Students call upon the Member States to strive for a single Constitutional Treaty

The work of the European Convention is reaching its Finale. The past 15 months have witnessed the most open, democratic and participatory discussion about the Future of the EU in the history of integration. Students of AEGEE call upon the Heads of States gathered in Thessaloniki to strive for a single Constitutional Treaty which would make Europe closer to us (use here dash – because there is too many commas in this sentence) its citizens (same here) and which would enable Youth, and Students in particular, to participate in the integration and benefit from it.

AEGEE, the European Students Forum has voiced the opinion of many student groups through the Universities to Debate Europe project (www.unidebate.org). We called for a deep renovation and clarification of the structural framework of the EU with democratic and transparent institutions serving the general European interest. We see the future European Union as a Union of citizens, guaranteeing their rights and giving them the best possibilities for personal development. We also fully support the Enlargement of the EU to the Balkan region  and Turkey, so as to extend the area of political stability and a sustainable, economic growth to the whole of Europe. Diana Filip, President of AEGEE-Europe said: “Europe cannot develop without Europeans understanding, critically observing and participating in it. This is the reason that brought us all to work for this project.”

AEGEE calls upon the Heads of States gathered in Thessaloniki to strive for a single Constitutional Treaty. We also call for strengthening the participation and involvement of all youth through a clear and accessible governance structure of the EU. We also voice the need for a clear and strong supporting presence of the EU in the field of education policies – in order to build upon the success of the Socrates programme. This we have also expressed in the results of the project EURECA (www.aegee.org/eureca).

As Mr. Antonio Vittorino, one of the Speakers of the Student Convention said: “The participation of universities in this whole exercise is of the essence, but the contribution of university students is inestimable: not only because of the enthusiasm shown and the quality of the work carried out but because after all those of you sitting at  universities today will be sitting at  the Conventions of tomorrow”.

AEGEE would like to congratulate the European Commission for supporting and facilitating the involvement of Students in the Debate; and the European Youth Forum for the active role in representing and voicing the opinion of Youth in the Debate.