Every year, more than 160 college and university students meet to decide the future of the European Union (EU). Playing the roles of prime ministers and presidents, ambassadors and commissioners, ministers and diplomats,they spend three days debating policy, resolving disputes, building compromises, and charting the course of European integration. The Midwest Model European Union (MMEU) is one of only a half-dozen events of its kind in the United States.
Registration
MMEU 2026 will take place on April 10, 11, and 12 at IU Bloomington. Registration is now open; click the link to register your teams here!
Created in 1993 by Prof. John McCormick of the Department of Political Science at IU Indianapolis, the MMEU is the second oldest intercollegiate simulation of the EU in North America. Originally hosted by IU Indianapolis, it was moved to the Indiana University Bloomington campus in the spring of 2014. In 2026, MMEU will take place on IU Bloomington’s campus on April 10, 11, and 12.
Design and Process
Colleges send delegations of 5-7 members each, representing the 27 EU member states. They meet in formal and informal sessions as the European Council, the European Commission, and several different councils of ministers.
Throughout MMEU, students introduce, discuss, and reach decisions on EU policy. National leaders provide overall direction, ministers huddle to work out the details of policy, commissioners and their directors-general try to give new direction to matters like foreign and security policy, the single market, eastward enlargement, or the development of the euro. Emergency joint meetings are held to break impasses.
Organization for the Midwest Model EU begins in January each year when invitations are emailed to faculty advisers and students begin forming delegations.
Past participating schools have come from across the country:
Description of the video:
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Welcome to the Midwest Model European
Union, hosted by Indiana University.
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Each year, we welcome over 160 students
from across the country for this unique,
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hands-on experience. At MMEU,
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hands-on experience. At MMEU,
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you won't just learn about the European
Union, you'll experience its intricacies firsthand.
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You'll take on the role of EU leaders,
engage in real policy debates,
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and help shape the direction of the Union.
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Founded in 1993, MMEU is the second oldest
EU simulation in North America and we're thrilled
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to have you be part of its legacy.
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To bring the EU to life, we model the
workings of three key institutions.
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The European Council, the Council of the
European Union, also called the
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Council of Ministers, and the European
Parliament.
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All 27 EU member states are represented at
MMEU by a student delegation.
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We recommend 5 to 8 students per country,
with each person playing a specific role based
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on the structure of the real EU.
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Your delegation will propose, negotiate,
and revise real policy directives on topics
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like foreign policy, the environment,
justice and home affairs,
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and economics. These proposals serve as
the
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and economics. These proposals serve as
the
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foundation of the simulation, so preparing
strong proposals is key.
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Before the conference, each delegation
must submit four to six draft proposals to our shared drive.
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These drafts will move through the same
legislative process used in the real EU.
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To succeed, you'll need to research your
assigned country in depth—its background,
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its politics, its policy priorities, and
how it interacts with the EU.
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Also important, represent your country,
not your personal views.
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You may end up defending positions you
don't agree with.
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The more prepared you are, the more
meaningful your experience will be.
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MMEU is divided into six committees, the
European Council, the European Parliament,
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and four configurations of the Council of
the EU, each covering a different policy area.
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Each committee is led by a Chair and
Vice-Chair who manage discussion, keep debates moving,
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and help facilitate compromise, just like
their real EU counterparts.
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If you're in a leadership role this year,
come prepared, know the
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rules, understand your committee's goals,
and be ready to lead.
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The European Council doesn't make laws.
Instead,
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it handles big-picture strategy. Its job
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is to guide the overall direction of the
EU.
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The European Parliament represents the
people of Europe and reviews all proposals.
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Members debate, suggest amendments, or
approve drafts based on political values.
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The Council of Ministers represents the
governments of each country.
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It reviews proposals, too, but with a
focus on national interests.
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Parliament and the Council of Ministers
will review and amend your proposals.
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Both bodies must agree for a directive to
become law.
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If one side amends it, the other reviews
it again, and it
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keeps bouncing back and forth until
there's agreement.
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This continuous compromise and negotiation
is part of what makes MMEU such a rich learning experience.
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Remember, if your proposal gets amended,
that doesn't make it weak.
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It means that your work is successfully
navigating the legislative process.
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Negotiation is how progress happens. To
succeed,
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opinion and national priorities. Each
country is
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also assigned a simulated EU budget, which
you'll use to evaluate proposals.
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You'll need to make decisions that balance
your country's goals, the needs of the Union,
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and fiscal responsibility.
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Ask yourself, does this proposal align
with my country's priorities?
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Can we afford it? Is this something
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the EU would realistically support? The
full
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the EU would realistically support? The
full
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rules of the simulation, how to speak, how
to vote,
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how to raise a question, are all detailed
in your simulation guide.
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It will answer most of your questions
before they come up.
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Above all, be respectful.
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MMEU is built on diplomacy, discussion,
and differing opinions.
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Treat the process, and each other, with
professionalism.
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We're excited to see what you bring to the
table.
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This is your chance to engage with global
issues, sharpen your negotiation skills,
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and think like an international leader.
Welcome
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again to the Midwest Model European Union.
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We're excited for you to join us.
- Anderson University, IN
- Ball State University, IN (Best Delegation: 1994, 1995, 1999, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019)
- Bradley University, IL
- Butler University, IN
- Clark University, MA
- College of Charleston, SC
- DePaul University, IL
- DePauw University, IN
- Denison University, OH
- Drake University, IA (Best Delegation: 2007)
- Drury University, MO
- Earlham College, IN
- Eastern Michigan University, MI
- Florida Altlantic University, FL
- Florida International University, FL
- Grand Valley State University, MI
- Indiana University-Bloomington, IN (Best Delegation: 2011)
- Indiana University-South Bend, IN (Best Delegation: 2001, 2005)
- Indiana University-Southeast, IN
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, IN (Best Delegation: 1997, 1998, 2006)
- Iowa State University, IA (Best Delegation, 2015, 2016, 2018)
- Kennesaw State University, GA
- Le Moyne College, NY
- Loyola University Chicago, IL
- Luther College, IA
- Maryville University, MO
- Missouri Southern State University, MO
- Missouri State University, MO
- Morehead State University, KY
- Muskingum College, OH
- Oakland University, MI (Best Delegation, 2009)
- Principia College, IL (Best Delegation, 2000)
- Purdue University, IN (Best Delegation, 1996)
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, IN
- Stephen F. Austin State University, TX (Best Delegation, 2022, 2023)
- Syracuse University, NY
- Texas Women's University, TX
- University of Arkansas, AR
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
- University of Indianapolis, IN (Best Delegation: 2021)
- University of Louisville, KY
- University of Michigan, MI
- University of Missouri-Columbia, MO (Best Delegation, 2002, 2003, 2004)
- University of Missouri-St Louis, MO
- University of North Carolina, NC
- University of Notre Dame, IN (Best Delegation, 1993, 2024)
- University of Oklahoma, OK
- University of Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Toledo, OH
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, WI
- University of Wisconsin-Parkside, WI
- US Air Force Academy, CO
- Wayne State University, MI
- Western Illinois University, IL
- Western Michigan University, MI
- Winona State University, MN
The Model EU is really the high point of my various classes dealing with European politics, both for my students and for me.
Jonathan Olsen, Faculty advisor, Texas Women’s University