Model NATO Youth Summit arrived to its anniversary edition and celebrated 5 years of editions that took place in various locations such as Brussels, Podgorica, Riga, Stockholm and Bucharest. MoNYS 2017 took place from July 31 to August 5 as part of the #WeAreNATO Campaign and gathered over 200 participants from all over the world with different backgrounds and of different generations.

MoNYS participants have been involved in negotiations and simulation exercises of decision-making processes following real-life rules of procedure and being supervised by the NATO representative, Mr. James Mackey. MoNYS delegates took part in several NATO Councils/Committees such as Euro Atlantic Partnership Council, the Political Committee and the Military Committee, and they played the role of Heads of State and Governments or Ministers of the country represented, present on a NATO Summit. The scenario aimed to follow as close as possible the format of a real-life NATO Summit. Finally, a Summit Communiqué was adopted and edited together with the members of the International Staff.

This experience helped the participants develop a bridge between nationalities, generations and local issues and reach a consensus into common NATO values. The participants learned how to act at a round-table discussion, where a variety of opinions and interests intersect and consensus is required to reach an agreement.

Thus, this anniversary edition had the role to increase the understanding of NATO issues amongst university students and young professionals in a discussion about some of the key topics of the Alliance, and to educate youth about new and emerging challenges to international peace and security. Moreover, this experience prepared them to be successful future leaders, diplomats and policy planners.

We are grateful to our partners in this event for such a great coordination to make it genuine, successful and at the highest standards: NATO PDD, US Embassy in Romania, Romanian Ministry of Defence, JW Marriott Grand Hotel Bucharest, Toyota Romania and Coca-Cola Romania.