Six Irish students experience European Council negotiations first hand

On 8 - 9 April 2024, over 160 students met in Brussels to take part in ConSIMium – a European Council simulation experience. Over two days, teams of six students from 27 EU countries stepped into the shoes of national representatives and role-played negotiations between the EU member states at four different levels.

As last year, the Irish team was again co-ordinated by Professor em. Joachim Fischer, Centre for European Studies, University of Limerick. The six students were selected from Irish universities currently running European Studies degree programmes; in the case of UCD where the BA European Studies has not yet reached its final year, a student of Law with French participated. The selection criteria stipulated by the Brussels organizers included academic merit, interest in EU Affairs, gender balance, balanced geographical representation, proficiency in at least two official EU languages. The students selected were:

• Mairéad Butler, 4th year BA European Studies, TCD (Taoiseach)
• Julia Celej, 4th year BA European Studies, UCC (national expert, Artificial Intelligence)
• Theodore Holmes, 2nd year Double Degree MA in European Studies, UL/Europa Universität Flensburg, Germany (Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation)
• Gregor McCullagh-Travers, 4th year BCL Law with French, UCD (Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU)
• Charlie McEvoy, 4th year BA European Studies, TCD (national expert, cybersecurity) and
• Aoife Woods, 4th year BA in European Studies, UL (journalist)

The team was also accompanied by Dr Xosé Boan, Course Director, BA in European Studies at UL.