63rd iMEP Szeged and Budapest, 2026
Updated: Aug 18
Unity lies at the heart of the European Union – a principle that came to life during the session in Szeged and Budapest in Hungary, in March 2026. It is no coincidence that these two cities hosted the 63rd International Session of the Model European Parliament. From the bridges connecting Buda and Pest, through the historic, cultural, and religious dynamics of Szeged, to the very essence of the European Union, we see the same idea: Europe’s true strength lies not in eliminating differences, but in uniting them for the common good.
Day 1: The delegates awaited the start with anticipation and the natural, mild uncertainty that comes with any new challenge. After the Opening Ceremony, standing before the gates of the renowned University of Szeged, the participants embarked on a team-building activity – a tour of the city’s key landmarks – which quickly broke the ice between them.
The next day was spent in intensive committee work – exhausting, yet inspiring. The discussions grew increasingly in-depth, and drafting the resolutions required both attention to detail and a willingness to compromise. A day later, the program included an unexpected element – a press conference during which the delegates had to answer questions related to the nearly finalised draft resolutions. The Bulgarian delegation also took an active part, contributing to the responses and defending the ideas presented. A few hours later, the final resolutions were ready.
The lobbying session that followed the next day was likely the highlight of the conference. The participants began analysing and critiquing the draft resolutions while still on the train en route to Budapest, where, in addition to a sightseeing tour of the city, they were warmly welcomed aboard a boat on the Danube. Magnificent views of Budapest’s historic yet modern city center and the world-famous Hungarian Parliament building served as the backdrop for dozens of young people as they refined and clarified their proposals for addressing the most important and complex challenges facing the European Union.
Back in Szeged, the final two days were devoted to the Plenary Session, where all the committees’ efforts culminated in success. The debates were intense and required quick thinking, clear reasoning, the ability to defend ideas and proposals, and constructive criticism.
By its conclusion, the session showed participants that their voices are not just heard, but also actively shape the future – a reminder that even small daily choices can have a tremendous impact. But the experience is far from being measured solely by documents and rules. Meeting young people from all over Europe, exchanging ideas, and having conversations outside the committee meetings turned the session into an experience we will remember not only for the places, ideas, and activities, but also for the people we had the honor and pleasure of meeting.
As the Closing Ceremony was unfolding, we felt both pride and inspiration – pride in the work we had put in, and inspiration from the opportunity to be part of something greater than ourselves.
When boarding the plane, we took stock of our experience, and realised that our voices, our ideas, and personal convictions – which we had been developing over the course of several days in partnership with our new friends – are part of the vibrant
Europe that we are building together – step by step, day by day.
Author: Aleksandra Bogdanova
More on our Instragram profile.
Delegation:
Martina Pingarova (National Trade and Banking High School), Committee President
And the Delegates:
Miya Vasileva (Sapienza University of Rome), Katerina Slaveykova ("Prof. Konstantin Galabov" 91st German Language School), Aleksandra Bogdanova (First English Language School), Trayan Beshkov (Language School "Exarch Josef I" Lovech), Ivan Bozhkov (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Comments