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.