European Union EU

The European Union (EU) is a supranational entity with 27 current member states primarily located in Europe (as the name suggests). More specifically, the EU is a political and economic union: it seeks to integrate its member—and associated—states through standardized legal frameworks and freedom of movement and trade. That is, EU member states, in a forum called the European Commission, work together to form common policies in various domains.

Formally established after the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 and having undergone significant revisions since then, the EU has a complex legislative framework and process. Though this committee will use a simplified voting procedure, delegates must still take into account the various political and social dynamics at play. This year, the thematic topics of the EU will focus on novel and renewed challenges. Delegates will consider how the EU can a) tackle risks of AI and b) ensure EU security in response to recent developments.

Topic A: AI Regulation
In a new and untested age of artificial intelligence and large language models, the EU must set the standard for the use cases and limitations of artificial intelligence. What role do large language models play in the public sphere, and to what extent are institutions or individuals responsible for its output? What are the security concerns that AI raises (for both cyber and traditional security) and how can they be regulated? How should AI be managed in the digital age, and what regulations can the EU place to prevent targeted misinformation and/or political interference from causing damage? Throughout this topic, delegates will tackle important questions such as these and weigh the tradeoffs between innovation, corporate and national interests, and safety.

Topic B: EU Enlargement and Collective Security
As the EU considers expansion, it must reflect on its role as an economic entity capable of influencing and defining politics in today’s conflict stricken world. Delegates might evaluate how EU responds to global conflict, while understanding how embargoes and trade may have strategic and militaristic consequences. In navigating the EU’s position in times of war, delegates might consider the collective security of the union and how the EU might envision its future as a holistic European bloc to encompass more than just economics. In attempting to represent the region, delegates must also consider the many neighbor states that vye for candidacy and evaluate the ways in which enlargement might be beneficial, if not necessary, for the continued sustenance of the union.

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