The SUNY Model European Union (SUNYMEU) is a program sponsored by the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY (IEUSS), the SUNY Office of Global Affairs (with which IEUSS is affiliated), and participating SUNY campuses. SUNYMEU is guided by Rules & Procedures approved and published by the IEUSS, in consultation with faculty advisers participating in SUNYMEU. The IEUSS serves as the governance and financial reporting body for SUNYMEU. SUNY Buffalo State University hosts the IEUSS office and webpages, including SUNYMEU.
The SUNY Model European Union was founded in 1988 by the State University of New York (SUNY) as an adaptation of the popular Model United Nations (MUN), but differs in its conception, organization, roles, and outcomes.
The MUN is, by and large, a simulation for students of diplomacy and foreign affairs, while the Model EU (MEU) simulates policymaking at the ministerial and head of government levels in the European Union. While the UN is an international organization, most scholars regard the EU as being more than this, though the terms they use to describe it, vary. Some, for example, view it as a rather special type of international organization (IO). Some emphasize that it has state-like properties. And some suggest it is a quasi-federal system. Thus, the MEU offers students opportunities to hone their skills both in diplomacy and governance.
SUNYMEU simulates a summit of the European Council. The summits are held at least twice a year, including in June and December when they signal the end of an EU presidency. However, with the EU facing a succession of crises in recent years, “special” summits of European Councils occur much more often now. European Council meetings are normally held in the Europa Building in Brussels.
Students take roles (alter egos) of real European leaders - head of government, foreign affairs minister, and finance minister. Other roles include the President of the European Council, European Commissioners (including the President), and the High Representative for the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. SUNYMEU also fields a press corps, with students simulating independent journalists. Approximately 90 students participate in SUNYMEU, making it a good size for everyone to have opportunities to participate in a meningful way to the agendas being discussed.
SUNYMEU is student-run and student-directed, with SUNYMEU faculty directors providing continuity, expertise in the EU, and fundraising (such as grant writing) to support SUNYMEU. SUNYMEU student directors and the (intercollegiate) SUNYMEU Student Leadership Team oversee the pre-simulation proposal phase and run the simulation itself. Students from throughout participating campuses write and propose the agenda items, ensuring they can debate subjects in which they are interested. The student participants select the award winners through a secret ballot during Sunday lunchtime (the last day of the simulation). Awards include most effective delegation, head of government, foreign affairs minister, finance minister, and best agenda items.
Unique among MEU programs, students are not required to have a faculty adviser or have a minimum number of students from a campus to participate because the IEUSS provides background on the EU through this manual, its resources pages, and videoconferencing.
