Young politicians in the Mainz state parliament: EU debate inspires young people!

Young politicians in the Mainz state parliament: EU debate inspires young people!

The “Raising Europe’s Stars” business game at the beginning of February offered an exciting opportunity for 56 young people between the ages of 16 and 19 to experience the mechanisms of the European Union up close. The event in the Mainz state parliament took place under the organization of the Rhineland-Palatinate partnership association and as part of the Erasmus program. The participants came from different regions: Rhineland-Palatinate, Burgundy Franche Comté in France, Opole in Poland and Central Bohemia in the Czech Republic.

The students took over the roles of MPs from the Council of the European Union and debated important topics such as the "Green Deal", climate neutrality, the use of nuclear power and common security and defense policy. This topic was supported by preparatory meetings in which the content of the laws of the law was discussed and the participants were prepared for their respective roles.

personal experiences and language support

The young people were housed in the Mainz youth hostel, which promoted social exchange and contributed to making new friendships. Carlotta Graf (16) and Paul Rutz (18) represented Poland and held the Presidency of Council. Helena Schwalb (17) also took the role of Defense Minister of Estonia. The session took place in English, which initially represented a challenge for many participants. However, the negotiations and discussions during the business game significantly improve their English skills.

Some participants then expressed positive experiences and a growing interest in political participation. Paul Rutz is even considering going into politics after this experience. The business game not only had the goal of conveying political knowledge, but also promoting the personal development of young people.

Education through business games

Business games such as "Raising Europe’s Stars" are an essential part of educational work on the European Union, such as Political-bildung.de . This form of political education enables young people to actively deal with European topics and thus gain a deeper knowledge of the European integration process.

In addition, further business games are offered in Germany that deal with various EU topics, including asylum and refugee policy. These events are aimed primarily at school classes and youth groups from the age of 16 and offer an interactive opportunity to deal with current challenges of the European Union, so Europe-dortmund.de .

Overall, the commitment of the young people in the business game not only shows their interest in European topics, but also the valuable exchange, which is promoted by such events. The Rhineland-Palatinate partnership Association has set an important signal for the political education of young people with “Raising Europe’s Stars”.