School Day 2025

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

On May 14, 2025, the Jean Monnet School Day took place once again at the Europa-Institut of Saarland University – this year under the title “The Battle for Resources – Securing Raw Materials in the European Union.” The event aimed to introduce young people to the core challenges of European raw materials policy and to sharpen their awareness of global interconnections, sustainability, and human rights.

Following a welcome address and thematic introduction by Professor Dr. Marc Bungenberg, Jean Monnet Chair holder and Director of the Europa-Institut, participants took part in four topic-specific workshops. The students engaged deeply with the global background and European relevance of lithium, palm oil, petroleum, and diamonds. The workshops were led by staff from the Jean Monnet Chair for Secure and Sustainable Raw Materials Law and Policy under Professor Bungenberg.

Central questions included:

• Where are these raw materials extracted?
• How is the extraction carried out – under what conditions?
• What are they used for – and what political, social, and environmental challenges are associated with them?

Particular focus was placed on human rights issues, environmental impacts, and the question of how the European Union can secure access to strategically important raw materials in the future. The role of sustainable supply chains and legal frameworks was also examined.

After a break with catering, all groups came together for a final plenary discussion to present their findings and debate possible solutions.

The Jean Monnet School Day vividly demonstrated how European topics can be conveyed to young people in a practical and participatory way – a valuable contribution to civic education and the promotion of European awareness.