Athens EU Model 2021 was co-organised by the Institute of European Integration and Policy of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece) and the Europe Direct Information Center hosted at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), on March 17-18, 2021. It was carried out in parallel with Athens COP Simulation 2021.

Prof. Emmanuella Doussis, Director of the IEIP, Prof. Loukas Tsoukalis, President of the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), and Mrs. Klimentini Diakomanoli from the European Commission Representation in Greece addressed welcome speeches during the Opening Ceremony of the event.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fifth Athens EU Model was held virtually through the Zoom platform. The agenda topic was "Carbon neutrality and the European Climate Law, within the European Green Deal Framework". Only the European Commission was simulated, witht the participation of 35 undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as graduates, of Greek and foreign Universities (9 countries), representing the interests of various actors. Specifically, apart from the EU Commissioners, extra roles of important-to-the-agenda-topic actors were also simulated, namely the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, and representatives of the International Labour Organization, the European Environment Agency, of the European Parliament political groups, as well as of the civil society (climate activists and fossil fuel lobby).

The participants had the chance to attend 3 preparatory lectures on the international and European institutional procedures and diplomacy and negotiation aspects, the agenda topic, as well as simulation procedural issues.

They received the Study Guide and the Rules of Procedure of the simulation.