Quo Vadis EU? Simulating EU Enlargement Negotiations in Times of Geopolitical Turbulence
As part of the German Federal Foreign Office’s International Diplomatic Training Programme “Diplomacy by Networking”, CRISP implemented a day-long simulation game for practicing and aspiring diplomats from EU accession countries.
The simulation scenario focuses on the convening of an urgent EU summit with representatives of the European Commission and heads of state negotiating and deciding on the accession of the fictious Mediterranean island state Monteria. As the main point of contact for migrants entering the EU, the accession of Monteria is high up on the political agenda. However, due to the potentially existential challenges the EU faces internally and externally, the summit also deals with wider questions relating to the need for far-reaching reforms to future-proof the Union.
The participants were negotiating a topic that was of high importance to themselves and the countries they represent. During the simulation they were able to freely discuss the issues at hand, understand complex relationships of multilateral negotiations and develop policy proposals. The participants highlighted the involvement of fictious press actors as a stimulating and new experience for them.
