AEGEE Press Release: 
     21.09.2004 - 
      Romania, Bulgaria & the EU - International Conference in Bucarest, Romania
     
The conference "Romania, Bulgaria&the EU" (16th-19th of September in Bucharest, Romania) represented one of the few initiatives in the youth organizations sector to analyze the relations between Romania, Bulgaria and the EU. The event was organized by AEGEE Bucuresti and International Politics Working Group - both bodies of the students' association AEGEE - European Students' Forum, with the financial support of MATRA-KAP Programme of the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, the Central University Library, the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Bucharest, the Academy of Economic Science and Domino Travel.

Romania, Bulgaria&the EU gathered 25 students from all over Europe who debated over the economic, symbolic, public opinion, political and cultural aspects of Romania and Bulgaria's process of integration into the EU under the guidance of speakers from various institutions. Among these: H.E. Mr. Pieter Jan Wolthers-the Ambassador of the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands in Romania, Mr. Leonard Orban - Deputy Negotiator for Romania, Peter Prokof-Consul of Bulgaria in Romania, Dragos Pislaru - Director of the Group of Economic Analysis of the European Institute of Romania, Marian Oprea - Editor-in-Chief of Lumea Magazin, Tiberiu Cazacioc-Director of the Centre of Information of the European Commission, Livia Rusu-Director of the Direction of External Relation European Union. The participants have experienced themselves the tough process of negotiation in the simulation of closing Chapter 4 of the chapters of negotiations, simulation chaired by Ioana Iliescu-Counsellor on European Integration, Ministry of European Integration.

The academic part was supplemented by a rich cultural activity materialized in visits to the Cotroceni Palace, the Romanian Village Museum, the Romanian National Museum of Art-the Romanian Art Gallery and 2 presentations of Romania and Bulgaria respectively prepared by the participants from the 2 countries. 

The event is organized within the larger framework of a project at the European level, entitled EU&Europ, which deals with the relations between the EU and its future neighbours after the first wave of enlargement towards Central and Eastern Europe which took place on the 1st of May 2004. The next activities of this project will take place in Izmir(21st-24th of October)-debating the issues related to the relations Turkey-the EU and Sarajevo(9th-13th of November), analyzing the relations between the EU and the Western Balkans.

AEGEE is one of Europe's largest interdisciplinary and voluntary student associations, operating without being linked to any political party, promoting a unified Europe, cross-border co-operation, communication and integration in academic environment, and at the same time striving to create an open and tolerant society by involving students and young graduates in valuable projects and discussions over the topics of importance for the communities they live in. It is represented in 260 university cities, in 42 countries all around Europe and has about 17000 members.

More information:
Ewa Solarczyk
Vice-President / Director for Public Relations

European Students' Forum - AEGEE
Rue Nestor de Tiere 15
1030 Bruxelles
Phone: +32 2 245 23 00
Fax: +32 2 245 62 60
Web: www.aegee.org
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