In 2008 a mock Council of the EU event was held at the Foreign Office, bringing together children from 29 schools from London and the South East.

The event - organised by the British Council, the European Commission Office and the FCO - provided an insight into how the EU takes decisions on issues that affect us all.

Here are the outcomes of the issues the students debated:

Food Safety

The motion: Should the EU consider an outright ban on GMO produced food?

Result = carried by an overwhelming majority

Climate change

The motion: Do you agree with the EU target of countries reaching a fifth of the energy from renewables by 2020?

Result = lost by one vote

Migration

The motion: Should the EU adopt a blue card system for limiting legal migration into the EU?

Result = Carried by an overwhelming majority.