The summit
This summer, the Hertie School, alongside its partner the Munich European Forum (MEF), will cohost a policy simulation event entitled the Berlin EU-NATO Summit 2026.
Over the course of the summit, you will step into the roles of heads of state, foreign ministers, and defence ministers, working within the European Council, the EU Foreign Affairs Council, and the North Atlantic Council. Instead of learning about decision-making, you will experience it — negotiating, responding to crises, and balancing competing interests in real time.
At a moment marked by geopolitical tension, hybrid threats, and growing uncertainty around transatlantic cooperation, the relationship between the EU and NATO is under pressure — and more important than ever. This summit puts you right into the middle of that dynamic.
You will work on questions that don’t have easy answers:
Is transatlantic unity still a given — or something that now needs to be actively rebuilt? Should Europe aim for greater strategic independence, and if so, at what cost? What role can non-EU NATO partners play in shaping Europe’s security architecture? And can a sustainable end to the war in Ukraine be achieved without decisive US leadership?
Each body brings a different perspective:
The European Council sets the long-term direction, the Foreign Affairs Council turns strategy into action, and the North Atlantic Council focuses on defence and security. Together, they form a system that you will actively navigate and shape.
If you’re curious about how decisions are really made — and want to test your own ideas in a setting that reflects real-world complexity — this is where you step in.
The event will take place on 1-5 July at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany.
Applications are open for current university students from all over the world. We look forward to welcoming you at this first-of-its-kind event!