In recent years, Europe has been witnessing the rise of conservative actors, from politicians to civil society representatives, publicly opposing the so-called “gender ideology”. As a result, they managed to mobilise people against issues related to women’s rights, gender studies, marriage equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially sexuality education and the right to abortion. What started as isolated incidents in some countries has quickly become a transnational movement.

You can read the full paper here.

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

As this journey concludes, we’re proud to share also on our website the results and policy recommendations shaped by the voices of hundreds of young Europeans, all aimed at tackling the challenges of our digital era. These insights highlight the importance of education, awareness, and empowerment in navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence and media literacy.

Based on the contributions of participants and organisers, here we present the collected recommendations:

1. Bridging the Gap in AI Education
Participants consistently emphasized a lack of education on AI tools and AI-generated content, especially among high school and university students.

• Recommendation: Implement digital literacy programs in educational institutions, focusing on AI, misinformation and critical thinking skills.

2. Supporting Digital Activists
Young people face challenges in accessing resources for meaningful digital activism.

• Recommendation: Provide funding, training and accessible platforms for youth-led initiatives, enabling their voices to create tangible change.

For those eager to dive deeper into the outcomes and recommendations, the complete booklet is available online.

To access the booklet, click here.

“Young people don’t vote, they’re not interested in politics”.

We often hear these words. On the other hand, many young people express that they feel underrepresented by political institutions and believe their voices are rarely reflected in decision-making processes. In 2019, the statistics changed after years of constant decline in the turnout in the European Elections. The voter turnout experienced the largest increase in decades, largely driven by the younger generation of voters across the EU, who defied expectations and participated in greater numbers than in previous elections. This showed their motivation to get involved in the democratic process and contribute to meaningful change. The active participation of young voters not only highlights their commitment to shaping the future of Europe but also signals a renewed interest in electoral engagement among younger demographics, which was expected to be reflected in the 2024 European Elections. […]

The whole paper can be found here.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the world at an unprecedented pace, reshaping industries, enhancing daily life, and introducing new ways of interacting with technology. However, with its rapid advancement, AI also carries significant implications for human rights. From privacy concerns to potential biases in decision-making processes, AI’s impact on people’s lives can be profound, influencing everything from job opportunities to personal freedoms. As AI becomes more integrated into critical areas like healthcare, law enforcement, and social services, ensuring that these technologies respect and protect human rights is essential. (…)

The whole paper can be found here.

In addition to Germany – Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Norway, Sweden and France have all implemented such measures over the past six months [1], citing concerns over security, migration control and public safety as reasons for these actions [1]. All these facts combined signal a growing trend that indicates a significant shift in European mobility and border control. AEGEE is deeply concerned by this pattern, as these so-called extraordinary measures are increasingly being normalised without sufficient justification, threatening the future of free movement within the Schengen Area.

As outlined in the European Parliament’s document “Temporary Border Controls in the Schengen Area”, reintroducing border controls should only occur in response to a serious threat to public policy or internal security, and even then, it must be a last resort in exceptional circumstances [2]. Despite these regulations, Germany has started temporary border checks, in AEGEE’s judgement, without the presence of a significant threat.

It is important to highlight that reintroducing border controls within the Schengen Area risks undermining the fundamental values of unity and trust that the European Union seeks to promote. These controls could undermine the spirit of free movement, one of the EU’s core principles, fostering division and suspicion between member states. Increased border checks may also lead to discrimination, as certain groups could face heightened scrutiny based on nationality or ethnicity.

AEGEE is deeply alarmed about the increased border checks and undermining of the Schengen agreement, as they directly contradict one of our fundamental principles: that of a borderless Europe, where individuals can move freely without restriction.

Based on the aforementioned, AEGEE-Europe calls upon the European Commission:

• for the limited usage of temporary border control measures;
• for recognition of the importance of free movement within the Schengen Area as a foundation of European unity;
• for better coordinated European Union-wide efforts to manage migration and security threats.

References:
[1] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area/temporary-reintroduction-border-control_en

[2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2020/649336/EPRS_ATA(2020)649336_EN.pdf

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230918IPR05427/free-movement-schengen-reform-to-ensure-border-controls-only-as-a-last-resort#:~:text=In%20a%20judgment%20in%20April,the%20Schengen%20area%20at%20risk

https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2022-04/cp220064en.pdf%5B/fusion_text%5D%5B/fusion_builder_column%5D%5B/fusion_builder_row%5D%5B/fusion_builder_container%5D ]]> /policy-paper-on-advocating-for-comprehensive-sexuality-education-for-young-people-in-europe-and-the-role-of-youth-led-organisations/ Sun, 26 May 2024 19:28:18 +0000 /?p=9291

The spring of 2024 is an appropriate moment to discuss how Europe is seen through the lens of education, but also to propose concrete actions for the European mandate 2024-2029 and the long-term future. 

European Student Forum AEGEE-Europe and MEP Victor Negrescu, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, organized on March 5, 2024, in the building of the European Parliament in Brussels the “Agenda 2024-2029: Education” debate. On this occasion, the AEGEE report on the perspectives of educational policies in the 2024-2029 mandate was presented.

“We have identified, over the last months, segments that require rapid development, such as digital literacy, pedagogical skills of the teachers or support to innovate education. We also analysed the impact of the twin transition in educational policies, but we also proposed new ideas, such as the development of the Erasmus beyond Europe program“, stated Kirsten Broekema, president of AEGEE-Europe.

Organizations involved in the development of educational policies, as well as representatives of the European institutions, openly discussed at the event what is realistic for the next five years from the point of view of a European education adapted to the citizen’s needs.

“The future of education is now and we need to act together. We need to boost citizenship education, tackle the skills deficit and define key areas for training and reskilling, but we also need to modernize the education system and learn how to use new technologies to support education, without leaving anyone behind. I call for the creation of a European Education Plan with financial resources to support quality of education and teacher training, and reduce early school drop-out rates. If we are seriously thinking about the future of Europe, then we must think strategically about the future of education.”, stated MEP Victor Negrescu, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education.

The participants realized the importance of the current moment, proposing that European education occupy a central role both on the agenda of European institutions and EU member states.

The European Commission must focus their strategic priority over the period 2024-2029 on a development of European education, a new leap in this field like the one realized in the 1990s, and the idea of a Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for European education can give a clear signal to everyone. Participants to the event also welcomed the creation of a European Year for Education.

In order to give European education the necessary importance, it was suggested launching an Intergovernmental Conference in the spring of 2025 to present the integrated vision of the Member States and the EU on the educational perspective for 2040.