Euro Challenge 2026: Ottawa-Carleton High School Teams Receive EU Award for their Knowledge of the European Union

"It's always a pleasure to receive your questions and interrogations about the European Union" said Ambassador of the European Union to Canada, H.E. Geneviève Tuts, who congratulated the participating teams and winners at the Euro Challenge 2026 final held on February 27, 2026. Ambassador Tuts praised the students for their excellent presentations. Participants demonstrated remarkable knowledge and put forward creative policy recommendations on a range of topics relevant to the eurozone member state of their choice.

Closing her visit to Canada, Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Martina Belén Martínez Carbonell attended the special reception and reminded students that: "We are stronger when we work together […] by participating in the Challenge, you have all contributed to this spirit of closer partnership between the European Union and Canada."

Organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Canada and implemented by the Ottawa-Carleton Education Network (OCENET), the 2026 contest marked the 4th edition of the Euro Challenge Canada. This competition provides high school students in Ottawa-Carleton an exciting opportunity to learn about the EU and its member states from an economic perspective. Students learn about the most important economic indicators as well as current political and socio-economic issues in the eurozone. Teams assume the role of policymakers and present their solutions.

On February 27th, 6 teams from nine Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) High Schools gathered at Carleton University in Ottawa.

"I have a newfound appreciation for the European Union after months of research," reflected a member of the winning team from South Carleton High School and Woodroffe High School, who delivered an impressive presentation on inequality, social mobility, and the gender gap in Bulgaria.

We would also like to thank our panel of expert judges for their time, expertise, and mentorship.

Euro Challenge Canada is an academic competition that invites high school students to deepen their understanding of the European Union and its Member States from an economic perspective. Students explore key economic indicators as well as current political and socio-economic developments in the eurozone. Working in teams, participants assume the role of policymakers and present their policy recommendations to a jury composed of diplomats and university professors.