On 16 September, the MEPA (School – European Parliament Ambassador School) activities for this school year officially began at Nemenčinė Konstantas Parčevskis Gymnasium.
During the lesson, class representatives from G1–G4 classes listened to the 2026 State of the Union Address (SOTEU) delivered by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
As they followed the speech in its original language, English, the students completed specially prepared SOTEU worksheets and identified the key topics addressed. The aim was not only to find out what issues are currently being discussed at European level, but also to consider how they relate to young people and their everyday lives.
The students reflected on which issues are most important for Europe, which matter most to their generation and which are particularly relevant to them personally. The topics addressed in the speech included European security, jobs and competitiveness, artificial intelligence, energy, climate change, and the safety of children and young people online, as well as other issues affecting their daily lives.
Our senior MEPA Ambassador, Deputy Head of the Gymnasium for Education, Helena Germanovič, shared her personal experience of winning the Euroscola competition with her class and subsequently travelling to Strasbourg. There, they had the opportunity to learn about the work of the European Parliament first-hand. She emphasised that this had been an invaluable experience, giving them not only a deeper understanding of the European Union but also a sense of what it means to be a young European citizen.
Inesa Rusecka, an English language teacher expert and coordinator of the MEPA team, highlighted another valuable aspect of the project: the opportunity to strengthen students’ English language skills while exploring European issues. Since MEPA activities will be conducted in English, the first event already gave students the chance to engage with an important European speech in its original language.
The first MEPA event was therefore not only about Europe today, but also about the Europe in which our students will live and which they will help shape.
Inesa Rusecka
English Language Teacher Expert
Photos: Anton Lisičkin
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