ConSIMium 2026 Report
In early February, we had the opportunity to take part in the ConSIMium 2026 simulation in Brussels alongside students from all EU Member States. During the two-day simulation, we were able to step into the roles of governments, ministries, embassies and the media, and run through the process of adopting EU legislation within the Council of the European Union.
Preparations for the simulation began several weeks beforehand. In a series of online meetings, we were briefed on our specific roles and prepared for the upcoming negotiations. Two weeks before the start, we were informed of the simulation’s thematic focus. It was to centre on two legislative proposals concerning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI). The German delegation consisted of a national expert, an ambassador, a head of government, a minister and a journalist. Although we had already met briefly in a short digital meeting, a more in-depth discussion took place on the first evening in Brussels when we gathered at the DAAD office. Over a shared pizza with Tanja Kreetz, our national coordinator, Lisa Reichert from the DAAD, Frank Ptrikovski from the Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU, and Anna Spexard, we gained our first insights into the work in Brussels.
The following day, students from all EU Member States gathered at the Council of the European Union. Each delegation represented the national positions assigned to them and sought to defend these as consistently as possible, whilst remaining mindful of the need for compromise. This proved extremely challenging at times, as the political priorities and red lines of the individual Member States differed significantly.
The two-day simulation offered an in-depth insight into the decision-making processes of the European Council and the dynamics of diplomatic negotiations at EU level. For each role, there was a structured daily schedule with various agenda items. These included, amongst other things, meetings in COREPER, press conferences, interviews and walking the red carpet. However, the central component was the Council meetings themselves, in which the various positions were presented, discussed and negotiated in order to work out possible compromises between the member states. The Council meetings were chaired by Herman van Rompuy, the former President of the European Council, and Elisa Ferreira, the President of the European Commission. This gave the simulation a particularly realistic setting.
The simulation was accompanied by ConSIMium X, a specially created social media platform. Through this platform, delegations, representatives and journalists were able to follow current events, comment on them and publicly communicate their positions. The simulation highlighted key aspects of European decision-making processes. It became particularly clear that political decision-making is shaped not only by formal meetings, but also, to a large extent, by informal discussions and personal relationships between the actors involved. It is precisely in these moments that trust and room for manoeuvre often emerge, which are later of crucial importance for reaching compromises.
At the same time, it became clear that a willingness to engage in dialogue and form coalitions, despite differing national interests, is a fundamental prerequisite for the functioning and continued existence of European cooperation. It was a particularly enriching and moving experience to discuss European politics, exchange views and feel a sense of solidarity with young people from all Member States. We would like to extend our special thanks to the DAAD for supporting and facilitating this memorable experience.
