London students tackle EU challenges

In the historic Locarno Rooms in Whitehall, groups of students will represent each of the 27 EU Member States, as well as the European Commission and Secretariat-General of the Council. They will come together to debate and cast votes on issues around climate change - a current EU priority in the lead up to December’s UN climate change conference in Copenhagen - and universal broadband access for Europe.

The event will provide insight into how EU Member States work with each other and the Commission in order to debate and shape policy which will have global impact. It will be an excellent opportunity for potential future leaders to hone their debating, diplomacy and language skills.

Students have been selected from British Council school-linking programmes and this event is part of the organisation’s 75th anniversary activities, which run throughout 2009. Some students will be able to research the countries they are representing through their European school partnerships or through meeting with the relevant embassy representatives in London.

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: "Over 75 years the British Council has worked to build cultural understanding between people in the UK, Europe and around the world, through initiatives like the European Union's Comenius programme. It is very fitting that in these rooms, named after a very different way of settling our issues in Europe, we are bringing together students from our schools programmes to experience first hand how links with our European neighbours work now.

“As our future decision makers, it's vital for young people to gain an understanding of how democratic institutions work, the global issues which they debate and other countries' viewpoints on those issues."

Minister for Europe, Chris Bryant, commented: “The Mock Council is a fantastic opportunity for students to put their critical thinking and debating skills to the ultimate test. The event, organised by the British Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the London Representation of the European Commission, provides an invaluable insight into the decision making process of the EU and the real issues and compromises that need to be made as a citizen in a democratic arena.“

The event will give students, aged 16-18, the chance to hear first hand from guest ministers and other speakers from the UK and Europe, including the Minister for Europe and Matthew Rycroft, EU Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Students will present ‘their’ country’s standpoint and make alliances with other countries during working groups, before casting their final votes in Council sessions, where they will sit behind the flag of their adopted country.

Sarah Lambert, Acting Head of the European Commission Representation in the UK, said: “The Mock Council is a lot of fun because it gives students a chance to learn first-hand the art of political compromise and decision making in the European Union.”

This is one of a series of Mock Council events being held England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

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For more information please contact Rachel Woods in the British Council Press Office on 020 7389 4683 or Rachel.woods@britishcouncil.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

The following schools from London and Essex are taking part:

1. Alperton Community School                                Wembley          Belgium
2. Beths Grammar School                                      Bexley              Denmark
3. Chestnut Grove School                                       Balham             European Commission
4. Christ the King: St Mary’s                                   Sidcup              Slovenia
5. The Crest Girls Academy                                    Neasden           Romania
6. Darrick Wood School                                         Orpington          Ireland
7. Edmonton County School                                   Enfield              France 
8. Finchley Catholic High School                             Finchley            Latvia
9. Forest School                                                    Snaresbrook      Cyprus
10. The Frances Bardsley School for Girls                 Romford            Finland
11. Graveney School                                                Wandsworth      Greece
12. Herschel Grammar School                                  Slough              Germany
13. Highgate Wood School                                       Haringey           Poland
14. Islington Arts and Media School                          Islington            Czech Republic
15. Kelsey Park Sports’ College                               Bromley            Lithuania
16. King's College School                                         Wimbledon        Council Secretariat
17. Lambeth Academy                                             Clapham           Hungary
18. La Retraite School                                             Clapham Park    Sweden
19. Newstead Wood School                                     Orpington          Italy
20. North London Collegiate School                           Edgware            Spain
21. Notting Hill and Ealing High School                      Ealing               UK
22. St Angela's School                                             Forest Gate       Malta
23. St Philomena's School                                       Carshalton         Slovakia
24. St Saviour's & St Olave's Cof E School                Southwark         Estonia
25. The Sixth Form College                                      Colchester         Austria
26. Southfields Community College                           Wandsworth      Bulgaria
27. The Sydney Russell School                                Barking & Dagenham Portugal
28. Trinity School                                                    Bexley              Luxembourg
29. Wembley High Technology College                      North Wembly   Netherlands

The British Council

• The mock Council of the European Union meetings are being run as part of the EU-funded Comenius Programme, managed in the UK by the British Council.
• Celebrating 75 years in 2009, the British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.
• We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people.
• We work in the arts, education, English, science, sport and governance and last year we engaged face to face with 13.2 million people and reached 221 million.
• We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government.
• Our total turnover in 2008/9 was £645 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British government was £209 million. For every £1 of government grant we receive, we earn £2.21 from other sources.
• www.britishcouncil.org

The Council of Ministers is one of the two primary decision-making bodies of the European Union (the other is the European Parliament). It is composed of ministers of the 27 Member States; which minister attends depends on the subject matter under discussion.

The European Commission is the executive institution of the European Union. Its Representation in the UK has several roles:

• Providing information about the European Union across the UK
• Speaking for the Commission as its voice in the UK.
• Reporting back to the Commission on political, economic and social developments in the UK.