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10.03.2004 - AEGEE-Europe Press
Release
AEGEE disappointment over Commissioner Bolkestein's
new book
With great disappointment AEGEE Europe has
received the news concerning the views expressed by Mr. Frits Bolkestein,
EU Single Market Commissioner, in his new book "The Limits of Europe". Mr
Bolkestein, known as one of the biggest sceptics of Turkey's EU membership
among the commissioners, speaks against the EU Enlargement stretching East
to Turkey and the former Soviet republics of Moldova, Belarus and the
Ukraine, and considers them to be a provider of a protective "buffer"
between the EU and Russia.
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"Named in an unfortunate way, the book proves to
create limits of a vision of unified Europe without prejudices, linking Europe
to its past rather than its future. We believe that Europe is a role-model for
democracy, a promoter of human values and an engine for a knowledge-based
society, a vision to be expanded and shared rather than implemented in cold war
tactics. We do not want to see in the future Europe protected by buffer zones or
walls, asylums or refugee camps. That would only create new threats and fears,
feeding the global terror. Accession to the EU should be based on the Copenhagen
criteria rather than on old fears and political viewpoints. I am sure that a
revised edition of the book will be much more welcome among citizens all over
Europe" says Adrian Pintilie, president of AEGEE-Europe.
AEGEE's strife for peace and stability, equal
opportunities for the students all over Europe, promotion of European
Integration and co-operation regardless of any borders, makes us a real
open-minded and revolutionary association. In the past we have proved that it is
possible to carry into reality the vision of Europe embracing both its western
and eastern geographical ends. AEGEE has been successful in expanding its
activities to the East in 1989, and then to Turkey, where it quickly grew into
one of the most active and strongest AEGEE regions. Also in Turkey we have
played a crucial part in introduction of the Socrates Erasmus Programme.
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 17 000 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
Email:
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