About the Conference
The ECB Simulation Conference for university students is an annual interdisciplinary educational initiative of Get Involved, organised since 2017. Its aim is to bring young people—primarily students with backgrounds in economics, law, and international relations—closer to the contemporary economic issues affecting the Eurozone.
The Conference lasts four days. It begins with the Training Day, during which representatives of institutions, academia, and the market share their knowledge and experience with participants on the themes of the Conference. On the second and third days, the simulation takes place, with participants meeting in committee sessions to amend and jointly shape the final text of the Agenda. The final day has a more interactive character, including discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities with companies and organisations. Its purpose is to highlight the role of young people in today’s environment, inform them about possible professional pathways, and connect them directly with the job market.
Particular emphasis is also placed on pre-conference preparation. Before the Conference begins, participants receive the necessary educational material and the Agenda, while preparatory calls are also held with the organising team to explain them in detail.
Conference In Numbers
ECB Simulation Conference History
9th ECB Simulation Conference
21 – 24 November, 2025
Highlights:
Participation of Commissioner Ms. Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner (2024–2029) for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union.
The Conference’s first Experience Day was held.
Guided tours of the Bank of Greece Museum and Europa Experience took place as pre-conference events.
The Conference was hosted at the Head Office of the Bank of Greece and the premises of the Athens University of Economics and Business.
Examined Topics:
Economic Policy: The interaction between monetary and fiscal policy, the risks of fragmentation, and the limits of policy effectiveness in a persistent environment of overlapping crises (permacrisis).
Climate Change & Resilience: The transition towards a sustainable financial system and the role of the European Central Bank in supporting climate and environmental objectives.
Digital Euro: Implications for payments, the banking sector, and financial stability in the context of an evolving digital monetary landscape.
8th ECB Simulation Conference
November 22 – 24, 2024
Highlights:
- The European Central Bank was represented for a fourth consecutive year by Mr. Ronan Sheridan, Deputy Head of the Public Communications Department
- The European Economic and Social Committee was represented for the first time by Mr. Michael McLoughlin, Member of Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO), Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC) & External Relations (REX) Sections,
- Two Info Sessions took place from Alpha Bank and PwC Greece, in which the participants had the chance to get to know these corporations.
- It was hosted in the premises of the Bank of Greece, the Troias Building of the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and the Small Stock Exchange of the National Bank of Greece.
Examined Topics:
- Monetary Policy: The interaction with Fiscal Policy, the risk of fragmentation, and the challenges of effectiveness in a permacrisis environment.
- Climate Change and the transformation of the financial system in the field of ESG.
- Digital Euro: The impact on the payments landscape and financial stability.
7th ECB Simulation Conference
December 15 – 18, 2023
Highlights:
- The European Central Bank was represented for a third consecutive year by its’ Communication Principal Adviser, Mr. Gabriel Glöckler.
- Two Info Sessions took place from Alpha Bank and EY Greece, in which the participants had the chance to get to know these corporations.
- It was hosted in the Amphitheater of Megaron Karatza of the National Bank of Greece and the Troias Building of the Economic University of Athens.
Examined Topics:
- Interaction of Monetary and Fiscal Policy.
- Inflation: causes and tools for tackling it.
- Monetary Policy: Its response and efficiency in a Perma-Crisis environment.
- ESG transformation in the financial sector and its challenges.
- Challenges of adopting a Digital Euro solution.
6th ECB Simulation Conference
December 9 – 12, 2022
Highlights:
- The Croatian Central Bank was represented by Governor Mr. Boris Vujčić, days before Croatia officially joined the Euro Area.
- The European Central Bank was represented by its Communication Principal Adviser Mr. Gabriel Glöckler.
- It was held live for the first time after 2019. It was hosted at the Bank of Greece, Benaki Museum, and Serafeio.
Examined Topics:
- Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanism.
- Inflation (Types, Forms, Components, Historical Data, and Forecasts)
- The interaction of Monetary and Fiscal Policies in a period of pandemic and geopolitical developments.
- Central Bank Digital Currency and Digital Euro.
5th ECB Simulation Conference
December 10 – 13, 2021
Highlights:
- The European Central Bank was represented on the Training Day.
- It was supported by the Bank of Greece, the Hellenic Banking Association, the Region of Attica, the Hellenic Development Bank, and PwC Greece.
- It was held virtually.
Examined Topics:
- The impact of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) factors on the European financial sector.
- The challenges of the Monetary Policies in the post-pandemic era and their interactions with Fiscal Policies.
- The challenges of the digital economy and specifically of the Digital Euro (Central Bank Digital Currency).
4th ECB Simulation Conference
December 11 – 14, 2020
Highlights:
- The Conference findings were included – via the ECB Listens initiative – in the first revision of the ECB strategy after 18 years.
- The internal platform Polymnia was developed exclusively for the Conference processes.
- It was held virtually.
Examined Topics:
- The impact of Non-Conventional Monetary Policies on the Euro Area member nations.
- Measures to limit the economic consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the portfolios of systemically significant banking institutions.
- The need to develop a common European Single Payment System.
3rd ECB Simulation Conference
December 13 – 16, 2019
Highlights:
- Bank of Greece started supporting the initiatives.
- The preparation and provision of analytical Study Guides for the preparation period were established.
- It was held at the Bank of Greece and Nomiki Vivliothiki.
Examined Topics:
- The progress of banking integration by strengthening the ECB’s role in the mergers & acquisitions of banking institutions in the Euro Area.
- Review of the Conventional and Non-Conventional Monetary Policies as a result of the growth path of the Euro Area nation-members.
- Do the current financial circumstances justify the negative basic interest rates of the ECB?
2nd ECB Simulation Conference
November 9 – 12, 2018
Highlights:
- The first Training Day was held.
- It was supported by the National Bank of Greece.
- It was held at Karatza Hall, in the HQ of the National Bank of Greece, and at the Gallery of the Book.
Examined Topics:
- Review of Non-Conventional Monetary Policies as a result of the economic development of the Euro Area, emphasizing the third targeted longer-term refinancing operations [TLTROS-III].
- Common European policies on Non-Performing Loans reduction in the Euro Area banking system.
- Examination of the lending process and the regulatory framework of the FinTech Banks.
1st ECB Simulation Conference
December 8 – 10, 2017
Highlights:
- The first Simulation Conference of the European Central Bank at the European level.
- It was held in the Benizelon Mansion, in Plaka, with the support of the Metropolis of Athens.
Examined Topics:
- Examination of the Conventional and Non-Conventional Monetary Policies of the ECB.
- Examination of the need to establish a European Deposit Guarantee Fund.