Key to Europe 1999-2000

KEY TO EUROPE 1999/2000 KEY TO EUROPE TO KEY

1999-2000 Contents

21 countdown

greetings 04 22 History and Projects

aegee is… 06 29 Winter

Structure & Network 10 37 Spring

Working Groups 12 44 Summer

the faces of aegee 13 50 Autumn

The CD 14 61 outlook

Life in BXL 15 IMPRINT

Some Top Antennae publisher 16 AEGEE-Europe PO Box 72, B-1040 Bruxelles-Etterbeek 1 phone +32-2-245 23 00 fax +32-2-245 62 60 e-mail [email protected] People of the Past and the Present 18 www http://www.aegee.org key team Grandpa Bear Chief Editor Gunnar Erth; Editing revelation of the Millennium Ivana Vukov; Little Red Pen Corinne Cordina; What’s the design of the Key? Marta V. Kosters; With tonnes of help from my friend Erik Krier; Smiling Marcus Khoury; cartoonist: Pablo Gels special thanks to: Fani Zarifopoúlou and Mauro Schiavon (for finding money and for being so kind), the nicest computer cooker Sebastian Klüsener and all those who have contributed to make us feel at home in rainy Brussels. printing Circulation: 27,000 copies Special thanks to all the contributors and sponsors © AEGEE-Europe, 2000. All rights reserved. ISSN 1026-227X

three03 t is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to address the members of AEGEE. It is my I conviction that student associations operating all across the continent are an essential element of the GREETINGS European civil society that is currently developing. I am grateful for the contribution that you have already made to the endeavour of shaping a Europe of the peoples – just as I look forward to your future actions in this perspective. We stand at a crossroads in the history of the European integration process. With the completion of the grand tasks of the past – the achievements of the Single Market and the introduction of the Euro – we have entered a new stage in the making of Europe. Enlargement, which will eventually recon- cile the continent with itself, is one of the most important tasks ahead. Virtually everyone agrees on this subject and it is already being prepared. The fundamental challenge for Europe today is to reform itself internally. The original institutions, their functioning and their internal logic of the system were designed for six member states. They cannot possibly hold twenty or even twenty–seven. We are faced with the following alternative: either to water the European project down to the features of a free trade zone of the luxury class, or to finally create the institutional preconditions for a political Union embracing all those members of the Euro- pean family that want to be part of it. No lesser perspective will do. It is in this context that I expect a significant contribution from youth and student organisations. The young Europeans of today, especially those who are highly educated, are indeed already European citizens. For you, the traditional division lines have no importance any more, and looking at AEGEE and its Jacques Santer, former President of the European Commission, is patron of AEGEE. pan–European network of local antennae, I am com- forted in the belief that organisations like yours are the backbone of tomorrow’s civil society in Europe. That civil society must be the main target of the policies that are being shaped today: acceptance of a political Europe by an informed civil society is the marketing policy that we have to adopt. The Euro- peans must want the political Union, or else it is doomed to fail. AEGEE is a truly European organisation, which has already greatly contributed to the acceptance policy that I have just mentioned, and I am convinced the importance of organisations such as yours will increase in the years to come. I wish you all the possible success in your future efforts to bring Europe closer to students – and thus to citizens – all over the continent. Your work is appreciated, and its value can never be expressed in numbers.

Jacques Santer four04 ooking back on the past year compels us to reflect on the relatively fast way the association has L developed, the challenges we undertook and the innovative ideas we implemented. The year 1999 did have an undeniably great impact on AEGEE and on each of us. The activities we engaged in were intense and diverse, shaped through our major projects what we call in AEGEE jargon, the Yearplan Projects. An initiative of AEGEE members, in particular Greek and Turkish students, made 1999 the Year of Peace for European youth. The Peace Academy Year- plan Project involved more than 25 antennae in a series of conferences, Summer Universities and Case Study Trips, dealing with the different aspects of Peace. But while young people in Europe were discussing peace, the conflicts in Kosovo put in question our beliefs in this goal at the dawn of the 21st century. The Spring Presidents’ Meeting of AEGEE took place in Novi Sad only some weeks before the bombing on the very same city started. Nevertheless we held on to our beliefs, one of which is for the youth of Europe to discover a common European identity, which respects cultural differences. The Summer University Project, encom- passing 87 events in 1999, enabled 2,300 young people to participate in multinational two–week courses dealing with diverse topics, held by students for students. In addition, AEGEE has begun to fully focus on a new long term Internal Education programme, which aims at educating our members in general and also in specific fields, such as Public Relations or IT. Taking advantage of the location of our headof- fice in Brussels, our relations with the European institutions, international organisations, and other NGO’s, have improved significantly. AEGEE partic- ipated actively in the programme of the European Faní Zarifopoúlou has been President of AEGEE- Europe since November 1999. Youth Forum and established strong contacts with other student organisations. Most importantly, AEGEE tried to be in a position to lobby in the Euro- pean Commission and make the name of our association better known. To this end, our first conference held in the European Parliament with the title «Edu- cation 2020», brought together students and high officials of the institutions, politicians and academics to discuss about the future of higher education. The year 1999 started well with a new office and house in Brussels for AEGEE-Europe. This was definitely an important step to a better life and more effective work for the nine CD members who live and work full time in Brussels for AEGEE. The end of this year will find AEGEE ready to celebrate its 15th anniversary and to face the new millennium stronger than ever before. And we know that the end of the next year will only prove us right!

Faní Zarifopoúlou five05 Aegee is… History

from paris to the whole continent: the history of aegee

EGEE was founded in Paris in 1985. This foundation resulted from the out- A come of a huge conference, «EGEE 1», a network of european friends, which was organised in co-operation amongst aegee promotes the idea of a common europe. the five Grands Ecoles in Paris. Their aim was to create a platform for young Europeans to dis- EGEE stands for Association des Etats Généraux des Etu- cuss European matters and present their ideas diants de l’Europe – European Students’ Forum. It is one to both the European and national institutions. A of Europe’s largest interdisciplinary student associations. Due to the uniqueness of the idea, EGEE was AEGEE takes its name from one of the birthplaces of democracy, able to stimulate many students to establish the Aegean Sea, and the first parliament at the dawn of the French antennal in their cities. Revolution – «Les Etats Généraux». It promotes co-operation, com- AEGEE had to face a major debate in 1990, munication and integration amongst students and young gradu- in the times of change in Central and Eastern ates on the continent, assisted by an unmatched network of Euro- Europe. The question was whether AEGEE pean friends. Through critical and active confrontation with the should limit itself to merely the EC countries Europe of today, AEGEE strives to develop an open and tolerant as it had done since the beginning, or if it society for tomorrow. As a non-governmental, politically inde- should open itself to the whole of Europe. The pendent and secular, non-profit organisation, AEGEE is open for network decided with an absolute majority to students from all faculties. According to official estimates, AEGEE expand towards Central and Eastern Europe, today has 20,000 members in 42 European countries. Since its cre- and incorporate the EFTA countries. The deci- ation, more than 100,000 young Europeans have become mem- sion taken by the East-West Working Group bers of the AEGEE network. and the Comité Directeur – the «Quo Vadis» AEGEE turns its call for European integration into reality. Sum- team – led to an extensive growth of the net- mer Universities are held every year by a multitude of anten- work. Previously, in the 1980s, AEGEE’s exter- nae, teaching the hosting country’s language and culture. Simi- nal relations were dedicated mostly to the Euro- larly, conferences are organised on topics as diverse as «Arts and pean Union: AEGEE promoted the placement Science», «European Security» and «Environmental Protection». of the Erasmus programme as well as the Tem- Being truly European, AEGEE does not make use of nation- pus project. This self-restrictive approach was al administrative structures. Instead, AEGEE works in parallel abandoned when AEGEE opened itself to the on the local and the European level. The latter consists of sev- whole continent. Consequently, AEGEE eral European Working Groups and a European Board of Direc- became a candidate member at the Council of tors, the Comité Directeur. The local level provides the core for Europe as a non-governmental organisation. In all activities and offers the opportunity for regular social meet- 1996, the AEGEE headquarters moved to Brus- ings. Thus the AEGEE members are given plenty of opportuni- sels, giving up their temporary domicile in ties to train their organisational and social skills. Furthermore, Delft and bringing AEGEE closer to the Euro- Erasmus students are often hosted by AEGEE members, and pean institutions. professionals are often invited to lecture on European issues and other topics of interest. The European institutions such as the European Commis- sion, the Council of Europe and UNESCO are natural partners for AEGEE in the never-ending quest for accelerating the integration process. From 2001, AEGEE will enjoy consulting Sta- tus at UNESCO. six06 Activities

with more than 80 summer universities, 100 congresses, study visits and projects, there is hardly any weekend during which the aegee world takes a rest; and these are only the european activities.

Summer Universities A Summer University may involve learning French in Montpellier, Turkish culture in Istanbul or sailing in the Adriatic Sea. Numerous European languages and all kinds of history or cultural topics are offered by these programmes, which usually last for two weeks. Howev- er, attending a Summer University does not only mean learning a foreign language, it is also an opportunity to increase awareness of the international scene. By gaining a deepened knowledge of the visited country, as well as of the cultures of other participants, the Summer Uni- versities are the best way of putting the term European Pizza party in the park: Summer Universities are only integration into practice. It is general policy that the one of the many activities in AEGEE. courses are made as inexpensive as possible, such that a ceiling of 100 Euros, including lodging and food, is not exceeded. A total of 87 Summer Universities were held in 1999, this number rising to 93 in 2000. questionnaires and interviews. AEGEE’s network has the appropriate structure to ensure the success of such an Conferences event: not only people from several antennae participate, Nearly every weekend an antenna organises a confer- but all the antennae in the region which is studied are ence in some part of Europe. During conferences people actively involved. In AEGEE, successful Case Study Trips from all over Europe, students and professionals, meet have been conducted since 1993, the first of which and discuss important topics to exchange ideas, knowledge explored Albania. In 1999, the second Case Study Trip to and impressions on a variety of subjects. Since AEGEE is the countries of former Yugoslavia took place, travelling an interdisciplinary organisation, the conferences cover from Ljubljana to Skopje. a wide range of topics, such as Prague’s «Students’ Mobil- ity», «Artspotting» at Venice and Treviso, and «Space Tech- Projects nology» held in Delft. Projects are most often a series of conferences, seminars and Case Study Trips, which focus on a certain topic. Case Study Trips Results derived from scientific research are used by deci- The Case Study Trip is a perfect way to learn more sion makers as reference material for their policies. In about a specific region in Europe. 20 students go on a tour 1999, there were three big projects, namely «Peace Acad- through one or several countries, doing field studies with emy», «Building a Social Europe» and «10 Years of Tran- sition».

seven07 Structure

here are many ways for AEGEE members to become The Commissions active in Europe: such as working in international The commissions are the supporting or controlling Tteams like the Working Groups and Project Teams, bodies of the CD. They consist of the Audit Commission, being delegates at Agoras and Presidents’ Meetings – or the Members Commission, the Juridical Commission and steering AEGEE through the commissions at European lev- the Network Commission. el or the Comité Directeur. Project Teams Antennae The Project Teams co-ordinate the work of the Euro- «Antenna» is the name given to an AEGEE local group. pean-wide projects of AEGEE. The teams, consisting of An antenna organises at least one European event per year members from different participating locals, handle the as well as a number of local activities. Currently there are series of conferences and other activities being organised 261 local groups and contacts in AEGEE, from Moscow to on a particular subject. London, Stockholm to Valletta.

Agora The Agora, AEGEE’s general assembly, meets twice a year – usually in April and November. Up to 1,100 AEGEE members gather for our days to discuss proposals and projects, take decisions and set up the guidelines for the future.

Presidents’ Meeting At the Presidents’ Meeting delegates from local boards meet to discuss the ongoing work of AEGEE. It is also a preparatory meeting for the Agora and as such takes place twice a year, in March and September.

Comité Directeur The Comité Directeur (CD), the board of the directors, consists of a maximum of nine persons from at least four countries. Every member of the board has his or her own area of responsibility. As a whole, the CD is the administrative and repre- sentative body of AEGEE, being responsible for contacts with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO, amongst others, as well as other students associations and the media.

Working Groups The Working Groups are the thematic backbone of AEGEE. They are multinational groups of AEGEE members which organise events on a specific topic, such as education policy, minorities in No national level: the supranational structure Europe and East–West relations. is the strength of the AEGEE network. eight08 nine09 Network Development

aegee still growing strong in the east

he AEGEE network is still developing and changing dramatically. In the past five years, the number Tof antennae, contact antennae and contacts rose by 63 percent: from 160 to 261 by the end of 1999. «I am impressed by this growth», says Michal Pesta, responsible for the network in the Comité Directeur. Currently, the biggest part of the growth is occurring in Central and Eastern Europe. «Since the idea of Europe and European integration here is new and fresh, the reality of it is very much desired», he adds. «We can see this happening in, for example, Belarus, Poland and Ukraine.» Many local groups have also appeared in Turkey lately. The fact that AEGEE-Adana organised a very successful Presidents’ Meeting in September 1999, is a perfect example to show how active this country, bordering Asia, is. «Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also developing significantly», states Michal. «We finally have enthusiastic people in Banja Luka, Tuzla and Sarajevo, once again.» This means that there is hardly any country in Europe left where AEGEE does not exist. «We have antennae in most of the larger university cities in 42 countries», continues Michal. In the past, it has not always been like this. In the first four years of its existence, AEGEE restricted itself to the member states of the European Union. In fact, The network of AEGEE unites people in 1988, AEGEE existed only in nine countries. This sit- from many nationalities under one common roof. uation was regarded unsatisfactory, so AEGEE undertook efforts to enlarge the network. In the late 1980s, the first local groups in EFTA countries were founded. that area was AEGEE-Leipzig, quickly followed by local Immediately after the revolutionary changes in Cen- groups in Budapest, Praha and Warszawa. «AEGEE is the tral and Eastern Europe occurred in 1989, AEGEE made forerunner of development. The European institutions did its first contact with CEEC students. The first antenna in this step much later», stresses Michal Pesta. Today, AEGEE’s strongest points are in the Nether- lands. 21 percent of the members are living there. Italy is another influential part of the network. «They organise the highest number of Summer Universities and leisure events», explains the network responsible. «With 12 active locals, my home country, Poland, has the best organised Central European network.» However, the network also has its weak points, especially in the United Kingdom and in Ireland. Michal points out: «These students unfortunately have little interest in AEGEE. Nearly all antennae there are established and run by continental AEGEE members visiting the country on Erasmus programmes.» Scandinavia and the Baltic countries are equally problematic zones. They suffer from distance problems inside their region. France is also a weak area, but is the focus of AEGEE’s network development plans. «The total number of antennae in the network went down a bit compared to last year, but that is because we deleted the local groups that have no members anymore. In total, the network is still growing, and we trust that this will continue.» 190 branches and 70 contacts: Over the past years the AEGEE network has grown a lot. In the year 2000, AEGEE wants to develop its network with particular influence in Denmark, France and Belgium. ten10 Go East: In the past decade the AEGEE network has grown tremendously, from 30 branches in 1988 to 191 branches today. AEGEE exists in 42 European countries - there is hardly any area without. To this day the strong growth in Central and East- ern Europe continues, especially in the Balkans.In ddition, there are 70 contact groups.

«We are planning to make presentations at the most outstanding Belgian universities in order to establish new antennae in Brussels and surroundings», says the network responsible in the CD. During the Presidents’ Meeting in Skopje, held in March 2000, the participants also discussed the question of the borders in Europe. Should European territories such as French Guyana and countries such as Iceland be regarded as potential AEGEE countries? And what about the countries that are close to the European mentality, such as Israel? This question still has not been resolved. However, due to their interest in Europe and them being approved by many European institutions, the Presidents’ Meeting agreed that Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia should be included in the network. «In the future we want to take better care of the quality of the network, not only looking at the number of antennae», stresses Michal. Each AEGEE antennae has to organise at least one European event per year. «Who knows, maybe in the next years we will welcome to our network the first AEGEE locals in the Caucasian capitals of Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi.»

eleven11 Working Groups

the thematic backbone of aegee human rights working group Working Groups consist of AEGEE students from all One of the many actions of over Europe who have the same interests. They discuss the Human Rights Working topics such as human rights and education – and organise Group (HRWG), founded in events accordingly. This makes them the thematic back- 1994, was its campaign to abol- bone of AEGEE. They are a pool of international compe- ish the death penalty. «We also worked on a collection of fur- tence, since their members come from many countries, see- niture to be sent to Moldova, the preparation of the Balkan ing issues from different perspectives. One extra benefit is Action event in Udine and the collection of toys for orphans», that the members learn how to work in a multi-national adds Alex Zucconi, HRWG president. «Currently, we are team. Moreover, there are also so-called supporting work- ready to engage in the International Criminal Court Ratifi- ing groups that deal with public relations and internal education Movement, asking for the creation of an international cation, amongst others. court judging war criminals.» The HRWG will also be present at the antiracism Summer University in Barcelona. cultural working group «Our aim is to improve multi- international politics working group culturalism within AEGEE», says The year 1999 was a busy one for the International Pol- Cultural Working Group (CWG) itics Working Group (IPWG): founded in 1997, it organised speaker, Sezen Sekmen. The CWG the series of conferences entitled «Ten Years of Transition», was founded in 1996. It approaches the Summer University «Wars–Destiny of Anatolya» in various locals which are organising Ankara, and three other congresses. With 102 members, the cultural events and helps promoting them. One such exam- IPWG is the biggest among the AEGEE working groups. In ple is the Summer University of Ankara: «WARS: Destiny the year 2000, the IPWG will be involved in the «Balkan- of Anatolia». Another project is the «Portrait of Europe». The action – Youth for Democracy» project, organised by AEGEE- delegates of the Agora in Poznan of 1999 were asked to illus- Udine. It will also be organising a seminar in Budapest on trate their ideas. This shall be continued. Additionally, the the resolution of the Kosovo crisis, amongst others. CWG is co-operating on a music conference in Maastricht on a creativity conference in Bonn. public relations working group What is an event without a good poster, flyer or media east-west working group promotion? «Not much», says Bert Rösch, speaker of the Pub- The East-West Working Group lic Relations Working Group (PRWG). «Therefore we train (EWWG) was the first working AEGEE members in PR.» Before 1998, there had been no group in the history of AEGEE. clear approach in AEGEE to transfer knowledge from one Established in April 1988, it played generation of members to another. This changed when, in a decisive role for AEGEE’s devel- 1999, Bert Rösch’s team and local organisers set up two Pub- opment in the CEEC. Today, the lic Relations European Schools, called PRES, in Groningen EWWG regularly issues a booklet on visa regulations in and Karlsruhe. «We mean to continue in the year 2000 with Europe. «At the moment it contains 46 pages featuring dif- two more PR schools.» ferent countries», says editor Sasha Mirskikh. «We are now improving the concept and saving most of the information aegee academy in a database. Moreover, the latest proposal of the EWWG The Internal Education Working Group (IEWG), better is the Year-Plan Project on «Borderless Europe», to be carried known as AEGEE Academy, is the youngest child in out in the year 2000. AEGEE’s family of working groups. It was founded in April 1999, after a successful European School in Gießen. education working group «Now we have developed a set of different training events The Education Working Group (EWG) was founded in for beginners and experienced people, for local boards, for November 1994, as the unification of the Erasmus Working trainers and for Summer University organisers», says Group and the Tempus Working Group. The EWG supplies Academy speaker Bernhard Müller from Augsburg. For the information on the Socrates Mobility Programme, and is cur- year 2000, therefore, five European Schools have been rently working on the «Manual for Incoming and Outgo- scheduled, plus several other training events. ing Students». The working group is planning to get involved in other Socrates activities and actions. «One such event is the Ljubljana conference taking place in February 2000, entitled «Erasmus power: Studying Abroad is Possible», explains Barbara Bolta, speaker of the EWG. twelve12 THE FACES OF AEGEE

The CD Life in BXL Some Top Antennae People of the Past and Present The CDs

The Comité Directeur from spring agora1999 until now

t the general assembly held in Barcelona Aliki Louvrou, born 1976 in Corfu and law stu- in spring 1999, the delegates of over 200 dent at Thessaloniki, is in charge of the challeng- A AEGEE locals elected the following stu- ing task of treasurer of AEGEE-Europe. dents into the European board of directors: The secretary of AEGEE-Europe is Oana Mailatescu, marketing student from Cluj-Napoca, László Fésüs, law student in Szeged, Hungary, Romania, born in 1975. A younger member com- was elected President and stayed in the position till ing from the league of former network commis- the next Agora, held in Poland. He was born 1976 sioners is Michal Pesta, political science student in Debrecen, but lived for a certain period of time from AEGEE-Gdansk, born in 1977. Bernhard in the United States. Born in the Former Yugoslav Müller, business student from Augsburg, born in Republic of Macedonia in 1972, information tech- 1970, is responsible for focusing on matters of inter- nology student in Ankara, Refet Saban, took over nal education; in other words the training of mem- the co-ordination of the European projects. Faní bers in developing organisational skills. Zarifopoúlou, born 1975 in Athina and law grad- uate in 1999, was initially elected to hold respon- After the Agora in Poznan, the association’s sibility for external relations. After the Agora of board was enriched by the presence of three autumn 1999, she became the 21st President of the exceptional AEGEE members as successors to Lás- association. zló, Refet and Bernhard. Warszawa mathematics student, Krzysztof Szczygielski, born in 1975, Marcus Khoury, born in Lebanon in 1972, took over the task of Internal Education. Mauro studied law at the Universities of Köln, Paris and Schiavon from Treviso became one of the three München, from which he graduated in 1999. His vice presidents as responsible for external rela- task deals with matters of public relations. Whereas tions. Finally, Sebastian Klüsener, geography Linda Baan, born in 1974 and responsible for con- student from Heidelberg, also born in 1975, is tacts with the European institutions, is a human following Refet’s steps in co-ordinating the Euro- geography student from Groningen, her colleague pean projects within AEGEE.

Nine CD members, ten chicken: The European board of AEGEE-Europe has special guests in the garden. The CD members, as elected in April 1999 (from left): Refet Saban, Michal Pesta, Aliki Louvrou, Fani Zarifopoúlou, Oana Mailatescu, Marcus Khoury, Linda Baan, Bernhard Müller and László Fésüs. fourteen14 Life in BXL

t is about seven in the morning, Linda is enjoying the calm in the office, while all the Iothers are still sleeping. It must have been a long night for many of them. Marcus eventually comes down the stairs wearing his tennis shoes and jogging suit. Off they go together, running through the wet streets of Brussels, close to the house they have moved into as members of the Comité Directeur. Some knew each other quite well beforehand, others not at all; and yet they all decided to share their private and working lives together under the same roof. Even their house is exceptional because it used to be a museum for Belgian underwear. In the meantime, more people have woken up, Behind the office there is a big garden that is just and the office is getting livelier by the minute. waiting for the CD members to take a rest. Dinner is People are talking and sometimes even shouting a social event in which everyone in the office takes part. The frequent guests are also welcome. in a variety of languages. The phones are ringing, faxes are being sent, the printer is working. An electrician has to come, the lock of the door has to be fixed, both showers are leaking. Sometimes Aliki says this house is a time bomb waiting to explode. At this moment things are getting really stress- ful. An application for a grant has to be made pre- sentable and handed in on time. The printer however, decides to go either berserk or on strike. Fani, believing strongly that the thing has a soul, tries caressing it so that it does what they say. Unfor- tunately, Mr. Kyocera shows no mercy today, taking revenge on everyone by printing incompre- hensible Chinese letters just one hour before the closing time of all post offices. The CD is like a family, but their members hardly know anybody living in this city. They need to take the time to get to know each other first, to learn how to enjoy and have fun together. Dinner for everyone is usually prepared by at least one person living in the house, every evening. It is almost a holy event, including most of the guests, who are also asked to give their contribution at least once during their stay. The more food is left over, the better for the chicken in the garden. If the hectic lifestyle makes the CD members forget to feed them, they manage to sneak out of their cage and actu- ally line up in protest in front of the kitchen door, demanding their food. It may be past midnight, but there is still life in the office. The calm atmosphere at the end of a tiring day helps to settle some of the argu- ments and misunderstandings of the day. After some time, those that are losing their battle against sleep, give up and go to bed. Marcus is almost always the last of these, wondering whether the Belgian weather will permit him to go jogging the next day. fifteen15 AEGEE-Valletta

the spirit of europe away from the mainland

ometimes it is necessary to go away from Europe’s mainland to catch the real Euro- S pean spirit. This is the case with AEGEE- Valletta. Founded in October 1997, AEGEE- Valletta quickly grew in popularity for the hospitality and enthusiasm of the local members. Moreover, its achievements have also been recognised on the national scale: the association receives support of the Department for Youth and Sport in Malta. AEGEE Valletta has been nominated by the latter as one of the most selling roses and cakes on Valentine’s Day», active student organisation of 1999», says adds Roger Bugeja, founder of AEGEE-Valletta. Corinne Cordina, current president of the In October 1999, AEGEE-Valletta organised its antenna. AEGEE-Valletta has also established first European Conference on Peace. «Now we good contacts with the University of Malta Stu- are planning other projects such as a conference dent Council and the Socrates Office. «Our on Student Mobility», says Corinne. «Our activities are not just about student politics. dream is to someday organise an event for sev- Since travelling is rather difficult for us, we do eral hundred participants, like the Presidents’ our best to create an entertaining environment Meeting in 2001.» For more info check for our local students, with activities such as http://aegeevalletta.webjump.com

AEGEE-Istanbul

the inter-continental antenna

stanbul: the city that bridges continents. AEGEE-Istanbul, founded in 1992, gathers I 130 students. The conference «New World (Dis)Order» of 1994 gave the kick-start to this inter-continental antenna. Many events have followed, among them nine Summer Universi- ties. Their most outstanding event ever was a jointly organised Travelling Summer Universi- ty organised by the AEGEE antennae in Skop- je, Thessaloniki and Istanbul, bringing together these difficult neighbours in 1996 (photo). Fol- lowing this path of reconciliation, AEGEE- Athina and AEGEE-Istanbul organised exchange programmes. In 1999, the antennae of order to have Turkey included in the EU pro- Athina, Ankara and Istanbul were the driving grams of Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for forces behind the «Peace Academy» Year-Plan Europe», states Yigit Aksakoglu. The weekly Project. AEGEE-Istanbul also focuses on the meetings of AEGEE-Istanbul feature academics Socrates Programme. «For the past four years, and experts on the civil society with whom the the Education Working Group of AEGEE-Istan- present members discuss relevant topics. Yigit: bul has taken over an increasing load of work in «Visit http://www.aegee-istanbul.org.» sixteen16 Some Top Antennae AEGEE-Gdansk

from politics to olympic games

dansk is known for its openness to the world and its hospitality. The locals have Gnever been afraid of making their dreams and ideas come true. AEGEE-Gdansk, founded in 1996, tries to make the most of the spirit of this city. Having started as a group of friends with founding president Jacek Wasilewski, it has today over 80 members. The enthusiastic attitude of its members resulted in four European conferences focusing on the development of Poland and on German-Polish reconciliation. «Although organising these events meant stress and unexpected situations, we always shared the feeling that it was worth it. It gives us great pleasure and sa- AEGEE-Gdansk also organised a number of tisfaction when we see the participants coming local events, such as the Refugee’s Day and the back to Gdansk», says Joanna Lompart, third presi- Euro Campaign. «We also organise Christmas dent of AEGEE-Gdansk. «For the year 2000 we Eve parties for orphanages», adds Piotr Podsiad- are planning a Summer University that will give lo, current president of AEGEE-Gdansk. the participants the chance to get in shape before More information there: the Olympic Games in Sidney», states Joanna. http://www.aegee-gdansk.z.pl AEGEE-Utrecht

from a European job fair to the alcohol congress «99% VOL» (photo). At the moment AEGEE-Utrecht has about 300 members. President Berber Hettinga: «There are two options in Utrecht: either you don’t know that AEGEE exists - or you love it.» In 1993, AEGEE-Utrecht hosted its first Agora. Organising the Agora for the second time in May 2000, will be the largest event in the history of the antenna. Fur- thermore, the active members are also working on European projects and Working Groups. In addition, a number of local committees are involved in all kinds of activities: cooking events, balls, the local bulletin, promotion of European events, the organisation of the Summer Universities and more. A recurring event in Dutch student life is the introduction-week for new students. Traditionally, a female charm and european minds female board member goes around town dressed in a European flag and wearing blue gloves. Berber: t is the second largest antenna in the network: «Female charm is a nice way to attract new members AEGEE-Utrecht. Founded in 1987, the variety and AEGEE-Utrecht is known to have a lot of that.» I of events the antenna has organised ranges More info at http://www.uu.nl/~aegee/

seventeen17 People of the Past

3franck biancheri friends for four years from 1984 1. 11th of March 1961 in Nice, to 1988 in order to develop it. France. My main pride rests in the fact 2. Political sciences at the Institut that with AEGEE’s 15th anni- d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. versary, we shall bring together 3. I am president of two founda- two generations. tions and consultant to several 6. It means my roots, my past. organisations and institutions. AEGEE changed my life as 4. I founded AEGEE-Europe be- much as it did for thousands of cause I felt there could be no other European students. It dra- future for us if Europe does not gged me into the European di- Franck Biancheri become a political reality. Fur- mension. The experience also thermore, this reality can only helped me in developing metho- come into being by young edu- dologies to create linkages bet- cated citizens and students. ween Europe and other conti- 5. My main achievement was to nents. It definitely also means conceive the idea of AEGEE. I my present to AEGEE by cele- struggled with several groups of brating its 15th anniversary.

4david stulík 5..Gradually, I became vice-presi- 1.20th of September 1972 in Pra- dent of AEGEE-Warszawa, ha. then speaker of the East-West 2.I finished Economics at SGH- Working Group. Later, I had Warsaw School of Economics, nothing better to do than to join then I studied sociology at the the Comité Directeur as vice Central European University. president in charge of projects. 3.I’m a soldier of peace. I do civil 6.Everything. AEGEE is the sym- service, since I believe in a civil bol of life! AEGEE is my society. I am doing my own friends, my experience. It means fighting as editor-in-chief of the fun, love, sorrow, success. It is very first magazine in my coun- the playground of real life. It is David Stulík try, which deals with European a chariot, which needs to be integration. pushed ahead, always thinking 4.I was homesick. The founders it could be pushed even further. of AEGEE-Warszawa had told So you stay until you realise me that there were some con- that you are getting older and tacts in Czechoslovakia. need successors you trust.

3angele postolle Europe. I have co-organised 1. 8th of March 1970 in Montpellier. Summer Universities and the 2. I like collecting diplomas: my Agora in Montpellier in ‘94. I highlights are a Master in peace also founded AEGEE-Dublin. studies in Dublin and a PhD in 6. My dearest AEGEE: you chan- political science in Montpellier ged my life. You made me Euro- and Prague. pean, introduced me to some 3. After teaching human rights in great people, let me share a glass Kazakstan, I am teaching inter- and a smart discussion with national relations in Moscow. them. You took me out of sleepy 4. I joined AEGEE in 1992, when Southern France to lively Slavic Angele Postolle I joined a member of AEGEE- Europe. You created a European Montpellier on a public rela- paradise for us. After a wonder- tions mission in Russia. ful six-year relationship, I had to 5 I was vice president of AEGEE- leave you. Don’t be sad, I will Montpellier and flying ambas- always defend your values: de- sador in Central and Eastern mocracy and fraternity. eighteen18 questions 1. when and where were you born? 4. why did you join aegee? 2. what did you study? 5. what did you do in aegee? 3. what are you doing now? 6. what does aegee mean to you?

3gerhard kress 6. AEGEE showed me that Europe is a word 1. In Wiesbaden, Germany on 18th March with a real meaning. In AEGEE we define 1970. ourselves by antennae, not by national- 2. Theoretical physics in Mainz; interna- ity, thus eliminating borders. Europe tional relations and European studies in exists in the daily interaction of all the Budapest. AEGEE members, not only as an abstract 3. I am currently working as a Management political concept. AEGEE lives Europe, Consultant for McKinsey & Company, and it even influences the political con- one of the leading management consult- cept of some of our governments. Fur- ing firms in the world. thermore, AEGEE is also a concept of 4. I wanted to help Erasmus students at the civil society, where all citizens can Gerhard Kress University of Mainz. During the follow- involve themselves and have a voice in ing months I realised how nice AEGEE political matters. members were. 5. I quickly became president of the antenna in Mainz/Wiesbaden. In 1996, I joined the Comité Directeur as network responsible. Finally I became president, leading AEGEE for six months.

4ulla bisgaard 5. I founded AEGEE-Aalborg. In Novem- 1. On 29th of May, 1970 in Sonderborg, ber 1992, I joined the Comité Directeur Denmark. as vice-president and was responsible for 2. A variety of disciplines from French relations with the EU, Council of Europe philology to international relations and and OSCE. In total, I spent 7 years in sociology. AEGEE. 3. I am working at UNICEF headquarters in 6. AEGEE is a unique opportunity to live a New York. Our projects include a follow first-hand experience of a fast changing, up to the UN World Conferences and and globalised European reality. It ena- UNICEF’s policy making in the area of bled me to develop skills I draw on in my gender mainstreaming, women’s human professional life, such as intercultural Ulla Bisgaard rights and women’s health. communication, lobbying, and alliance 4. During a Student Fair in Brussels in building - and I had lots of fun. 1991, I bumped into the AEGEE stand. They had a map of Europe without Den- mark on it. I confronted the people there, then became member the same day.

3suzanne govers based in Delft, meaning that I got to know 1. On 15th of November 1972 in Nuenen, the bus and train schedules Utrecht-Delft the Netherlands. by heart. Later on, I became member of 2. I am specialised in international law. the Juridical Commission. 3. I am working for the Immigration and 6. Through AEGEE I learned to work with Naturalisation Service in Rijswijk, which people from different countries and I got is an executive body of the Dutch Min- to know many incredibly nice people. istry of Justice. My main task is to review There were of course some tough times, the applications from foreigners who want but I am very happy to have experienced to reside in the Netherlands. However, I AEGEE. am planning to move to Barcelona to learn Suzanne Govers Spanish. 4. When I got to know about AEGEE, I could not resist - the people, the events and, of course, the idea of building bridges across Europe was too intriguing! 5. I was elected secretary of the CD in April 1995. At that time the head-office was nineteen19 ...and People of the Present

4katerina tsaligopoulou 3barbara bolta

Katerina (23), owns a com- Barbara (24), studies pany making ceramics and dec- French and international re- orations. During a Summer lations at the University of University (SU) of AEGEE- Ljubljana. In 1996, a friend Athina, she lodged five par- told her about an organisation ticipants, who afterwards took that provides low-cost holi- her to the SU in Crete. Since days; she became member and then, she says: «AEGEE runs Katerina Tsaligopoulou Barbara Bolta soon realised that there is in my blood!» Katerina is pres- much more to AEGEE than ident of AEGEE-Athina and Members Comission member. «cheap» travel. She became treasurer of AEGEE-Ljubljana, She has been Network Commissioner, organiser of the Euro- co-organiser of two SU’s and two congresses. Currently pean School and Summer University ‘99 in Athina, organ- she is vice-president of AEGEE-Ljubljana and speaker of ised a BASE conference, tutored at the ES’s of Zielona Gora the EWG. AEGEE, she says, is one of her biggest addic- and Izmir. To her, «AEGEE is a different world, a dreamland!» tions.

4agnieszka wilk 3alex glos

Agnieszka (22), hopes to Alex (25), joined AEGEE have a job one day that would because his friend Michael reflect her beliefs. She heard Reiling, already an AEGEE about AEGEE at the univer- member, spoke to him for sity and quickly started to hours about AEGEE on a cold organise events and travel winter night, outside a pub, around. She became secretary while Alex really wanted to and then president of AEGEE- Agnieszka Wilk Alex Glos go home. Alex was treasurer Poznan and responsible for the of AEGEE Passau, co-organ- Autumn Agora ‘99. Currently, she is treasurer of the ised two congresses, was member of the Audit Commis- AEGEE Academy, and responsible for the ES in Amster- sion, and is now President of the Juridical Commission and dam. AEGEE – a unity of difference and network of friends, member of the Members Commission. Alex met his wife is how she describes the association. Ania in AEGEE, whom he married last year.

4peter tennekes 3alex zucconi

Peter (21), got involved in Alex (20), one day found AEGEE-Utrecht as editor of an AEGEE flyer on the their local newsletter. Cur- ground in his University; rently, he is board member of soon after became Public Rela- AEGEE-Utrecht, responsible tions officer and then vice- for European events. «AEGEE president of AEGEE-Roma, is a way to discover other cul- PR responsible of the HRWG tures and their peoples in a Peter Tennekes Alex Zucconi and then president. He is also unique way. The AEGEE net- vice-president of Alba Iula. work gives me the possibility to meet other cultures from Nobody knows how many languages the alternative rock the inside instead of seeing the surface as a tourist. Being singer speaks - at least six. For Alex, AEGEE means fun, active in AEGEE is the way to be a European citizen», says integration, a way to realise his own ideals, and the chance Peter. to gain many friends! twenty20 COUNTDOWN

HISTORY AND PROJECTS WINTER SPRING SUMMER AUTUMN 1999 Events History and projects

beograd, vis, novi he year 1999, the dawn of the new milleni- January from carnival in venezia to peace conferences: 10-17 1 beograd, bratislava, sad: um, left an indelible mark in our memories, brescia, ljubljana, passau, a total of 187 aegee events took place in 1999. significantly due to the heightened tensions How does it look to be a T this is a selection of 101 congresses, leaving roma, zagreb: New Year arising in the Balkans. winner! Celebration out the 86 summer universities of the year. The Peace Project Academy started officially in leiden 8-10 poznan: Let’s Dance 12-14 : The Power February with the conference «Peace Concept», in 12-17 ivano-frankivsk: of Diplomacy Istanbul. Soon after, the International Politics milano athina Skiing & «Drugs Among 15-18 : Cultural 3-11 : European 12-14 arnhem: The Future Working Group invited students from all over Youth» Spring Weekend School 20-21 timisoara athina of Internal Education; 20th Europe on a Case Study Trip through former 30-31 heidelberg : AEGEE 11-15 : Unemploy- : 6th Anniversary Festival Yugoslavia. Only a few days before, the Spring Masked Ball and other Student NGOs ment-BASE Congress 22-25 berlin: At the 30/7-1/8 münchen: Salsa 18-20 rotterdam: Final Presidents’ Meeting (PM) in Novi Sad was attend- February Crossroads of the European Course Conference Peace Academy ed by 250 AEGEE members, despite the fears of 3-7 delft: Space-Tech Integration Process 18-21 budapest: Leisure the looming outbreak of a conflict. In April, the 4-14 tampere: Snow Uni- 22-27 cagliari: Sardinian August 6-16 donetsk/kazantip and Pleisure three bridges in Novi Sad were damaged by air versity 1999 Culture : heidelberg 5-7 istanbul: Peace Concept udine Reactor Party 25-28 : France strikes in response to the crackdown in Kosovo. 22-25 : A Glance at 10-20 constanta 5-7 arnhem: Arnhems- the East : Euro- and Germany - Seminar. After the PM, AEGEE members expressed their pean School gewijs 23-25 warszawa: BASE 25-28 treviso/venezia: opinions on the war by e-mail and chat messages 11/12 karlsruhe: Total 11-14 venice/treviso: Final Conference. during a transmission of the German TV station Eclipse Artspotting Carnival 25-27 maastricht: Mana- ZDF. AEGEE - Groningen launched a poster cam- 13-29 minsk: Summer Arts 26/11-1/12 timisoara: 11-14 groningen: Immi- ging Europe paign entitled «I am the enemy you will kill, my amsterdam Academy - Carpe Diem - Ten Years of Transition in gration Policy 28-30 : friend» to fight the popular prejudice against the rijeka Queens’ day Seize the Hour Romania 12-14 : Carnival 22-25 udine: AEGEE izmir 30/4-2/5 barcelona: budapest Serbian civilian society. 12-14 : Regional Strategy Meeting about the 29/11-5/12 AEGEE at the European Parliament: Hight - ranking experts such as Otto von Spring Agora Nevertheless, our focus on education was not Meeting Balkan Region Bridges to Kosov@ - Semi- der Gablentz contributed to the conference on «Education 2020» 19-22 enschede: Ancient forgotten. After three years of resistance, the May September nar Civilisations zaragoza European Parliament Committee on Education 3-5 : Intercul- 1 europe 20/2-03/3 former yugos- : Peace Action Day December finally reacted in favour of Turkey’s participation tural Couples 4-11 zielona gora: Euro- lavia: Case Study Trip in amsterdam 2-5 lódz: ‘All Rights in EU Education and Youth Programmes. This had Europe was chosen to be one of the Year - Plan topics for 6-9 : Sustain- pean School Former Yugoslavia able Growth 6-12 augsburg: In touch Reserved’ been the result of the extensive work and lobby- the following year. oradea aachen and europe 21-27 : MultiCul- 8-9 : with Joan Miró 2-3 ploiesti: The Students’ ing by AEGEE-Istanbul and Ankara. Furthermore, Europe was under an unlucky star when struck by turalism One European Night 14-28 turkey: Pre - PM Visions on Europe 2020 a conference on «Education for 2020» was held in several earthquakes during the summer. A wave of con- 25-28 köln: Ideas for Hi- 14-16 ljubljana : Rafting Bus trip by AEGEE- turku/abo March in the European Parliament in Brussels. cern and sympathy followed when members of AEGEE- gher Education 14-16 passau 3-5 : Regional : Regional Warszawa Preceding this event was the resignation of the Istanbul did voluntary work in tent camps and crisis cen- 26/2-3/3 timisoara: Banat, Meeting adana Meeting 24-26 : Autumn entire European Commission in Brussels. The par- tres. Likewise, the passing away of AEGEE patron Model of Interculturality 19-23 lund: Conflict and a Presidents’ Meeting 4-5 ploiesti: Regional European Perspective. münchen ticipants of «At the Crossroads of the European Inte- Mikhail Gorbatchev’s wife, Raissa, was mourned all over March 24-26 : Oktober- Meeting Ploiesti 21-24 utrecht: 99%VOL-a gration Process», held in April in Berlin, saw this the network. The last Presidents’ Meeting of the mille- 5-7 novi sad: Spring PM fest Weekend 5-12 berlin&gdansk: Ten szeged Loaded Experience motion as a chance to start over with a clean slate. nium, held in Adana, aimed to prepare the final Agora 9-14 : War and groningen October Years of Transition; Poland 26-30 : Public pavia Internally, LAMA v1.00, a computer program of the year taking place in Poznan, under the patronage Peace in Arts. Film Festival 1-3 : Wine Tasting and Germany 1989-1999 12-14 lodz Relations School blagoevgrad allowing AEGEE antennae to manage local mem- of Polish President Kwasniewski. Three new members : Regional Meet- 28-31 erlangen/nür- 7-11 : ljubljana Nationalism and Peace in 10-11 : Sloven- bers data, was developed by Lucas Wartenburger joined the European Board. ing nberg: Peace in Europe 12-14 treviso/venezia: the Balkans ian Traditional Drinks from AEGEE - München. Back in March, a fruit- In the meantime, Romano Prodi and his new com- Regional Meeting June 13-17 eindhoven: 10th 12-18 enschede: IT-School eindhoven ful discussion on the current status of the Comité mission were approved of in Strasbourg, where, only few 18-21 sibiu: Regional 3-6 : Exploring Anniversary 28/12-2/1 Eindhoven: münster Directeur, started. The reasons why all board days after, AEGEE members took part in the organisation Meeting Time 21-24 : European 3-6 salzburg: Hiking Start Your Millennium in members had to move to Brussels and the impact of a Youth Parliament. At the end of the year, AEGEE took 22-26 sevilla: European Identity 10-13 passau: European 22-24: genova: Regional Lieshout! this had on their private lives was contemplated part in the «Citizens’ Summit» in Tampere. The issues dis- Week zagreb brussels Games Marathon Meeting 29/12-2/1 : The thoroughly. cussed by the 1,000 delegates, mirrored the issues which 25-27 : Education wien 11-13 : 5th Anniver- 28/10-3/11 karlsruhe: Ultimate Party-Year Cele- At the following Agora in Barcelona, held in dominated the agenda at the European Council - with spe- for 2020 sary/Ball strasbourg PR European School bration April, this topic was revived and a new board of cial reference to the topic of enlargement, which is to be 25-27 : Tradi- 12-13 glasgow: Regional 28/10-2/11 valletta : Peace roma directors was elected. A fresh new spirit was discussed at the next AEGEE conference in the European tions in Alsace Meeting 29/12-3/1 : 2000 praha in the Mediterranean 26-28 : European 11-13 keele: Peace in 29/10-1/11 freiburg: The Years After: Millenium brought into the association that led to the setting Parliament in June 2000. Student Mobility Northern Ireland Power of NGOs Delirium up of new priorities. The concept of a Borderless berlin barcelona April 16-17 : Democratic 29/10-1/11 : 29/12-4/1 skopje: Ski 2-4 zagreb: Croatian Easter opposition in Yugoslavia Regional Meeting strasbourg Week culture 28/6-2/7 : November 29/12-3/1 udine: Good 5-11 giessen: European Introduction to Multimedia 4-7 poznan: Autumn Morning 2000!!! School July Agora paris 15-17 cluj-napoca: Euro- 1-3 minsk: Regional Train- 8-10 gdansk: AEGEE 30/12-2/1 : New pean Communication in 2020 ing Course Olympic Games Year 2000 twenty two22 twenty three23 1999 Events History and projects

peace academy: giving hope for the future pulling down the iron curtain

frank burgdörfer reating a strong basis for a peaceful world of vercoming the division of the continent: the year tomorrow: this is the aim behind the Peace Acad- 1989 meant a significant change not only for Europe Frank Burgdörfer just wanted dijan albayrak C emy, AEGEE’s biggest project ever - and the Oin general but also for AEGEE: contacts with East to take part in a Summer Univer- dominating series of events which took place in 1999. 25 Dijan Albayrak is head of German students were already being made in 1989. Today, sity, when Bodo Lieberam from AEGEE antennae plus several working groups have col- the team that manages the a significant part of the members lives and studies in coun- AEGEE-Gießen persuaded him to laborated to analyse conflicts and consider ways and tools AEGEE Peace Academy. Born in tries such as Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Hungary. join AEGEE - and to become to prevent them. «Despite the fact that the Cold War is 1977, she studies statistics in «The importance of the changes in the East and the actively involved. over, there are many wars going on in the whole world Ankara. meaning these changes had for our organisation made it 28-year old Frank, who grad- this very minute», says project co-ordinator Dijan «AEGEE-Ankara was organ- impossible to neglect this topic. So we formulated a series uated in business administration, economics and Albayrak from AEGEE-Istanbul. «The 20th century has ising the Agora in 1997, right at the time when I of conferences entitled ‘Ten Years of Transition’», explains political science, works at the «Centre for Applied been the most dismal one throughout history, with all became a member», she remembers. «This experi- project co-ordinator Frank Burgdörfer. To this end: Policy Research», a München-based think-tank. For kinds of conflicts: hot, cold, local, global, nuclear, prim- ence was more than enough for my first massive 8AEGEE-Lviv organised a Summer University in a two years Frank has been responsible for the Inter- itive, ethnic, religious and ideological ones.» push into AEGEE.» Dijan was mainly managing the country in transition but outside the scope of the insti- national Politics Working Group. «Being an oldie, I Is there no way to prevent this deadlock in the third activities of AEGEE-Ankara in the field of educa- tutionalised European Integration. Having been part of now focus on a few projects related to South East- Millenium? «Of course there are ways!», affirms Dijan. tion as Socrates Responsible. the Soviet Union, the country has problems from power ern Europe», he says. «AEGEE is the living proof «And our generation has an important role to play. Because She has been working on this Year-Plan project shortage to a lack of democratic culture. that the possibility for a common Europe is real.» if our open-minded generation cannot identify a way for more than two years now. Dijan, who wants to 8«Prywit Ukraine - Ukraine where are you now?» towards reconciliation, how can we expect our politicians remain active in the field of peace research, states: gave young Europeans from more than ten different to perceive one and implement it?» The prevalent need to «AEGEE was and still is a real challenge for me, countries, impressions of a country still trying to find make this project happen created an unmatched network besides being fun. I cannot think of a better envi- and define itself. of co-operation, resulting in 11 congresses, three Summer ronment to get some knowledge about what is 8AEGEE-Timisoara held a conference entitled «The Universities, one film festival, one case study trip and sev- going on around us. Personally, I learnt a lot about Birthpains of Democracy». Since democracy in this coun- eral smaller seminars. Being integrated in the Year-Plan of teamwork, project implementation and manage- try was not reached by peaceful protests, the changes that AEGEE with the slogan «European Youths give Peace a ment, and also made a lot of real friends all over.» occurred did not lead to the results people had hoped for Chance», this series of events became the main project for and they are now disillusioned. Despite the doubts in 1999. The project was co-ordinated by the AEGEE anten- their capabilities of doing so, their aim now is to proceed nal in Athina, Istanbul and Ankara. on the path towards European integration. The starting point for the events was the congress called own region. In August 2000, the project will be concluded 8AEGEE-Gdansk provided the strongest contrast «Peace Concept», which took place in February 1999 in with a Peace Summit taking place both on the Greek and possible to this. Pride was the dominant feeling the Turkey. The events that followed in Berlin, Gdansk, Bla- the Turkish side of the Aegean Sea. «The 200 participants organisers conveyed to the participants. Being the fore- goevgrad and many others cities, did not only focus on par- will set up a peace concept based on mutual understand- runner of protests such as the ones of Timisoara in Roma- ticular aspects such as diplomacy, nationalism or the role ing and cross-cultural skills they gain during these two nia, Gdansk became a symbol for a peaceful change. Since of NGOs. They also stressed the specific situation of their weeks», summarises Dijan. 1989, a functioning political system has been established, the economy is growing persistently, NATO membership has been achieved and EU membership is within reach. peace academy - the events 8AEGEE-Berlin helped with understanding the very special conditions in Germany. The city of the wall which 5-7 February 1999 8-10 October 1999 symbolises the division of the continent became once Poet of liberty in Lviv: Taras Shevchenko. The Ukranian antenna organised a Peace Concept Nationalism and Peace in the again the capital of a leading European country. In the summer unervisity on the transition of the country. Istanbul 28-31 May 1999 Balkans city of Berlin, and in Germany, two societies merged, 20 February - 3 March 1999 Peace in Europe Blagoevgrad 26-28 November 1999 leading to a confrontation of different mentalities, expe- Case Study Trip Erlangen/Nürnberg 28-31 October 1999 Germany and France riences and educational backgrounds. Former Yugoslavia ten years of transition: 17 July - 1 August 1999 The Power of NGOs Heidelberg «The project has shown once more how common aspects the events 11-14 March 1999 Place where Three Countries Freiburg 26-28 November 1999 in general and significant differences in detail can go hand Meet - Summer University War and Peace in the Arts 29 Oct. - 2 Nov. 1999 Ten Years of Transition in in hand in Europe», summarises Frank Burgdörfer. An 13-29 September 1999 Szeged Freiburg Romania. Peace within the Mediter- important peculiarity emerged: while hardly anybody seri- «Prywit Ukraine - Ukraine 5-8 December 1999, Timisoara in Berlin 22-25 April 1999 26 July - 11 Aug. 1999 ranean Region ously thinks about leaving Poland today, a significant por- where are you now?» Crossroads of European Inte- Wars: Destiny of Anatolia - Valletta 18-20 November 1999 Summer University Plus by 9-12 December 1999, tion, comprising in particular the very best students in in Gdansk gration Summer University 9-12 November 1999 International Organisations AEGEE-Lviv countries such as Romania and Ukraine, plans to emigrate «Ten Years of Transition in Berlin Ankara The Fall of Communism Managing Conflict to countries in the EU or to North America. 26-28 November 1999 Eastern Germany and Poland» 9-23 May 1999 12-23 September 1999 Gdansk Rotterdam «The Birth Pains of Romanian Twin-conference by 11-14 November 1999 12-27 August 2000 Frank adds: «However, despite any doubts or problems Conflicts and Conflict Resolu- Ukraine after the Fall of the Democracy» AEGEE-Berlin and tion in a European Perspective Iron Curtain - SU. that may have arisen, nobody has questioned the general The Future of Diplomacy Peace Summit Conference by AEGEE- AEGEE-Gdansk Lund Lviv/Rivne Leiden Greece/Turkey aim of these countries to become a stable and prosperous Timisoara element of an integrated Europe.» twenty four24 twenty five25 Peace Academy 10 Years of Transition

peace academy: giving hope for the future pulling down the iron curtain

the borders are gone - the problems stay visit to the multicultural region of Banat in Romania, two weeks in europe for 100 euros antennae were involved, that is, more than 60 percent of students had the chance to talk with different ethnic summer universities: 87 faces to the continent the network. he borders have disappeared, but social topics are groups with a variety of problems. «We had 4131 applications - nearly twice as many as the more than ever an issue in Europe: In order to The events took place within a year. Starting in April urope on the move: 2300 available places», says Philipp von Klitzing from AEGEE- Tanalyse aspects of the society such as education or 1998 in Amsterdam, the first conference was entitled students took part in the Aachen, who supervised the technical aspect of the appli- sustainable development, AEGEE initiated a series of «Fortress Europe», and dealt with security in Europe. E87 AEGEE Summer Uni- cation procedure. The most popular Summer University conferences entitled «Building a Social Europe» (BASE). BASE ended in April 1999 with a final conference in versities of 1999. AEGEE local was the one in Helsinki and Tampere with 128 applications, «Especially because of disappearing frontiers, it is impor- Warszawa entitled «A Welfare State - Luxury or Necessi- groups have been, since 1988, followed by Palermo with 119 applications, Maastricht with tant to highlight some issues in society like unemploy- ty», discussing all the outcomes of the events. Vera offering the opportunity to take 118 and Amsterdam with 113 applications. ment and crime», states Vera Sanne Haaksma from states: «Apart from summarising the results of the previ- part in language and thematic Furthermore, the interdisciplinary nature of AEGEE is AEGEE-Enschede, BASE co-ordinator. «Our nine events ous eight events, this was a nice chance to hold a reunion courses during the summer visible in the range of applicants, who among them, study should give young people all over Europe the chance to of the organisers and participants.» months - from the life of the a variety of more than 40 different subjects at their home be involved in the construction of the European house vikings in Kiel and Lund to pol- university - with a majority of 20 percent studying eco- which should be based on social foundations.» itics in Ukraine. In 1999, the nomics; 11 percent doing law, and another 11 percent In a profound discussion, AEGEE intended to compare events took place in nearly 30 studying languages. the different social structures in order to contribute to their countries. For the first time all applications were processed via improvement. «It is time for young European citizens to state «Summer Universities offer a computer program called Lama, purposely created for their opinion and define which problems and possible solu- the best way to take a glance at a new country», points this use. Despite the fact that such a new programme had tions they envisage», says Vera. First of all BASE wanted to out Gavino Paolini from the Summer University Co- some flaws when it was used for the first time, Philipp inform young people all over Europe of the social situa- ordination Team (SUCT). «This is because the partici- regarded it as a major step forward towards a fairer and tion existing in their own countries and in others; who then pants - numbering 20 to 30 - never come as tourists, but faster distribution of applicants on the events. conducted discussions on the various possibilities with recog- as friends.» All these developments since the first 11 Summer Uni- nised experts and other students. During the interactive The most offered language courses are in German, versities which took place in 1988 are outstanding. How- workshops and simulation games which were held, the stu- Italian and Spanish, but the participants also have the ever, one thing has remained unchanged over the years: dents were confronted with the challenges of today. opportunity to learn Russian or a few words of Hungar- the standard fee of 100 Euros which comprise lodging, The project dealt with five main topics: «Education ian. However, although the total number of courses is tuition, excursions and at least one meal per day. Gavino and Employment», «Security and Criminality», «Sustain- always on the increase, the number of languages has this stresses: «Due to the low fee, even students from poorer able Development», «Equal Chances» and «Individuals in year gone down to 28, the lowest amount since 1990. European countries have the chance to participate.» Europe». In total, nine conferences and seminars took «The last two years have brought about a big shift from place in the East and the West of Europe, in order to How social is Europe? The congresses falling under the language to cultural Summer Universities, giving an analyse the problems from both sides. In addition, the umbrella of the BASE project tried to give an answer. insight into traditions, politics event organisers improved their skills during a training and the social aspects of the course in Eger, Hungary. Furthermore, during a study respective place or region», says Gavino. This is largely building a social europe due to the rapid growth of the events the network in the East. vera sanne haaksma While Western organisers Vera Sanne Haaksma started her prefer to make language 10-12 April 1998 AEGEE career as editor of «Euro- 29 October - 1 Novem- courses, organisers from How Safe is Fortress Europe? news», the local bulletin of AEGEE- ber 1998 Slavic countries, and Amsterdam Chances for a Sustainable Enschede. The 24-year old girl stud- 21-26 May 1998 Society others, are more than ies mechanical engineering and Quest for Competence Heidelberg glad to present their joined AEGEE in 1994. Later she Enschede 11-14 February 1999 cultures and tradi- became treasurer of her antenna. 31 August - 2 Septem- Immigration Policy - A tions. «Marijke Moed from AEGEE-Maas- ber 1998 Search for Balance in Europe Moreover, never tricht persuaded me to embark on the project called Globalisation of Small and Groningen before have so ma- Building a Social Europe in 1997», Vera remembers. Medium Enterprises 26 February - 3 March ny Summer Uni- «AEGEE meant an opportunity for me to discover my Treviso 1999 versities been or- qualities and interests in other cultures and people», 11-13 September 1998 Banat - Model of Inter- ganised jointly Jump! Summer Universities are the ideal combination of fun and learning. she says. «I learnt to organise and lead people, and to WASTEing our Future culturality by several ante- Augsburg Timisoara Whilst during the daytime the participants were busy with their language speak in front of a large audience. All these things nnae. In total, textbooks, they enjoyed the international company during the leisure time, are preparing me for the real business world.» Vera is 14-20 September 1998 23-25 April 1999 more than 100 making friends from all over Europe. Like above is the Summer Univer- Training course - How to The Welfare State - Luxury still a member of our local Audit Committee and sity in Chisinau, Moldova. Organise a BASE Event or Necessity Board of Advisers of AEGEE - Enschede. Eger Warszawa twenty six26 twenty seven27 Building a Social Europe Summer Universities

New Home for AEGEE-Europe

3/1, BRUSSELS igger and more beautiful: Since January 1999 AEGEE-Europe Bhas a new home - rue Nestor de Tière 15, Brussels-Schaerbeek. After an odyssey of several years, the association now has the best seat in its history. Since AEGEE’s foundation, the office moved several times, from Paris to Amsterdam to Delft. In January 1996 the headquarters moved for the first time to Brussels, a much preferred location due to its vicinity to the Eu- Look at the sky! Oana Mailatescu and Mauro Schiavon on the balcony of the new ropean institutions. AEGEE-Europe office. However, the move to the new place was not only triggered by the need for more space and better facilities. «The owner of our old office building sold New Year’s Ski Celebration the house», explains Goosje Meulemans, then secretary of AEGEE-Europe. The Tradition Continues... move finished during the first week of January: «Besides the office, we also had 1/1, ALL OVER EUROPE from nine different countries were to move the personal belongings of the nchanting entrance into the New entertained with skiing, sleighing and nine board members», says Goosje. Year with fireworks and fun. sliding, not to mention the New Year’s The new office offers many facili- E Hundreds of AEGEE members Eve party where 30 bottles of cham- ties: there are six bedrooms shared by celebrated an international start to 1999 pagne were splashed around», remem- nine people, whilst the office is large in Roma, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Brescia, bers main organiser Pavel Gertler. enough for every member to have a Beograd, Passau and other places, often All these features contributed to desk and space for files. «There is a lot in combination with winter sports. this ski-event becoming one of the of day light», adds Goosje. There is also This was also the case for the New most successful ones ever. This sixth a big garden at the back of the house. Year’s Ski Celebrations of AEGEE- New Year’s event marked the end of «Not to forget are the ten additional Bratislava. In the 1990s these joyful an era. Pavel: «AEGEE-Banska Bystri- inhabitants of the garden», tells Goosje: week-long events were a must for active ca will take over the tradition in the «Chicken, giving us fresh eggs.» members. «Our 35 participants coming year 2000.» twenty nine29 1 Brussels: AEGEE-Europe 15 London: Network Com- publishes the result book missioner Julia Lueginger on the Socrates Action Day presents the concept for the of November ‘98. upcoming AEGEE magazine «Europint» for the British alper 3-7 Delft: Space-Tech Win- February Isles and the Netherlands. Socrates in Fight against ter-School. akyüz 15 Brussels: AEGEE and the 4 Innsbruck: AEGEE- 7 Heidelberg: Sebastian 11-14 Venezia/Treviso: Turkey Alper Death Penalty career service EMDS, discuss Europe vice-chairperson Klüsener suggests a reform Carnival. Akyüz’s major possible co-operation. Erika Senkowsky resigns in the election procedure of 11-14 Groningen: Immi- 29/1, ISTANBUL activity has 24/1, UTRECHT 19-22 Enschede: Ancient due to study reasons. CD members: the old CD gration Policy. Civilisations. reakthrough for AEGEE: The been the co-or- Three-thousand signatures against 4-14 Tampere/Kuusamo: members should provide 12-14 Rijeka: Carnival. EU decides to include Turkey dination of the the death penalty all collected: this was 20/02-03/03 Former Snow University - Finland training to the candidates 12-14 Izmir: Regional in the Education programmes campaign aim- the result of a campaign carried out by Yugoslavia: CST in Former B in Winter. before their term ends. Meeting. Yugoslavia. of Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for ing to include the Human Rights Working Group 8 Passau: Markus Schön- 13/14 Heidelberg: The 5-7 Istanbul: Peace Con- 21-27 Oradea: Multicul- Europe. «This was the result of a four- Turkey in the Socrates Mobility (HRWG). The initiative started on 24 herr starts AEGEE’s Visa «Task Force on Change», cept. turalism. year long campaign by our antennae Scheme. The 27-year old research January 1999, when Else Weijsenfeld, 5-7 Arnhem: Arnhemsgewijs. Campaign. AEGEE’s think tank, dis- 25-28 Köln: Crossing the in Istanbul and Ankara», says Alper assistant at the Aeronautical Engi- then president of the HRWG, called 7 Aachen: Philipp von 8 Lviv: Oleh Kyriyenko cusses the association’s per- Boundaries. Ideas for Akyüz, one of the main promoters of neering Department of Istanbul for participation. «Considering that the Klitzing presents Lama, the announces his initiative to spectives, such as internal Higher Education. these AEGEE actions. Technical University joined AEGEE year 2000 is going to be the year in new software to be used in secure higher participation education and transfer of 26/02-03/03 Timisoara: «Why can’t we, while our friends in 1994. «I prepared my masters the- which a lot of NGOs will be demand- applying to SU’s. in AEGEE events. knowledge. Banat, a Region. can?», was what ignited the spark for sis on wind energy. AEGEE activi- ing the abolition of the death penalty members in Istanbul and Ankara to ties provided me with knowledge on in the world, we also decided to gather start collecting the necessary informa- various disciplines like education and supporting signatures to present to the tion in Autumn 1995. It turned into a project management.» UN. Else’s successor Alex Zucconi con- Schönherr: «Visa chaos in transitional countries» real campaign: from conferences to Besides taking part in the organ- tinues: «I did not expect such a positive press releases and letters faxed to deci- isation of several local events, he reaction. Some antennae were really sion makers. Things were not that easy: acquired a strong background in involved: AEGEE-Skopje alone gath- 8/2, PASSAU as the Turkish and the Romanian ones. the Committee on Culture, Youth, European integration with special ered 800 signatures.» protest against travel res- So did several Members of the Euro- Education and the Media of the Euro- focus on the implications on edu- All signatures were presented dur- trictions and border con- pean Parliament. The majority however, pean Parliament blocked the proposal cation. Alper represented AEGEE ing a UN meeting in New York, in Atrols: Markus Schönherr, did not show any interest. Perhaps we in 1997 because of the violations of at the UNESCO World Conference November 1999. A few months later, speaker of AEGEE’s «Visa Free- should have done more lobbying, but human rights and unsettled democracy on Higher Education, which took Albania, Turkmenistan and Ukraine had dom Fighters», initiates a visa in fact it is not an easy task. in the country. Alper: «We informed place in October, 1998. abolished the death penalty; whilst campaign in the network. The Q: Was the campaign successful? the Members of the European Parlia- «AEGEE is the medium to over- Thailand, several states in the USA and starting point was at the Agora in M: Difficult to say. The visa situa- ment that the programmes would be come the limitations of living envi- Congo have also suspended capital Hamburg, held in October 1998. A res- tion is changing constantly throughout tools for improving the situation.» ronments - such as the university, judgements. «Of course this action is not olution was passed there, urging the Europe. At some point some EU coun- The antennae started disseminating the city and even the country», yet over. The HRWG, together with European countries to abolish travel tries might want to abolish visa for the information to ministries, NGOs and Alper explains. «It is only in this AEGEE-Europe, is in the process of restrictions, especially in Central and people in Romania and Bulgaria, only chambers of industry and commerce. way that I have been able to con- sending mails to all the European coun- Eastern Europe. CD member Dan Luca to have other member states raise an Finally, in September 1998, members of tribute to the implementation of tries which are still considered not to be and Markus Schönherr approached the objection the next time. The reasons AEGEE-Istanbul were invited to a hear- European standards in society.» respecting human rights», says Alex. «So European institutions in Brussels, while behind these changes were the admis- ing organised on this issue by the Euro- you will hear from us soon!» the antennae lobbied nationally and sion talks between the EU and Roma- pean Parliament in Brussels. A few locally for this purpose. To facilitate this nia and Bulgaria. AEGEE might have months later the EU made clear that task, Markus also sent press releases played a decisive role there. Turkey would be included in Socrates II. and information material to the whole Q: What are the next steps that AEGEE antennae have become a Let’s Dance in Poznan! network. AEGEE can take? major source of information by their Question: Who took part? M: The Treaty of Amsterdam offers experience during the years. «We have 8-10/1, POZNAN Markus: About 20 antennae wanted the chance to become more active, since already started to investigate the prac- The idea for «Let’s Dance» was born to take part initially, but the final num- visa policy has become part of EU com- tical problems that could appear during in a tiny flat at four o’clock in the ber was a bit lower. Unfortunately, many petence. We must not waste this oppor- the implementation period», explains morning. The concept was for AEGEE- Western European journalists are not tunity, thus we plan to lobby more. Alper. «We published a set of propos- Poznan to instruct sixty participants on interested in these matters, so the cam- Q: How will the visa situation als for the structuring of the National modern dances. «Occasionally some paign was mainly carried out by Central develop in Europe in the next few Socrates Agency as a 72-page report. Italian participant taught his own tech- and Eastern European antennae. In fact, years? Another document for universities to niques», reports organiser Agnieszka we hit the headlines many times in M: For some countries it will adapt themselves is also to adopt the Wilk. After attending the incredible Romania, but not only within the improve, for others it will deteriorate. new programme. For this research performance of the «Polish Dance The- framework of this campaign. One thing is clear: the distinction and period, the Sabanci University offered atre», the participants improved their Q: How did the institutions separation between EU and non-EU AEGEE-Istanbul a room to be used as own dancing skills significantly dur- react? countries will definitely grow. In some project office. Other universities also ing the ball. AEGEE-Poznan is plan- M: Several embassies liked countries such as the Czech Republic, are providing extensive support. ning to continue this tradition in 2000. "One step left, HAAA! One step right!" and supported our campaign, such this transition causes a total chaos. thirty30 thirty one 31 1 Brussels: AEGEE-Europe 15 London: Network Com- publishes the result book missioner Julia Lueginger on the Socrates Action Day presents the concept for the of November ‘98. upcoming AEGEE magazine «Europint» for the British alper 3-7 Delft: Space-Tech Win- February Isles and the Netherlands. Socrates in Fight against ter-School. akyüz 15 Brussels: AEGEE and the 4 Innsbruck: AEGEE- 7 Heidelberg: Sebastian 11-14 Venezia/Treviso: Turkey Alper Death Penalty career service EMDS, discuss Europe vice-chairperson Klüsener suggests a reform Carnival. Akyüz’s major possible co-operation. Erika Senkowsky resigns in the election procedure of 11-14 Groningen: Immi- 29/1, ISTANBUL activity has 24/1, UTRECHT 19-22 Enschede: Ancient due to study reasons. CD members: the old CD gration Policy. Civilisations. reakthrough for AEGEE: The been the co-or- Three-thousand signatures against 4-14 Tampere/Kuusamo: members should provide 12-14 Rijeka: Carnival. EU decides to include Turkey dination of the the death penalty all collected: this was 20/02-03/03 Former Snow University - Finland training to the candidates 12-14 Izmir: Regional in the Education programmes campaign aim- the result of a campaign carried out by Yugoslavia: CST in Former B in Winter. before their term ends. Meeting. Yugoslavia. of Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for ing to include the Human Rights Working Group 8 Passau: Markus Schön- 13/14 Heidelberg: The 5-7 Istanbul: Peace Con- 21-27 Oradea: Multicul- Europe. «This was the result of a four- Turkey in the Socrates Mobility (HRWG). The initiative started on 24 herr starts AEGEE’s Visa «Task Force on Change», cept. turalism. year long campaign by our antennae Scheme. The 27-year old research January 1999, when Else Weijsenfeld, 5-7 Arnhem: Arnhemsgewijs. Campaign. AEGEE’s think tank, dis- 25-28 Köln: Crossing the in Istanbul and Ankara», says Alper assistant at the Aeronautical Engi- then president of the HRWG, called 7 Aachen: Philipp von 8 Lviv: Oleh Kyriyenko cusses the association’s per- Boundaries. Ideas for Akyüz, one of the main promoters of neering Department of Istanbul for participation. «Considering that the Klitzing presents Lama, the announces his initiative to spectives, such as internal Higher Education. these AEGEE actions. Technical University joined AEGEE year 2000 is going to be the year in new software to be used in secure higher participation education and transfer of 26/02-03/03 Timisoara: «Why can’t we, while our friends in 1994. «I prepared my masters the- which a lot of NGOs will be demand- applying to SU’s. in AEGEE events. knowledge. Banat, a Region. can?», was what ignited the spark for sis on wind energy. AEGEE activi- ing the abolition of the death penalty members in Istanbul and Ankara to ties provided me with knowledge on in the world, we also decided to gather start collecting the necessary informa- various disciplines like education and supporting signatures to present to the tion in Autumn 1995. It turned into a project management.» UN. Else’s successor Alex Zucconi con- Schönherr: «Visa chaos in transitional countries» real campaign: from conferences to Besides taking part in the organ- tinues: «I did not expect such a positive press releases and letters faxed to deci- isation of several local events, he reaction. Some antennae were really sion makers. Things were not that easy: acquired a strong background in involved: AEGEE-Skopje alone gath- 8/2, PASSAU as the Turkish and the Romanian ones. the Committee on Culture, Youth, European integration with special ered 800 signatures.» protest against travel res- So did several Members of the Euro- Education and the Media of the Euro- focus on the implications on edu- All signatures were presented dur- trictions and border con- pean Parliament. The majority however, pean Parliament blocked the proposal cation. Alper represented AEGEE ing a UN meeting in New York, in Atrols: Markus Schönherr, did not show any interest. Perhaps we in 1997 because of the violations of at the UNESCO World Conference November 1999. A few months later, speaker of AEGEE’s «Visa Free- should have done more lobbying, but human rights and unsettled democracy on Higher Education, which took Albania, Turkmenistan and Ukraine had dom Fighters», initiates a visa in fact it is not an easy task. in the country. Alper: «We informed place in October, 1998. abolished the death penalty; whilst campaign in the network. The Q: Was the campaign successful? the Members of the European Parlia- «AEGEE is the medium to over- Thailand, several states in the USA and starting point was at the Agora in M: Difficult to say. The visa situa- ment that the programmes would be come the limitations of living envi- Congo have also suspended capital Hamburg, held in October 1998. A res- tion is changing constantly throughout tools for improving the situation.» ronments - such as the university, judgements. «Of course this action is not olution was passed there, urging the Europe. At some point some EU coun- The antennae started disseminating the city and even the country», yet over. The HRWG, together with European countries to abolish travel tries might want to abolish visa for the information to ministries, NGOs and Alper explains. «It is only in this AEGEE-Europe, is in the process of restrictions, especially in Central and people in Romania and Bulgaria, only chambers of industry and commerce. way that I have been able to con- sending mails to all the European coun- Eastern Europe. CD member Dan Luca to have other member states raise an Finally, in September 1998, members of tribute to the implementation of tries which are still considered not to be and Markus Schönherr approached the objection the next time. The reasons AEGEE-Istanbul were invited to a hear- European standards in society.» respecting human rights», says Alex. «So European institutions in Brussels, while behind these changes were the admis- ing organised on this issue by the Euro- you will hear from us soon!» the antennae lobbied nationally and sion talks between the EU and Roma- pean Parliament in Brussels. A few locally for this purpose. To facilitate this nia and Bulgaria. AEGEE might have months later the EU made clear that task, Markus also sent press releases played a decisive role there. Turkey would be included in Socrates II. and information material to the whole Q: What are the next steps that AEGEE antennae have become a Let’s Dance in Poznan! network. AEGEE can take? major source of information by their Question: Who took part? M: The Treaty of Amsterdam offers experience during the years. «We have 8-10/1, POZNAN Markus: About 20 antennae wanted the chance to become more active, since already started to investigate the prac- The idea for «Let’s Dance» was born to take part initially, but the final num- visa policy has become part of EU com- tical problems that could appear during in a tiny flat at four o’clock in the ber was a bit lower. Unfortunately, many petence. We must not waste this oppor- the implementation period», explains morning. The concept was for AEGEE- Western European journalists are not tunity, thus we plan to lobby more. Alper. «We published a set of propos- Poznan to instruct sixty participants on interested in these matters, so the cam- Q: How will the visa situation als for the structuring of the National modern dances. «Occasionally some paign was mainly carried out by Central develop in Europe in the next few Socrates Agency as a 72-page report. Italian participant taught his own tech- and Eastern European antennae. In fact, years? Another document for universities to niques», reports organiser Agnieszka we hit the headlines many times in M: For some countries it will adapt themselves is also to adopt the Wilk. After attending the incredible Romania, but not only within the improve, for others it will deteriorate. new programme. For this research performance of the «Polish Dance The- framework of this campaign. One thing is clear: the distinction and period, the Sabanci University offered atre», the participants improved their Q: How did the institutions separation between EU and non-EU AEGEE-Istanbul a room to be used as own dancing skills significantly dur- react? countries will definitely grow. In some project office. Other universities also ing the ball. AEGEE-Poznan is plan- M: Several embassies liked countries such as the Czech Republic, are providing extensive support. ning to continue this tradition in 2000. "One step left, HAAA! One step right!" and supported our campaign, such this transition causes a total chaos. thirty30 thirty one 31 Impressive Case Study Trip With Masks till Dawn to Former Yugoslavia 11-14/2, VENEZIA / 26-28/2, RIJEKA originality of this carnival lies in the 20/2-5/3, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA the treatment of the journalist profes- EGEE-Venezia and AEGEE- blend of Venetian and Austrian customs, ollowing a very successful Case sion in general, were organised. At Treviso hosted «Carnival Spot- spiced up with a touch of old Slavic folk- Study Trip (CST) in 1996, four the time when the CST was conduct- A ting I». A chancefor 32 students lore and mythology. F organising antennae: AEGEE- ed, the flow of information in the from Sweden to Malta to participate in In 1999, AEGEE-Rijeka organised Ljubljana, AEGEE-Zagreb, AEGEE- country was completely dominated by this historic and precious celebration its fourth Carnival event. The aim was Beograd and AEGEE-Skopje, decided the state television. However, as some when Venezia turns into a living kalei- to give the 30 participants an insight into to visit these places again and observe officials stressed, democracy in the doscope of colours. the culture of Rijeka and the neigh- what kind of changes occurred over a country was still very young and «We had a pirate, an angel, a pha- bouring towns of Opatija and Kraljevica. three-year period. The aim of the waiting to be led towards the right raoh and even Santa Claus!», says There were many interesting cos- whole project was to find out what direction. Davide Calenda, president of AEGEE- tumes and definitely no lack of imagi- kind of economic and social status In Beograd, the participants could Venezia. Two full days were spent nation; Tina from Ljubljana was Barbie, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and see another city with astonishing archi- walking through the narrow streets and members from Ferrara were Caesar, Macedonia were holding in that tecture and crowded streets. Everyone small squares of Venezia, where colours Patrizia from Brescia dressed up as a tele- moment. felt overwhelmed by the spirit of resist- The only way is up! Participants at the CST and masks were the leading protago- phone. On Sunday, the last day of car- to former Yugoslavia. The CST started in a very west- ance to the European influence and of nists. «This carnival is so special because nival, the number of spectators reached ern-like Ljubljana and continued in the people’s need to stay true to them- it gives a person the chance to loose 100,000. They were all eager to see the Zagreb. In the Croatian capital, the selves and their set of values, that could into the University, while a Macedon- himself in no change!», says Davide. final parade in Rijeka’s city centre. Gian- participants had the chance to visit be felt in the air. The next stop was ian cannot», clearly showed the ethnic The Carnival in Rijeka, which is said luca from Brescia, who was dressed as a museums and to look around the city Macedonia, a country that surprised the division that is very often found on the to be the third best in the world, has general, got heavily infected with the car- in which «the influence of the Habs- participants with its hospitality and the territory of former Yugoslavia. been famous since the Middle Ages. nival virus: «I love it! Next year I’m burg Monarchy can clearly be felt.» too many unsolved prejudices. Remarks This CST revealed more about the Once again, Rijeka hosted Austrian and undoubtedly coming again». «Those who Many interesting lectures focusing on as: «the Albanians have so many chil- mentality of the people, their hopes Hungarian aristocracies, Russian come once, just cannot resist not coming the problem of non-professional jour- dren», «Albanians are primitive» or «an and dreams for the future than was princesses, German barons, counts and back anymore!», said Branislav Misovic, Do I look good? SMILE! Klick! nalism, objectivity of the media and Albanian with bad marks can easily get ever thought possible. countesses from all over Europe. The PR responsible of AEGEE-Rijeka. Surviving Ceaucescu’s Not Every Building on the Moon The Truth

Annihilation Guest is 4-7/2, DELFT about Asterix current state of technology. They saw two hat do you need to build on satellites which were being prepared for 26/2-3/3, TIMISOARA to the attention of the 40 participants. «It Welcome the moon? The congress 19-22/2, ENSCHEDE testing before launching. After the lectures he concept of multicultural- was a pleasure to see how they learned «SpaceTech ‘99», organised by ow did the Gauls live? The W and excursions the participants had to AEGEE-Delft, approached this question ism does exist - in Banat, our German dances in one day, Hungarian 11-14/2, GRONINGEN design their own base on the moon. «The comic book heroes «Asterix and «Tregion», says Monica Dia- ones in another day», says Monica. ncreasing tolerance towards immi- from the technical, artistic and financial results were surprising», remembers Paul. HObelix» featured in the most- conu, vice - president of AEGEE-Ti- The CST started and ended with grants: this was the reason behind aspects. 50 participants from Turkey to During the following European Space awaited lecture of the conference misoara. Monica continues: «A lot has lectures from historian Victor Neu- IAEGEE-Groningen’s congress on Germany listened to several lectures by Night, the alien mascots, Spacy and Spicy, «Ancient Civilisations, Unfinished His- however changed during the communist mann. He concluded: «Our multicul- «Immigration Policy, a Search for Bal- speakers such as former ESA astronaut partied all night long with the participants tory - Unsolved Mysteries», organised times; we wanted to examine what turalism has also managed to survive ance in Europe». Wubbo Ockels and Daan de Hoop from and the other guests. by AEGEE-Enschede. Plenty of lec- remained constant.» To this end, the annihilation policies of Ceausescu.» The event fell under the umbrella the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace «Students of different back- tures revealed interesting aspects of the AEGEE-Timisoara organised a Case of the «Building a Social Europe» proj- Programmes. «We started with a very grounds worked together to envision past: starting from the architecture of Study Trip (CST) entitled «Banat - a ect and welcomed 100 participants. technical approach, but after the lecture something that has never been done Rome’s harbour Ostia to ancient law. Shaking hands: Banat welcomed the guests Model of Interculturality». of the Case Study Trip. «Experts from Europe, Canada, Kenya, of Brazilian artist Richard Seabra, the before: an English industrial engineer- A lecture on the communication of The six days were a time of reveal- and the USA analysed which are the designs of space architecture became more ing student working with German Greeks and Romans among themselves ing encounters with different cultures: valid moral grounds for acceptance or alive and more daring», says Paul van philosophy students, Austrian medi- showed that some of their social norms the Romanian, Hungarian, Serb, Bulgar- rejection of refugees», says organiser Susante, organiser from AEGEE-Delft. cine students and Dutch engineering are still present. The 150 participants ian, Slovak, Ukrainian, Romany and Ger- Niels Hoffmann. Prof. Adelman from During an excursion to the students aerospace», concludes Paul. also had the chance to immerse them- man realms which coexist in this part of Toronto: «We see refugees as a welcome European Space Research and «Everyone learnt an important lesson: selves in the spirit of ancient times: Romania. «We have discussed with rep- flow of knowledge». The Netherlands Technology Centre in never to forget the artistic and human they were encouraged to prove their resentatives of each minority and visited adopt a totally different approach: Noordwijk, all partic- side of designing.» skills in workshops on drama and villages that have preserved their multi- refugees have to wait up to three years ipants were pre- mosaic. A Roman-style dinner con- cultural characteristics», reports Monica. in camps before knowing whether their sented tributed to the atmosphere of this suc- with Take me to the moon: Students made their Music, dance, food and art were subject request has been granted or not. own space stations in Delft. cessful event. of the thirty two32 thirty three33 Impressive Case Study Trip With Masks till Dawn to Former Yugoslavia 11-14/2, VENEZIA / 26-28/2, RIJEKA originality of this carnival lies in the 20/2-5/3, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA the treatment of the journalist profes- EGEE-Venezia and AEGEE- blend of Venetian and Austrian customs, ollowing a very successful Case sion in general, were organised. At Treviso hosted «Carnival Spot- spiced up with a touch of old Slavic folk- Study Trip (CST) in 1996, four the time when the CST was conduct- A ting I». A chancefor 32 students lore and mythology. F organising antennae: AEGEE- ed, the flow of information in the from Sweden to Malta to participate in In 1999, AEGEE-Rijeka organised Ljubljana, AEGEE-Zagreb, AEGEE- country was completely dominated by this historic and precious celebration its fourth Carnival event. The aim was Beograd and AEGEE-Skopje, decided the state television. However, as some when Venezia turns into a living kalei- to give the 30 participants an insight into to visit these places again and observe officials stressed, democracy in the doscope of colours. the culture of Rijeka and the neigh- what kind of changes occurred over a country was still very young and «We had a pirate, an angel, a pha- bouring towns of Opatija and Kraljevica. three-year period. The aim of the waiting to be led towards the right raoh and even Santa Claus!», says There were many interesting cos- whole project was to find out what direction. Davide Calenda, president of AEGEE- tumes and definitely no lack of imagi- kind of economic and social status In Beograd, the participants could Venezia. Two full days were spent nation; Tina from Ljubljana was Barbie, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and see another city with astonishing archi- walking through the narrow streets and members from Ferrara were Caesar, Macedonia were holding in that tecture and crowded streets. Everyone small squares of Venezia, where colours Patrizia from Brescia dressed up as a tele- moment. felt overwhelmed by the spirit of resist- The only way is up! Participants at the CST and masks were the leading protago- phone. On Sunday, the last day of car- to former Yugoslavia. The CST started in a very west- ance to the European influence and of nists. «This carnival is so special because nival, the number of spectators reached ern-like Ljubljana and continued in the people’s need to stay true to them- it gives a person the chance to loose 100,000. They were all eager to see the Zagreb. In the Croatian capital, the selves and their set of values, that could into the University, while a Macedon- himself in no change!», says Davide. final parade in Rijeka’s city centre. Gian- participants had the chance to visit be felt in the air. The next stop was ian cannot», clearly showed the ethnic The Carnival in Rijeka, which is said luca from Brescia, who was dressed as a museums and to look around the city Macedonia, a country that surprised the division that is very often found on the to be the third best in the world, has general, got heavily infected with the car- in which «the influence of the Habs- participants with its hospitality and the territory of former Yugoslavia. been famous since the Middle Ages. nival virus: «I love it! Next year I’m burg Monarchy can clearly be felt.» too many unsolved prejudices. Remarks This CST revealed more about the Once again, Rijeka hosted Austrian and undoubtedly coming again». «Those who Many interesting lectures focusing on as: «the Albanians have so many chil- mentality of the people, their hopes Hungarian aristocracies, Russian come once, just cannot resist not coming the problem of non-professional jour- dren», «Albanians are primitive» or «an and dreams for the future than was princesses, German barons, counts and back anymore!», said Branislav Misovic, Do I look good? SMILE! Klick! nalism, objectivity of the media and Albanian with bad marks can easily get ever thought possible. countesses from all over Europe. The PR responsible of AEGEE-Rijeka. Surviving Ceaucescu’s Not Every Building on the Moon The Truth

Annihilation Guest is 4-7/2, DELFT about Asterix current state of technology. They saw two hat do you need to build on satellites which were being prepared for 26/2-3/3, TIMISOARA to the attention of the 40 participants. «It Welcome the moon? The congress 19-22/2, ENSCHEDE testing before launching. After the lectures he concept of multicultural- was a pleasure to see how they learned «SpaceTech ‘99», organised by ow did the Gauls live? The W and excursions the participants had to AEGEE-Delft, approached this question ism does exist - in Banat, our German dances in one day, Hungarian 11-14/2, GRONINGEN design their own base on the moon. «The comic book heroes «Asterix and «Tregion», says Monica Dia- ones in another day», says Monica. ncreasing tolerance towards immi- from the technical, artistic and financial results were surprising», remembers Paul. HObelix» featured in the most- conu, vice - president of AEGEE-Ti- The CST started and ended with grants: this was the reason behind aspects. 50 participants from Turkey to During the following European Space awaited lecture of the conference misoara. Monica continues: «A lot has lectures from historian Victor Neu- IAEGEE-Groningen’s congress on Germany listened to several lectures by Night, the alien mascots, Spacy and Spicy, «Ancient Civilisations, Unfinished His- however changed during the communist mann. He concluded: «Our multicul- «Immigration Policy, a Search for Bal- speakers such as former ESA astronaut partied all night long with the participants tory - Unsolved Mysteries», organised times; we wanted to examine what turalism has also managed to survive ance in Europe». Wubbo Ockels and Daan de Hoop from and the other guests. by AEGEE-Enschede. Plenty of lec- remained constant.» To this end, the annihilation policies of Ceausescu.» The event fell under the umbrella the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace «Students of different back- tures revealed interesting aspects of the AEGEE-Timisoara organised a Case of the «Building a Social Europe» proj- Programmes. «We started with a very grounds worked together to envision past: starting from the architecture of Study Trip (CST) entitled «Banat - a ect and welcomed 100 participants. technical approach, but after the lecture something that has never been done Rome’s harbour Ostia to ancient law. Shaking hands: Banat welcomed the guests Model of Interculturality». of the Case Study Trip. «Experts from Europe, Canada, Kenya, of Brazilian artist Richard Seabra, the before: an English industrial engineer- A lecture on the communication of The six days were a time of reveal- and the USA analysed which are the designs of space architecture became more ing student working with German Greeks and Romans among themselves ing encounters with different cultures: valid moral grounds for acceptance or alive and more daring», says Paul van philosophy students, Austrian medi- showed that some of their social norms the Romanian, Hungarian, Serb, Bulgar- rejection of refugees», says organiser Susante, organiser from AEGEE-Delft. cine students and Dutch engineering are still present. The 150 participants ian, Slovak, Ukrainian, Romany and Ger- Niels Hoffmann. Prof. Adelman from During an excursion to the students aerospace», concludes Paul. also had the chance to immerse them- man realms which coexist in this part of Toronto: «We see refugees as a welcome European Space Research and «Everyone learnt an important lesson: selves in the spirit of ancient times: Romania. «We have discussed with rep- flow of knowledge». The Netherlands Technology Centre in never to forget the artistic and human they were encouraged to prove their resentatives of each minority and visited adopt a totally different approach: Noordwijk, all partic- side of designing.» skills in workshops on drama and villages that have preserved their multi- refugees have to wait up to three years ipants were pre- mosaic. A Roman-style dinner con- cultural characteristics», reports Monica. in camps before knowing whether their sented tributed to the atmosphere of this suc- with Take me to the moon: Students made their Music, dance, food and art were subject request has been granted or not. own space stations in Delft. cessful event. of the thirty two32 thirty three33 5-7 Novi Sad: Spring Presidents’ University of Pristina cannot get the Meeting. AEGEE-Award as originally planned, 5 Novi Sad: AEGEE issues a CD- since it became militant ROM with information material for 26-28 Praha: European Student AEGEE members. Mobility. March jasna bog- 7 Novi Sad: The team of the 26-28 Wien: AEGEE is represented Last Paces on the Bridge in Novi Sad Socrates Action Day receives at the BeST Students’ fair. danovic AEGEE’s first blonde award. 28 Berlin: 100,000 copies of the Ger- Due to the suc- 9-14 Szeged: War and Peace in Art: cessful events man public relations flyer, «LiftOff», 5-7/3, NOVI SAD refused to help, except for the city AEGEE’s 2nd European Film Festival. 18-21 Sibiu: Regional meeting. are ready for distribution. she organised 12-14 Lodz: Regional Meeting. 22-26 Sevilla: European week. 29 Eindhoven: John Stienen issues a hey were some of the last visitors authorities», adds Jasna Bogdanovic, in her country, 12-14 Treviso/Venezia: Regional 25-27 Brussels: AEGEE’s «Education draft statement of AEGEE about the before NATO started its air strikes then president of AEGEE-Novi Sad. «In Jasna made ma- Meeting. for 2020» congress. war in Yugoslavia. against Yugoslavia: In March this country, people are killing each ny AEGEE 25 Beograd/Novi Sad: T 14 Athina: Aspasia Harmanta starts a NATO 30 Mainz: AEGEE co-operates with 1999, AEGEE-Novi Sad hosted 250 par- other as if they were animals and nor- members famil- strikes against Yugoslavia. AEGEE discussion about the quality and struc- the German television channel ZDF in ticipants for the spring Presidents’ Meet- mal citizens do not have normal human iar with the ture of the SU booklet. members are regularly updated by organising a live chat on the Internet ing (PM). Less than two weeks later, rights. Here, we had the opportunity reality of life in Yugoslavia. While 15 Boca Raton: The US-based «Euro- reports from members in the bombed on the war in Yugoslavia. president of AEGEE-Novi Sad, she pean Students’ Association» in Florida cities. 31 Passau: Markus Schönherr sug- many buildings which the participants to show Europe that there are still intel- organised the part of the Case Study asks AEGEE for support for a «Festival 25-27 Strasbourg: Traditions in gests to found a Mobility Working had seen were destroyed, the most ligent people who need to progress and Trip to former Yugoslavia in 1996, of Nations». Alsace. Group. prominent one being the bridge over the to co-operate, no matter how and who the conference entitled «National 18 Brussels: The CD approaches 26 Bonn: AEGEE-Award jury mem- 31 Lviv: Oleh Kyriyenko gives an Sava river. Nearly all guests had crossed is leading the country.» Minorities in Vojvodina» in 1998, ber Kai Wynands announces that the Kenneth Edwards for patronage of overview about the most active this river in order to walk up the castle and the Presidents’ Meeting in March AEGEE-Europe. Edwards accepts. International Students’ Union of the AEGEE branches of the network. hill. Among the many topics discussed 1999. 24-year old Jasna studies petrochem- were the current and future projects of ical engineering. After the outbreak of AEGEE, such as the Peace Academy Pro- the war, she went temporarily to Conference on Education at the European Parliament ject for 1999, and the Borderless Europe Spain. «I joined AEGEE in 1995. I Campaign for the year 2000. In addition, decided to be more active when I 25-27/3, BRUSSELS «Everyone recognised that students and Programme, even though more and the AEGEE think tank «Task Force on started meeting people from other tudents want to be partners of the officials are partners in the improve- more universities are taking part. The Change» used the PM as a platform for parts of former Yugoslavia and had the chance of organising a Case Study Trip European institutions in sketching ment of future education», says CD interest of this programme was unani- extensive discussions over the future in this region in co-operation with all Sout the prospects of higher educa- member Oana Mailatescu. mously acknowledged but EP member scope and structure of the whole asso- countries of ex-Yugoslavia. We broke tion in Europe, as presented at the con- AEGEE has a vision of a system Doris Pack, rapporteur on the Socrates ciation. the political wall of propaganda and ference on «Education 2020». The first that combines transparency with flex- programme, stressed a second problem: The friendliness and helpfulness of started co-operation», she remembers. AEGEE conference in the European Par- ibility, where each student will be that of insufficient students grants. the organisers contributed to a positive «This association is like a window out liament took place in the presence of the able to determine his or her own path «On these two questions of recognition spirit during the whole event. «It from this dark, deep hole, which is becoming deeper and darker every rector of the College of Europe in Bruges, of study, thanks to geographic mobil- and budget, the European Parliament proved us right to host this PM here, Otto von der Gablentz, and appealed for a minute», she says. «In a time when ity or the Internet. Several guest has amended the Council’s common after all», says CD member Lászlò our country is trying to close up, this system that will allow the training of speakers including Sjur Bergan of the position on the next Socrates pro- Fésüs. Due to the imminent danger of window gives us the opportunity to «responsible European leaders». Council of Europe urged for each sys- gramme, and legislative procedures war many AEGEE members were afraid progress. Through AEGEE, each per- The main objective was to present tem of higher education to keep its are being continued», adds Oana. The of going to Novi Sad, others even urged son has the opportunity to feel its the ideas and the problems of all Euro- own specific features. Harmonisation AEGEE initiative will go on and will to change the location to another city. unique spirit, feel equal, and become a meaningful part of Europe, grasp- pean students to the leaders of European of the structures, however, could organise another event in the Euro- «Our organising team also faced many ing the chance to develop free dem- institutions. AEGEE managed to create allow greater mobility. pean Parliament, this time focusing on problems. Promises given the day Witnessing war: one of the destroyed ocratic ideas even under very hard a forum of impressive discussions with All participants stressed the need mobility and enlargement, on the 8th before were not valid anymore the next bridges in Novi Sad. conditions.» the participation of the European Par- to ensure the recognition of the quali- of June 2000. Oana concludes: «This day. Most institutions and organisations liament (EP), the European Commi- fication obtained abroad. The recogni- way, AEGEE will raise the students’ ssions, the Council of Europe, UNESCO tion system is still considered insuffi- voice once more and will increase the and all major student associations. cient in the context of the Socrates awareness among everyone.» Heated Discussions on the Air Strikes against Yugoslavia

25/3, BEOGRAD/NOVI SAD and more authentic than many TV comment. However, many Westerners estroyed bridges, factories reports from all over the world. supported the NATO actions. and houses: The NATO air The main question was whether the On the 30th March, AEGEE co- Dstrikes in Yugoslavia awak- NATO strike was justified and was operated with the German national ened a huge wave of sympathy for using the appropriate means. None of TV channel ZDF on a live chat on AEGEE members in Nis, Novi Sad the AEGEE members in Yugoslavia jus- Internet and the TV, regarding the and Beograd. Within a few hours, the tified the previous actions of the Milo- war in Yugoslavia. «It was a great mail servers were full of countless e- sevic regime in Yugoslavia. However, opportunity to show the diversity of mails from students all over Europe, nearly all Serbian, Greek, Macedonian, opinions to the outside world», stress- asking their friends about their well- and Ukrainian AEGEE members who es Uta Sievers from AEGEE-Mainz/ being. At the same time the AEGEE took part in the discussion doubted the Wiesbaden, launcher of the chat members in the Serbian cities gave success of these actions. «NATO pun- co-operation. Due to this success, the Watch out! They could be your teachers one day real-time reports on the mailing lists ishes the wrong people. It is the pop- TV chat initiative was repeated one and chat channels, these being faster ulation that suffers», was the general week later. thirty four34 thirty five35 5-7 Novi Sad: Spring Presidents’ University of Pristina cannot get the Meeting. AEGEE-Award as originally planned, 5 Novi Sad: AEGEE issues a CD- since it became militant ROM with information material for 26-28 Praha: European Student AEGEE members. Mobility. March jasna bog- 7 Novi Sad: The team of the 26-28 Wien: AEGEE is represented Last Paces on the Bridge in Novi Sad Socrates Action Day receives at the BeST Students’ fair. danovic AEGEE’s first blonde award. 28 Berlin: 100,000 copies of the Ger- Due to the suc- 9-14 Szeged: War and Peace in Art: cessful events man public relations flyer, «LiftOff», 5-7/3, NOVI SAD refused to help, except for the city AEGEE’s 2nd European Film Festival. 18-21 Sibiu: Regional meeting. are ready for distribution. she organised 12-14 Lodz: Regional Meeting. 22-26 Sevilla: European week. 29 Eindhoven: John Stienen issues a hey were some of the last visitors authorities», adds Jasna Bogdanovic, in her country, 12-14 Treviso/Venezia: Regional 25-27 Brussels: AEGEE’s «Education draft statement of AEGEE about the before NATO started its air strikes then president of AEGEE-Novi Sad. «In Jasna made ma- Meeting. for 2020» congress. war in Yugoslavia. against Yugoslavia: In March this country, people are killing each ny AEGEE 25 Beograd/Novi Sad: T 14 Athina: Aspasia Harmanta starts a NATO 30 Mainz: AEGEE co-operates with 1999, AEGEE-Novi Sad hosted 250 par- other as if they were animals and nor- members famil- strikes against Yugoslavia. AEGEE discussion about the quality and struc- the German television channel ZDF in ticipants for the spring Presidents’ Meet- mal citizens do not have normal human iar with the ture of the SU booklet. members are regularly updated by organising a live chat on the Internet ing (PM). Less than two weeks later, rights. Here, we had the opportunity reality of life in Yugoslavia. While 15 Boca Raton: The US-based «Euro- reports from members in the bombed on the war in Yugoslavia. president of AEGEE-Novi Sad, she pean Students’ Association» in Florida cities. 31 Passau: Markus Schönherr sug- many buildings which the participants to show Europe that there are still intel- organised the part of the Case Study asks AEGEE for support for a «Festival 25-27 Strasbourg: Traditions in gests to found a Mobility Working had seen were destroyed, the most ligent people who need to progress and Trip to former Yugoslavia in 1996, of Nations». Alsace. Group. prominent one being the bridge over the to co-operate, no matter how and who the conference entitled «National 18 Brussels: The CD approaches 26 Bonn: AEGEE-Award jury mem- 31 Lviv: Oleh Kyriyenko gives an Sava river. Nearly all guests had crossed is leading the country.» Minorities in Vojvodina» in 1998, ber Kai Wynands announces that the Kenneth Edwards for patronage of overview about the most active this river in order to walk up the castle and the Presidents’ Meeting in March AEGEE-Europe. Edwards accepts. International Students’ Union of the AEGEE branches of the network. hill. Among the many topics discussed 1999. 24-year old Jasna studies petrochem- were the current and future projects of ical engineering. After the outbreak of AEGEE, such as the Peace Academy Pro- the war, she went temporarily to Conference on Education at the European Parliament ject for 1999, and the Borderless Europe Spain. «I joined AEGEE in 1995. I Campaign for the year 2000. In addition, decided to be more active when I 25-27/3, BRUSSELS «Everyone recognised that students and Programme, even though more and the AEGEE think tank «Task Force on started meeting people from other tudents want to be partners of the officials are partners in the improve- more universities are taking part. The Change» used the PM as a platform for parts of former Yugoslavia and had the chance of organising a Case Study Trip European institutions in sketching ment of future education», says CD interest of this programme was unani- extensive discussions over the future in this region in co-operation with all Sout the prospects of higher educa- member Oana Mailatescu. mously acknowledged but EP member scope and structure of the whole asso- countries of ex-Yugoslavia. We broke tion in Europe, as presented at the con- AEGEE has a vision of a system Doris Pack, rapporteur on the Socrates ciation. the political wall of propaganda and ference on «Education 2020». The first that combines transparency with flex- programme, stressed a second problem: The friendliness and helpfulness of started co-operation», she remembers. AEGEE conference in the European Par- ibility, where each student will be that of insufficient students grants. the organisers contributed to a positive «This association is like a window out liament took place in the presence of the able to determine his or her own path «On these two questions of recognition spirit during the whole event. «It from this dark, deep hole, which is becoming deeper and darker every rector of the College of Europe in Bruges, of study, thanks to geographic mobil- and budget, the European Parliament proved us right to host this PM here, Otto von der Gablentz, and appealed for a minute», she says. «In a time when ity or the Internet. Several guest has amended the Council’s common after all», says CD member Lászlò our country is trying to close up, this system that will allow the training of speakers including Sjur Bergan of the position on the next Socrates pro- Fésüs. Due to the imminent danger of window gives us the opportunity to «responsible European leaders». Council of Europe urged for each sys- gramme, and legislative procedures war many AEGEE members were afraid progress. Through AEGEE, each per- The main objective was to present tem of higher education to keep its are being continued», adds Oana. The of going to Novi Sad, others even urged son has the opportunity to feel its the ideas and the problems of all Euro- own specific features. Harmonisation AEGEE initiative will go on and will to change the location to another city. unique spirit, feel equal, and become a meaningful part of Europe, grasp- pean students to the leaders of European of the structures, however, could organise another event in the Euro- «Our organising team also faced many ing the chance to develop free dem- institutions. AEGEE managed to create allow greater mobility. pean Parliament, this time focusing on problems. Promises given the day Witnessing war: one of the destroyed ocratic ideas even under very hard a forum of impressive discussions with All participants stressed the need mobility and enlargement, on the 8th before were not valid anymore the next bridges in Novi Sad. conditions.» the participation of the European Par- to ensure the recognition of the quali- of June 2000. Oana concludes: «This day. Most institutions and organisations liament (EP), the European Commi- fication obtained abroad. The recogni- way, AEGEE will raise the students’ ssions, the Council of Europe, UNESCO tion system is still considered insuffi- voice once more and will increase the and all major student associations. cient in the context of the Socrates awareness among everyone.» Heated Discussions on the Air Strikes against Yugoslavia

1 Vladivostok: The 23 Rotterdam: Matthijs de request for more interaction Jong presents the plans for a Studying from the AEGEE contact of new Fundraising Team. Vladivostok results in a April 23-25 Warszawa: BASE Abroad means wave of sympathy. final conference: A Welfare established. This coincides 2-4 Zagreb: Croatian of a statement or action State - Luxury or Necessity? with a boom for internal Obstacles Easter Culture. related to the war in 25 Athina: Katerina 3 Mainz: AEGEE conducts education events that takes Yugoslavia. Tsaligopoulou suggests the another live chat on Inter- place in 1999. 22 Brussels: The whole creation of a Peace Action 26-28/3, PRAHA net and television about the 15-17 Cluj-Napoca: Euro- CD decides to resign at the Day. It will take place on ore and more employers war in Yugoslavia. pean Communication in Agora in Barcelona. the 1st September - the want open-minded students 5-11 Gießen: European 2020. UN’s World Peace Day. who can easily adapt to new School. 22-25 Berlin: At the 25-27 Maastricht: Spring M 15-18 Milano: Cultural Crossroads of the European 12 Groningen: AEGEE university: Managing situations. Studying abroad is therefore Spring Weekend. Integration Process. regarded as an increasingly important starts a poster campaign Europe. about the war in Yugoslavia. 20-21 Timisoara: AEGEE 22-27 Cagliari: Sardinian 28-30 Amsterdam: experience. The conference entitled 12 Lübeck: EDU-L, a and other Student NGOs. Culture. Queensday celebrations. «The New Dimension of European Stu- mailing list for internal 21 Wien: Rolf Wienkötter 22-25 Udine: A Glance at 30/04-2/05 Barcelona: dent Mobility», held in Prague, education discussions, is criticises AEGEE’s absence the East. Spring Agora. analysed relevant aspects, such as the Studying abroad is difficult for many students from CEEC cities, such as Praha. availability of grants and the integration of Erasmus students. The event, organised by AEGEE-Praha in collabo- However, studying abroad is not of what students think could be Barcelona Agora in a Beautiful Setting ration with the Young European Fed- always easy. There often are administra- improved. eralists (JEF), hosted 68 participants tive problems, says former CD member The last session was a panel discus- 30/04-2/05, BARCELONA decided just a few days before the Agora dropped, leaving a stronger focus on from 12 European countries, in addi- Markus Schönherr. «Visa requirements, sion entitled «The Role of Youth Organ- Return to Barcelona: After the Pres- to step down altogether. Thus a new culture and mobility. «We want to raise tion to 40 Czech participants. work permits and the recognition of isations in EU Enlargement», with repre- idents’ Meeting in 1995, AEGEE- team of candidates had to be created. awareness about the tremendous travel During one of the workshops, John diplomas and credits are problematic sentatives from AEGEE and JEF. The Barcelona hosts for the second time a Key figures during this search were the restrictions and other aspects of mobil- Reilly of the UK Erasmus Student Coun- issues.» The participants agreed that the panel stressed the importance of interna- statutory meeting. The Agora in May President-to-be, László Fésüs, as well as ity «, explained «Borderless Europe» cil, discussed the methods of spreading procedures for students from the CEEC tional student associations. Co-operation 1999, was not only the biggest event Bernhard Müller from Augsburg. 13 launcher, Markus Schönherr. «We are information about student mobility among to obtain permits of residence while between these youth organisations would of the year with a total of 800 partici- candidates ended up contesting for nine planning to have AEGEE antennae students themselves. Dennis Hickman, studying in the EU, and vice versa, are play on essential role in making the idea pants, it also marked a turning point for places. Some of them, such as Linda organising a series of conferences, case head of the English Club at the Univer- exaggerated. «First, it is necessary to of student mobility competitive. AEGEE. A new Comité Directeur (CD) Baan, Marcus Khoury and Fani Zari- study trips and even a rally across sity of Economics in Prague, introduced apply for a student visa at a consulate An impressive presentation of the was elected and became the most suc- fopolulou decided to run for the elec- Europe.» the activities of this voluntary society. The and supply several documents. Then the Charter on Student Mobility closed the cessful one in years. tions only during the Agora itself. society takes care of foreign students in same material has to be presented again, conference. The document urges public The location of the Agora brought a Other than this, the delegates, proj- Prague, by for example, organising cultural with some additions, to the immigration and university authorities to adopt a déjà-vu to many participants. As in the ect teams and working groups also did excursions. This practice is also common officers», reports conference organiser comprehensive policy devised to en- previous statutory meeting, the beauti- some pragmatic work. The new Year in AEGEE. As Pierluigi Dei Negri, pres- Martin Mikule. He concluded that the courage Student Mobility throughout ful university building close to Placa Plan for 2000 was finalised and voted ident of AEGEE-Udine, states: «We have a contract with our local university for only way to speed up these procedures Europe. There are also appeals for more Catalunya, with its magnificent aula, set upon. It contained the three topics: such a purpose.» is by getting in touch with these funds and easier administrative proce- the scene for the meeting. The Agora «Borderless Europe» on European embassies and offices, informing them dures for studying abroad. was dominated by the search for CD mobility, «Students - from Revolution candidates. The previous board, whose to Stagnation?», and «European Cul- moral and financial report were rejected, ture». Later on, the second topic was CD-ROM with Many Features Lifting up AEGEE Who is who: 800 delegates attended the Spring Agora in Barcelona. 5/3, NOVI SAD versity applications and member’s- 28/3, BERLIN The New Comité Directeur EGEE issues its first CD-ROM members lists. Furthermore, the avail- Large scale public relations: 8President László Fésüs with information and training ability of logos greatly enhance the ease «LiftOff», the new PR flyer in German, 8Secretary Oana Mailatescu A material for AEGEE members. with which web pages can be built. is printed in 100,000 copies. «It is a 8Treasurer Alíki Louvrou «This is a major step forward towards «You can find everything on this CD- folded A3 poster and contains innova- 8Institutions Linda Baan the better running of antennae in the ROM, including former AEGEE pub- tive articles, written in the language of 8Projects Refet Saban network», says Philipp von Klitzing, lications», stresses Philipp. «There are students», explains Erik Krier from 8PR Marcus Khoury who initiated the concept of this new even films, such as the one of AEGEE’s Augsburg, designer of the tool. AEGEE- 8Network Michal Pesta tool. Since the mid-1990s, when com- first anniversary in 1986.» The Summer Berlin edited, printed and distributed 8Internal puter and Internet became essential in University application programme, the LiftOff. «The results were great», Education Bernhard Müller nearly every AEGEE antenna, there has Lama, is also included. reports producer Rolf Wienkötter. 8Fund-raisingFaní Zarifopoúlou been a growing need to standardise cer- «Many antennae have thus increased tain features, such as the Summer Uni- their membership.» thirty six36 thirty seven37 SPRING

Failures in 23-25/4, WARSZAWA pean countries and the connections the European hould we have free education? between the economic and the social side Yugoslavia How to deal with the growing of the state’s activity. «We tried to search 5-11/4, GIESSEN world. More and more employers are Snumber of elderly people? Should for the perfect solution, the best model oing to school can be really on the lookout for people with these 22-25/4, UDINE we have to free medical care? These were of social security», says Katarzyna. «The cool: The European School in characteristics.» hat’s going on in the only some of the questions, which the fact that participants derived from dif- GGießen proved this sentence The core part of every European Balkans? Analysing East- congress «A Welfare State - Luxury or ferent countries helped us to see the true. 17 participants had the chance to School is the simulation game, in which WWest relationships was the Necessity?» tried to answer. The confer- problems from many different points of learn more about working in a team the participating teams have to organ- aim of the congress «A Glance at the East», ence with altogether 150 participants view.» and organising conferences at AEGEE- ise a fictitious congress on mobility. organised by AEGEE-Udine. «We wanted from ten different countries was the The final conference of BASE Europe’s main training event. «Work- The groups were given funny names to make an extensive study on the politi- final event of the project «Building a provided the participants and organising in AEGEE requires different like AEGEE-Lasagno, AEGEE-Kaas- cal and economical relationships between Social Europe» (BASE). «We felt very ers of the previous events with an skills, ranging from delivering a fund- dam, AEGEE-Metaxoniki and AEGEE- our own region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia honoured that we could organise this opportunity to get together and to raising talk to negotiation skills», says Wodkowice. «Each of the four teams and Carintia, and the countries of former concluding congress», states Katarzyna stress the key points of all previous main organiser Erik Krier. «These consisted of people from different Yugoslavia, especially Slovenia and Croa- Pydzinska, secretary of events. «We were ex- skills are not only useful in AEGEE, countries - giving the teams a good tia», says Pierluigi Dei Negri, President of Sweet Europe: The case teams made posters AEGEE-Warszawa. «This tremely happy to get but are also increasingly nec- insight into intercultural commu- AEGEE-Udine. on Chocolate Culture. surely is a result of our the patronage of such essary for today’s nication», states Rolf Wienköt- However, this was only partially expertise in making events prominent people such working ter, tutor from possible. The ongoing war in Yugoslavia which analyse social and as the Polish Prime AEGEE- called ‘case group’ had to fulfil numer- became the central topic of discussions: economic developments in Minister Jerzy Burek», Wien. ous assignments, such as preparing a Demetrio Volcic, vice president of the East and West.» says Katarzyna. The Each budget and writing press releases. Thus, West European Organisation (WEO) During these three outcome of the discus- so- everyone could put into practice the gave his view on the incidents taking days, the lectures and sions were published in skills acquired during the lectures. The place in Yugoslavia. He was critical workshops focused on a result brochure, pre- highlight of the European School was towards EU policies: «The war empha- topics such as the differ- senting the opinions the show held at the end of the seven sises the incapability of the EU to have ences in the field of social towards the ways of days, presenting the various fictitious one common foreign and security pol- security in various Euro- solving social problems. conferences. icy. Often enough, some member states The teachers, who were experi- do not even know what they are approv- enced AEGEE members, were de- ing or discussing», he argued. «What Where do the Cross-Roads Lead? manding, but were proud of their par- happened should have been foreseen. ticipants. «Their creativity, their spir- The politicians, institutions, even the it, their precision, was really extra- schools had been preparing for some- 22-25/4, BERLIN ordinary», reports tutor Bernhard During the congress entitled «At the thing similar to happen for a long time.» Cross-Roads of the European Inte- Müller. «They managed to deal with In addition, the participants of the gration Process», organised by They are equipped, let the cheerleading begin! ten hours of work per day, and the Case Study Trip (CST) to former AEGEE-Berlin, 65 participants associated pressure, very well.» Yugoslavia, which had taken place two gained insight on the major political changes in the European Union. months earlier, presented their findings These are mainly triggered by the and research results. «Some people in introduction of the Euro, and the Politician for a Weekend Yugoslavia still have faith in Russia and enlargement towards Central Euro- so they want to co-operate with Moscow. pean countries. The event took place 25-27/4, MAASTRICHT tions to the problems connected to the representing especially the smaller at the private European University. Some others are looking towards the «The themes of the congress had been he Maastricht Treaty was democratic the EU, lobbying, the Trea- countries , had to do extensive lobby- West, especially towards the European covered in the media due to the signed seven years ago. ty of Amsterdam and the role of the ing. «It was interesting to see how some Union», summarised CST participant Eva introduction of the single currency «T Still, many people lack regions in the EU. A panel discussion countries had difficulties to reach a Puhar, from AEGEE-Ljubljana. and the crisis in Kosovo. Thus, the knowledge on the way Europe works.» about the role of the media in influ- compromise and would only stick to participants were very motivated A visit to important industries of the and eager to learn firts-hand infor- This was the reason behind the confer- encing the feelings of the citizens of their demands», summarises Renske. Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region and an mation from members of the Euro- ence «Managing Europe», organised by Europe, concluded the first day. «The participants were thrilled to be excursion to Cividale completed the pro- pean Parliament, banks and institu- Renske den Haan and six other mem- During the following day the par- able to get an impression of the nego- gramme. «The deep interest of the 60 tions», says Christian Ribbat, bers of AEGEE-Maastricht. After being ticipants could put their knowledge tiation procedures, such as those deal- president of AEGEE-Berlin. For participants in the lectures was inspir- example, the students from Ukraine introduced to topics such as the struc- into practice with a simulation game ing with the accession of Turkey. How- ing», concludes Roberto Mauri, secre- obtained relliable information on the ture of the EU and the elections of the about Europe. «Every single person rep- ever, they felt relieved that they had to tary of AEGEE-Udine. «Sometimes it possible impact of the single Euro- European Parliament, the participants resented a country and had to defend tackle these difficult negotiations just was even hard to stop the students from pean currency on the economies of had the chance to get active in four its opinions about certain aspects of for one day, leaving the rest to the Central Europe. Some participants asking questions and let the speaker go.» visited the newly opened Reichstag workshops. Here, they discussed solu- Europe», explains Renske. The people politicians in the European Union.» building. thirty eight38 thirty nine39 The EU’s Do we Need a Welfare State? Your Team Member,

Failures in 23-25/4, WARSZAWA pean countries and the connections the European hould we have free education? between the economic and the social side Yugoslavia How to deal with the growing of the state’s activity. «We tried to search 5-11/4, GIESSEN world. More and more employers are Snumber of elderly people? Should for the perfect solution, the best model oing to school can be really on the lookout for people with these 22-25/4, UDINE we have to free medical care? These were of social security», says Katarzyna. «The cool: The European School in characteristics.» hat’s going on in the only some of the questions, which the fact that participants derived from dif- GGießen proved this sentence The core part of every European Balkans? Analysing East- congress «A Welfare State - Luxury or ferent countries helped us to see the true. 17 participants had the chance to School is the simulation game, in which WWest relationships was the Necessity?» tried to answer. The confer- problems from many different points of learn more about working in a team the participating teams have to organ- aim of the congress «A Glance at the East», ence with altogether 150 participants view.» and organising conferences at AEGEE- ise a fictitious congress on mobility. organised by AEGEE-Udine. «We wanted from ten different countries was the The final conference of BASE Europe’s main training event. «Work- The groups were given funny names to make an extensive study on the politi- final event of the project «Building a provided the participants and organising in AEGEE requires different like AEGEE-Lasagno, AEGEE-Kaas- cal and economical relationships between Social Europe» (BASE). «We felt very ers of the previous events with an skills, ranging from delivering a fund- dam, AEGEE-Metaxoniki and AEGEE- our own region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia honoured that we could organise this opportunity to get together and to raising talk to negotiation skills», says Wodkowice. «Each of the four teams and Carintia, and the countries of former concluding congress», states Katarzyna stress the key points of all previous main organiser Erik Krier. «These consisted of people from different Yugoslavia, especially Slovenia and Croa- Pydzinska, secretary of events. «We were ex- skills are not only useful in AEGEE, countries - giving the teams a good tia», says Pierluigi Dei Negri, President of Sweet Europe: The case teams made posters AEGEE-Warszawa. «This tremely happy to get but are also increasingly nec- insight into intercultural commu- AEGEE-Udine. on Chocolate Culture. surely is a result of our the patronage of such essary for today’s nication», states Rolf Wienköt- However, this was only partially expertise in making events prominent people such working ter, tutor from possible. The ongoing war in Yugoslavia which analyse social and as the Polish Prime AEGEE- called ‘case group’ had to fulfil numer- became the central topic of discussions: economic developments in Minister Jerzy Burek», Wien. ous assignments, such as preparing a Demetrio Volcic, vice president of the East and West.» says Katarzyna. The Each budget and writing press releases. Thus, West European Organisation (WEO) During these three outcome of the discus- so- everyone could put into practice the gave his view on the incidents taking days, the lectures and sions were published in skills acquired during the lectures. The place in Yugoslavia. He was critical workshops focused on a result brochure, pre- highlight of the European School was towards EU policies: «The war empha- topics such as the differ- senting the opinions the show held at the end of the seven sises the incapability of the EU to have ences in the field of social towards the ways of days, presenting the various fictitious one common foreign and security pol- security in various Euro- solving social problems. conferences. icy. Often enough, some member states The teachers, who were experi- do not even know what they are approv- enced AEGEE members, were de- ing or discussing», he argued. «What Where do the Cross-Roads Lead? manding, but were proud of their par- happened should have been foreseen. ticipants. «Their creativity, their spir- The politicians, institutions, even the it, their precision, was really extra- schools had been preparing for some- 22-25/4, BERLIN ordinary», reports tutor Bernhard During the congress entitled «At the thing similar to happen for a long time.» Cross-Roads of the European Inte- Müller. «They managed to deal with In addition, the participants of the gration Process», organised by They are equipped, let the cheerleading begin! ten hours of work per day, and the Case Study Trip (CST) to former AEGEE-Berlin, 65 participants associated pressure, very well.» Yugoslavia, which had taken place two gained insight on the major political changes in the European Union. months earlier, presented their findings These are mainly triggered by the and research results. «Some people in introduction of the Euro, and the Politician for a Weekend Yugoslavia still have faith in Russia and enlargement towards Central Euro- so they want to co-operate with Moscow. pean countries. The event took place 25-27/4, MAASTRICHT tions to the problems connected to the representing especially the smaller at the private European University. Some others are looking towards the «The themes of the congress had been he Maastricht Treaty was democratic the EU, lobbying, the Trea- countries , had to do extensive lobby- West, especially towards the European covered in the media due to the signed seven years ago. ty of Amsterdam and the role of the ing. «It was interesting to see how some Union», summarised CST participant Eva introduction of the single currency «T Still, many people lack regions in the EU. A panel discussion countries had difficulties to reach a Puhar, from AEGEE-Ljubljana. and the crisis in Kosovo. Thus, the knowledge on the way Europe works.» about the role of the media in influ- compromise and would only stick to participants were very motivated A visit to important industries of the and eager to learn firts-hand infor- This was the reason behind the confer- encing the feelings of the citizens of their demands», summarises Renske. Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region and an mation from members of the Euro- ence «Managing Europe», organised by Europe, concluded the first day. «The participants were thrilled to be excursion to Cividale completed the pro- pean Parliament, banks and institu- Renske den Haan and six other mem- During the following day the par- able to get an impression of the nego- gramme. «The deep interest of the 60 tions», says Christian Ribbat, bers of AEGEE-Maastricht. After being ticipants could put their knowledge tiation procedures, such as those deal- president of AEGEE-Berlin. For participants in the lectures was inspir- example, the students from Ukraine introduced to topics such as the struc- into practice with a simulation game ing with the accession of Turkey. How- ing», concludes Roberto Mauri, secre- obtained relliable information on the ture of the EU and the elections of the about Europe. «Every single person rep- ever, they felt relieved that they had to tary of AEGEE-Udine. «Sometimes it possible impact of the single Euro- European Parliament, the participants resented a country and had to defend tackle these difficult negotiations just was even hard to stop the students from pean currency on the economies of had the chance to get active in four its opinions about certain aspects of for one day, leaving the rest to the Central Europe. Some participants asking questions and let the speaker go.» visited the newly opened Reichstag workshops. Here, they discussed solu- Europe», explains Renske. The people politicians in the European Union.» building. thirty eight38 thirty nine39 1 Barcelona: The «AEGEE 21-24 Utrecht: 99%VOL - Academy», a new Internal A Loaded Experience. Education Working Group 24/25 Brussels: CD meet- is founded. ing. 1 Barcelona: The Members May 25 Passau: Markus Schön- Commission of AEGEE herr presents the «Border- decides to remove AEGEE- less Europe» project. Part of Chisinau from the network. 7 Barcelona: The Human 19-23 Lund: Conflict and it is a cross-border travel- 2 Barcelona: The new Year Rights Working Group col- Conflict Resolution in a ling competition called Plan is accepted, focusing lects money for the victims European Perspective. «Borderless Europe Rally». on the three projects «Bor- of the war in Yugoslavia. 13 Utrecht: The HRWG Its goal is to find the cheap- derless Europe», «Students 8/9 Aachen and Europe: initiates Plan B, an action in est way to travel across Impact on Society» and One European Night. which members throughout Europe by train in a given «Cultural diversity». 8 Lviv: AEGEE-Academy Europe are asked to express time. 2 Barcelona: László Fésüs speaker Oleh Kyriyenko their opinions on the war in 26-30 Groningen: PR becomes new President of starts a discussion about Yugoslavia. European School. AEGEE-Europe. improving the European 20 Mainz: AEGEE co-oper- 26 Istanbul: AEGEE-Istan- 3-5 Zaragoza: Intercul- School concept. ates with the German TV bul supplies an office for tural Couples Congress. 14-16 Ljubljana: Rafting channel ZDF on another the Socrates Programme. 6-9 Amsterdam: The Time weekend. TV and Internet chat ses- 28-31 Erlangen/Nürn- of Your Life - Sustainable 14-16 Passau: Regional sion, this time concerning berg: «Between Justice and Growth. Meeting. the future of the Balkans. Stability: Peace in Europe».

A Loaded Experience or a Health Hazard?

The par- held. After the voting on European 21-24/5, UTRECHT ticipants were fur- policy, it turned out that most of the pounding headache, thermore briefed on the people were in favour of having some nausea, smelly clothes, are we Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and were framework of legislation to control the Aforgetting something? These are informed of the twelve steps involved use of alcohol. «This conference was a only some of the side-effects of having in their approach to confronting the vice success because now 150 European stu- a «great» party, and are becoming part of of alcohol. dents know a bit more on what they are the daily routine of more and more stu- Before the closing of the conference, doing when consuming alcohol», says dents. This is why the topic dealing with a discussion on legislative problems was main organiser Fleur van Leeuwen. students and alcohol, «99% VOL.- A Loaded Experience», was chosen for the three-day conference held by AEGEE- Utrecht. The topics included: alcohol and traffic, the influence of alcohol on brain, body and social life, and the alcohol policy in Europe. One of the topics that aroused great interest was on ways to handle a drunk person. One of the tricks that could prevent accidents to happen is to take the drivers’ car keys early in the evening so that they would not insist on driving Alcohol, a danger: panelists addressed this question in Utrecht. after having drunk some alcohol. forty40 The Theory of Peace War is Over, 19-23/5, LUND the Problem his was my first time in Sweden, and I cannot tell Starts «Tyou how welcome you’ve made me feel! The conference was so interesting and well-organised, the peo- 28-31/5, ERLANGEN ple are great and the country is beau- hat to do when a war is over? tiful», said Elisa from AEGEE-Amster- AEGEE-Erlangen/Nürnberg dam. She was one of the 30 participants Wshowed several examples of in the conference «Conflicts and Con- peacemaking during its congress «Ways flict Resolution in a European Perspec- out of War - Past, Present and Perspec- tive», organised by AEGEE-Lund, tives». «We answered the question of falling under the Peace Academy Year how a post-war society could succeed in Plan project of 1999. «Sweden has been providing justice for victims, whilst at fortunate enough to be spared from se- Pigeon in chains: the symbol of the peace the same time, ensuring stability for a vere conflicts and wars. Furthermore, congress in Lund. new civil community «, explains Björn educational establishments for peace Heismann, president of the antenna. The and conflict studies are rare within event was part of the Peace Academy Europe. So we decided to focus on a viktoria project and hosted 40 participants. The theoretical perspective regarding con- hildenwall German past was delved into by a visit flict resolution», explain Peter Mansson to the «Reichsparteitagsgelände» in and Viktoria Hildenwall, congress co- Her biggest fear Nürnberg, the site of the Nazi party con- is to «find out ordinators. that you are ventions. Prof. W. Bernecker presented The antenna was supported by the standing still - a positive account of the reconciliatory Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human with no new efforts in Spain after the Franco regime; Rights, and the Department of Foreign impressions, no while Mr S. Rohr from Münster ex- Affairs of Sweden, which became the new thoughts.» plained the aims of the Northern Ireland main sponsors of the conference. The Born in 1973, Good Friday Agreement. Professor L. Viktoria is studying law in Lund, first speaker, Per Bauhn, associate Pro- Sweden, intending to specialise in Sekelj from Budapest had the most con- fessor of Practical Philosophy at the international law or human rights. troversial viewpoint: the West must also University of Lund, gave a lecture on «In 1997 I joined AEGEE because I be made responsible for the war in «The Common Good». This is what pro- saw a small advertisement about Kosovo, he claimed. «The most success- vides the lives of individuals with the association here, in Lund, and I ful concept for peace in Europe is still meaning, while avoiding morally objec- thought that this may be interest- the tolerance of its citizens», says Björn. ing», she recalls. tionable features. «There are universal She quickly got involved in organi- «If our congress has contributed to this, human rights which require communal sational work. In 1998, she was it has reached its aim.» institutions. They deserve the support elected president of the antenna. of active citizens», said Bauhn. «During my term, we organised the Ulla Moltved and Birgitte Winkel conference on conflict resolution The Time of from the Danish Centre for Conflict and also launched a local Human Rights Working Group.» Resolution held a very appreciated work- What does AEGEE mean to her? your Life shop on co-operation between individ- «The first time I was introduced to uals. Lectures on «The Paradoxes of De- the association, I was fascinated by 6-9/5, AMSTERDAM mocracy», «Preventing Deadly Conflicts the great network it consisted of, as EGEE-Amsterdam organised a – a Challenge to Existing Norms, Insti- of the ideology it was built upon», conference on sustainable tutions and Capacity» and the «Quest of Viktoria says. «AEGEE has a very development, where topics important role to play in society. A Global Sovereignity» were also in the such as consumer behaviour and pro- We are taking the first steps programme. The conference ended with towards a peaceful Europe.» ductivity were discussed. Lectures a panel discussion, where the topic «Lar- After finishing her studies Viktoria concentrated on the quality of life. ger EU - Safer Europe?», was discussed. intends to work in an environment AEGEE-Amsterdam decided also to The social programme included a Viking that offers new challenges every organise the debate between experts Barbecue and a bus trip to the home of day. «I need to be in a place where I in a parliamentary style, following the can feel that I am continuously Dag Hammarskiöld, former General Sec- success gained by a national TV show learning something new.» retary of the United Nations. using this kind of sessions. forty one41 3-6 Eindhoven: Exploring 22 Brussels: AEGEE starts Time. a campaign to win more 3-6 Salzburg: Edelweiss- patrons, not only in the hiking. field of politics, but also in 8 Brussels: CD PR respon- June sciences and the arts. sible Marcus Khoury 25 Eindhoven: John Stienen announces the creation of a starts a discussion about the 15th anniversary booklet 12-13 Glasgow: Regional 17 Brussels: AEGEE needs future of AEGEE in Bosnia. for the year 2000. Meeting. a new Y2K-proof bookkeep- 27 Eindhoven/Maas- 10-13 Passau: European 11-13 Keele: ‘Peace in ing programme. tricht: John Stienen and Games Marathon - A Com- Northern Ireland’ Congress. 17 Paris: PR responsible Sasha Mirkikh present the mon Cultural Experience. 14 Athina: Ileana Moroni Marcus Khoury attends a new edition of AEGEE’s 11-13 Wien: 5th Anniver- (IPWG) starts a discussion UNESCO meeting on the visa booklet, which can be sary and Ball. about the elections of the EP. International Year for the found at http://start.at/vis- 12 Maastricht: The new 14 Arnhem: Michiel van Culture of Peace. AEGEE abooklet/ AEGEE Address Book is Hees presents a list of inter- was the only international 27/6-11/7 Bratislava: SE finished. It contains a new nal education event types, student organisation present. Horse-Riding and Nature. record number of 186 local the requirements and target 18/6-2/7 Grenoble: Lan- 27/6-11/7 Sankt Peter- groups, 72 contacts and groups. guage Course. burg: SE Life Styles. many project teams and 16-17 Berlin: Opposition 21/6-5/7 Moskva: SE 28/06-2/07 Strasbourg: working groups. in Yugoslavia - seminar. Russian Folk Culture. Introduction to Multimedia.

Building a New White Night Romance Image of Russia 27/6-11/7, SANKT PETERBURG ur Impact on the Environment» was the 21/6-5/7, MOSKVA title of AEGEE-Sankt Peterburg’s Sum- estroying the preconceptions about Russia was the «Omer University. «It was the first big goal of AEGEE-Moskva’s Summer University on the event for our antenna after a long break, organised by D«Russian Folk Culture». «We wanted to build a new an enthusiastic new generation», says Nadia image of this fascinating country and its marvelous and enig- Galkovskaia, president of AEGEE-Sankt Peterburg. matic culture,» says Natalia Mikhailuk, president of the 14 students from nine countries together with other antenna. interested people discussed «how our everyday life Lectures were delivered by the Music Academy in influences the environment», noticed Alexandre Kar- Moscow. Professional folk music bands, dressed in tradition- pov, board member of the Sankt Peterburg Society of al clothes of different provinces in Russia, were singing folk Naturalists, who co-organised the event. A particular songs and playing ancient instruments. The participants stress was laid on the problems of sustainable devel- learnt ancient traditions by taking part in them: they played opment according to Agenda 21, and to environmen- games, danced reels and khorovods, and learnt to play the tal ethics. «We tried to present all the material in a gusli and garmon - the oldest Russian instruments. non-traditional format, with games, out-of-doors One of the most important parts of the event was a four- workshops and excursions», adds Nadia. The «Time of day trip to Vladimir and Suzdal, two beautiful towns of the White Nights», when the darkness lasts little more Golden Ring. The participants had a chance to see the large than 30 minutes in the northern city, contributed to differences that exist between the capital and the province the Summer University with its irresistible charm. and to enjoy walking across the towns which are almost All the «okay-people», as the participants and organis- untouched by civilisation. «That was an extraordinary ers used to call themselves, got change. In Moscow, you can easily get lost in the 14-line caught by the romantic atmos- underground station, the modern high buildings and the phere of the White Night sea- wide noisy avenues which make you feel so small. However, son with its magic ability to Vladimir and Suzdal are so quiet and calm», reports Natalia. mystify everything and to At the time of the visit, a famous annual folk music festival inspire love, dreams and was being held to which AEGEE-Moskva was invited. poetry. Of course, the main tourist attractions in Moscow were also a must-see. The participants visited the Kremlin, the Novodevichij Monastery, the leg- endary Arbat street, the Bolshoi Theatre, and the Tretiakov Art Gallery, which holds the biggest collection of Russian art. «Moscow is a city where you can spend several months and still have something new to discover», concludes Natalia. forty two42 «All the World’s a Game»

10-13/6, PASSAU ers’ social skills ll the world’s a game, and since they need we are all mere players», to be played in a «Awrote William Shake- group, whereas speare. These words became true with reading a book AEGEE-Passau’s European Games is necessarily Marathon. For four days the main an unsociable focus lay on the theoretical and practi- action», sum- cal aspects of various kinds of games, marised but mostly board games. Ernst. «Some might think that games are The 40 nothing serious and that this confer- participants ence was merely a fun-event», says of the Euro- Michael Forster, head of the organis- pean Games ing committee. «But apart from the Marathon had entertaining aspect, games also form many opportu- an important part of a society’s cul- nities to form ture.» This idea was also underlined their own point by Synes Ernst, the president of the of view about jury for the German «Game of the playing. In the sev- Year» award. This jury awards out- eral workshops, they standing games out of the hundreds familiarised with many of newly released ones every year. kinds of card and board Ernst presented a lecture about games games and other ways to play. in relation to culture. «Literature is, They also had the chance to show unfortunately, estimated to be of a their skills in all of them and gather much higher cultural value than credits during the whole event to see games. This, notwithstanding the fact who would be the winning team of that games are able to train the play- the prize awarded at the end. Surviving the Madness of the War

16-17/6, BERLIN cy is another issue altogether. Anyone who oppose any form of violence, should erlin’s Humboldt University who has heard of Vojislav Seselj, who also be supported and promoted. «Can hosted a two-day conference on recently resigned from his post in you imagine how difficult it has been to B the 16th and 17th of June on Milosevic’s government, knows that stage a rally against the war in Bosnia the democratic opposition in Yugos- this man could not be considered as an and Herzegovina in front of Belgrade’s lavia. AEGEE, in collaboration with alternative to the current regime. National Theatre with only 40 women? Jusos and Die Falken, both organisa- Katrin Lantermann, an AEGEE Such events are hardly mentioned by the tions of Social Democratic Youth, made member, experienced this during her Western media», reproachfully com- this possible. trip to Novi Sad last summer: «I ments Jelena Volic from the Belgrade «Nationalism is deeply rooted, both thought people from the opposition are office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation. in Serbia and among the Kosovo-Alba- also interested in peaceful co-existence In spite of such bleak prospects, Mira nians. It was, and still is, an illusion to with the Albanians, but my beliefs refuses to give in. For the past six years, believe that democratisation in Serbia turned out to be a little naive.» Thomas she has been actively involved in the dem- would be the solution to the Kosovo Schmidt, journalist and expert on the ocratic opposition as a member of the stu- problem», said Mira Erzeg, sociology Balkans is convinced that «people dent’s movement OTPOR. She adds: «Our student and lecturer at the Film Acad- should critically reflect on the recent politicians turned the system of values in emy in Babelsberg, near Berlin. history in Serbia if they want their soci- our society upside-down. To me, patriot- Different kinds of opposing forces ety to improve.» ism is not about packing your backpack exist in Serbia but whether they are to If the Stability Pact is supposed to and marching to war. It is the total oppo- be considered to be the right forces be successful, the women’s initiative, site: staying in your country and fighting that lead in the direction of democra- such as the Belgrade’s «Women in Black» in a peaceful way. « forty three43 SUMMER

1-14 Praha: SE Canoeing. 23/7-8/8 Kosice: SE Archae- 1-3 Minsk: Regional Training ology. Course. 23 Brussels: AEGEE, ELSA, 2-16 Montpellier: SE France, July JADE and BEST meet in the Rennes: LC French. head office. 3-17 Kyiv: SE Ukrainian Way 10-25 Bonn/Münster: LC 15-30 Thessaloniki/ 24/7-8/8 Gießen: LC Ger- of Life. German. Larissa/Komotini: TSU man. 3-18 Ljubljana/Maribor: SE 10-24 Warszawa/Lublin: SE Greek and Gastronomy. 25/7-8/8 Cluj-Napoca/Si- Slovenia. Polish Mysteries. 16-30 Riccione/Bologna: SE biu/ Brasov: TSU Culture; 3-11 Athina: European 11 Genova: The French WG Italian Way of Life; Saar- Ferrara/Verona: SE Gastron- School. becomes part of the Cultural brücken: LC German. omy and Theatre; Hamburg: 4 Lübeck: The communica- WG. 16-31 Treviso/Venezia: SE SE Journalism; Torino: SE tion tool ICQ gets more and 11-25 Leiden/Nijmegen/ Venetian Food and Wine. Alps, Cooking, Trekking. more popular in AEGEE. Arnhem: SE Law, Sports and 16/7-2/8 Athina/Skopje: 25/7-14/8 Rijeka/ 4-17 Delft: SE Computers. Culture, Milano: LC Italian. SU+ Culture. Zagreb/Split: TSU Eco- 4-18 Magusa: SE Culture 11-24 Trier: LC German. 17-31 Heidelberg: LC Ger- tourism, Culture. and history; Madrid: LC Span- 11-15 Athina: Unemploy- man; Las Palmas: SE Spanish. 25-27 Brussels: NetCom ish; München: LC German; ment (BASE). 17/7-1/8 Freiburg: LC Ger- Meeting. Rotterdam: SE Port of Rotter- 12 Kiel: The PRWG registers man; Mainz/Wiesbaden: SE 26/7-11/8 Ankara/ IPWG/ dam. an Internet domain. German; Amsterdam: SE CWG: SE Wars. 4-17 Zaragoza: SE Ecology 12-29 Eindhoven/Tilburg/ History. 27/7-17/8 Udine/Trieste: and Care. ’s-Hertogenbosch/ 18-31 Köln: LC German. LC Italian. 5-18 Istanbul: SE Socio- Utrecht/Leuven: TSU 18/7-1/8 Brescia: LC Italian; 30/7-14/8 Roma: LC Italian. Istanbul. Cycling. Firenze: LC Italian; Napoli: 30/7-12/8 Timisoara: SE 5-19 Paris: SE French Con- 12-25 Enschede: SE Dutch SE Sun, Sea, Italian; Nicosia: Astronomy, History. versation. Society; Perugia: SE Culture; SE Culture. 31/7-15/8 Aachen: LC Ger- 9-11 Budapest: Anciens Vigo/Ourense: SE Culture. 22/7-5/8 Salerno: LC Ital- man; Iasi: SE Romanian. Meeting. 15-29 Peiraias: LC Greek. ian.

The Heat is on in Greece

3/7-2/8, ATHINA quarters’ to the university and were skipped lunch, dinner and even parties! n July 1999, Athina was for sure working hard to organise their events for The devotion was soaring! Most of the the most attractive place to go for the ‘Mobility in Europe’ Year-Plan proj- participants slept only three hours per I AEGEE members. Why? «It’s be- ect» , explains Katerina. The organisers night, but next morning they were all cause AEGEE-Athina offered three of the ES were surprised by the enthu- sitting again in the classrooms.» events in a row, and each of them was siasm of the participants. Katerina: «They Many of the participants stayed for great», says Katerina Tsaligopoulou, worked so hard that sometimes they the conference «Unemployment and president of the Greek antenna. The Life-Long-Learning», which was part of month started with a week-long Euro- the BASE project. The topic of the Sum- pean School (ES), followed by a con- mer University was: «Two Cultures gress on life-long learning, and fin- Sparkle Under the Balkan Sun». Two cul- ished with a Summer University on tures, because AEGEE-Athina organised Greek culture. this event jointly with AEGEE-Skopje. Almost 30 participants, thirsty for During the Greek part of the event, the knowledge, attended the ES. During this 30 participants visited the Acropolis, main training event of AEGEE they went on a treasure hunt in the old part acquired knowledge and skills on man- of the city and discussed, amongst other aging their antennae at home and organ- topics, Plato and love. ising events. They also learnt how to «The sun, the monasteries and the become active on the European level of Byzantine art created an unbelievable AEGEE. Lectures in the morning were spirit», summarises the president of combined with case sessions in the after- AEGEE-Athina. Right after, the group noon, where people could put their took off for Ohrid, where the fun con- knowledge into practice through an tinued. Katerina adds: «During these 18 interactive game. «The invented anten- days, Athina and Skopje showed the nae of AEGEE-Metaxoniki, AEGEE- Men of today: the summer in Athina many things we have in common, that Wodkowice, AEGEE-Lasagno and was really hot. we can still live with our differences and AEGEE-Kaasdam moved their ‘head- most of all that we can enjoy life.» forty four44 Italian Miracles

18/7-1/8, BRESCIA acciamo un altro miracolo! Let’s make another miracle!» «FNo other sentence could describe «InSUperabile», the Summer University of AEGEE-Brescia, better. 35 participants from 17 different countries attended this Italian language course. They were overwhelmed by the richness of the programme and the «Pronto?» No Italian Summer University can have organisers «senza cellulare». enthusiasm and professionalism of the organisers, who managed to create a unique atmosphere. most of the time. In addition, the par- ed to dance, while all other visitors «After co-organising two Travelling ticipants were introduced to Italy and its stayed seated in their chairs. «The Summer Universities with AEGEE- culture with visits to museums and singers were so intrigued by us that Venezia and AEGEE-Treviso we decided excursions to Verona, the Garda Lake they invited ‘the funny crowd over it was time to offer a language course. and the neighbouring mountains. there’ to the stage. We were singing There is a huge demand for good Italian «The participants were simply and dancing with the performers until courses in the network», says Patrizia incredible», states co-organiser Sergio the concert was over», remembers Menchiari, president of AEGEE-Brescia. Maestri. «Wherever we went, whatev- Patrizia. «None of the staff will ever «We offered four hours of classes in Ital- er we did, our group changed the forget the moving thank-you ceremo- ian on three different levels every day atmosphere of every place.» This hap- ny when the participants presented us for two whole weeks.» The organising pened for example during an open-air with golden chocolate medals, and staff was so enthusiastic that two gospel concert in Brescia. As soon as sang a self-composed song to the instructors, members of AEGEE-Bres- the singers from San Francisco sang melody of ‘Azzuro’, which became cia, were present in every classroom their first notes, the participants start- the song of our Summer University.» Remembering A Multi-Faceted City the Old Times 5-18/7, ISTANBUL opportunity to get in touch with the lives ity of contrast, of the rich and of different social groups of people and 9-11/7, BUDAPEST poor, bridging Europe and Asia: with the current problems in Turkey, here they were: Johannes Kind, C exploring the diversity of the such as the homeless and poverty. Jordi Capdevila and many more largest city in Europe was the main aim Among the speakers there was Oral Tfaces from the past of AEGEE. of AEGEE-Istanbul’s 8th Summer Uni- Calislar, a well-known writer, who They gathered for the annual meeting versity. Under the headline «Socio- focused the topic of «Freedom of of Les Anciens, AEGEE’s alumni sec- Istanbul», 19 participants attended a Thought», in connection with liberal- tion. «We do not want to lose contact whole variety of lectures and engaged ism in Istanbul. Dr. Gulden Erkut gave with each other», states Gerhard Kreß, in numerous social activities. «Cur- a lecture on the «Globalisation of Istan- President of Les Anciens. «We have 250 rently, 12 million people live in Istan- bul» and Dr. Ayfer Bartu focused on the members now. Anyone who has been bul. About 40 percent of them are social aspect of Turkey. active on the European level of AEGEE poor», says Ece Aksakoglu, one of the In their leisure time, apart from excur- can become a member of Les Anciens». main organisers. «This number is rising, sions to historical places of Istanbul, the The participants had the opportunity because the number of immigrants is participants could also taste some typi- to meet many AEGEE legends. Ger- increasing day by day.» cal Turkish dishes. The fact that they did hard: «Many of us are currently build- As part of their lectures, the partici- not want to go home and that the organ- ing their career, a fact which might later pants of the SU had a chance to attend isers did not want them to leave, describes on be advantageous for AEGEE in gen- two case study trips and to discover dif- the best feeling that marked the end of eral.» ferent districts. In this way, they had an another successful SU. forty five45 1-16 Chisinau: SE Solar 18/8-1/9 Cagliari: SE Ital- Eclipse. ian and Sardinian Traditions. 1-15 Craiova: SE Dracula; 22-25 Udine: AEGEE strat- Helsinki/Tampere: SE egy meeting about the Finnish Culture; Kaunas: SE August Balkans. Horse Riding; Chisinau: SE 25/8-8/9 Bari: SE Italian Moldovan paradise; Palermo: 8-22 Bucuresti: SE Aegean Academy - Carpe diem - Seize Culture. LC Italian. Culture; Karlsruhe: LC Ger- the Hour. 27/8-9/9 Plzen: SE Sports, 2-16 Beograd: SE Life on man. 15-21 Beograd/Novi Sad: History and Culture. the River. 10-24 L’viv: SE Modern Art CD member Linda Baan dis- 29/8-11/9 Kaiserslautern: 5-19 Berlin: LC German. and Culture. cusses projects about LC German. 6-16 Donetsk/Kazantip: 10-20 Constanta: European Yugoslavia. 29 Gorgo: Network Com- Reactor Party. School. 15-28 Utrecht: SU+ Water missioner Angela Comand 7-21 Bayreuth/Passau: LC 11 Paris: AEGEE founder and Ecology. announced the new AEGEE German and Bavaria; Franck Biancheri presents a 15-29 Wien: LC German. contacts in the Bosnian cities Budapest/Baja/ Veszprem: draft for AEGEE’s 15th 16-29 Izmir: SU+ Aegean of Tuzla and Sarajevo. TSU Hungary; Groningen: Anniversary Congress to be Culture. 30/8-11/9 Valletta: SE Cul- SE Sailing, Kiel/Kobenhavn: held from the 5th till the 7th 17 Istanbul: An earthquake tural Heritage. SE History and Culture; October, 2000. in Turkey raises a wave of 31 Maastricht: The Football Maastricht: LC English. 11/12 Karlsruhe: Total sympathy in the network and Working Group decides to 8-21 Debrecen: SE Astron- Eclipse. leads to a project by the dissolve itself after one year omy. 13-29 Minsk: Summer Arts HRWG to help the victims. of existence.

Awakening of Creativity

14-29/8, MINSK wenty-five students had the opportunity to express themselves and explore how creative T Always in the pic- they really are, during the Summer ture: the partici- Arts Academy. The programme focused pants of the Sum- on the creative potential of young mer Arts Academy in Europeans. This idea was interesting to Minsk could many institutions, such as the Interna- express their cre- tional Humanitarian Foundation and ativity during the European Cultural Foundation. So, numerous workshops, on topics they decided to offer their support in such as ceramics, promoting cultural co-operation in tapestry and Europe. painting. «Our Academy was a composite one: it embraced all aspects of arts», said Olga Ivashkevich, arts director for this The week spent on the Braslav lake project. Students got acquainted with was the event’s highlight, presenting Wild Weeks the work of talented Belarusian cartoon extremely interesting courses of creativ- producers Ihor Volchek and Irina ity in various kinds of arts: Raku ceram- on Horses Kodiukova. ics, tapestry, improvisation through ges- Furthermore, they also visited the tures, and expressive painting. 1-14/8, KAUNAS non-profit-making conceptual gallery Olga, the creator of the course in t is almost a tradition: each summer, of Brama, where art historian Dr. Lar- expressive painting turned to the par- AEGEE-Kaunas rents horses to go rid- isa Finkelstein introduced Belarus’ ticipants for co-operation, treating Iing with their guests from abroad. modern art in the field of painting, them as equally capable artists. She Horses and clay were awaiting the partic- ceramics and tapestry. explained the importance of removing ipants in the Lithuanian folk museum in During the second part of the any form of hesitation when express- Rumsiskës. The aim of the programme course, the participants visited the ing ideas and of showing artistic abil- was essentially to teach the basics of rid- Farny Cathedral and the museum in ities in their truest form. ing on horseback. The second part of the Zaslavl’, Nesvizh and Mir Castle, and The Summer Arts Academy ‘99 was course was on ceramics. The group spent went on a city tour around Minsk. the first international project of AEGEE- a weekend in Vilnius, capital of Lithua- These excursions gave the participants Minsk. As Olga Ivashkevich put it: «It nia, and also visited the former capital, the good opportunity to come into con- was a kind of a trial trip that will give us Trakai. «A lovely European Night featur- tact with the history and culture of a push for our next projects, such as the ing dances, national songs and delicious Belarus. Summer Arts Academy of 2000.» meals, concluded the event», states Laura. forty six46 Finland Forever Linking the Balkans to Europe

1-15/8, HELSINKI/TAMPERE 23-25/8, LJUBLJANA different locals launched a public ast summer took by surprise all wenty-four AEGEE members awareness campaign by sending let- foreigners who found them- coming from Bosnia to the ters to the members of the German Lselves walking around town in TNetherlands met in the Sloven- Parliament. Email messages received T-shirts instead of the thick pullovers ian capital of Ljubljana, aiming to from Yugoslavian AEGEE members and jackets they had brought with develop new ideas for AEGEE proj- during the war were published in a them. ects in the Balkans. The programme poster campaign. Also worth men- The SU named «Finland Forever» included the evaluation of past activi- tioning is the humanitarian aid received 120 applications from the net- ties concerning the region, and an AEGEE is offering, such as a collec- work, making it the most popular of all overview on current tasks and rele- tion of money and goods, and visits to summer courses. During the first week, vant contacts. Public relations, fund- refugee camps raising strategies and web-based infor- in Turkey. mation resources, were also discussed. The development towards a angela stronger AEGEE network in the region comand was considered to be a crucial point: 25-year old «We should involve more students, Angela from especially in areas where AEGEE does- AEGEE-Udine wants to do n’t exist yet, such as Bosnia and Herze- voluntary govina, Albania and Montenegro», says work after co-ordinator Frank Burgdörfer. «We graduating should help the antennae by finding from University, where she studies sponsoring for travels to AEGEE food science. In 1998, she joined events, free language and computer AEGEE, hoping to learn German. So, she went to AEGEE-Kaiserslautern’s courses and advertising for Summer SU and went to the European School Universities.» There should also be bet- in Giessen in April 1999. Two weeks ter co-operation throughout the region passed and she became Network and a better participation to activities Commissioner. AEGEE then became in the rest of Europe. an irreplaceable part of her life. One issue all participants agreed Angela believes AEGEE puts us on the right track due to its multidisci- upon was an extension to the project plinary nature, its responsibility ‘Education for Democracy’, implying towards society, and the experience more possibilities for people to study gained. She says: «We thus learn to in Western Europe and beyond. respect other cultures, something «Moreover, much more work has which our educational systems usu- Welcome to Finland! already been done»: during the war, ally cannot teach you.» the participants explored Helsinki and its surroundings. On Saturday, the Sympathy Towards the group took a train to Tampere. AEGEE- Tampere organised a typical cottage Earthquake Victims weekend in this quiet place where the participants were keenly awaiting to take 17/8, ISTANBUL later, this time in Greece. Aspasia Har- a sauna. «The word ‘sauna’ is probably n earthquake in Turkey raised a manta, member of AEGEE-Athina, sat the only Finnish word ever exported wave of sympathy in the net- at her computer and wrote: elsewhere. The language teacher was Awork. Right after the ground «Now I am writting this message I very pleased to see how easily the par- shook and the news was on TV, AEGEE hope I will finish it. My heart is beat- ticipants were learning», says Mikko members from all over Europe inquired ing like crazy and my parents are shout- Lindholm, member of AEGEE-Helsinki. about the well being of their friends in ing to me to get out, aaaaa we are mov- After a few days, the participants Turkey. Due to the AEGEE mailing lists, ing again!!!!» This time, the force was of returned to Helsinki, where they could the network was kept up to date on the 5.9, when she reported about the hap- watch the outstanding Finnish Winter developments and latest news from the penings. Later, the Human Rights Olympics which took place in the earthquake zone around Izmit. Working Group launched a campaign ancient fortress of Suomenlina. This was also the case three weeks to help the victims. forty seven47 1 Europe: A num- despotism versus ber of AEGEE democracy. antennae organise a 24-26 München: Peace Action Day. Oktoberfest week- 1-15 Genova: SE September end. Italian. 28 Reutlingen: 2 Salerno: Giorgio Alex Glos, Presi- Volini suggests to imple- ordination Team and organ- 13-27 Valladolid: LC dent of the Juridical Com- ment an electronic update ising a Fund-Raising School. Spanish. mission, presents an of the Address Book using 8-22 Sevilla: SE Spanish 14-28 Turkey: Pre-PM bus overview on ongoing juridi- Lotus Notes. and Flamenco Dancing. tour by AEGEE-Warszawa. cal discussion topics. 3 Brussels: CD PR responsi- 10 Athina: An earthquake 17-19 Strasbourg: Youth 28 Kaiserslautern: Christ- ble Marcus Khoury suggests in the Greek capital shocks Assembly Conference of ian Schwehm announces the to make a new ‘press mirror’, the network. the European Movement scholarship programme which is a collection of press 10 Augsburg: Erik Krier organised by AEGEE. «Education for Democracy», cuttings about AEGEE. creates a new website for 19/9-3/10 Castelló: LC set up in Germany and the 4-11 Zielona Gora: Euro- AEGEE’s internal education Spanish. Netherlands. pean School. projects and materials. 21 Wien: Markus Schmidt 30 Heidelberg: Sebastian 6-12 Augsburg: In Touch 12 Moskva: Eric Fenster invites people to participate Klüsener suggests new with Joan Miró. starts a discussion about the in a European photo contest quality measures for 7 Brussels: CD member progress of the economic organised by AEGEE-Passau AEGEE events. Bernhard Müller announces and democratic develop- and AEGEE-Wien about 31/9-1/10 Timisoara: plans to issue membership ments in Russia. «The Life of Students». The website of AEGEE- cards with serial numbers. 12-25 Barcelona: SE Sci- 24-26 Adana: Autumn Europe which can be found 7 Brussels: CD member ence and Arts Performances. Presidents’ Meeting. at www.aegee.org is re- Fani Zarifopoulou gives a 12-26 Valencia: LC Spanish. 26 Adana: Michiel van launched with a profes- report on the progress of 13-29 Lviv: SU+ Ukraine Hees starts a discussion on sional design, thanks to creating a Fund-raising Co- ‘89-’99. the concept of enlightened Eduard Muresan.

Last PM of the Millenium

The autumn PM, hosted by AEGEE- Adana was the second statutory meeting on Turkish soil. In November 1997 AEGEE-Ankara had invited to the Agora in their city.

24-26/9, ADANA antennae criteria. The Netcom suggested than democracy. Therefore, the Agora ast PM of the Millenium» was that contacts who do not sign the so- would start electing a despot. In case the slogan for the Presidents’ called Convention d’Adhésion after a his accomplishments were disappoint- «LMeeting (PM) which was period of three Agoras, should be ing, the Agora is allowed to do away organised by AEGEE-Adana, in Sep- deleted. Furthermore, contact antennae with him at the following statutory tember 1999. 150 participants decided to would be downgraded in case of failing meeting. attend this PM. Its aim was «to give us to organise a European event within one «It gave us great satisfaction to the opportunity to prepare the Agora in year after signing the Convention. A lot organise the PM in Adana. We have Poznan in the best way possible», says of people were against these strict ideas, learnt many things about the meaning chairman Piet Hein Minnecré. «It also but the slightly amended proposals were of the AEGEE spirit and how to make allowed us to exchange and discuss the accepted two months later at the Agora such an event happen», remarked Ufuk problems that AEGEE is confronted with in Poznan. Karaoglu, organising crew member. in the year 2000. Together we are able to Michiel van Hees, creator of the After the end of the PM, AEGEE- tackle the most complex problems, be it Blonde Award, invited the participants Adana organised a post-event to visa or financial issues». to a fun workshop on the «transforma- Kizkalesi, the ancient Krykos, where A lot of projects were developed tion of AEGEE from democracy to the participants could enjoy the atmos- during the workshops in Adana, with enlightened despotism». His justifica- phere of the Mediterranean region and some rather technical ones focusing on tion was that a despot is more efficient its historical places for two days. forty eight48 In Touch with Joan Miró

6-12/9, AUGSBURG tablets with an electronic pen, which f you think that the arts are Siemens supplied for the duration of something for boring muse- the congress. It was possible to take «Iums, then our seminar carry- photos of Miró sculptures by using a ing the title ‘In touch with Miró’, digital camera and edit them on proved the contrary», says Heike screen. The results were outstanding. Echterhölter, president of AEGEE- A big Miró exposition in the arts Augsburg. The participants had the hall of Augsburg gave inspiration to opportunity to create pictures and this workshop. Heike continues: sculptures from clay, plaster, wood, «Miró has been the main topic of the colours and waste plastic, taking year for us in AEGEE-Augsburg. This inspiration from the works of the was in fact our second arts event.» Spanish artist, for six whole days. «We Three months earlier, in June, the even offered body-painting sessions», antenna had organised a successful adds Heike. In addition, the partici- three-day workshop on this topic. The Living art: AEGEE-Augsburg’s Miró seminar showed that arts is fun. pants could also create pictures on sculptures and pictures were dis- computer workstations and graphic played in the townhall of Augsburg. Surprising Views on the Transition in Ukraine

13-29/9, L’VIV explains main organiser Lena Aksyonova. about them. The participants saw them country on the slow track: Ten Two further discussions raised enor- in such a special way.» In addition, the years after the fall of the Iron mous interest: the differences in the organisers showed a film featuring ACurtain, the Summer University education systems between Western Ukraine from 1989 until today. «Ukraine ‘89-’99» analysed what hap- Europe and Ukraine, and the impor- A weekend tour to the Carpathian pened in Ukraine during the last ten tance of religion in the country. «We mountains and visits to the open air years in the areas of politics, demogra- also had a great simulation game where museum of Shevchenkivsky Gai, added phy, religion and economy. The event the participants were presenting dif- to the success of the programme. «An was jointly organised by AEGEE-Lviv ferent ways of development in extensive media coverage indicated a and the International Politics Working Ukraine», Lena. «We were surprised. special interest in the programme», con- Group, under the umbrella of the Peace Many things of cludes Lena. «Many newspapers and TV Academy project. «We were interested in our daily life stations reported about our Sum- knowing the opinion are so normal mer University; the radio stations of the people in to us that even gave news about the event Ukraine about the we never every two days.» changes that occurred, think because we know that many want to go back to communism»,

Heritage from the pre-communist times: the opera in the Ukrainian city of L’viv. forty AUTUMN

1 Timisoara: The Peace in the new AEGEE-Europe Mediterranean - website goes on-line. Peace Academy. 1-3 Pavia: Wine October 29 Istanbul: Tasting. Alper Akyüz sug- 5 Reutlingen: Shall book with songs from all Identity. gests that AEGEE AEGEE’s statement of prin- over Europe and specific 22-24: Genova: Regional should implement a rule ciples be included in the AEGEE songs. The first Meeting. that no military or political statutes? A discussion version is distributed at the 23 Brussels: CD PR organisation can be eligible starts, but is postponed to Agora in Poznan. responsible Marcus Khoury for sponsorship for AEGEE. 2000. 13-17 Eindhoven: 10th announces that Wolfgang 29 Aachen: The new ver- 7-11 Blagoevgrad: Anniversary, entitled The Thierse, President of the sion of AEGEE’s legal basis, Nationalism and Peace in History of the Future. German Parliament, and the Corpus Iuridicum ver- the Balkans. 15 Utrecht: AEGEE’s Borislaw Geremek, Polish sion 9.1, becomes available. 9-12 Budapest: Isabella Human Rights Working Minister of Foreign Affairs, 29/10 - 1/11 Freiburg: Casartelli represents Group launches a project to are new patrons. The Power of NGOs. AEGEE at the Council of help Turkish earthquake 23/24 Warszawa: Local 29/10 - 1/11 Barcelona: Europe meeting of the victims. Training Course. Regional Meeting. Youth Forum Jeunesse. 16/17 Brussels: CD 24 Lviv: IPWG board 30/10-3/11 Pristina: 12 Brussels: CD network Training School. member Ivan Petrenko Christian Schwehm from responsible Michal Pesta 20 Kaiserslautern: starts a discussion about AEGEE-Kaiserslautern vis- suggests to introduce a Christoph Schwehm wants democracy in Ukraine. its students in Pristina. change in the statutes to launch a scholarship pro- 26 Mainz: The AEGEE 31 Vera Cruz (USA): An which sets clearer condi- gramme for Serbian and think-tank «Task Force» AEGEE delegation is pres- tions to obtain and maintain Kosovo-Albanian students presents its result book. ent during the launching of antenna status. called «Education for 28/10 - 3/11 Karlsruhe: the North American Stu- 12 Utrecht: Else Weijsen- Democracy». PR European School. dent Forum. feld launches a Euro-Song- 21-24 Münster: European 28/10 - 2/11 Valletta:

On the Way to Settling Tensions

28/10-2/11, VALLETTA ar, destruction and the vio- lation of human rights: 25 W students from Europe and the Southern Mediterranean go to Malta to analyse the major conflicts which keep recurring in the area. «Peace in the Mediterranean Region» was the five-day congress organised by AEGEE-Valletta as part of the Peace Academy project. Both local and foreign speakers gave the participants insights on the various issues surrounding international relations in the Mediterranean. AEGEE-Valletta leaves its traces. Senior lecturer Stephen Calleya pointed out: «Only a positive outcome of the Barcelona Euro-Med Agreement backgrounds, the opportunity to put «Our participants now have a better will result in a co-operative zone of the theory into practice. They co- understanding of their respective situa- peace and tolerance». operate in finding an adequate solu- tions», summarises Corinne Cordina, pres- Prof. Felix Meier, from the Mediter- tion to the conflicts in question. ident of AEGEE-Valletta. Democracy, com- ranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, Lodged minutes away from the sea munication, education and cultural stressed the importance of common inter- front, the participants also had the awareness are essential for the settlement ests for Mediterranean peoples. The impacts chance to discover the wonders of of all tensions. «An outstanding event: the of cultural differences and the question of Malta: sun and sea were always participants were enthusiastic, the speakers human rights were also discussed. enjoyed to the full, especially in Mal- were extremely qualified and the organisa- The final simulation game gave ta’s old capital city, Mdina, and in the tion was simply perfect», concluded Enrico the participants, with their different sister island, Gozo. Vigliani from AEGEE-Brescia. fifty50 patrons of aegee-europe

Dr. Josep María Bricall AEGEE Welcomes Esteemed Former President of the Conference of European Rectors. Europeans as Patrons Dr. Kenneth J R Edwards President of the Conference of Euro- 23, BRUSSELS Esteemed European personalities pean Rectors, Vice Chancellor of the olish Minister of Foreign have already in the past on numerous University of Leicester. Affairs, Bronislaw Geremek and occasions announced their support for Bronislaw Geremek President of the German Parlia- AEGEE - politicians, scientists and Minister of Foreign Affairs of P Poland, former chair of the Organi- ment, the Bundestag, Wolfgang artists like Vaclav Havel and Mikhail zation for Security and Cooperation Thierse, declare that they accept pa- Gorbachev. Many of them have made in Europe. tronage of AEGEE-Europe. In doing that declaration of support a perma- Árpád Göncz so they acknowledge the achieve- nent recognition of our aims as being President of the Republic of Hun- ments of AEGEE. of value for the societies we live in. gary. Hungarian author György Konrád To express that recognition they have Mikhail Gorbachev and Vice President of PEN Interna- linked their name directly to the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. tional, since 1993, has only one month association and become patrons both Václav Havel later, in November 1999, voiced of the local groups and of the whole President of the Czech Republic. recognition and gratitude for AEGEE’s European association. György Konrád, activities and involvement. He there- Author, President of the «Akademie fore stated he would be honoured to der Künste», Vice President of PEN Bronislaw Geremek (middle) together International. have his name associated with the with board members of AEGEE- organisation. Europe. Catherine Lalumière Former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, member of the European Parliament. Jacques Santer Former Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, former Presi- dent of the European Commission, member of the European Parliament. Rita Süssmuth Former President of the German Par- liament, the Bundestag, member of the German Parliament. Daniel Tarschys Former Secretary General of the Council of Europe Wolfgang Thierse President of the German Parliament, the Bundestag.

AEGEE On-line

1/10, BRUSSELS/TIMISOARA EGEE-Europe re-launches its web site www.aegee.org with a professional design. A «The new page design is much more elegant and serious», says László Fésüs, President of AEGEE-Europe. The homepage shows the earth with a white silhouette of Europe on a blue background. Clear toolbars and a folder-like structure guide the visitor through the contents, which have been extended. «The demand for a good web design is increasing every day», explains Eduard Muresan from AEGEE-Timisoara, who developed the pages. fifty five51 28/10 - 3/11, KARLSRUHE volunteered to host the next PRES a The training course, called «Euro- n AEGEE member’s few months later, in November. This pean School» in AEGEE jargon, knowledge of basic public time, an even more experienced staff reflects the newest policies of the cur- «Arelations skills is becom- presented an incredibly realistic case- rent Comité Directeur. Much more ing ever more important for the run- work with fictitious maps in which emphasis is being given to the field of ning of a local antenna. So important, virtual university towns were located. training than ever before, as is the case that it is now a question of do it or be Divided in multinational teams, the with PR. This is because the acquired forgotten» says Bert Roesch, speaker of participants, coming from as faraway skills will not only help the trained the Public Relations Working Group places as Estonia or Turkey, had the members to advance in the job market (PRWG). Together with his interna- chance to work under much better but will also be of great benefit to the tional working group of AEGEE mem- conditions, with more material. Even association, since they will have the bers who have interest and experience telephone conversations with journal- knowledge on which to base their in this field, Bert decided to continue ists were simulated. unlimited motivation. the PR training programme first tried out in Groningen in May 1999. These training schools last for several days, and consist of lectures and casework on topics ranging from designing good posters to writing an effective press release. Most importantly, the content of the lectures is turned into practical work. Participants simulate real PR work for their own local AEGEE antenna, in order to be in a better position to understand their mistakes and improve their skills. Members of AEGEE-Karlsruhe who took part in the first PR European School (PRES) were so Bert Rösch acted as journalist during the PRES interview sessions. inspired by the end of it, that they Wine Tasting North American Student Forum Weekend nately, he asked me to join him and talk 31/10, VERA CRUZ to the students, informing them on 1/10-03/10, PAVIA special meeting was organised how to set up local antennae and man- onth of harvest and of the for students from Canada, age them. They were all very curious extraordinarily beautiful co- AMexico and the United States. about what AEGEE represents and how Mlours of lieves: a perfect time to The idea behind it was to create an it functions. I must admit they were introduce AEGEE members to the rich international student forum for the impressed by our organisational struc- world of taste that wine offers. The par- North-American continent that ture and the fact that it has been work- ticipants tasted 6 brands of wine and were would be based on the structure of ing successfully for the last fifteen taught to recognise the colours, and dif- AEGEE. years. Of course, they are anxious to ferent tastes. They also observed the har- Here is what Marieke Grassens had visit us in Europe and see it from close. vest. They saw wine being produced, old to say when she came back from the It is really satisfying to see how the barrels, the wine cellars at «Montello», and conference: «I sent an application to European initiative is being imitated by visited a family-run business producing Franck Biancheri, founder of AEGEE, others, and is spreading to other conti- high-quality wine. and guest-speaker to this event. Fortu- nents.» fifty two52 Common Vision for the Future of the Balkans

7-11/10, BLAGOEVGRAD alisation and European integration.» ope for the Balkans: transform- After three exciting days of discus- ing Europe’s south-eastern sions, lectures and workshops, the par- Hregion from a case study in eth- ticipants began to really appreciate the nic conflict into a model for peaceful role of close multiethnic cultural inter- coexistence and ethnic tolerance, was action in overcoming their own preju- the ambition of the 72 young people dices and stereotypes about «the Other». who attended the conference on «All of the participants realised that «Nationalism and Peace in the Balkans». they have a common vision for the AEGEE-Blagoevgrad organised the future - to live in a peaceful, demo- event as part of AEGEE’s Peace Acad- cratic, economically prosperous region, emy project, which aims to construct integrated in the European structures», a new peace culture for the 21st Cen- summarises Miglena Spassova, organ- tury and to promote it among the youth iser. «The people of the region need to - the future architects of the European actively engage in negotiation and to environment. search for compromises that will bal- «We were happy to receive partici- ance the interests of all the countries in pants from 13 different countries, the Balkans.» All participants agreed mainly from the Balkans, but also even that nationalism cannot be a viable from Egypt and Kazakhstan», says strategy for achieving either national or organising crew member, Anelia Efti- regional prosperity and stability. mova. «The conference gave the partic- Mutual understanding, ethnic tolerance ipants the opportunity to discuss their and appreciation for cultural diversity vision for the future of the region in are the means to achieve peace in a sus- Raluca Mat, member of the Blagoevgrad team. terms of the current processes of glob- tainable way.

«Creating Identity is Like Building an Anthill»

21-24/10, MÜNSTER urope is growing together»: this phrase is quoted in the media daily. Every person living on the «EEuropean continent has an own national identity. «It is clear that Italians, Ukrainians and Dutch have something in common. Is it something like a European identity?» 87 participants from seven different countries tried to find an answer to this question during AEGEE-Münster’s congress on «European Identity.» One thing became clear: the idea of identity follows a consistent pattern that relies on the power of one uniform language and a common interpretation of the nation’s history. «Every nation transmits its legends and fairy tales to the next generation», adds Olivia Andiel, president. In the lecture on «The Cultural Dimension of European Identity», Robert Picht from the College of Europe in Bruges, stressed that the European youth will continue the important Euro- pean integration process by enlightening each other of their history and their lives. A European identity cannot be invented artificially by institutions like the EU authorities. Silke Horstman from the organising team summarises: «The European identity can only grow from below. It is like build- Who is really European? ing an anthill. Everybody has to keep it steady.» fifty three53 1 Istanbul: AEGEE- 26-28 Geneva: Istanbul founds a Aliki Louvrou rep- new local IPWG resents AEGEE at branch. the General Meet- 3 Warszawa: News November ing of the Youth Bulletin editor Forum. Krzysztof Szczygielski 8-10 Gdansk: AEGEE and the UN. 26/11 - 01/12 announces that the latest issue Olympic Games. 18-20 Rotterdam: Final Timisoara: Ten Years of Tran- of the publication is for distri- 10-17 Beograd, Nis, Novi Conference Peace Academy - sition in Romania. bution at the Agora in Poznan. Sad: How does it look to be 18-21 Budapest: Leisure & 27 Augsburg: Bernhard 4-7 Poznan: Autumn a winner! Pleisure. Müller presents an outline Agora. 12-14 Leiden: The Power 18 Kiel: The new PRWG for AEGEE’s «Training for 7 Poznan: The Environmen- of Diplomacy website goes on-line on own Trainers» concept, to be tal Working Group decides 12-14 Arnhem: The Future domain: http://www.aegee- implemented in the year to dissolve. of Internal Education; 20th prwg.de 2000. 7 Poznan: Faní Zari- Anniversary Festival. 25-28 Heidelberg: France 29/11 - 05/12 Budapest: fopoúlou becomes new Presi- 14 Brussels: CD member and Germany: Turbulent Past Bridges to Kosov@ - Seminar dent of AEGEE-Europe. Linda Baan announces the - Conciliatory Present - 30 Valencia: Carlos Miragall 7 Poznan: AEGEE’s IT new AEGEE Liaison officers. European Future? Martinez presents his plans expert Stefan Recksiegel Helene Berard and Carmen 25-28 Treviso/Venezia: for a regional news bullettin becomes AEGEE’s eighth Hilario quit their tasks at Artspotting - Reinassance for Portugal, Spain and honorary member. Agencie de la Francophonie and Modern Arts France.

Final Conference of the Peace Academy

18-20/11, ROTTERDAM European Centre for Conflict Preven- know what the main actors of conflict lmost 300 European students tion, commented on the role of the civil prevention should do. «We should gathered for the final confer- society: «Internal conflicts have always study this issue thoroughly and work A ence of the Peace Academy existed; but the development process has at grassroots level», continued Dijan. project, entitled «International Organ- increased the social tension because of «A clear result of the Peace Academy is isations Managing Armed Conflict.» unequal access to new assets of mod- that we need to be trained on the tech- This event dealt with the contribution ernisation.» Later on, all participants niques of managing conflicts in our of different organisations to interna- went on a tour through the Peace Palace. daily life and in our future position. tional peace. The programme ap- The theme of the last day was the Hopefully in the future, we will work proached three different perspectives: responsibility of multinational corpo- hard enough to be able to replace tol- international organisations, civil soci- rations. «One of the most important erance with respect for others.» ety and multinational corporations. progresses that has been On the first day, the role of organ- made is that more and isations and institutions was dis- more companies define cussed. Mr. Niehaus, ambassador of themselves as part of soci- South Africa to the Netherlands, ety, not as a closed sepa- described the UN as one of the most rate entity that tries to win important successes of the 20th cen- the battles over other», Mr. tury. «We must address the weakness- Wesselink of Pax Christi es of the UN in order to become a Netherlands concluded. stronger international player», he said. «The consequences can According to Niehaus the greatest only be the development danger to peace is the continuation of of sound human rights large-scale poverty. Mr. Kamminga, policies.» member of the international board of The organisers of the Amnesty International, posed the Peace Academy events also question of whether the system of the had the chance to present United Nations Charter of 1945 was their results. Project co- still adequate to deal with situations ordinator Dijan Albadyrak of armed conflict. «We focus extreme- gave a summary: «We dis- ly on negative peace: the absence of covered that even we, as war instead of a situation of justice in open-minded European the world.» students, have our own The second day of the conference prejudices towards other took place in the Peace Palace in The cultures.» The suprana- Hague. Prof. Hommes, chairman of the tional system does not The slightly different congress promotion. fifty four54 Outstanding Autumn Agora

4-7/11, POZNAN he Agora in Poznan was a great success for the Comité TDirecteur. The European board of AEGEE convinced the participants of its great work, which was presented with a lot of openness. Therefore the Moral Report was approved with the best result ever: 95 percent of the delegates voted in favour. The local organisation of the Agora was also Glamourous opening ceremony: the Agora in Poznan was opened in style. excellent: the Poznan team put love into every detail, be it a visit to a dancing performance, the opera or a event at least once every two years in to replace democracy in AEGEE with pyjama party. order to keep their status. «enlightened despotism». There would The new Working Format Anten- Fani Zarifopoulou from AEGEE- be one divine leader. In case he ceases nae Criteria, as presented by CD Athina was elected the 21st President to be enlightened, he will be execut- member Michal Pesta defined the of the network and she will lead ed. Alex Glos, president of AEGEE’s roles of the local groups of AEGEE. A AEGEE into the 21st century. Juridical Commission remarks: «It was new contact antenna has to organise After all these successful news, it clear that the proposal could not be an event within one year; existing was time for fun: Michiel van Hees accepted. Nevertheless, it was a great antennae have to organise a European asked the Agora to vote on a proposal show.»

ServerMaster PRESIDENTS OF AEGEE-EUROPE

Stefan Recksiegel FRANCK BIANCHERI April 1985 - April 1988 EGENS VAN ITERSON SCHOLTEN 7/11, POZNAN VIERI BRACCO April 1995 - November 1995 EGEE’s communication flow April 1988 - November 1988 without him cannot be imag- CHRISTOPH STROHM FRÉDÉRIC PÉLARD November 1995 - April 1996 Ained: for several years, Stefan November 1988 - November 1989 Recksiegel from Karlsruhe took care JORDI CAPDEVILA ADOLFO DOMINGUEZ of improving the IT of the association. April 1996 - November 1996 November 1989 - May 1990 Due to his achievements, he has been GERHARD KRESS November 1996 - April 1997 awarded honorary membership at the ACHIM BOERS Agora in Poznan. The delegates grant- May 1990 - November 1990 PETER GINSER April 1997 - November 1997 ed this with a standing ovation. «Ste- GEORG VON DER GABLENTZ SERGIO CAREDDA fan not only installed the AEGEE November 1990 - April 1992 November 1997 - April 1998 server, he also took an active stand in JEROEN HOOGERWERF HÉLÈNE BERARD discussions, like April 1992 - April 1993 April 1998 - OCTOBER 1998 the extension of PAVEL MILADINOVIC STEFAN SEIDEL AEGEE to April 1993 - November 1993 October 1998 - April 1999 Cyprus. He is ZSUZSA KIGYÓS LÁSZLÓ FÉSÜS also a very mod- November 1993 - April 1994 April 1999 - November 1999 est person», says DORIAN SELZ FANÍ ZARIFOPOÚLOU Marcus Khoury, April 1994 - November 1994 November 1999 - May 2000 who held the CHRISTINA THORSSON lauding speech. November 1994 - April 1995 fifty five55 Long Live Freedom! Fight Against the Regime 26/11-1/12, TIMISOARA ong live freedom!»: this 10-17/11, BEOGRAD motto could be heard mmediately after the bombardment «Lthroughout Europe in of Yugoslavia, on the 24th of March, 1989. In that year, most countries in Iworld-wide discussions and analysis Central and Eastern Europe over- concerning the question of whether threw the communist regimes in their there was justification for NATO’s quest for freedom, democracy and a actions, started. Serbian students felt better life. The fall of the Berlin wall betrayed by these strikes, and soon marked the end of an era and the after the bombardment stopped, the beginning of a new epoch: commu- general feeling in the air was: «let’s not nism was dead. Since in Romania let it happen again anywhere else in the everything started in Timisoara, ten world.» years after the tragic events of The aim of this conference was to December 1989, AEGEE-Timisoara show the dark sides of the bombard- felt the duty to commemorate the ments, the psycological, ecological, past. The conference «Ten Years of political, economical, and cultural con- Transition in Romania», brought sequences of it. The participants together 40 participants from ten attended many lectures including the countries. They tried to answer many lecture on «The National Minorities in questions, such as why Romania is so Vojvodina and the Consequences of the far behind other Central and Eastern Bombardment on a Multinational Soci- European countries. The difficult ety», delivered by AEGEE-Novi Sad. transition of Romania to the demo- The most powerful student organ- cratic system can be explained by isation in Serbia made a short overview comparing it to the neighbouring of the war. They also talked about their countries: statistical data show that activities, one of the most important the Romanian Communist Party had being the setting up of the «FreeSerbia» the largest population percentage. web-site. «This site is called FreeSerbia Peter Korchnak from Kosice, said: «I with a purpose, and will exist until Ser- came here with prejudices on Roma- bia finally becomes a democratic and nia. But once there, I felt like a big prosperous country, free of totalitarian Timisoara was the birthplace sponge, absorbing a lot of informa- regimes and autocracy», stated a mem- of the revolution in Romania in 1989. tion. I wish Romania good luck with ber of the organisation’s board. its transition.» When discussing the concrete example of Yugoslavia, and Serbia especially, the participants were Do We Need Diplomats? shocked at the low level of basic human rights that people have. Some 12-13/11, LEIDEN correct information about a certain concrete ideas on how to improve the he AEGEE conference entitled situation, and much expertise in the situation, however, emerged. Summer «The Power of Diplomacy» cov- fields of culture, language, law and Universities should be encouraged Tered many aspects of diplomacy politics in order for their opinions to and supported by all student organi- and international affairs. Inter- be appreciated or even considered rel- sations. Lower participation fees and a national law expert H.H.M. Sondaal, evant.» The question «How does facilitated procedure for obtaining former Dutch Ambassador in Buda- problem solving work?» was to visas, are also necessary. Conferences pest, gave his own opinion on diplo- answer, but one thing most of the on the subject should be organised to macy: «The role that the diplomats participants definitely agreed upon help spreading the awareness of the play in providing the right informa- was: whatever role diplomats might existing problems. tion cannot be replaced, not even by or might not play (at present or in The conference ended with a Euro- the Internet. Some of the things that the future), their influence has pro- pean Night. «Always look on a bright are important for a successful diplo- ved to be of great importance in inside of life...» was the song that made mat is to be able to have the latest ternational affairs. the party last all night long. fifty six56 France-Germany: Still a Special Relationship?

25-28/11, HEIDELBERG shop had finished. One of the great old concluded in 1991. He sees it as a pre- They were enemies for a long time. men of the Franco-German reconcilia- deliberation level for the three Euro- After World War II, however, France tion, Pierre-Paul Sagave from Paris, pean powers in an enlarged European and Germany became allies. But what brought this topic to an end with his Union. do the people in these countries really lecture about France and Germany in Elegant buffets, well-kept timeta- think of each other? In order to discuss political cartoons from 1850 until bles and a slide show about the semi- the topic, the International Politics today. nar at its end, showed the capabilities Working Group (IPWG) and the A further highlight was the lecture of the hosting antenna of AEGEE-Hei- AEGEE antennae of Heidelberg, Lyon by Polish intellectual Adam Krze- delberg. The organisers managed to pro- and Münster, organised the seminar minski. He explained the "Weimarer vide a permanent simultaneous trans- "France and Germany", with a partici- Dreieck", a partnership between Fran- lation in French, German and English, pation of 50 people. "Since the seminar ce, Germany and Poland, which was thanks to the university institute for was part of AEGEE's Peace Academy project, it also analysed the reconciliation between France and Germany, as a model for other conflicts", adds project co-ordinator Bernhard Klein. In his opening workshop on stereotypes about France and Germany, Mar- cus Khoury, member of the European board of AEGEE, denied the existence of any positive aspects of stereotypes at all. This lead to a vivid discussion, which continued long after the work-

Medal Getting a Picture of Art Collector from 25-28/11, VENEZIA/TREVISO opposed to the simple tourist experi- he arts are exciting, but ence. They also discovered the lovely Ukraine lectures about art are often town of Treviso and its important boring. We found a way to monuments, which are normally 8-11/11, GDANSK «T make these lectures interesting.» omitted by guided tours. Nobody could beat Anya Martinyuk: The girl Davide Calenda, president of «The most positive result of from AEGEE-Lviv AEGEE-Venezia, was one of the main Artspotting is that the interest in the was the leading responsibles for «Artspotting - Re- history of art increased in every par- athlete in AEGEE- naissance and Modern Art in Two ticipant, and they learnt something Gdansk's first Olympic Games. Great Exhibitions», organised jointly without realising that they were Right after the by AEGEE-Venezia and AEGEE-Tre- attending classes», concludes Davide. Agora in Poznan, viso. 31 participants gathered on the «This is exactly what was planned in 100 participants occasion of the exhibitions of «The the beginning: not a conference where went to the sports event with all kinds Renaissance in Venice», at the Palazzo people are sitting and learning in a of athletics, basketball Grassi of Venezia, and «Landscapes passive way, but a transmission of or table tennis matches. from Cézanne to Mondrian», held in culture by making the participants be Treviso. the protagonists of their learning pro- The lectures were mainly held cess.» The organisers were happy to outdoors so that the participants notice that many participants were could enjoy Venice better and get a asking to join the next Artspotting completely different picture of the event. Therefore, AEGEE-Treviso and town. They learnt to appreciate the AEGEE-Venezia decided to plan a sec- city from an artistic point of view, as ond such activity. fifty seven57 Spreading the News – Publications in AEGEE

7/11, POZNAN How does the Juridical Commission work? Which was the hottest Summer University of the year? The NewsBulletin gives the answer. The ninth issue of AEGEE's main internal publication is ready for distribution at the Agora in Poz- nan. It is only one of the many publications in AEGEE, ranging from the Address Book to conference results book- lets, which even serve as reference material for decision makers at the European institutions. "The year 1999 also saw the birth of LiftOff, a revolutionary flyer", states Marcus Khoury, PR responsible in the board of AEGEE-Europe.

The Address Book is probably the most often used publication in AEGEE. Published twice a year, it contains the addresses of the board members of the Comité Directeur, the commissions, the project teams, the working groups and all 261 AEGEE locals and contacts. In the past six years, it had been produced in Maastricht; members of AEGEE-Passau are now taking over in the year 2000. The Summer University Guide presents all courses taking place during the summer - from archaeology in Kosice to peace studies in Ankara. Every course description is printed both in English and in the native language of the organising antenna. On the basis of the information found in this booklet, more than 4300 students applied for the 87 Summer Uni- versities of 1999. The News Bulletin is AEGEE's internal information magazine. It contains sto- ries about people and events, news and gossip. When it was first published in the late 1980s, it was the only information source in AEGEE; e-mail and the World Wide Web were not available yet. At present, it is being published about two The «Key to Europe» Team is ready to take off! times per year by AEGEE-Warszawa. Local bulletins in AEGEE are sometimes colourful and The Key to Europe is the publication which you are cur- stylish, sometimes simple and informative; and there are plen- rently holding in your hands. It is both AEGEE's business card ty of them. About 50 bulletins are being published regularly to the outside world and a yearbook for the members of the between Athina and Amsterdam. Some contain material in one association. This is the eighth issue of the Key to Europe since language, others are more international, some are photocopied, its first publication in 1991. Its 68 pages make it the largest others are printed in high quality. All of them, however, issue ever, reflecting AEGEE's fast growth. breathe the spirit of AEGEE. fifty eight58 1-31 Brussels: CD be involved in the Network responsible, European Youth Michal Pesta, goes on Congress to be held an extended network at the world exposi- trip. December tion 2000. 2-3 Ploiesti: The 19 Brussels: The Students’ Vision on issues the first «AEGEE- poses plans for an AEGEE EC accepts the Europe 2020. Europe Telegram», giving congress about EU enlarge- Socrates Project 2000 - a col- 3-5 Turku/Abo: Regional weekly information from the ment, taking place in the laboration among AEGEE, Meeting. CD head office. European Parliament in June ESIB and ESN. 4-5 Ploiesti: 24 Barcelona: Regional Meet- 9 Brussels: György Konrád, 2000. Boris Daussà ing. vice president of the interna- 14 Berlin: Christian Ribbat from the Education Working 5-12 Berlin/Gdansk: Ten tional PEN, agrees to become announces a new software Group presents their latest Years of Transition: Poland AEGEE patron. module which might ease project, the «Manual for and Germany 1989-1999. 10-11 Ljubljana: Slovenian event applications. Incoming and Outgoing Stu- 9 L’viv: IPWG speaker Ivan Traditional Drinks. 17-19 Cluj-Napoca: Net- dents». 29/12 - 02/01 Eind- Petrenko reports about the 11-12 Brussels: Lotus Com Meeting. hoven, Zagreb, Roma, dramatic deterioration of liv- Notes training course in the 17 Brussels: CD secretary Skopje, Udine, Paris: ing conditions in Ukraine, headquarters of AEGEE. Oana Mailatescu announces including electricity black- 12-18 Enschede: IT- the introduction of a weekly Thousands of AEGEE mem- outs. School. virtual CD office hours. bers celebrate the New Year 9 Brussels: Marcus Khoury 13 Brussels: The CD pro- 19 Hannover: AEGEE will 2000.

«History is Alive in People’s Memories»

5-12/12, BERLIN/GDANSK bishop was a participant at the Round Dorota Przy- ouble conference in the East Table Negotiations in 1989, which ludzka, secre- and West: To commemorate ended the communist regime in Poland. tary of Dthe 10th anniversary of the He shared his reflections on what role AEGEE- fall of the communist regimes in Cen- the Church has to play now. «The times Gdansk. tral and Eastern Europe, AEGEE- of Nazism and Communism are behind We have Gdansk and AEGEE-Berlin organised us. It’s now time for Europe to start learnt a a joint congress, entitled «Ten Years of building a common home.» lot about Transition in Poland and East Ger- The events of the past were also the past many». These events were part of the put forward during the workshop our- «Ten Years of Transition» project. prepared by AEGEE-Gdansk mem- selves.» «The congress started in Berlin and bers. «We prepared a video-collage focused on the change that took place of the most important moments of in the eastern part of Germany», says 1989», explains Marta Olszewska, Pascal Nevries, participant from Mün- one of the workshop’s crew. A small ster. «On the surface, Berlin is a united exhibition illustrated the communist city. However, there are still big dif- times. There were photographs, the ferences underneath it: people have opposition’s underground bulletins, lived for up to forty years under the and other mementoes from the col- communist system and cannot just lections of AEGEE-Gdansk members. switch to the democratic capitalistic «While preparing this conference we system of today that easily.» had to dive really On the 9th of December, the event deep into continued in Gdansk. 80 participants the sub- explored the places where the Solidarity ject», Movement was born, among them the says Gdansk Shipyard, where Lech Walesa worked. Several lectures on the difficulties faced by the economy and political system of Poland and other countries of the post-Soviet Block, followed. Archbishop Tadeusz Goclowski delivered a lecture on the role the Catholic Church played during the communist times in Poland. The Arch- fifty nine59 IT School in Enschede The Ultimate 12-18/12, ENSCHEDE users keep improving and updating all Party ost people do not realise the information they contain. «It is now what a large impact infor- time for the people who have intro- «Mmation technology has duced IT in AEGEE and are now leav- 27/12-02/01, ZAGREB on AEGEE. The enormous growth in all ing, to start searching for a generation ever before, such a great number kind of tools, from e-mail to groupware, of successors», says IT trainer Stefan of students wanted to celebrate requires good training», says Goosje Recksiegel, who was awarded honorary Nthe New Year together, the reason Meulemans, co-ordinator of AEGEE’s membership of AEGEE-Europe for his of course being the abandonment of the first information technology school achievements in this field. «Most peo- big «9». This time, «The Ultimate Party» (ITES). 15 computer enthusiasts met in ple in AEGEE are now used to email, was the catching name that attracted the Enschede to spend a whole week talk- and the web is also not a strange mon- attention of many, and ended up to be the ing about the use of computers in ster anymore. But to keep the mailing best description of the atmosphere of AEGEE. Goosje: «Who could ever still lists running and to be able to work New Year’s Eve in Zagreb. 150 partici- consider it possible to work without the using Lotus Notes, you need some extra pants from 11 countries were accommo- use of mailing lists or a virtual office knowledge», he added. dated right in the centre of town, which where documents are stored?» However, AEGEE does not only allowed them to go enjoy the amazing The ITES allowed AEGEE’s IT use ready-made programs. Members fireworks at the main city square. During gurus to teach new people the tricks of also develop new applications them- the days the participants were skating, the trade. Tutors such as Philipp von selves. «AEGEE is the perfect play- bowling, visited museums, and took time Klitzing and Stefan Recksiegel where ground for our IT experts to put their to socialise. present, but software companies also acquired skills into practice», explains The event was accompanied by a post- gave feedback. AMS delivered a full day Goosje. Examples of this are the event in the snowy mountains, where the lecture on Lotus Notes and its features. LAMA and PAM programs, used to warm «štrudl» and wine, and laughter, In order to keep all these pro- process the applications for Summer imagination and good-mood kept the par- grammes running, it is necessary that Universities and congresses. ticipants awake long into the night.

Network Trip of Michal Pesta

1-31/12, BRUSSELS local groups and learnt about their Around Europe in 30 days: this is problems, such as bureaucracy and what Michal Pesta managed during expensive trips. «It is great to see how his network trip in December. The willing everyone is to co-operate. One CD member responsible for network of the PR plans of these antennae is to matters wanted to get in touch with as translate LiftOff into Russian, many antennae as possible, especially Belarussian and Ukrainian so that in Northern and Eastern Europe. they can use it.» «They are normally disconnected from Michal’s other stops included the rest of Europe due to large dis- Dnipropetrovsk, Chisinau and Cluj- tances», says Michal. Napoca, where the Network Commis- His first stop after Brussels was at sion meeting took place. After Oradea the regional meeting for Scandinavia and Beograd, he reached Banja Luka in in Turku. «We decided to focus on Bosnia, where AEGEE was presented establishing AEGEE in Oslo, Arhus, for the first time; then Zagreb and Tallin and Uppsala». Michal next went Roma to finally return to Brussels. to Sankt Peterburg. «I even had to Michal: «Despite the problems and bribe my way into the country, same lost train connections, this trip was as for Minsk in Belarus and Kyiv, incredibly useful and interesting.» He where another regional meeting was concludes with a smile: «On the train being held», he continues. During I even met a guy who wants to found each stop, Michal visited the AEGEE AEGEE in Kinshasa.» Michal: «Look, I’m coming!» sixty60 OUTLOOK

CALENDAR PROJECTS SUMMER UNIVERSITIES OTHER EVENTS AEGEE’s

January

01/01 - 01/06 Wien:Photo Contest 03-10 Ivano-Frankivs’k: Winter University: Sports Against Drugs 07-09 Salzburg: Regional Meeting 14-16 Katowice: Hunting for Man 21-23 Aachen: Regional Meeting in Aachen 29-30 Heidelberg: Millennium Masked Ball February

02-07 Moskva: 03-06 Rijeka: ‘Body Language’ Winter University From Mask till Dawn 03-13 Tampere/Kuusamo: 10-12 Skopje: Snow University 2000 Presidents’ Meeting Spring 2000 04-06 Enschede: 13-16 Skopje: Window to the World - Challenges of the Post-PM: Get in the Culture, Feel the Information Society Nature! Folklore Music, Traditional 05-06 Istanbul: Clothes and Churches Regional Meeting 13-19 Brussels: 10-13 London: Socrates Promoters Training Britain in Europe? 16-19 Szeged: 12-20 Izmir: European Film Festival European School 22-26 Debrecen: 16-23 L’viv: The Culture of a New Millennium Ski-Week 23-26 Budapest: 18-20 Lublin: Bridges to Kosov@ - Final Conference Regional Meeting 24-26 Plzen: 24-27 L’viv: Beer Congress Love is... 24-26 Salerno: 25-27 Ljubljana: Regional Meeting Erasmus Power; Regional Meeting 25/03 - 02/04 Amsterdam: 26/02 - 02/03 Torino/Cervinia: European School Ski and City 30/03 - 02/04 Budapest: 26/02 - 06/03 Sofia/Borovetz: Perspectives for Kosovo Skiing to the Extreme 31/03 - 02/04 Groningen: 27/02 - 04/03 Brescia/Brunico: AEGEE-Eurosongfestival SKIzzati - Ski and Fun in the Dolomite Mountains 27/02 - 06/03 Udine: April Balkan Action

07-09 Bratislava/Banska Bystrica: March Non-European Groups in Society 07-09 Paris: Regional Meeting 02-05 Lodz: 14-16 Nijmegen: All Rights Reserve Intercultural Education - Be Wise, Be 03-05 Venezia: Educated, Be There! Carnivalspotting II sixty two62 Calendar

16-26 Lyon: Bon Apetit - Gastronomy July

8-13 Barcelona: Advanced European School 16-21 Nijmegen: 14-17 Wroclaw: 4 Day Marches Nijmegen: Walking all Crime Story the Way 15-22 Split and Islands: 20/07 - 10/08 Europe: Adriatic Sailing Borderless Europe Rally 16-21 Napoli: Euro School August 24/04 - 01/05 Brescia: European School 06-12 Hannover (EXPO 2000): 28-30 Bratislava: Our Common Future: Towards a Sus- Where Piano Meets Computer - Mar- tainable Europe ginal Music Styles 12-27 Olympia/Cesne: 28/04 - 01/05 Bonn: Peace Summit Exploring New Horizons - Be Creative September May 08-10 Szeged: 04 Utrecht Autumn Presidents’ Meeting 2000 European Labour Market Jobfair 11-13 Alba Iulia: 04-07 Utrecht: No Visa: A Dream or a Reality to Spring Agora 2000 Come? 10-14 Warszawa: 20-28 Praha: Public Relation European School III European School 11-14 Skopje/Ohrid: Balkan Idea - Student NGO Meeting 15-18 Chernivtsi: October School of Survival in Extreme Tourism 05-07 Paris: 18-21 Kaiserslautern/Saarbrücken: AEGEE’s 15th Anniversary - New Chal- Fast Food Society lenges 19-21 Lübeck: 29/10 - 01/11 Torino: Sweet Stuff: Marzipan Meeting Labour Mobility in Europe 19-21 Hamburg: Japanese Culture 25-28 Passau: November Go East?! Effects of EU Expansion 25-29 Delft: 03-05 Udine: Sand - Shape Your Imagination Autumn Agora 2000 26-28 Bayreuth: 10-14 Valletta: Eco-Con Removing Borders in Education: Facili- tating Mobility June December

02-04 Maastricht: 04-10 Enschede: Music Explored - A Journey Into Music European School 07-08 Brussels: 27/12-2/1 Sarajevo: The New Borders of the European Vucko - Multimedia Festival Union sixty three63 PPROJECrojectsTS

Education for Borderless Europe Democracy obility is both one of the key ele- A team consisting of Dutch and Ger- ments for building a true European man students are striving to give Ser- Midentity and a very fashionable topic A bian and Kosovo Albanian colleagues nowadays. Inside the EU it is encouraged, and the opportunity to study abroad under demo- into the EU it is discouraged. Yet only by mov- cratic conditions. In addition to the lectures at ing, travelling, living and working abroad are the universities, the students will participate we able to discover what we have in common, in a series of weekend seminars, during which the shared interests and needs that constitute not only current political issues will be dis- the concept of a European identity. What hap- cussed. It is also intended to initiate a dialogue pens though if you really dare to leave your between Serbs and Kosovo-Albanians about native country and work, study or retire some- building a peaceful future in their region. This where else in Europe either as an EU citizen or programme has the support of personalities even as a non-EU citizen? The aim of the proj- such as Doris Pack, Member of the European ect is to give young Europeans the occasion to Parliament. discover the role a Borderless Europe has Above all, these young people should be obtained in both their personal lives and in the offered a chance to experience democracy in societies they live in. everyday life. How would a democratic system The project consists of thematic events otherwise be implemented in a country whose such as conferences and Summer Universities, citizens have so far only studied in books about an essay contest, a results booklet and a Bor- it? The organisers already visited and met with derless Europe Rally. All of these focus on the students in Serbia and Kosovo several times philosophical and psychological aspects of bor- thanks to the support of WUS Austria, the ders. They also shed a light on very practical European Rectors' Conference and UNMIK, the questions. The whole project ranges from top- United Nations Governing body in Kosovo. ics such as nationalism and prejudice to student exchange programmes and visa requirements.

Socrates on the Move n co-operation with ESIB and ESN this proj- to give feedback to European institutions on ect supported by the European Commission, how exchange programmes can even be im- IDG Education and Culture, aims to provide proved. students in participating countries with clear Students are going to be trained to become information on what they can expect from their promoters of the Socrates programme, will do a respective higher education institution within survey on the present state of Socrates and the Socrates II programme and what they cannot mobility and organise three regional seminars expect. Moreover, it plans to create possibilities linked to mobility issues. sixty four64 Summer Universities

15 Days 15 Colours Medieval 8-22/9 2000, BARCELONA Catalunya is one of the richest Time Travel regions in Europe. «Therefore it is a very attractive place for immigrants, in partic- 20/8-3/9 2000, LÜBECK/KIEL/LUND ular, Barcelona, our city», says Irene orget the new Millennium, join the Martinez Lamenca, secretary of the local Middle Ages! For two weeks the Trav- antenna. «During our Summer Universi- Feling Summer University «Back to the ty ‘15 Days - 15 Colours’ professionals Roots» will take 20 participants on a journey in this field will teach 30 participants back in time. The AEGEE antennae in more about the topic of immigration. We Lübeck, Lund and Kiel will be reviving the will be looking at the different cultures times when their cities were great and pow- existing here, by taking a look at their erful, by introducing everyone to medieval traditions, cuisine, dances and even crafts, sports, music, clothes and food. All through their language.» During the these items will be presented during the additional weekend trips around trip from Lübeck, Germany to Lund, Swe- Catalunya, the students will be able to den. Other topics include negotiating and discover the great variety of scenery and conflict resolution, from former times until historical sites in the country. Irene: «We today. «You will not only have lectures, but will also visit some of the most remark- you will be able to create something with able examples of Gothic, Modernist and your own hands», says Michael Barton, Vanguardist architecture.» president of AEGEE-Lübeck. «We will also have medieval parties where the participants will present their achievements.» Discover Moldova

15-29/7 2000, CHISINAU «Do you know where in Europe, God put paradise? In Moldova!», states Mariana Revutchi from AEGEE-Chisinau. The antenna in the capital of the small country between Romania and Ukraine will present their 25 SU participants history and culture, through «Discover Moldova». «This will be perhaps the only Summer University this year which will show its participants the whole country», promises Mariana. «They will see the great waterfalls in the north as well as the social- ist reminiscences in the Transnistrian part.» In addition, the SU group will have the chance to visit some beautiful small villages with their different ethnic community. Mariana: «We are not simply organising a holiday trip, but will also be teaching basic Romanian, history, economics and culture.» s ixty five65 Top Events 2000

15th Anniversary of EGEE Congress

5/10-7/10 2000, PARIS he congress «New Europe, New Challenges, New Generations» will take place from the T5th to the 7th October 2000, in Paris. It is supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with an expected attendance of 2000 people. This is an opportunity for us to play an active role and state our own opinions on different issues, in an event that will have a great impact on the course of European affairs and on AEGEE in general. The Congress is organised as the celebration of 15th Anniversary of EGEE I, the historic event from which AEGEE came into being. The project was introduced by Franck Biancheri, founder of AEGEE, with the aim to evaluate the past fifteen years, giving the association a chance to rede- fine its goals. The congress will deal with topics such as Education, Democracy, External Relations, Secu- rity and Defense in Europe, and many more. The Organising Committee of the conference will con- Peace Summit sist of Prometheus Europe, AEGEE-Europe, AEGEE- Paris, Les Anciens of AEGEE-Europe, together with 10/08-27/08 2000, ATHINA 15 thematic seminar co-ordinators, and country co- et ready for the Peace Summit: ordinators. AEGEE has once again an appointment Once again, AEGEE is ready to with history in Paris, one of the most beautiful places G dazzle the world with one of its in the world, where it all started 15 years ago. incredibly ambitious projects. As always, the intention is to influence our lives and our future. From the 10th till the 27th of August, AEGEE-Ankara, AEGEE-Athina Multimedia and AEGEE-Istanbul are going to hold a symposium, lasting two weeks. in Sarajevo It will be the culmination of the work of the Peace Academy project during the 27/12-02/1 2000, SARAJEVO year 1999. Lectures are going to cover con- ultimedia festival celebrating the new flict situations in the Mediterranean and the Millenium: the AEGEE antennae in Balkans, as well as supply techniques of MSkopje, Beograd, Novi Sad, Rijeka, international conflict resolution. Zagreb and Ljubljana, decided to organise a The aim of the summit is for young peo- New Year event in the capital of Bosnia - in order ple and students to get together on a neu- to support the youth in Sarajevo. The event is tral territory to analyse the existing conflicts called Vucko after the mascot of the Olympic from a more constructive point of view. By games in this city. Concerts, theatre plays, studying the issue as objectively as possi- expositions and film productions from the coun- ble, thy shall try to create a strong basis for tries of theses six antennae are going to mark a peaceful world of tomorrow. the beginning of AEGEE-Sarajevo’s future. It is hoped that the results of the sum- Since the real beginning of the 21st Century mit will be so influential on the students’ is going to be this year, there could not be a bet- future activities and careers that their way ter time to turn the student’s wish to improve of solving problems will provide a success- their current status and to show their unimagin- ful model for a better social environment. able friendship into reality - without any political intentions. sixty six66