FOCUS ON
European Citizenship AEGEE – We share values, we share responsibilities, we share opportunities.
T
he topic of European Citizenship has gained a high political importance in the youth policies and programmes of both the Council of Europe and the European Commission over the past years. Consequently a number of training activities, publications and research activities in the field of European Citizenship are being launched nowadays. Let’s see which benefits European citizenship brings to AEGEE and how its members contribute to its promotion and development… Each year AEGEE, in cooperation with other European youth organizations, contributes to the creation of a nation of young Europeans, culturally different, but united in their values. It includes 13 000 active and open-minded young people, who believe in and promote a United Europe. AEGEE members think of Europe as their home, where democracy, rule of law, human rights and tolerance should be practiced and respected. Each AEGEEan travels a lot to experience the world around him and satisfy his curiosity. Therefore the European Students´ Forum creates a number of platforms all over Europe, where young people can meet, share the same interests and initiate projects (Youth UnEmployment, Where Does Europe End, YOUrope Needs YOU, Y Vote 2009 and Summer Universities etc.) AEGEE unites youth which feel great concern towards the construction of a democratic Europe without cultural prejudices, geographical borders and national legal 38
constraints which hamper cross-border cooperation, professional and educational mobility, volunteering and youth entrepreneurship. AEGEE is represented not only by students but also by young professionals, who are eager to share their knowledge and experience. AEGEE is multilingual and those engaged into mass media activities make Europe and AEGEE visible, transparent and clear for young citizens. AEGEE members highlight Europe politically, economically, environmentally, culturally and educationally; they get involved and have their say on local and European level. Young leaders and activists of the European Students’ Forum lobby and represent youth interests in European organizations and institutions. The trainers of AEGEE make young people aware of their potential and opportunities, as well as the bodies they should approach in order to have their voices heard and their opinion counted. AEGEE not only creates a platform for face-to-face contact, civic initiative and participation, but provides case analyses and reports to be considered by policy and decision makers. Thus benefitting from European Citizenship, AEGEE raises youth awareness on European issues, promotes the idea of deliberative democracy, develops active citizenship and makes European dialogue possible. Ahniya Asanovich, AEGEE-Minsk
Key to Europe 2010/2011