Jean Monnet Summer School
“The EU’s Green Deal Beyond the EU: Geopolitics, Policies, Cooperation, and Development”
27 July – 7 August 2026
with the integrated
International Simulation of Biodiversity COP17
5 – 7 August 2026, Yerevan
This educational activity combines an advanced Jean Monnet Summer School (co-funded by the EU under the Jean Monnet Action of Erasmus+) with a high-level international simulation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (COP17), which will be hosted in Armenia in October 2026. The project is conceived as an interdisciplinary educational and experiential platform situated at the intersection of EU studies, biodiversity governance, human rights, peace and resilience studies, sustainability governance, and science-policy interaction.
The initiative responds simultaneously to several interconnected developments shaping contemporary international governance. These include the growing geopolitical implications of the European Green Deal and geopolitical effects on the European Green Deal, the increasing politicisation of biodiversity governance, the emergence of the environment-human rights nexus within international governance frameworks, and the recognition of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss as factors affecting resilience, social stability, and conflict-sensitive governance.
The project consists of two institutionally distinct but academically integrated components:
- a nine-day Jean Monnet Summer School with the focus on external implications of the European Green Deal and the environmental component in a wide range of activities within the scope of EU External Action (the program includes lectures, meetings with governmental actors, EUD, experts and practitioners, as well as study visits to the EGD-related projects funded by the EU, e.g. green farming, green tourism, energy-related projects);
- and a three-day international COP17 Simulation co-organised by EIU jointly with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, with the participation of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.
During the Simulation, participants will engage in:
✅ multilateral negotiations
✅ policy drafting and diplomacy
✅ coalition-building and stakeholder dialogue
✅ crisis-response simulations
✅ youth-led environmental governance discussions
They will take on the roles of:
🌎 country delegates
🧑🔬 scientists and experts
📢 Civil society representatives
📰 media observers
🌿 Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Afro-descendants
🌿 Youth advocates
🎯 Main themes include:
- Environmental human rights
- Biodiversity finance
- Climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration
- Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Afro-Descendants’ Rights
- Science-policy interaction
- Youth participation, gender equality and inclusive governance
- Synergies between the Rio Conventions and other international law treaties
Participants will contribute to the:
📄 COP17 Yerevan Declaration on Biodiversity Action
The overall study workload corresponds to 6 ECTS credits (4 ECTS for the Summer School and 2 ECTS for the Simulation).
The Simulation constitutes an integral pedagogical component of the Summer School and serves as the practical culmination of its analytical and policy-oriented discussions.
At the same time, the Simulation also remains open to external participants, including:
- students from Armenian and international universities and high schools;
- PhD candidates;
- young professionals;
- scientists from Natural and Social Sciences;
- civil society representatives;
- environmental practitioners;
- and journalists.
The structure of the event reflects the broader interdisciplinary and multistakeholder character of the Simulation and allows the project to function not merely as an academic exercise, but as an international laboratory of biodiversity governance and interdisciplinary cooperation.
Working language is English (at least B2 level is expected).
Participation in both parts of the program is free.
The organisers cover organisational expenses and provide a limited number of accommodation possibilities for students from the regions of Armenia and international participants (provided by the partner institution – the Raoul Wallenberg Institute). The organisers strongly encourage persons with disabilities to participate. If you require reasonable accommodation or any other support to participate, please let us know.
Participants studying at Belgian universities can apply for travel grants kindly provided by the Embassy of Belgium in Armenia.
Contact person: Dr Anna Khvorostiankina (anna.khvorostiankina@eiu.am)
Application deadline: 14 July 2026.
To apply for the Summer School with Simulation, please fill in the form here: https://forms.gle/eFF8H2vk72GrqnXS6
To apply for the Simulation only, please fill in the form here: https://forms.gle/3huhrxwauKHR5Y6s7
