Overview
The ECE works to promote economic cooperation, innovation, and environmental sustainability among European and Central Asian countries. It helps harmonize technical standards, facilitate cross-border trade, and support infrastructure development. With a focus on integrating emerging economies and aligning development goals with the UN 2030 Agenda, the ECE plays a unique role in bridging the gaps between East and West, large and small economies, and old and new industries across a diverse continent.
Topic 1: Tourism in Smaller Countries
At this conference, the first topic focus will be Tourism in Smaller Countries. Tourism represents a key opportunity for smaller or less-industrialized countries to diversify their economies. However, poor infrastructure, lack of international marketing, and environmental stress often limit potential. Delegates should explore strategies for sustainable tourism development—such as digital promotion platforms, green certification programs, and training for hospitality workers. How can countries balance tourist demand with the preservation of local culture and natural heritage? Should UNECE develop a regional tourism support framework to help members modernize airports, railways, and eco-tourism sites? Policies must help smaller countries not only attract visitors but also retain the economic value tourism brings.
Topic 2: The Potential Development of a Cross-Continent Railway
Additionally, the second topic is The Potential Development of a Cross-Continent Railway. Trans-European railway networks offer enormous potential for boosting trade, lowering carbon emissions, and connecting underserved regions. Yet challenges such as mismatched rail gauges, regulatory fragmentation, and investment disparities persist. Delegates should consider how to coordinate funding, unify standards, and prioritize projects with high development impact. Should UNECE push for a continent-wide rail integration strategy under the Sustainable Transport Division? How can public-private partnerships and green financing be leveraged to support modern, high-speed rail corridors? Delegates must propose initiatives that promote connectivity, climate responsibility, and long-term economic cohesion across the continent.
The Dais
Daria Romaniuk - Chair
Daria Romaniuk is a senior at Boston University, originally from Ukraine, studying International Relations with a focus on foreign policy and security. This area of study is a formal way of saying that she spends considerable time thinking about treaties, negotiations, and whether countries are capable of keeping their promises. She is pleased to serve as the Chair for the committee.
Her biggest current project is her honors thesis, which looks at whether international treaties actually shape foreign policy or merely become relics of international paperwork, focusing fundamentally on the concept of trust and accountability among nations. At Boston University, she also writes opinion pieces for the Daily Free Press and contributes to the International Relations Review, recently publishing an article on drones and tanks, reflecting her passion for studying military equipment.
Beyond academics, Daria chases passions that keep her grounded. She loves aviation, particularly civil aircraft, and can happily spend hours spotting flight paths. On the opposite end of the spectrum, she paints, which reminds her that not every statement needs precision. Languages are another passion; she switches between several and views words as snapshots of different cultures and a reminder that knowledge itself is multilingual.
Contact: rdaria@bu.edu
Lucy Graham - Vice Chair
Lucy Graham is a sophomore at the College of the Holy Cross, where she is pursuing a double major in Economics and International Studies. Reflecting on her high school experience, she admits she was initially shy and had to push herself to speak in MUN, an experience for which she is grateful as it greatly improved her comfort with public speaking.
On campus, Lucy writes for the College Street Journal, the economic newspaper, where she enjoys researching and incorporating current events—including politics, higher education, and daily life—into her articles. She finds that economics affects us in countless ways and loves delving deeper into this field through her research for the paper.
Outside of academics, her main passion is music. She is actively involved in two music ensembles, plays the piano, and hosts her own radio show, believing music connects people in a special way. She sees a parallel between music and MUN: both require collaboration to create something meaningful, whether working towards a concert performance or working towards a solution to a global problem.
Contact: lgraham@g.holycross.edu