Final Conference of the 2025 POL Simulation Game:“Someone is watching: Debating the proposal on transparency of third country interest representation in the internal market”

After weeks of intense negotiations, the 2025 edition of the Simulation Game at the Department of European Political and Governance Studies has reached its grand finale!

For three weeks, our students stepped into the shoes of EU policymakers, journalists, and stakeholders while negotiating a real European Commission proposal still under discussion at the time of the exercise. 

At the heart of this year’s simulation was the proposal for a Directive establishing harmonized requirements in the Internal Market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries. 

To bring this immersive experience full circle, an engaging panel discussion took place in Bruges, featuring experts: Quentin ARIÈS, Editor-in-Chief of Sphera and contributor to Contexte; Ana-Maria CAIA, Accredited Parliamentary Assistant to the Rapporteur for the file; Jan ROHDE-STADLER, Team Leader at European Commission's DG JUST; Vitor TEIXEIRA from Transparency International; and Michalina ZIEBA, Policy Officer at the Secretariat-General of the European Commission.

The success of this year’s Simulation Game would not have been possible without the dedication of Professors Jon WORTH, Pierpaolo SETTEMBRI, and Costanza HERMANIN, who guided students through every stage of the process. Special thanks also go to our Academic Assistants, Paula ÁLVAREZ VIDAL, Eness CIOBANU, and Íñigo MARTÍN MONTERRUBIO,  for their support and energy in bringing this simulation to life!

Congratulations to our students for their hard work, commitment, and outstanding performance throughout the game! The simulation may be over, but the debate doesn’t stop here. Until next time!

Photos of the event