ESCP Group Chat: Designing Europe’s Independence Moment

Giulio

It was like a dream. Just being there was astonishing…I felt completely captured by the place. The European Union is part of my identity: I still feel Italian, but I also feel European.

Matteo

It was very empowering. I mean, you feel like you are actually doing something that matters. And even if it’s just a simulation, you understand the pressure and the responsibility that MEPs have every day.

Freya

It was an incredibly overwhelming moment when I first entered, because of the institutional importance of where I was. It was an honour. Giving my speech at the end was one of the proudest moments of my life!

Albane

It was really nerve-wracking—I could not stop shaking. I don’t come from a family where politics is a big topic, so I had no idea what this would really be like. But it was really nice to see everyone supporting each other, saying ‘good luck’ and ‘congrats’ when we stepped down.

Matteo

Mainly researching about my party, our stance on different topics, especially on energy, security, and defense. The preparation we had during the seminars helped me understand how to approach other parties and how to find a compromise, which was the most important part.

Xinna

Yesterday’s meeting was led by our two representatives, and in it, I shared my thoughts. It was a great chance to meet everyone and hear from all parties, and to have the chance to share insights with everyone.

Giulio

I’m already really passionate about geopolitics, in particular about European policies and structures. So in terms of information, I was already very prepared. For me, it was more about projecting myself in the debate and getting in the right mindset about the potential arguments and the counter-arguments.

Freya

I’m not European—I’m from Mumbai, India—so it was interesting to see how Europe is approaching this ‘Independence Moment’. It reminds me of similar ideas of self-reliance we’ve been seeing in India. It’s promising to see Europe looking inward while still staying connected globally.

Giulio

Europe has spent a long time delegating its geopolitical role to others. Now we are trying to reinforce our freedom to choose for ourselves, and that will create challenges. But having the option to choose is what gives us freedom.

Xinna

As a Chinese student, it was really interesting to see how things actually work inside the EU. In my role in the European Commission, I could hear different perspectives on trade, energy, and policy. It made me more aware of how structured the process is and how decisions are made and how consensus is built.

Matteo

I have a much more practical view of politics now. Before, it was all very theoretical, but now I see how hard it is to actually get everyone on the same page and pass a resolution. It’s a lot of work!

Giulio

We often only see a bureaucratic output, but we don’t understand why it exists or how it came to be. Experiences like this help you understand the process behind decisions and how you should respond to them. If we understand that we are part of these institutions, things can actually change.

Albane

What I found interesting was seeing perspectives I don’t necessarily share and understanding how they fit into the bigger picture. You realise how many different positions have to come together. It makes you more aware of how the system actually works.

Freya

It made me realise how important it is to understand the political context of the business world and to have a global perspective.

Matteo

It gave me a better understanding of the importance of diplomacy and negotiation, which are skills I will definitely need in my future career, whatever that might be.

Giulio

I think opportunities like this are really useful for the future, wherever we end up working. When we receive something from a legislative body, we’ll better understand why it exists, what it is, and how to respond to it.

Albane

It made me less afraid to take on leadership roles. I realised I can take charge, have authority, and express my opinion—even interrupt when needed—and that’s something I didn’t expect from this experience.

Giulio

At the beginning, I was maybe a little skeptical because I didn’t really know what they wanted us to do. And at the end, I really appreciated it. And I really am glad that I had this opportunity to participate. So, amazing!

Xinna

I’m really interested in ESG and sustainability, so seeing what issues the EU is focusing on was very useful. It helped me understand how different regulations work globally. That gave me a lot of insights for my future career.

Freya

‘Designing Europe’ was one of the main reasons ESCP appealed to me. I’ve always been passionate about diplomacy and politics, and this felt like a rare opportunity. I wanted to take as much as I could from the experience, and it really boosted my confidence.

Albane

I hate public speaking, even a small presentation in front of 30 students scares me. But this was in front of 700 people, and I still did it. If I can do that, next time it won’t be as scary.