*2 'NOs' in 4 Days - Quo Vadis Europe?
*
*European Students' Forum (AEGEE) concerned about the future of European
Integration

We have witnessed another 'black day' within six months for Europe
threatening the future of European integration process, with Dutch citizens
"No" votes on the Draft European Constitutional Treaty displaying a similar
attitude with their French counterparts last Sunday, in the sense of being
obviously influenced by local issues and politicians.
*
AEGEE, the European Students' Forum, believes that this situation raises a
serious concern, more than ever to the question: Where is Europe going? The
public opinion polls showed that the French and Dutch citizens actually said
"NO" to the current politics in their home countries by using the ballot
boxes for voicing their protests and not to the European Union. We must stop
and think over the factors and problems preventing the citizens to show
their free will for a united Europe and do our best to solve these problems.
AEGEE is inviting politicians to stress this important opinion both in the
European Union and in their home countries and to exert their utmost efforts
to convince their citizens that 50 years of achievements in the European
integration and enlargement are not in vain. We call the decision-making
powers to concentrate on genuine reflections of public opinion, in order to
come up with concrete solutions that will both aim at salvaging the
Constitution itself, as well as ensuring that there will indeed be a
sustainable future for the citizens of Europe. Politicians in Brussels and
Strasbourg must reconsider bureaucratic procedures, and trace the point down
the line where the unspoken problem remains. Local governments should make
an effort in order to inform their citizens better regarding the
Constitution and should not let their domestic problems and interests to
endanger the future of European integration and such issues having major
importance for general European interest.

But above all, there is a necessity for urgent action by Europe's citizens.
We, the members of the European Students' Forum, are the leaders of tomorrow
's Europe. If we wouldn't like to see the enlargement process halted all of
a sudden, so as not to live in a two-speed Europe, not to see an
ever-growing feeling of our people losing faith in the European dream, we
have to act in a twofold manner. While, educating grassroots on European
integration and citizenship, starting from a very young age within all
segments of society in one hand: we should put our efforts to make Europe
work more democratic and transparent, and actively participate, through
civil society, politics, or through other means. We, the future of Europe,
state clearly that the process of enlargement and European integration must
not become another collateral damage of the daily politics.

We must all do our best to make sure the next time a European citizen
approaching the ballot box will have one reason less to vote 'No'

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us
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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 15000 members.