Young people from all parts of Latvia play the roles of EU ministers

On Monday, 5 January, almost 60 young people from all parts of Latvia played the roles of ministers and delegates during the simulation of the Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers of the EU Council to gain a better understanding on how the EU institutions work.

"The simulation was a unique experience and opportunity to meet intelligent and engaged people of my age. I am grateful for the opportunity to sit in the chair in which the man who leads the European Union will take place just in couple of days. Thank you to organisers for this invaluable experience," said Armands Astukēviās, one of the participants of the role-play game.

The participants of the role-play game were from Rīga, Aizkraukle, Alūksne, Baldone, Bauska, Daugavpils, Dobele, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Kandava, Liepāja, Ogre, Rēzekne, Smiltene, Valmiera, Ventspils and other towns in Latvia. They had the opportunity to find out more about the EU Council's decision-making procedure and to play the roles of ministers, presiding country and European commissioners.

"Today Latvia has its first work day as the presiding country of the EU Council. The role-play game was the first Presidency event of the year but on 8 January we will welcome here the college of Commissioners of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk i. The Presidency opening event at the Latvian National Opera will also take place on the same day. I am delighted that we were able to start off our Presidency with the engagement of young people providing them the opportunity to role-play a Presidency event. Engagement has also become one of Presidency's guiding principles in order to show that Europe is right beside us," said the Director of the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Kristīne Pommere.

The simulation of the Informal Environment Ministers Meeting focused on a topical issue of the environmental protection, i.e, how the EU decision on reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags affects developing countries and environment. Even though the use of plastic carrier bags leaves adverse effects on the environment, the proposed alternative - bags made of GMO potato starch - is not an unambiguous solution. The participants of the game discussed these topics expressing opinions of different EU Member States.