - Rural Development and Food Security
(2) CFSP Reforms - Turkey and Battlegroups

Special thanks to Ninu Forrest (2017 attendee) who helped the students prepare before leaving!

 

2017 WCMEU

2017 WCMEU took place at the University of Washington on Februrary 10-11, representing Luxembourg and Estonia.

2017 Team:

• Anna Dodd
• Ninu Forrest
• Isaac Hordiyuk
• Katrina Maclean

In 2017, the WCMEU featured two concurrent summit negotiation sessions focusing on the following issues: formal negotiations for BREXIT, and reforming the European Union's Fiscal Capacity.

Check out #wcmeu2017 or @eusuvic on twitter for photos!

The 2016 WCMEU took place at the University of Washington, 
on February 26th and 27th. 

There were two info sessions held at the beginning of Novmber. 

In 2016, the WCMEU featured two concurrent summit negotiation sessions focusing on the following issues: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) (regulatory protection and sustainable development, and Freedom, Security and Justice), and the refugee and asylum crisis in Europe.

The 2016 team:

• Lane Foster – Head of State, Lithuania
• Mohammed Adan – Minister, Lithuania
• Daniel Wiche – Head of State, Slovenia
• Elena Trenholme – Minister, Slovenia 

The UVic teams were defending our two year title as Outstanding Head of State
(Alex Dauncy 2015, Kris Best 2014). 
Congratulations to Elena Trenholme for her Honorable Mention. 

 

The EUS program sent 4 students to participate in the West Coast Model EU on 20-21 February 2015.
A huge thanks to UVic's Kris Best, the 2014 Outstanding Head of State as President of Latvia
for helping prepare the students for the 2015 Conference.

The team selected for this year to represent Croatia and Denmark are:

• Jordan Konyk (President, Croatia)
• Ben Lukenchuk (Labour and Pension System Minister, Croatia)
• Justine Reynolds (Minster of Employment, Denmark)
• Alex Dauncey-Elwood (Prime Minister, Denmark)

Congratulations to Alex, who won the Outstanding Head of State award!
This is the second year in a row UVic has won Outstanding Head of State!

The 2015 Summit featured two concurrent negotiation sessions focusing on:

• Common foreign and security policy
• Fighting youth unemployment in Europe

On February 8th, 2014, UVic sent the following students to represent Latvia and the European Commission at the West Coast Model EU at the University of Washington, in Seattle:

• Kris Best - President of Lativia
• Linnea Jackson - Minister of the Interior for Latvia
• Kevin Ziegler - President of the European Commission
• Kimiya Missaghi - Commissionar of the Directorate-General of Homa Affairs for the European Commission

Tania Shaban, a UVic PhD student, went to Seattle as their supervisor.
Kris Best won the 2014 award for the Outstanding Head of Government for her role in the West Coast Model EU.
See more about the conference here.

On February 22nd and 23rd, 2013, UVic sent the following students to represent Slovakia and Greece at the West Coast Model EU at the University of Washington, in Seattle:

• Bryan Benner- Head of Government for Greece
• Ben Hess- Minister of Interior for Greece
• Kimiya Missaghi- Head of Government/State for Slovakia
• Astrid Niemann-Zajac- Ministerof Interior for Slovakia

See more about the conference here.

The EUS and EUCE at UVic sent four students to the University of Washington in Seattle to the West Coast Model EU from February 10th to 11th, 2012. The following students represented France and Lithuania in the European Union simulation debate tackling the issues of a new EU treaty in the wake of the Euro crisis and of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

• Devon Harlos- Minister of Agriculture for France
• Heather Larson- Head of Government/State for France
• Yang You- Minister of Agriculture for Lithuanina
• Andrew Reeve- Head of Government/State for Lithuania

See the website for more information.

In 2011, these undergraduate students from UVic went to the University of Washington to represent Austria and Estonia, from Feruary 18th to 19th. Andrew Reeve, one of our students, won the 2011 award for Outstanding Head of Government.

• Claire Muurmans- Austria
• Elyse Goatcher-Bergmann- Austria
• Kate Rattray- Estonia
• Andrew Reeve- Estonia

See more about the conference.

UVic sent the following four undergraduate students and one accompanying graduate student to the University of Washington, in Seattle on April 23rd and 24th, to represent Bulgaria and Malta.

• Laura Skoratko- Head of State for Malta
• Ashley Stewart-Minister of Agriculture for Malta
• Christina Winter- Head of State for Bulgaria
• Willi Fahning- Minister of Agriculture for Bulgaria

See the website to learn more about the West Coast Model EU and the other participants.

The West Coast Model EU in 2009 took place at the University of Washington in Seattle, as usual, on March 6th and 7th. UVic sent four undergraduates and an accommpanying graduate student to represent Belgium and Portugal:

• Alison Bartlett- Minister of the Environment for Belgium
• Manuelle Chanoine- Head of State for Belgium
• Jordan Carr-Hil- Head of State for Portugal
• Willi Fahning-Minister of Environment for Portugal

See pictures from the model EU and learn about the other participants here.