AEGEE Kiev and AEGEE Heidelberg are cooperating to organise a German-Ukrainian Youth exchange on European awareness, participation, identity and vision for the future this autumn. They also presented it on stage during Autumn Agora Catania. 

What does the European Union mean to you?  Asking this question, one will be given fundamentally different answers, depending on age, nationality, profession and mindset of the interviewed person.

Citizens of the EU tend to stress more practical, administrative aspects of the EU, its common currency, freedom of travel or the new Europe-wide abolishment of roaming charges for mobile phones.

But how do people from non-member countries view the EU, this unique and tremendous project of unifying a bunch of diverse countries into one political and economic union?

Particularly interesting is the Ukrainian perspective, for various reasons:

People in the Ukraine started a huge pro-European revolution in 2013, when their former president Janukowytsch refused to sign an association agreement with the EU, facing huge pressure from Russia. This protest resulted in an overthrow of the existing political elite and in intensifying the ties to the EU – at least for one half of the country. The Eastern part of Ukraine has been sinking deeper into a more or less camouflaged civil war ever since, with the Krim-peninsula being occupied by Russian troops, de facto turning it into Russian territory.

Is there something left of the pro-European spirit that emerged in the course of the Euromaidan 2013/14, how do people perceive the EU, its opportunities and challenges nowadays, to what extent do people in the Ukraine seek an association or even membership with the EU?

AEGEE Kiev, together with AEGEE Heidelberg, is organising an international youth exchange on exactly those topics this autumn. It aims at creating a platform for a frank and open-minded exchange of opinions between young students of both countries, continuing well beyond the few days of the actual encounter. What is the vision of young people in Germany and in Ukraine regarding the future path of the EU and its associated countries? What are the values of the EU worth promoting and fighting for? How do the impressions of young people in both Ukraine and Germany compare and maybe contrast to each other? How can young people participate in political decision-making, how can they shape the EU according to their vision of the future?

Ideally, this exchange will create lasting bonds and friendships between its participants and encourage young, motivated people to campaign for the European Union and its values. By exchanging their experience and different background stories, this congress will broaden their minds and also contribute to showing them new ways to get politically involved. Ultimately, the participants will be encouraged to switch perspectives.

Speakers from universities, institutions and governments of both Germany and Ukraine will be invited to talk about their specific involvement in the EU or in its relations with its neighbours in Eastern Europe. As physical outcome, a short movie will be created, documenting the most important issues of discussions that took place, but also highlighting the participants’ enthusiasm for the EU – this way it will be a means to multiply the message of the YOUrope exchange and to motivate more people all over Europe.

The EVZ – Foundation* (Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung, Zukunft), supports the project financially. This is why nobody is hindered to participate due to financial reasons: The costs of the exchange will be fully covered by EVZ.

Written by Theresa Schäfer, AEGEE Heidelberg

* This project was implemented within the “MEET UP! German-Ukrainian Youth Encounters” programme with support from the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ). The opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the Foundation EVZ. The author is solely responsible for the content.

Soon upon my arrival from Passau to Heidelberg, I was welcomed by Viola (from Your Vision For Europe) and Mareike (from the Network Commission). They showed me the beautiful city of Heidelberg, and after having lunch with them, we joined an evening meeting with the members of AEGEE-Heidelberg.

All members that were present at the meeting shared their experiences and impression about AEGEE. They also offered me an insight in the work of AEGEE-Heidelberg. They have around 50 members and they are structured in teams. Their board members are mainly new members in general, but motivated to work in management of the local. Their main work is focused on European events and the work that they do with Erasmus students is their biggest recruitment tool. Also a few of their members are active in European Bodies of AEGEE. They have several planned exchanges (e.g. with AEGEE-Cagliari, their Twin Antenna AEGEE-Budapest and with AEGEE-Kyïv) too.

My last stop on this journey was AEGEE-Düsseldorf. I met Maja and Jonathan, both board members, and during a very interesting city tour, we managed to discuss the situation in their local.

AEGEE-Düsseldorf is a small antenna, but an active one. Currently they have around 15 members, of which half is active. In the last year they managed to organise more activities and they even organised an RTC a few weeks ago, which gave them the insight in event management and gave them ideas for new projects. What is beneficial for this local is that near them, there are several bigger locals that they can cooperate with.

The local is facing some issues with recruitment, which is pretty normal when there is lack of a proper knowledge transfer. Another big problem for this local is the change of generations, which is a problem for all locals, but is mostly visible in the smaller ones. My chat with Maja and Jonathan generated useful food for thought.

My trip ended with AEGEE-Düsseldorf after more than three weeks on track. Thank you all for your hospitality.

Written by Zvonimir Canjuga, Financial Director of AEGEE-Europe

Spring is right in front of us, and Spring Network Meetings follow closely. The Network is once again presented with ten amazing opportunities to grow stronger together, create fruitful alliances and share best practices. Here you can find the first five: AEGEE-Debrecen, AEGEE-Thessaloniki, AEGEE-Bilbao, AEGEE-Heidelberg and AEGEE-Nijmegen. For the following five, click here.

NWM Debrecen: The phoenix rises again

When it comes to AEGEE, sometimes it is like a double-edged sword. You have the benefit of experiencing and getting into the democratic process, assume responsibilities and make yourself heard at the European level. At the same time, there is a threat of people coming and going all the time, AEGEE represents just a few years of their lives for most of the members. This pilgrimage can sometimes affect the balance of an antenna or even the whole Network; some other times it could also create better leaders and the feeling of being part of this legacy could motivate people even more. AEGEE-Debrecen is no less than this, a few motivated members that will “rise again” and make their voices heard. We will tackle together all these issues and find real solutions for our locals and the Network. How can you get more inspired, if not in a place where inspired people are working and living? Come to discover the capital and the second biggest city in Hungary, its cuisine and its biggest treasure: the great AEGEEans living there!

Facebook event here.

NWM Thessaloniki: Find your thess-aurus
Are you an AEGEEan and you would like to know more about our organisation? Do you wish to gain knowledge and develop your skills in combination with meeting with more than 30 people from all over Europe? Do you want to join a journey to explore AEGEE and yourself? Then the NWM Thessaloniki: Find your thess-aurus is the right event for you! Join us in the beautiful Greek city of Thessaloniki and explore your potential and the AEGEE spirit (except the mattresses and the sleeping bags, we will have real beds!). A team of trainers will help you find your thess-aurus, so do not wait anymore! See you in Thessaloniki!

Facebook event here.

NWM Bilbao: The North is Worth a Meeting

For the second time in six years, AEGEE-Bilbao is proud to invite you all to the NWM: The North is Worth a Meeting. On the second weekend of April, 52 young AEGEEans will gather in Berriz for one of the greatest AEGEE events: a Network Meeting! During three days, invaded by the AEGEE spirit, all the beloved participants will have a great time in a traditional cosy village, being surrounded by lovely nature and learning about the Basque language and the culture. We are going to focus on the needs of the locals: what they want to learn and improve, what they want to share. Also, we can count on some special help to make the wishes of our participants come true.
If you want to discover what is going on in Bilbao, do not miss this opportunity!

Facebook event here.

NWM Heidelberg: Breaking the ice with Friedrich

Breaking the ice with Friedrich is your best opportunity to discover the most romantic city in Germany. Spend the whole weekend with 50 other AEGEEans sharing ideas and opinions and enjoying the best AEGEEan atmosphere. We even have a whole afternoon full of games and opportunities to discover the area! We are not saying that it will be the best NWM of the season but…. well, yes, we can say that! You will not regret joining us! A really participative NWM where you can have a say about the sessions beforehand! Do not let the others tell you about it, be part of NWM Heidelberg!

Facebook event here.

NWM Nijmegen: Bridges across Europe

Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, yet it is full of young people, including many AEGEEans. The best part of this Network Meeting will be the variation. The programme contains thematic sessions including a conference about equal rights, as well as organisational sessions provided by at least five different people. You will receive a bike for the whole duration of the event, allowing you to get plenty of fresh air during the day, while you crawl from pub to pub in the night!

Facebook event here.

This is part one of a two-parts article. More NWMs are coming soon.

Written by the Network Commission of AEGEE-Europe

If you attended Autumn Agora Kyïv, for sure you didn’t miss the moment when Florian Hauger, a delegate from AEGEE-Heidelberg, stepped on stage presenting a position paper regarding the Refugee Crisis. Despite the fact that the Agora decided not to adopt the paper, citing the little time given to discuss it, Florian and the German local stuck up for their opinion. At his first Agora, Florian was very active in giving his contribution to our statutory event and that hasn’t passed unnoticed since he was one of the nominees for the Member of the Month.

The AEGEEan: Please introduce yourself!

Florian: I joined AEGEE about half a year ago and just became Secretary General of AEGEE-Heidelberg. Representing my antenna during Autumn Agora Kyiv 2015 as a delegate, I proposed our Position Paper “Facing the Challenge in Unity – Joint Solutions of Europe’s latest Refugee Crisis”

Why did you decide to present a statement regarding refugees?

Europe‘s latest refugee crisis and the wider migration are clearly very complex and they both require joint solutions; the unequal empathy among the Member States revealed a serious lack of cooperativeness in Europe.

In my opinion, AEGEE should consider the highest number of people fleeing since the end of World War II, as a challenge to be faced in unity. As one of the biggest and most influential European Youth Organisations, I consider it to be kind of embarrassing not to have an official opinion about the most important topic of our time yet.

Was it a statement or a position paper?

It was a position paper. After we failed the majority, Chair and Juridical Commission kindly agreed to accept it, at least, as an official statement of AEGEE-Heidelberg.

Why do you think people rejected it, but yet chose the same topic as European Planning Meeting (EPM) topic?

As we supported each other, I’m very happy about Romy Cartiere’s (AEGEE-Amsterdam) proposal getting adopted for Leiden 2016. She did a great job! Maybe the EPM will be the right forum to reorganise our supporters to prepare a viable position paper for Spring Agora Bergamo 2016.

What is the major point of your paper?

Revealing the unequal empathy for refugees among the Member States as a serious lack of cooperativeness in the European Union, the proposal demanded a general distribution of the Refugees in Europe among the Member States after taking into account both population and economic strength of these countries. Furthermore, we argued, that AEGEE needs to take action for the refugees. Honouring our humanitarian traditions, we have to do our best to help these people.

Would you present it again?

YES! Keeping our proposal as interactive as possible, we’re going to reorganise all supporters during the next months and open the document for external input of other antennae. AEGEE-Heidelberg is definitely going to retry getting “Facing the Challenge in Unity 2.0” to be adopted in Bergamo 2016. Everyone who is interested in joining us, please feel free to contact me at florian.hauger@aegee-heidelberg.de.

Why do you think AEGEE needs to speak about this topic?

Honouring our humanitarian values, AEGEE-Europe needs to realise the collective responsibility to embrace and protect people fleeing from religious or political persecution, war, dictatorship and oppression. It is our moral obligation to care about these people. I repeat that I consider it to be embarrassing not to have an official opinion on this yet.

In my opinion, the Comité Directeur should use its formal access to the European Institutions to promote joint solutions and the urgent need of reforms instead of focussing on statutory stuff that no one cares about. People are suffering and winter is coming! We need to enforce joint European solutions, and of course, we need to help.

What do you think our impact as an association on this topic could be?

I think the key to help the refugees will be the local work. After I failed to get our proposal ratified by the Agora, many participants mailed me asking about what to do now. Especially antennae focused on Erasmus work do have an ideal infrastructure, involving refugees in language cafés, workshops, parties or other events. Our local work provides with the perfect conditions for a successful integration.

To aquire long-term solutions at the European level, we need to send a strong message from EPM Leiden 2016. AEGEE-Europe could be far more influential by using its access to the decision makers in Brussels!

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

After having been Sub-commissioner (SubCom) and Commissioner of the Juridical Commission for one year, Glòria (AEGEE-Heidelberg) wasn’t finished yet and decided to run for another year as Commissioner. We spoke to her to find more about herself, her plans and motivation! 

First of all, can you tell us a bit more about yourself?

Glòria: I come from my beloved Barcelona, I studied law in Madrid and Heidelberg and I did a Master of Laws in Frankfurt am Main. I am currently living in Heidelberg, where I work in the contract management of the purchase department of a multinational corporation. It has been almost four years since I moved to Germany, but I still have the same emotion and encouragement like the first day. I have learnt a lot there and I wouldn’t change these years for anything. I really think it’s important to spend some time abroad because it helps you to see everything from a more objective perspective.

What is something AEGEEans wouldn’t expect of you?

For sure they expect neither irresponsibility nor lack of professionalism nor loss of motivation. All that would lead to a disregard of the functions assumed, which in its turn would bring instability to the Juridical Commission. AEGEEans are right by not expecting all that of me, because if I’m re-elected I’ll keep on doing my best!

How did you join AEGEE?  

Well, I must admit I’ve never heard about AEGEE in Spain. However, when I was on my Erasmus year in Germany I joined some activities AEGEE-Heidelberg organised, like bike and city tours, switching tables (international dinners), Language Café, brunch, “Fackelwanderung” (a hike with torches), etc. When my Erasmus year ended, I thought it would be a great idea to keep on participating in these activities, but this time from the side of the organisers. So, in September 2012 I joined AEGEE-Heidelberg and I can affirm it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever taken in my life (she smiles). 

What is your experience within AEGEE?

At the local level I started in the Erasmus group being responsible for the Language Café (Sprachcafé) for a year. At the same time I organised a lot of events for Erasmus students (like the ones I participated in when I was an Erasmus student). Heidelberg is a student city, so our local is more oriented to local activities rather than European events. However, I am in the  Europe group since last year and we tried to really bring the energy and motivation to be more active at the European level. I did the compulsory sessions for the SU, I organised a workshop for the members of the local called “AEGEE, the basic knowledge” and I arranged a weekend with my local in Brussels to visit the Comité Directeur.

I organised a meeting with the delegates and visitors that were going to Autumn Agora Cagliari, so we discussed about the proposals, position papers and some other topics. For Spring AgorAsturias I prepared a simulation of a Prytanium for all members, so new members can already have an idea of what an Agora is. I am currently working on a new project: the Gala Ball in the castle of Heidelberg next winter!

At a regional level I attended the meeting of the Rhein-Neckar-Region in Kaiserslautern in November and I prepared the meeting in February because it took place in Heidelberg. I have just participated in the RTC in Mannheim and in April I am going to Aachen to celebrate the Night of the Seven Antennae! At the European level I was an observer in Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2014 within the project Election Observation Mission. It was a great experience that I really recommend to everybody! Moreover, I have been Sub-commissioner of the Juridical Commission from June 2013 until July 2014 and, as you all know, I am currently Commissioner since last August.

What do you do in your life outside of AEGEE (if any)?

If any?! Everybody should have a life outside AEGEE. That’s the great thing about our association: you really realize you love being in AEGEE when you’re waiting for an event, a meeting or an activity to take place. So when you’re “out” for some days or weeks, you miss the excitement of AEGEE. So when I’m not with my local, in any European event or working as a Commissioner of the JC, I’m mostly at work. I always go for a walk in Heidelberg to see the beautiful river, castle and buildings that there are. I also read, swim and love to buy and cook Spanish food. Travelling is another passion, so when I can I always visit cities and small villages in Germany. When I’m at home, in Barcelona, I spend most of the time with my family, my friends and of course with my dogs: Elvis, a Labrador, and Lola, a Maltese.

You were already in the Juridical Commission for one year. What made you decide to run for another year?

I decided to run for another year because I really enjoy being in the Juridical Commission. I will explain to you my reasons thoroughly. Firstly, I like the tasks that have to be carried out because of their variety. At first sight one may think we always perform the same tasks, but that’s not true at all. The fact that we have defined tasks doesn’t mean everything is the same. Each question we receive from all of you is different from the last ones. Even if two questions seem similar, there will be for sure differences that change your argumentation or your way to proceed. All the gained experience helps us enormously with the future questions we receive.

That’s why I strongly believe that the more you work within the Juridical Commission, the better you know how to improve your job. In contrast with the other bodies of AEGEE, the commissioners of the Juridical Commission can still contribute a lot, not despite the fact that they have already worked there, but BECAUSE they have worked there.

Secondly, there are some changes I’d like to implement and things I’d improve, and that will only be possible if I’m Commissioner. Last but not least, I’m having a great time with the team I’m part of. Working with them has been always easy because we understand each other very well. To me the tasks are as important as the team you’re in, and my two colleagues have made the work more comfortable and amusing.

What has been your favorite part about the work for the Juridical Commission?

That’s an interesting question! I must admit I like everything I do, but there are two tasks I especially enjoy. First, receiving complicated questions or questions that can’t be answered with the CIA, like problems with the associations (the locals), so you have to search other sources or just apply common sense. It’s really interesting to both develop your own argument and read the opinion your colleagues express. I definitely have more fun when I have to deal with complicated questions. Secondly, assisting the Agora. It’s the most interesting and challenging event AEGEE has, and having the pleasure to be there as a commissioner of the JC makes it more exciting.

You wrote in your application that you are not afraid your second year will mean you get stuck in a routine. Do you already have some ideas about things you would change?

You should always try not to get stuck in a routine, whatever job you’re doing. Therefore you should think about how you could perform your tasks better and what changes you could successfully implement. There are three main reforms I’d like to do: develop a new strategy for SubComs, improve the twin antennae contract and, of course, keep on fixing mistakes in the CIA. We have organised a progress meeting for the upcoming Agora, where we want to show how we have standardised some points of the Working Formats of the Committees. If this change is accepted by the Committees, I’d like to keep on modifying the Working Formats, so we have more common rules for all Committees.

How can you ensure that you will be neutral?

I can only show that I’m neutral when I’m working, so my neutrality can only be ensured after having done my work without having preferences for anything or anybody. I firmly believe that in my first term I haven’t had any predilection, I did what I really thought was the right or the best solution. Sometimes it’s not easy to be neutral, above all when you have to resolve issues that come from the Comité Directeur. But as a commissioner of the JC you can’t allow yourself to be weak and choose the easiest way: you have to decide what your knowledge tells you to be the right solution, without taking into account friendship or position. That’s what people expect from you and you shouldn’t disappoint them.

What would the new strategy you want to develop for SubComs look like?

It’s difficult that three commissioners care about three or four SubCom at the same time. That’s why I’d like that each commissioner is responsible for one Sub-commissioner, so it’s easier to follow his/her work and answer his/her questions.  First of all, the commissioners should make a list of the tasks the SubComs should do in the next period. Then, one SubCom should be assigned to each Commissioner, so that we have no more than three SubCom. Only in that way the Commissioner can really help him/her and have an overview of their development. The SubCom can get the main idea of our work and continuity in the Juridical Commission can be easily ensured. It’s very important to have a good strategy for the SubComs because it’s really difficult to start being a commissioner without having acquired the main competences and internalized a general idea of the work.

One of our readers asked: May you, please, point out the most relevant aspects of your candidature?

Well, after this interview you can have a really good overview of my candidature. But to sum up I’d say that my experience as a Commissioner allows me to run with full awareness. So I know what I must do, what I must correct from the past and what is expected from me. I am very motivated and I really have interest to continue for the next term.

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen