The second edition of MoNYS was organized between the 8th and 13th of July 2013 and gathered participants from all over the world. MoNYS 2013 brought together 191 delegates organized in 28 delegations, 23 individual delegates, 12 chairpersons, 9 journalists and 31 staff members. All the debates during MoNYS 2013 evolved around the central theme: “Defining NATO capabilities towards 2020 – Meeting Future Global Security Challenges through Cooperation, Collaboration and Crisis Management”.

The highly multicultural environment the organizing team tried to create was one of the many other aspects that made the event so unique. Delegates came from NATO member countries, partner countries, and potential members, but also from nations that are outside the Euro-Atlantic region. This event has created the opportunity to form opinions and views, far away from the traditional Euro-Atlantic ones and to be voiced and listened by fellow participants, professionals and practitioners that took part at the event. Multiculturalism and the presence of delegates coming from non-NATO countries was one of the things that made the Summit so special and successful.

The whole simulation revolved around on highly relevant topics in international politics. This was extremely fundamental as it helped our participants to debate and discuss interesting issues in today’s world, allowing them to give their points of view and opinions. Their studies helped them provide academic and theoretical framework to the discussions, as support of their views on the proposed topics. In this way, delegates were able to put into practice what they have learnt throughout their academic career and especially to see how, sometimes, theory is difficult to apply to real-case scenarios.

Participants were extremely ecstatic about their visit to NATO Headquarters and their meetings with the Permanent Representatives of National Delegations. Having the chance to speak off the records with policy makers and officials directly involved in critical decision-making processes, was one of the highlights of the whole event. Experts, professionals and academics expressed their satisfaction with the level of preparation and knowledge of our participants. Speakers, at the same time, offered delegates insights that one cannot grasp by simply reading a book or a newspaper article. Their participation was of great importance in shaping and supporting delegates’ decisions and opinions.

Speakers:

  • Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, ASG for NATO Public Diplomacy,
  • Jamie Shea, DASG for Emerging Security Challenges,
  • Ted Whiteside, DASG for NATO Public Diplomacy,
  • James Mackey, Head of Euro-Atlantic Integration and Partnership at NATO HQ,
  • Irene Fellin, Advisor to the NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security,
  • Rolf Schwarz, Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, NATO Political Affairs and Security Division,
  • Pawel Machalski, Cyber Defence Section, NATO Emergency Security Challenges Division,
  • Antonella Cerasino, NATO PDD,
  • Damien Arnaud, NATO Press Officer,
  • Giuseppe Belardetti, Secretary General of the Atlantic Treaty Association.

Sponsors:

NATO PDD, Ministère de la Région Bruxelles Capitale, Wallonie Bruxelles International, Atlantic Treaty Association, STAR Alliance, THON Hotels Brussels, Leonidas Belgian Chocolate, Diageo, Cactus Audiovisual, Europuls.