The first\nMacao Model European Council Summit was held on the University of Macau\u2019s (UM) new\ncampus earlier. 56 students from UM, Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Macau\nUniversity of Science and Technology, the University of Saint Joseph, the Institute\nfor Tourism Studies Macao, and the Macau Institute of Management attended the\nsummit. Role-playing as leaders of the 28 member states of the European Union\n(EU), students discussed issues revolving around the US-EU free trade zone such\nas tariff protection, industry protection, and food safety on the first day,\nand discussed the chemical weapons crisis in Syria on the second day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-organised\nby UM\u2019s Youth Association of International Affairs (YAIA), the Institute of\nEuropean Studies of Macau, and UM\u2019s Faculty of Social Sciences, and sponsored\nby the EU Academic Programme Macao, the summit aims to encourage young people\nin Macao to keep abreast of international affairs and look at the issues and\nchallenges facing the international community from different perspectives by\ntaking into account the positions and cultures of different countries, and also\nto help them develop leadership qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head of\nthe European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao Vincent Piket, Li Nan from the\nOffice of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People\u2019s\nRepublic of China in Macao SAR, and Vice Rector (Research) of UM Rui Martins\nattended the opening ceremony.<\/p>