11.05.2004 - Press
Release on the Welcome New Europe Action Week
Not on the fence: students
say YES to expansion
Students have been
celebrating the EU expansion all across the continent this week at a host of
events organised by the European Students' Forum AEGEE. From fairs and festivals
to debates and demonstrations, from Helsinki to Valletta and from Brussels to
Tblisi, the message in 42 countries from 17.000 voices was the same: Welcome,
New Europe!
Amongst many other events, the last ten days saw a series of debates,
discussions and simulations organised across Poland; major events took place in
Warsaw, Katowice, Poznan, Rzezow, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, and Gdansk, where a
cultural festival was organised for young visitors from all over Europe.
Meanwhile in Malta, AEGEE-Valletta took a key role in the official celebrations
as well as running an awareness campaign among young Maltese in co-operation
with the European Parliament.
The celebrations took on a
more poignant note in Cyprus, which entered the EU still suffering from division
after 30 years. At its general assembly held in Ohrid in April, AEGEE called for
a constructive solution to be found as soon as possible, to the benefit of the
two Cypriot communities and the future of Europe. AEGEE hopes that the mutually dependent processes of expansion and
integration in the EU will continue. We strongly believe that these benefit all
the peoples of Europe, both within and beyond the present EU, and that the only
alternative to further progress on this path is stagnation and decay.
Nicola Rega, President of AEGEE-Europe,
explained: "AEGEE has worked actively for integration among young Europeans
since its foundation in 1985, and we are very happy and proud to see one of our
long-cherished dreams finally come true."As one
of the pioneers of European integration, proud of its bold efforts to overcome
prejudice and unite young Europeans, inspired by Europe's unity in diversity,
AEGEE takes special pride on this very special Europe Day that the greatest EU
enlargement ever has finally been achieved.Welcome, New Europe!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 SolarczykVice-President / Director for Public RelationsEuropean Students' Forum - AEGEERue
Nestor de Tiere 151030 BruxellesPhone: +32 2 245 23 00Fax: +32 2 245 62
60Web: www.aegee.orgEmail: [log in to unmask]