On 3rd-4th March 2022, the first European Student Assembly (EAS) gathered 275 students of 38 European University Alliances (EUAs) in Strasbourg.
Besides the contribution to a multilingual digital platform with ideas on the Future of Europe, the subscription to the Manifesto on the future of European Universities - presented at the Opening Session of the Forum of Universities for the Future of Europe on 25th January 2022 - and the organisation of events and activities to promote multiculturalism and multilingualism, the Assembly was the first in-person event organised by the EUC. The main objective is to design recommendations for the future of Europe, in the first session of a series aimed at empowering students’ role in the European Union.
Among the actions of EUC there are:
- A multilingual digital platform with ideas on the Future of Europe
- The Manifesto on the Future of European Universities, presented at the Opening Session of the Forum of Universities for the Future of Europe on the 25th January 2022
- The organisation of events and activities to promote multiculturalism and multilingualism
The Assembly was the first in-person event organised by the EUC, whose objective was to design recommendations for the Future of Europe, first of a series of events aimed at empowering students’ role in the European Union.
A preparatory phasepreceded the Inaugural Session of the ESA; students were assigned to 10 panels, each focusing on different topics related to the future challenges that the EU is facing and that have been defined by the Commission in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe. These include, among others:
- How can the EU reunite its people around its common values and what should the European democracy of tomorrow look like?
- How can the European Union become more resilient to cyber attacks? How can the EU regulate digital platforms without limiting freedom of speech? How should it position itself in a globalised world vis-á-vis other actors such as the US, China or Russia?
- How should the EU prepare to deal with climate refugees?
- How can the EU regulate digital platforms without limiting freedom of speech and the free exchange of thoughts?
- Which economic model can the EU adopt for a sustainable development and how the common agriculture policy should look like in the future?
- How to build future-oriented, digitised and yet inclusive higher education systems across the EU?
Debates among students and with experts led to a series of recommendations presented in a common position paper during the Inaugural session on the ESA, and later adopted by its members in the closing plenary session.
In addition to formal working sessions of the panels, the program of the ESA included a visit to the European Parliament, keynote speeches from members of the European Parliament and lots of time for exchange among the students.
EUGLOH was present at the ESA with 5 students. Here there are their remarks about the event:
“Working together with such a high number of students - even only online because of health issues - was quite an experience of a lifetime. It was amazing to see how different people from such different backgrounds came with colourful ideas and tried to create something common that they all can relate to.”
Beáta Sikó, student representative of the University of Szeged, in panel 7 “Social media: opportunities and threats – How can the EU regulate digital platforms without limiting freedom of speech and the free exchange of thoughts?”
_„The Inauguration session of the European Student Assembly is the first step of a future where students will have an active role in shaping it.
It has been heartwarming to be part of such a hopeful event - especially at a time when it is hard to envision a prosperous future for Europe and for the World - and acknowledge everything that has been accomplished with the hard work and collaboration of the ones we count on to be the Future of Europe. We will forever be grateful for these unforgettable memories and are looking forward to further steps.”_
Charlotte Malle, student representative of the UPS, in panel 4 "Agriculture vs sustainability - What CAP for the future?"
„Today more than ever young generations must be aware of what is happening in the world. Our generation is willing to make huge changes. We see it firstly with the walk for climate change and now with the Ukraine War. I am very proud to have participated in this crucial event focused on European cooperation. This enriching experience confirmed my desire to learn from different cultures. And continue this will to get out of my comfort zone.”
Daphné Biboum Nouga, student ambassador of the UPS, in panel 6 “Re-thinking democratic engagement in the digital age: How should the European democracy of tomorrow look like?”
„ At a time when European cohesion is being hauntingly tested, it was more than comforting to see it being lived passionately by so many students at the European Student Assembly. The students‘ recommendations will hopefully not only fuel European policy but also inspire the work of the various alliances that were present. I really appreciate the effort of the EUC to strengthen networking and cooperation between the different alliances at the student level. We look forward to future fruitful exchanges.“
Laura Velezmoro, student representative of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), in panel 9 “Climate refugees as a new challenge for Europe”
“The inauguration of the European Student Assembly was an enriching experience. I've had thorough and instructive discussions, and I learned a lot. It was also a great opportunity to reflect on what was done and what could be further developed or improved, especially today as humanity faces so many challenges. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next steps of such initiatives will be.”
Zaineb Amor, student representative of the European University Alliance for Global Health Research & Innovation Agenda (EUGLOHRIA) at the UPS, in panel 3 “Learning from the pandemic – Do we need a European Health Union?”
Curious about being a student in EUGLOH? Contact the Local Student Boards of the partner universities to know more!
- Université Paris-Saclay (UPS): student.eugloh@universite-paris-saclay.fr
- Ludwig Maximilians Universität München (LMU): lLaura Velezmoro
- University of Szeged(SZE): Beáta Sikó
- Universidade do Porto: student.eugloh@up.pt
- University of Lund: rep-eugloh@lus.lu.se