Booklet MEU

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Model European Union Sofia 2014

Information Booklet

24th 28th November 2014, Sofia, Bulgaria

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Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2

General Information ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Group division list ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Hostel ........................................................................................................................................................ 6

Schedule ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

Background Information ............................................................................................................................. 14

City of Sofia ............................................................................................................................................. 14

House of Europe ..................................................................................................................................... 14

Sofia University ....................................................................................................................................... 15

National Youth House ............................................................................................................................. 16

Sofia Cuisine and Nightlife .......................................................................................................................... 17

Restaurants ............................................................................................................................................. 17

Monday Restaurant O!Shipka ....................................................................................................... 17

Tuesday and Friday Divaka Restaurant ......................................................................................... 18

Wednesday Hadzhidraganovite Izbi ............................................................................................... 19

Thursday Euro night National Youth House ..................................................................................... 20

Clubs ........................................................................................................................................................ 20

Thursday Gramophone .................................................................................................................... 20

............................................................................................................................................................ 20

Plovdiv ......................................................................................................................................................... 21

Practical Information .................................................................................................................................. 21

Public Transport ...................................................................................................................................... 21

Money exchange ..................................................................................................................................... 21

Basic Bulgarian ........................................................................................................................................ 21

Weather forecast .................................................................................................................................... 22


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Introduction Dear participants we are glad to say welcome to Sofia, Bulgaria. This year for the first time the simulation Model European Union will be organized here in Bulgaria and congratulations! YOU are the main actors. In this booklet youll find all the necessary information about your sojourn in Sofia. First, there will be some general information (hostel, group etc.). This will be followed by information about the program and places we will visit. Last but not least, there will be some information about Sofia itself. We hope that this booklet will help you to be well prepared for the trip to Sofia! Hopefully see you all there! ! Organisation committee ([email protected]) Desislava Antonova +359 897 897801 Teodor Kalpakchiev +359 988 70 55 40 Stephanie Bosseva +359 886 739 556. Petya Petrova +359 894 42 13 31 Yoana Marinova +359 887 574 589 Emanuela Vassileva Elizabeth Bojilova +359 889 39 69 62 Alexandar Ivanov +359 878 429 294 Dimitrinka Kyuchukova +359 878 914 113 Svilena Shishkova Georgi Valev


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General Information The mandatory programme starts on 24th of November (Monday) at 09:00 o`clock. However, on Sunday

(23th of November) there will also some activities. We will have 77 participants, as well as 9 members of

the Organizing committee. During you sojourn here you will participate in the simulation, but also you

will visit some of the public institutions of Republic of Bulgaria and the second biggest city Plovdiv.

Please take into account that during the formal part (simulation) appropriate formal clothing is required.

In order to guarantee the quality of simulation, preparation in advance is obligatory to everyone!

Group division list During the simulation each of you will have different role. Some of you will be MEPs, while others will be

representatives of the Council of the EU. Last but not least, some of you take the role of journalist.

Below you can find information about the role division.

Figure 1Ministers (28)


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Figure 2 MEPs (1)

Figure 3 MEPs (2)


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Figure 4 Chairs


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Hostel Between 24th and 28th of November you home will be Slavyanska Beseda Hotel, situated in Sofia

Downtown. It is close to Central Government offices, Bank headquarters, Art Galleries, Theaters and

Cinemas. The hotel offers 90 rooms and 6 suits. The room facilities include private bath, minibar,

telephone, cable TV. To ensure guests' comfort the hotel provides a nice restaurant, room service,

hairdressers, a gym room, a souvenir shop, currency exchange, safe deposit boxes and information

services.

Hotel Facilities: lift, security, safe deposit boxes, telephone, information and money exchange, room

service, barber shop, laundry and dry cleaning, restaurant, bar, private party catering, shop, business-

meeting room, guarded parking

Room Facilities: cable TV, telephone, minibar with fridge, private bathroom/ toilet, bathtub, balcony.

The luxurious rooms also provide cable Internet connection

Web: http://slavyanska.com/bg/

Address: 3, Slavyanska Str. , Sofia

Phone: (+359 2) 935 98 35


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Schedule

Day/Time 23.11 Sunday 24.11. 25.11. 26.11. 27.11. 28.11.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

7:15 8:15 Breakfast at the

Hotel

Breakfast at the

Hotel

Breakfast at the

Hotel

Breakfast at the

Hotel

Breakfast at the

Hotel

8:15 8:30 Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

8:30 8:45 Leave to the House

of Europe

Leave to the House

of Europe

Leave to the House

of Europe

Leave to the House

of Europe

Leave to the House

of Europe

8:45 9:00 Security Check,

Participants take

their seats

Security Check,

Participants take

their seats

Security Check,

Participants take

their seats

Security Check,

Participants take

their seats

Security Check,

Participants take

their seats

9:00 9:15 Trainings for

Journalists

Welcome and

Opening Speeches

Roll Call,

Commissioners

Present both at EP

and Council

Roll Call,

Commissioners

Present both at EP

and Council

Roll Call, Defense of

Amendments from

two MEPs at the

Council, resp. two

Ministers at the

Parliament

Flashback of the

Previous day.

Representatives of

each focus group

present its work

and outputs.

9:15 9:30 Presentation of

the MEU

Questions to the

Commissioners

Questions to the

Commissioners

Defense of

Amendments from

two MEPs at the

Council, resp. two

Ministers at the

Parliament

Representatives of

each focus group

present its work

and outputs.

9:30 9:45 First Panel on TTIP Parliament:

Faction Meetings

and Election of

Faction Leader and

Secretary

Parliament: Faction

Meetings and

Election of Faction

Leader and

Secretary

Faction Meeting at

the Parliament /

Informal Discussion

at the Council

Representatives of

each focus group

present its work

and outputs. The

rest of the

participants begin

writing down their

work from the

previous day.


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Council: Opening

Statements

(~2mins)

Council: Opening

Statements

(~2mins)

9:45-10:00 First Panel on TTIP Parliament:

Opening

Statements

Parliament:

Opening

Statements

Final Voting Both Delegates

within a Dimension

Negotiate a Policy

Strategy.

Council: Opening

Statements

Council: Opening

Statements

10:00

10:15

Questions from

the Audience

General Debate

Pt.1

General Debate Pt.1 Election of Press

Conference

Representatives

(2+2)

Both Focus Groups

within a Dimension

Create a

Visualization of the

Strategy and the

Proposed Tools,

Recommendations

and Benchmarks

10:15

10:30

Second Panel on

ENP

General Debate

Pt.1

General Debate Pt.1 Final Press

Conference

Both Focus Groups

within a Dimension

Create a

Visualization of the

Strategy and the

Proposed Tools,

Recommendations

and Benchmarks

10:30

10:45

Second Panel on

ENP

General Debate

Pt.1

General Debate Pt.1 Final Press

Conference

Coffee Break

10:45

11:00

Questions from

the Audience

General Debate

Pt.1

General Debate Pt.1 Coffee Break The Delegates from

Each Dimension

Present Their

Results

11:00

11:15

Training for

Policy

Facilitators

Coffee Break Networking Break

/ Newspaper

Networking Break /

Newspaper

Presentation: What

is a Policy Cycle and

Policy Consulting

The Delegates from

Each Dimension

Present Their

Results

11:15

11:30

Presentation of

the Policy Think-

Tank

General Debate

pt.2

General Debate pt.2 Presentation:

Methods and Goals

of the Policy Think-

Tank.Expected

Questions and

Suggestions Session

from the Audience


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outputs.

11:30 -

11:45

Questions from

the Audience

General Debate

pt.2

General Debate pt.2 Lunch / Re-

arranging the

Venue

Final Voting in

Plenum with Simple

Majority to Approve

the Proposed Steps

11:45 -

12:00

Chairs Present

Rules of Procedure

General Debate

pt.2

General Debate pt.2 Lunch / Re-

arranging the

Venue

Closing Ceremony

Statements, Video

and Photo

Journalists Present

Their Work

12:00 -

12:15

Chairs Explain

Milestones of the

Debating Schedule

General Debate

pt.2

General Debate pt.2 Opening statements

by Guests.

Distribution of

Certificates

Introduction to the

Think Tank.

Participants decide

on a person who is

going to visualize

the outputs.

12:15 -

12:30

Mock Debate with

Chairs

General Debate

pt.2

General Debate pt.2 Guidelines by

guests speakers.

Participants give a

definition of the

current state of

affairs. Synthesis of

a Problem

Statement.

Distribution of

Certificates

12:30 -

12:45

Questions and

answers regarding

the Rules of

Procedure

General Debate

pt.2

General Debate pt.2 Defining the

reasons behind the

problematic.

Defining

the corelation to

the rest of the

Distribution of

Prizes


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dimensions. Naming

and framing of the

actors involved.

Visualization.

12:45 -

13:00

Closing of the First

Part

Election of

Trialogue

Representatives

Election of

Trialogue

Representatives

Brainstorm session

on alterative

scenarios for

potential future

developments of

the state of affairs.

Visualization.

Group Photos

13:00 -

13:15

Lunch Political

Campaigning in

Greece

Lunch with

Catering / Faction

Meetings for MEPs

Lunch with Catering

/ Faction Meetings

for MEPs

Participants assess

the scenarios and

create a vision for

an optimal

development.

Definition of an if-

hypothesis.

Visualization.

Distribution of

Lunchpacks by the

Catering

13:15 -

13:30

Lunch / Catering Lunch with

Catering / Faction

Meetings for MEPs

Lunch with Catering

/ Faction Meetings

for MEPs

Coffee Break /

Market of Ideas

Meeting in Front Of

House of Europe

13:30 -

13:45

Lunch / Catering Sending of

Amendments

online, Trialogue

Meeting

Sending of

Amendments

online, Trialogue

Meeting

Participants discuss

and define a set of

problems that stand

between the

current state of

affairs and the

desired outcome.

Visualization.

Buses Leave to

Plovdiv

13:45 -

14:00

Visit to Parliament Sending of

Amendments

online, Trialogue

Meeting

Sending of

Amendments

online, Trialogue

Meeting

What are the

factors behind each

problem? What is

the interest of

different actors

within it?

14:00 -

14:15

Afternoon Get-

Together and

Final Touches

Visit to Parliament Debate on

Amendments

Debate on

Amendments

Participants come

up with policy

recommendations

and measurements


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14:45 -

14:30


Amendments

Debate on

Amendments

Participants come

up with policy

recommendations

and measurable

benchmarks for

their assessment

14:30 -

14:45


Amendments

Debate on

Amendments

Participants come

up with policy

recommendations

and measurable

benchmarks for

their assessment

14:45 -

15:00


Amendments

Debate on

Amendments

Participants Draw a

Timeline of the

Proposed Actions

15:00 -

15:15

Going back to Sofia

University

Debate on

Amendments

Debate on

Amendments

Coffe Break and

Switching of Rooms

15:15 -

15:30

Negotiations

Training

Debate on

Amendments

Debate on

Amendments

Brainstorm session

on alterative

scenarios for

potential future

developments of

the state of affairs.

Visualization.

Arrival in Plovdiv

15:30 -

15:45

Negotiations

Training

Networking break

to discuss

amendments

Networking break

to discuss

amendments

Participants assess

the scenarios and

create a vision for

an optimal

development.

Definition of a if-

hypothesis.

Guided Tour

15:45 - 16:

00

Negotiations

Training

Networking break

to discuss

amendments

Networking break

to discuss

amendments

Coffee Break /

Market of Ideas

Guided Tour

16:00 -

16:15

Public Speaking

Training

Voting on

Amendments

Voting on

Amendments

Participants discuss

and define a set of

problems that stand

between the

current state of

affairs and the

Guided Tour


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desired outcome.

Visualization.

16:15 -

16:30

Public Speaking

Training

Voting on

Amendments

Voting on

Amendments

What are the

factors behind each

problem? What is

the interest of

different actors

within it?

Guided Tour

16:30 -

16:45

Public Speaking

Training

Voting on

Amendments

Voting on

Amendments

Participants come

up with policy

recommendations

and measurements

Guided Tour

16:45 -

17:00

Public Speaking

Training

Election of

Representatives

for Press

Conference +

Tomorrows

Defense (2+2

MEPS, 2+2

Ministers)

Election of

Representatives for

Press Conference +

Tomorrows

Defense (2+2 MEPS,

2+2 Ministers)

Participants come

up with policy

recommendations

and measurable

benchmarks for

their assessment

Guided Tour

17:00 -

17:15

Public Speaking

Training

Press Conference

in Plenum (2 MEPs

+ 2 Ministers)

Press Conference in

Plenum (2 MEPs + 2

Ministers)

Participants come

up with policy

recommendations

and measurable

benchmarks for

their assessment

Guided Tour

17:15 -

17:30

Public Speaking

Training

Press Conference

in Plenum (2 MEPs

+ 2 Ministers)

Press Conference in

Plenum (2 MEPs + 2

Ministers)

Participants Draw a

Timeline of the

Proposed Actions

Guided Tour

17:30

18:30

Sofia Tour Free Time at

Slavyanska Beseda

Free Time at

Slavyanska Beseda

Participants Leave

towards the

National Youth

House; Setting up of

the Venue at the

NYH

Guided Tour

18:30

19:15

Sofia Tour Opening of the

EuroNight;

Presentation of

local food and

Travel Back to Sofia


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customs

19:15

19:30

Introduction of the

Dimensions of TTIP

and ENP during the

Think-Tank

Presentation of

local food,

beverages and

customs

19:30

19:45

Participants

Register for a

specific Dimension

Cocktail

19:45 -

20:00

Meeting for

Dinner in front

of Slavyanska

Beseda

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Meeting in front of

the Hotel

Country

Presentations

20:00

20:15

Leave towards

OShipka

Leave towards

Divaka

Leave towards

Bulgarian Night

Venue

Country

Presentations

Arrival at Sofia

20:15

22:30

Dinner + Karaoke Dinner Dinner Cocktail and Chat Farewell Dinner in

Divaka

After 22:30 Dinner + Karaoke Free Time Dinner Leaving off to Club

Gramophone

Farewell Drinks in

Students Town


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Background Information

City of Sofia Sofia is Bulgarias capital and its largest city. Founded thousands of years ago, today the city continues to

develop as the countrys cultural and economic center. At present, the city has a population of 1,250,000.

The city is located at a strategic crossroads. The route from Western Europe to Istanbul passes through Sofia

via Beograd and Skopje, then through Plovdiv to Turkey. Sofia also connects The Near East and The Middle

East, lying between the banks of The Danube and the shores of The White Sea on the one hand, and between

The Black Sea and The Adriatic on the other.

Sofia preserves many valuable monuments to its long and storied past. Visitors exploring the citys streets can

see remnants of The Eastern Gate from the days when Sofia was Serdika and Sredets, dating from the 2nd-

4th centuries CE. These remains are exhibited in the underpass connecting the Presidential Palace and The

Ministerial Council, surrounded by shops selling traditional Bulgarian souvenirs and rosewater.

More information about the sights of the town and famous places you will find on the tourist materials you will

be provided, as well as on: http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/234/sofia

House of Europe The House of Europe is the place that gives shelter to the Representation of the European Commission

in Bulgaria and to the Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria. It was built in 2013 in a

bright new and extravagant manner. It is situated in the city center on 124 G. Rakovski Street, Sofia.

Phone: +359 2 933 5237


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Sofia University

The Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is the first higher educational institution in Bulgaria. Its

history is an embodiment and a continuation of centuries of cultural and educational tradition in this

country. Public teaching activities in Bulgaria date back to the second half of the 9th century.

During the Bulgarian Renaissance, a new idea for opening a School of Higher Education was

conceived. The prestige of the School of Higher Education grew rapidly with the cultural and

educational mission it acquired after the Liberation in 1878. Year by year the Sofia University has

developed into an important academic and scientific centre on the Balkans, a well developed academic

institution with European dimensions. Today Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is the largest and

most prestigious educational and scientific centre in the country. Its main building is situated at 15

Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. The Faculties of Mathematics and Informatics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology,

Journalism and Mass Communication, Theology, Economics and Business Administration, and

Preschool and Primary School Education are spread over several campuses around Sofia.

We will visit Sofia University on Monday for welcome and opening speeches and introduction activities.

The address where you will find the Sofia University is: 1504 Sofia, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.


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National Youth House

Address: 10 Narodno Sabranie Square

Phone: 02 987 22 86


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Sofia Cuisine and Nightlife

Restaurants

Monday Restaurant O!Shipka


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Tuesday and Friday Divaka Restaurant

Address: 16 Hristo Belchev Str.

Phone: +359 88 821 9087


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Wednesday Hadzhidraganovite Izbi

Address 18 Hristo Belchev Str.

Phone: +359 2 981 8148


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Thursday Euro night National Youth House

Clubs

Thursday Gramophone

Address: 6 Budapesta Str.

Phone: +359 2 981 1410


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Plovdiv Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and an administrative center of Plovdiv County. It is situated

in the Upper Thracian Plain (Gornotrakiyska Nizina), on the both banks of the Maritsa river. The

population of the city is about 350,000 people. In 2014 it was awarded with European Culture Capital

2019.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe the beginning of its history dates back to 4,000 years BC. In

the beginning the ancient settlement was situated on the natural elevation between Nebet, Taksim and

Dzhambaz hills (the Three Hills). In ancient times Thracians inhabited the Three Hills and built a fortified

settlement the largest city in Thrace. In the 4th century BC Plovdiv was conquered by Phillip of

Macedonia. He gave the city one of its many names Phillipopolis, and had it surrounded by thick

fortified walls. Later the Thracians regained their power over the city, but after a series of battles in the

1st century AD it became a part the Roman Empire.

During the period of the Roman Empire, Plovdiv (at those times Trimontium) was an important

regional center. The city flourished with a large-scale construction of buildings, facilities and roads.

Numerous well-preserved artifacts had remained from those times, such as cobble stoned streets,

fortress walls, buildings, water supply and sewerage systems.

he city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and a cultural and economic center

of southern Bulgaria. There are many accommodation options here from luxurious hotels to hostels.

The main street of the city offers excellent opportunities for entertainment and shopping; the

restaurants options are numerous.

More information you will find on: http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/306/plovdiv_grad

Practical Information

Public Transport For your stay in Sofia you will be provided with public transport tickets for the entire period. Pay

attention that when you enter into the bus/tram/electric bus you have to perforate your ticket. Recent

information about the public transport schedule you can find on:

http://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/virtual-tables

Money exchange The Bulgarian national currency is Bulgarian Lev (BGN). 1 EUR is approximately equal to 1.96 BGN. Our

advice is to exchange your money only in banks and not at the exchange burros.

Basic Bulgarian Good Morning Dobro utro Good Afternoon- Dobur den


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Good Evening- Dobur vecher

Hello- Zdravei

Excuse me- izvinyavai

I`m sorry- izvinyavai

Please- molya

Thank you- Blagodarya/Merci

I don`t understand- Ne razbiram

Welcome- Dobre doshul

Street Ulitza

House of Europe- Dom na Evropa

Dinner- vecherya

How are you- Kak si

Weather forecast At the end of November winter has just arrived in Bulgaria. So, please, take your coats and jackets, pulls

and boots and be prepared for temperatures around and under 5C degrees.

Documents

Booklet MEU