About MEP

MODEL EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (MEP)

What is it?

For over 10 years now, the Lycée Aline Mayrisch has given its students the opportunity to find out more about the European Union, and thus its institutions, member states, current issues and decisions. One event that encompasses all of this, is the MEP, a programme for young people in EU member states, candidates and applicant countries. It was set up in 1994 in the Hague, the Netherlands, by Anna and Leopold van Sminia. Since 2014, the programme is being organised by a multi-national board with an association based in Madrid. Today, the MEP is not linked to one specific person or institution but it is a common effort by various co-ordinators, teachers and students from European countries. Students participating in an MEP session are between 16 and 18 years old and thus in secondary school. The programme is divided into regional sessions: the Baltic Sea Region, the Western European Region, the Central and South-East European Region and the Mediterranean Region administered by regional co-ordinators. The regional sessions take place once or twice a year, while the European session is held twice a year. Luxembourg, apart from its yearly national MEP, also hosted an international one in November 2014 as well as the fourth Western European Model European Parliament (WEMEP) from January 18th to 24th 2020. 

Why is MEP so important?

Participating in an MEP session, allows students:

  • to cross the borders and experience European solidarity firsthand,
  • to acquire a political, economic, and social knowledge,
  • to meet other young Europeans and form lasting friendships,
  • to create unforgettable memories,
  • to help strengthen the fundamental ideas of a unified Europe.

The LYCÉE ALINE MAYRISCH Luxembourg

Since its creation in 2000, the Lycée Aline Mayrisch believes that it is vital to support students in becoming autonomous and responsible individuals. Believing in this teaching approach, retired English teacher Odile Linden recognized the need for young people to explore various aspects of the European Union in a school environment that would not be limited to the classroom. Together with German teacher Carole Zeimet, she set up the option course EUROPA and motivated three other teachers to participate. One driving force behind this was also Odile Linden’s experience in attending Model European Parliament sessions, together with her students. She saw the need in preparing them accordingly by discussing and debating current events and issues, and thus expanding their knowledge on political, economic and social aspects of the EU. Now, in 2023, the option course is still going strong, having only changed its name to YOUth in Politics. The approach is the same, as the students are encouraged to discuss and debate currents events, raise their voices, not just in class, but all over Europe.

If you are interested and want to find out more about MEP sessions, our option course, and our students, then please follow us on Facebook: Europa LAML and Instagram: europalaml_