On February 15, 2024, the Changemakers in Slovakia organized a simulation activity of the European Parliament in English for a bilingual class at Gymnázium, Golianova 68 in Nitra. The goal was to give students an insight into what voting on proposals in parliament looks like. As part of this project, high school students took on the roles of Members of the European Parliament and participated in a simulation of deliberations on a proposal for mandatory recycling of plastic bottles. The entire process, from opening speeches to final voting, brought exciting and engaging experiences to the participants.
The introductory part consisted of a brief explanation of how the European Parliament functions, providing students with basic information about the significance of this decisive institution within the structures of the European Union. The students were also introduced to the schedule of planned activities for this simulation, giving them an idea, for example, of how they would be divided into factions, which are essential for the functioning of the European Parliament.
Following the introduction was the preparatory phase, where students familiarized themselves with their political factions, their values, and studied the proposal for mandatory recycling of plastic bottles. Each faction had a different perspective on the proposal, leading to interesting discussions within this simulation.
The speeches of the factions served as the core of the simulation of the European Parliament, with each faction having the opportunity to present its specific position on the proposed legislation. After the individual speeches, there was a space for questions from other factions. Such a discussion on amendments between factions challenged students to think creatively. The key moment was the final voting process. Students could vote not only on the proposal as a whole but also on individual amendments.
Finally, there was a part for the overall evaluation of the simulation, where students shared their observations and experiences from this activity, which was intended to be an opportunity for students not only to develop their communication skills but also their negotiation skills. The aim of the simulation was to educate students about the importance of effective communication and discussion and to motivate them as first-time voters to participate in the elections to the European Parliament.
