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printedwww.edsnet.eu version online www.edsnet.eu Annual European EuropeanThe year 2016 Democrat Democrat marks Students the 55th Students anniversaryis full member (EDS) of theof the European is European a pan-European Democrat Youth Forum(EYF), Students centre-right (EDS), which the consists largest ofstudent 99 National association Youth of Councilsthe centre-right and Non-Governmental and the offi cial student Organisations. organisation Also of political the European youth organisations, People’s Party, respectively; the political Youthfamily ofthat the has Euro- shaped peansstudentEurope. People´s Presently, and Party youth EDS (YEPP), unites political Democrat45 member association Youth organisations Community representing from of Europeacross Europe(DEMYC), over and1 600EDS, its neighbourhood. Liberals000 European Movement studentsof Youth Cooperation in 42 member (LEMYC), theorganisations Greens, ISYO, Europeanfrom 35 Cooperation countries of inSocialist Europe. Youth (ECOSY) and the Young ItFederalistsEDS advocates is a fi rm(JEF) advocate area free, member for democratic entrepreneurship, of the EYF. EDS and e-learning,has united been actively studentEurope involved mobility, through in andall activities raises greater its throughout voice on anythe workingissues aff year, ecting andHigher has Education. had a great Moreover, cooperation during with its theCouncil center-right Meetings, organizations EDS develops DEMYC policies and on YEPP. Human This Rights work andled to European the election aff airs Democrat ofstudentwhich former are Greek subsequentlymobility EDS delegate and promoted comprehensive Vasia with Alexandri the EPP into andeducation the other board policy-making of EYF,policies ensuring stakeholders.across that center-right the EDS isopinions committed are wellto building heard. continent.EDSstrong has and enhanced mutually thebenefi relationship cial relations with with YEPP, the and Eastern has attendedPartnership YEPP countries. council meetings and has invited YEPP guests to our council meetings. In the EPP working group 1, that is working on the EPP electoral manifesto, EDS has worked withEDS themis a full to memberensure the of theyouth European and student Youth voice Forum are and well the represented. Robert Schuman We also Institute expressed and ourenjoys ideas a participatory and visions forstatus theFoundedon thefuture Council of Europein of 1961, Europe in a Youth EDSdating Manifesto isback one to the ofwhich earlythe EDS oldestdays and of YEPPthe and organisation. organizationsbiggest EDSyouth jointly has or-presenteda central offi ahead ce in Brusselsof the European and the ganisationselections.leadership The of the European in association Europe. Elections is The provided were three an by important pillarsthe Executive ofopportunity EDS Bureau, originally for consisting EDS to stoodform of thethe for Chair,future thedevelopment Secretary-General of Europe and by Conservatism,activelyeight Vice-Chairs. participating Liberalismin writing of EPP and electoral Christian-Democracy. program. Today, EDS has European As a member of the Robert Schuman Institute EDS took part in many RSI events and activities during the whole year. Students grownEDS was intopresent a largeat the Annual family Meeting which of hasRSI and an was outlook invited atthat several is varied, occasions rich to give and expert lectures at RSI unique,Study Missions. represented by the name ‘Democrat’: Here, student organ- EDS is proud of its participatory status at the Council of Europe (CoE), dating back to the early days of our organi- 2015-2016 sation.isations, Members political of the youth executive organisations bureau were actively as wellinvolved as incenter-right CoE events and NGOs EDS also nominated a Vice-Chair Annual comecandidate together for Education to shapeand Culture modern Committee centre-right of CoE’s INGO policies Conference. for Europe. Democrat report Students2013-2014 @edsnet@EurDemStu www.facebook.com/edsnet.euwww.facebook.com/EuropeanDemocratStudents European Democrat Annual ISSN 2034-3396 Students report Annual report 2012-2013 Annual report 2015-2016 Annual report Annual report 2012-2013 Annual report 2012-2013 European Democrat Students Rue du Commerce 10 CONTENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN B-1000 Brussels, BELGIUM Office: +32 2 285 41 50 04 Greetings Telefax: +32 2 285 41 41 Mail: [email protected] Online: www.edsnet.eu Twitter: @EurDemStu Facebook: facebook.com/edsnet.eu Dear friends of EDS, 06 Executive Bureau Publisher: The year 2016 marks the 55th anniversary of the Eu- team of forty, the majority of whom assisted the EPP European Democrat Students ropean Democrat Students. We should not forget that in accomplishing what has been another successful the centre-right youth or student cooperation as we Congress. Editor: enjoy it today was not always self-evident. Some sixty Silvie Rohr years ago, the establishment of a common centre-right The past working year has seen EDS placing an in- 22 External Representation student or youth structure was not yet a matter for creased emphasis on the European project and its Contributions from: debate. In 1961, when EDS was founded, the Berlin achievements; accomplishments on which we must Georgios Chatzigeorgiou, Tomasz Kaniecki, Sara Juriks, Roman Wall was about to be built and Europe was anything continue to pride ourselves. It was in this spirit that Malessa, Dario Car, Henrique Laitenberger, Olivia Andersson, Silvie but close to being united. Since then, we have come a we held our Winter University in Berlin on the topic Rohr, Sophia Skoda and EDS member organisations long way and we should be very proud of what we have of “Europe 2030: United We Stand” and our historic achieved. EDS has been an integral part in fostering the Council Meeting in London, which took place a mere Linguistic Assistance by: 34 Permanent Working Groups European identity and I am certain that in times such as two months before the UK’s referendum on EU mem- Members of YCGE United Kingdom these ones, when the European project is being chal- bership, where we discussed the phenomenon of pop- lenged more than ever, our organisation will provide ulism and its implications for the European project. Copyright: the tools to overcome these challenges and will carry Finally, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank EDS 2016, All Rights Reserved Europe’s torch further. everyone who contributed towards keeping the United ISSN - 2034-3396 With that said, we are proudly presenting to you our Kingdom within our Union. EDS respects the decision of 42 Resolutions Annual Report which offers a representative view of the British people while deeply regretting the outcome Photography by: our activities, main topics, projects and achievements. of the referendum. The European Union is an achieve- Balázs Szecsődi, Peter Lang, Andrey Zhdanovich, EPP, EDS Members, This publication invites you to look and read through the ment that we can be immensely proud of. At the same Shutterstock working year 2015/16, yet another successful year for time, this is indeed a time for reflection, one in which Layout and design by: EDS, during which a lot of work has been undertaken we have to demonstrate the added value the EU brings Creacion, Slovenia, www.creacion.si 100 Campaigns in the quest for a more prosperous and better Europe. to the everyday lives of our citizens and endeavour to in cooperation with Silvie Rohr We have continued to advocate student policies, being reach the hearts of fellow Europeans around us. frontrunners in the promotion of the entrepreneurial Please read through our Annual Report for more details spirit and digital skills, all while having made substantial regarding the past working year. We hope that you will efforts to upgrade our ‘Students at Risk’ programme enjoy your reading and keep in mind that EDS is always at a European level. EDS has contributed decisively to interested in receiving feedback, hearing your ideas, the EPP, with resolutions, ideas and active participation and discovering more ways to proudly serve students 104 Events and was present at the EPP Congress in Madrid with a across Europe. 126 Publications Georgios Chatzigeorgiou ANNUAL Chairman REPORT 130 Reports by Member Organisations 2015-2016 150 Statistics 2 3 GREETINGS Greetings Dear friends of the EDS, DEAR FRIENDS, DThankEAR FRIEND Syou, for It is a pleasure for yet again addressing you in this Annual Report. On behalf of the Group of the European As Secretary General of the European The past year has been a very challenging one. The relative weight of the different People’s Party (EPP) in the European Par- People’sa successful Party it is my honour and pleasureyear! threats may have shifted, but we are still confronted with the same challenges: mi- liament, I first would like to warmly con- toAs address Secretary you. General The of Annual the European Report People’s reflects Party, it is my pleasure to address you – gration and the refugees crisis, terrorism, conflicts and tensions in our neighbourhood, gratulate you for your activities within the thethe diversity European of Democrat your activities Students. that we in the Russia’s aggressive foreign policy, populism and a lagging economy. European Democrat Students and for your EPPThe soEPP much family appreciate. works as one EDS team celebrates with our member its parties, associations, and working Migration and terrorism have stolen the spotlight from economic grievances. The re- commitment to our common values. More 50th Anniversary this year and