School Days 2025

Jean Monnet School Days 2025: Students Advocating for a Sustainable EU Raw Materials Policy

On May 14 and 26, 2025, the so-called Jean Monnet School Days took place once again at the Europa-Institut of Saarland University and the European Documentation Center (EDZ) Saarland—this year under the title "Fight for Raw Materials – Securing Raw Materials in the European Union." The aim of the event was to introduce young people to key challenges of European raw materials policy and to sharpen their perspectives on global interconnections, sustainability, and human rights.

On the first Jean Monnet School Day, held on May 14, we welcomed students from Willi Graf Gymnasium Saarbrücken and the Technical-Scientific Gymnasium Dillingen. On the second day, May 26, students from Mariengymnasium Saarbrücken, Gemeinschaftsschule In den Fliesen Saarlouis, and Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium Saarbrücken participated. They took part in interactive workshops in which they explored essential raw materials such as lithium, palm oil, crude oil, and diamonds. From extraction and usage to global challenges like environmental protection and human rights, the complex interrelations of the raw materials issue were vividly explored from a European perspective.

Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Marc Bungenberg and his team, the participants worked in groups to develop how the European Union is currently addressing and could address raw material issues in the future. The Jean Monnet School Day is offered as part of Professor Bungenberg's Jean Monnet Chair for Secure and Sustainable Raw Materials Law and Policy.

With the motto "Understanding Europe. Securing Resources. Shaping the Future.", the event not only made European politics tangible for the students but also focused attention on sustainable solutions for a shared future. After a break with catering, all groups came together for a final plenary discussion to present their findings and discuss possible solutions.

The Jean Monnet School Days impressively demonstrate how European topics can be conveyed to young people in a practical and participatory way—a valuable contribution to political education and the promotion of European awareness.