STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES We, the members of AEGEE, Realising that the European youth is building the future of our continent, Aspiring to a peace- ful Europe free of obstacles and enmities,of false divisions and forced differences, Resolved to remove barriers between the peoples of Europe, Determined to contribute to a Europe of co- operation and understanding, Creating a network of young Europeans desiring to spread our ideals and ideas concerning Europe, Hereby declare Our belief that, while cherishing our diversity and respecting the character of our regions, we can find on the basis of our cultural and historical heritage the principles that unite us and guide us in our effort to strengthen the European conscience, Our faith in a Europe standing for liberty, democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law, and our will to co-operate with institutions that promote these concepts, Our resolve to establish an open Europe which recognises the importance of all cultures in the shaping of its past present and future and which plays an ac- tive role in fostering peace, stability and prosperity throughout the world, Our intention to promote unlimited access to education as being of fundamental importance to increase mutual understanding, Our desire to encourage student mobility in order to fight preju- dice and xenophobia by increasing people’s awareness of different cultures, and Our strong belief that our association is a unique platform enabling us to contribute to these visions of Europe. AEGEE SPRING AGORA UTRECHT, 2000 Key to Europe is published by Key to Europe is made possible by the financial support of Key to Europe is AEGEE’s annual the Youth in Action programme of the European Commissi- review with a circulation of 1200 AEGEE-Europe on and the Council of Europe’s European Youth Foundation. copies. Rue Nestor de Tière 15 Also available online under: B – 1030 Brussels ›› www.aegee.org/press/publications +32 22 45 23 00 [email protected] CONTENT KEY & IMPRESSUM TO EUROPE CONTENTAEGEE‘S ANNUAL REVIEW 2011-2012 AEGEE - FACTS & FIGURES What is AEGEE? 6 CONTENT Member Statistics & AEGEE’s Structure 10 Strengthening the AEGEE Network 14 The Comité Directeur 2011-2012 16 What does AEGEE mean to you? 18 EMPOWERING YOUTH CROSSING BORDERS Local Training Courses and a Network Meeting 20 “Where does Europe end?” – The final Conference 40 European Schools: Creating Change in Europe 22 The European and Arab Youth Cooperation 41 Planning the Future of AEGEE 24 The Eastern Partnership Project 42 The European Bords’ Meeting in Izmir 25 Agora – The most powerful Body within AEGEE 26 Facing Youth Unemployment in Europe 27 YOUTH PARTICIPATION ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY Erasmus for all – All for Erasmus? 30 From Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro 44 National Youth Councils 32 Eco-Rehabilitation of Mining Heritage in Sardinia 47 Structured Dialgue and why it is so important for 35 Greening AEGEE – The Environmental Working 48 AEGEE cc Group in 2012 cc Model European Union 36 The Earth is our Business 49 Reshaping Pespectives in Europe 37 We graduate from Universities, but we learn in 39 AEGEE EVENTS CALENDAR 52 IMPRESSUM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PHOTO RESPONSIBLE STATISTICS & RESEARCH COMITE‚ DIRECTEUR MEMBERS Stephanie Müller Dasha Onokhova Hans-Peter Bretz Jüri Kirpu Diana Ondža Alma Mozgovaja PROOFREADERS EDITORS Yvonne Antonovic DESIGNERS ADVISORS Patricia Juhl Anthony Valérie Boiten Erman Berkay Anita Kalmane Zsófia Komáromi Esra Celik Benjamin Doll Michael Makowiecki Andra Toma Maria Heybutzki Deniz Özhan Olga Iatsyna Joanna Strycharz 1 KEY FOREWORD TO FROM EUROPE DORIS PACK DAEGEE‘SEAR ANNUAL REVIEW 2011-2012 READERS, DEAR READERS, AEGEE‘s annual report regularly illustrates how AEGEE- Europe has been fostering European values by de- signing and putting into practice a variety of diverse and inventive activities. For more than 27 years, the European Students‘ Forum has brought together young people throughout Europe and beyond. Similarly, for 25 years the Erasmus Programme has Doris Pack been changing lives and opening minds of more than Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and three million students. Education in the European Parliament Erasmus has led the way as a unique feature and a pioneering task as it has marked a starting point of our common engagement in the field of education on the and PhD degrees. European level. It has always been advocated by AEGEE It is necessary to create opportunities to combine and I want to take the opportunity to thank you for this part-time studies with part-time internships during support. an Erasmus stay abroad. In addition, Erasmus mobil- ity periods should not be restricted to one academic As the European Parliament‘s rapporteur for the future year and one university. Instead, it should be possible period of the EU’s education programmes 2014-2020, to study at least at two universities and in different I have appreciated the Commission‘s intention to academic years. decrease the fragmentation and overlaps that exist in the current programmes covering school and higher Further problems to be tackled concern the (non-) education, vocational education and training, adult recognition of courses and qualifications and the social learning, youth and sport. dimension: Erasmus must not be a programme for few Moreover, even if many details still are to be clarified, I privileged young people. In 1999, on my initiative uni- have welcomed the Commission’s proposal to create a versities have been entitled to take into account social financial instrument (loan guarantee facility) enabling balance by granting more financial support to those students to secure funding for a Masters degree out- having less means than their fellows. Unfortunately, side their home country. universities have not made use of this instrument until I may also emphasise the success of the „Erasmus now. placements“ that give students the opportunity to gain The upcoming negotiations on the EU‘s future educa- work experience abroad. We are insisting that this ac- tion programmes and the final adoption of this pack- tion will be continued under the new programme. age will be of utmost importance given the major In future, Erasmus - as well as Comenius - should boost impact on participating pupils, teachers, apprentices, the mobility of academics and teachers: Not only pupils students and adult learners. and students, but also lecturers should have the op- portunity to experience the unique value of a tempo- However in the end, we depend on young people rary stay abroad. bringing in a sense of liveliness to the legal and bu- reaucratic framework conceived by politicians. The As co-legislator, the European Parliament will do European Students‘ Forum has strongly proven its abil- everything in its power to ensure the continuation of ity to fulfil such a vitalizing role. This is why I want to the Erasmus success story. However, there is room for encourage you to continue your engagement and wish improvement: you all the best for the future. For the activities in higher education, in particular Best regards, student mobility, more flexibility is needed in order to Doris Pack adapt the mobility activities to the Bologna reforms Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and and the new degree structures that have been estab- Education in the European Parliament lished throughout Europe – namely Bachelor, Master 2 PRESIDENTIAL KEY FOREWORD TO EUROPE PRESIDENTIALAEGEE‘S ANNUAL REVIEW 2011-2012 FOREPREWOSIDENTIALRD FOREWORD Mobility was one of AEGEE’s goals throughout the years and a lot has changed. Still, a big part of our Network is facing problems with the hard process of visa facilita- tion. Celebrating 25 years of Erasmus puts smiles on many faces of students that took part in this massive education mobility programme. AEGEE did an advocacy campaign before its establishment, AEGEE lobbied for Marko Grdošić, President AEGEE-Europe / European Students‘ Forum its implementation in countries such as Turkey, and now we have to fight for equal opportunities for our friends in the Eastern Europe. The Eastern Partnership project was established this year and shows the best spirit of our organisation, bridging young people from the East and West with AEGEE was born 27 years ago from the need to unite various purposes. Besides the advocacy for education Europe based on democracy, human rights and tole- mobility and easier visa facilitation, they are working rance. AEGEE was born to bring together prospective on the promotion of democracy, human rights and students and future leaders, to discuss crucial issues equal opportunities. and to give a youth perspective to it. AEGEE was born to increase student mobility. 27 years later, our goals Environment is also one of our main concerns. With a have not changed. strong delegation in Rio for the Rio+20 conference, AEGEE has represented a youth approach to the envi- The environment we live in has never been more vi- ronmental issues and continues promoting sustainabi- brant, changes were never happening so fast, and the lity in every aspect of life. crisis is not showing any attempt to cool down. Youth unemployment is not just the problem of Greece and In the end, I have to mention the current proposal Spain, but of the whole Europe, the enlargement of called Erasmus for All presented by the European Com- the European Union has turned from celebration to mission, as funding programme for the period 2014 - a questionable move, democracy and human rights 2020. Disappointed with the way money was allocated are on shaking grounds not just in Turkey and Eastern in the initial programme, we have to make sure that Europe, but also in many other countries. our role in society is visible and that the importance of our work, as European organisation striving for active What are we, as AEGEEans, doing to change these citizenship and providing non-formal education, is things? stressed out.