Maltese students shine at EPAS Together Madrid 2026

A Maltese delegation of 30 students and six educators joined 102 students and 23 teachers from across the three EU Member States for three inspiring days of activities held between 15 and 18 April in the Spanish capital.

Participating Maltese schools included De La Salle Sixth Form, Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary, St Martin’s College, Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form and the MCAST Institute of Engineering and Transport.

“The EPAS Programme is one of the European Parliament’s most successful initiatives, and EPAS Together takes it to the next level,” said Dr Mario Sammut, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Malta. “These events empower young people to become active European citizens and strengthen their commitment to democracy.”

He added that this marked EPLO Malta’s third successful participation in an EPAS Together event over the past four years, offering Maltese students and educators another memorable opportunity to experience the European project alongside their peers from other Member States.

Under the motto “Building the future together,” this year’s programme centred around a European Parliament Model simulation, where students stepped into the role of Members of the European Parliament.

Working in fictional political groups, participants debated, negotiated and voted on proposals tackling key European challenges, including marine biodiversity protection, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, and access to housing.

Throughout the event, students also took part in engaging sessions focused on the functioning of European institutions, communication skills, critical thinking and teamwork.

The programme featured a masterclass on disinformation, meetings with European youth organisations, and interactive team-building activities, including a scavenger hunt through Madrid’s historic centre, Madrid de los Austrias.

Participants also visited Legends: The Home of Football, where they joined a special training workshop organised in collaboration with La Liga.

The event reached its high point on Friday, 17 April, when students gathered at the Spanish Parliament (Congreso de los Diputados) for the final plenary session of the parliamentary model.

The session was opened by Alberto Fabra, President of the Spanish Parliament’s Joint Committee for the European Union, and included lively exchanges with Members of the European Parliament Thomas Bajada (S&D, Malta), Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP, Spain), Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spain) and Mireia Borrás (PfE, Spain).

Beyond the formal programme, EPAS Together also celebrated cultural diversity through Intercultural Nights, where each delegation proudly shared traditions, music and customs from their country or region.

The Maltese delegation impressed participants with a drone-filmed presentation of Malta and Gozo, accompanied by live commentary from students highlighting the islands’ history and identity.

The evening also featured dancing, singing and a memorable rendition of the iconic song Inti Djamant by Gozitan student Hailey Joy Axiak Demicoli.

Through initiatives such as EPAS Together, the European Parliament continues to invest in a new generation of informed, confident and engaged young Europeans ready to help shape Europe’s future.