Buffalo State hosts 39th annual SUNY Model European Union

From April 10-12, Buffalo State University hosted the 39th annual SUNY Model European Union (SUNYMEU) at the state-of-the art Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. A total of 85 students participated, hailing from Buffalo State, SUNY Fredonia, University at Buffalo, University of Albany - SUNY, Hartwick College, Hofstra University, and St. Lawrence University. Many exchange and international students were represented on the delegations.

The students simulated a European Council summit, assuming the roles of heads of government/state, foreign affairs ministers, and finance ministers. On Friday morning, City of Buffalo Common Council President Joel Feroleto hosted SUNYMEUers in Council chambers for a briefing followed by a lively Q&A. Students also participated in evening excursions to Canalside and Niagara Falls. The SUNYMEU keynote speech, "Defending Democracy: The European Union's Combating Antisemitism Policy," was delivered by Jean Monnet Chair Carolyn Dudek, a professor of political science at Hofstra University.

The heads of government discussed enlargement/accession of candidate states; foreign affairs ministers discussed the EU's Common and Foreign Security and Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as positions to take on Iran and Ukraine; and finance ministers discussed advancing the single market, the energy union, housing affordability and the EU's new role in this policy area; and the savings and investment union, another recent EU initiative.

Buffalo State student Igor Roussanov (economics major/political science minor) won Outstanding Agenda Proposal. Michelangelo Hill (history) won Most Effective Foreign Minister, Best Negotiator, and Best Networker. Lucas Myer (economics/political science major) won Most Likely to Become an Ambassador to the EU.

SUNYMEU will return to Buffalo State for its fortieth consecutive year for April 9-11, 2027. For more information, contact Laurie Buonanno, IEUSS director and professor of public administration (Business, Economics & Public Administration Department).

About SUNYMEUSUNYMEU is a program organized by the SUNY-wide Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY (IEUSS), which is affiliated with the SUNY Office of Global Affairs and governed by a board of SUNY faculty, staff, SUNY administration, and two representatives from European universities. Buffalo State hosts the IEUSS office and its website. Links to the IEUSS and SUNYMEU websites, the SUNYMEU program, and social media are available at https://linktr.ee/sunyieuss.

Photos by Mark Mulville.