61st iMEP Kehl and Strasbourg, 2025

Sep 30, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Mar 24

The 61st international session of the Model European Parliament took place in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany – the symbolic heart of European democracy. For several days, young delegates from across Europe took on the role of MEPs to draft, debate, and defend policies on key EU issues, while crossing the bridge over the Rhine River that connects the two countries every day. A bridge that’s a symbol of unity and peace.

Bulgaria was represented by a six-member delegation – delegates Adelina Galabinova, Veronika Chogolyanska, Nadezhda Popska, Viktor Zlatev, Boris Atanasov, and Ivo Nikolov, as well as Marta Ruseva in the role of President of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Age. Students from the country’s leading language schools distinguished themselves with exceptional engagement during the committee meetings and in the plenary hall. With well-reasoned statements and bold proposals, the Bulgarian representatives left a lasting impression, including through their enthusiasm for procedural debates.

The opening ceremony took place at the Grand Est Regional Council building in Strasbourg, with members of the Council serving as guests of honor. In addition to them, the German Federal Minister for European Affairs, members of the Bundestag, as well as the organizers and chairpersons addressed the delegates with welcoming remarks.

Following the opening ceremony, the delegates proceeded to their respective committees, where the substantive legislative work began. On Monday afternoon, participants had the opportunity to meet with experts from various institutions, including representatives from Stanford University, the German Armed Forces, the German Federal Chancellery, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care, and others.

A new format was also introduced during the session – expert panels, during which specialists on specific topics visited the committees. Delegates asked questions, received in-depth explanations, and enriched their draft resolutions with practical and legal arguments.

The committees discussed key challenges facing the EU – public health, EU-US relations, the rights of the LGBTI community, the rule of law, and populism. Part of the debates focused on foreign policy, migration, security, and resilience against hybrid threats. Other topics included artificial intelligence and copyright, as well as reducing carbon emissions in transportation.

The subsequent lobbying phase gave all delegates the opportunity to review the draft resolutions from the other committees, propose amendments, and negotiate to achieve more precise and balanced texts. The process took place in the building of the Youth Council of the Council of Europe – a venue that further reinforced the sense of a genuine European institutional environment.

On February 25, a panel discussion was held on the topic “80 Years of Peaceful Integration in Europe – What Awaits us Today and in the Future?”, hosted at the Ortenau Regional Parliament.

The highlight of the conference was the Plenary Session held at the very European Parliament in Strasbourg. All delegates engaged in an intense, reasoned, and often emotional debate. In the spirit of true parliamentary democracy, the resolutions and proposed amendments were discussed, followed by a vote.

The speeches were both critical and inspiring, and the atmosphere was charged with passion and a sense of responsibility. After the official closing, participants enjoyed a detailed tour of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, followed by a discussion with their representatives.

The session in Strasbourg left everyone with the feeling of having made a real contribution to the European dialogue – proof that young people not only have an opinion on the future of Europe but are also ready to actively shape it.

Auhtor: Viktor Zlatev

61st iMEP Kehl and Strasbourg, 2025

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