AI ACT FAILS TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS
Policy Paper written by Michiel Barten 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 [...]
The Role of Young People in Building Bridges and Uniting Cultures
Position paper written by Martyna Zapalska and Lena Sobczyńska. And was supported by Teddy van Amelsvoort. In an era of unprecedented global connections, our world still faces persistent conflicts and deep-rooted divides. At AEGEE-Europe, we believe young people have the power to bring upon positive change. Our recent position paper on the role of young people in building bridges and uniting cultures reflects our commitment to fostering open dialogue, promoting cultural exchange and awareness and youth leadership across Europe. Inspired by our conference last February in Eindhoven, where young people gathered to explore topics like diversity, inclusion and the [...]
Statement | Reintroducing Border Controls | Borderless Europe
Last Monday, September 16th, Germany reestablished border checks on its borders with Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark. This move is not an isolated event; in fact, it marks the fourth instance in just six months that Germany has given notice of temporarily reintroducing border controls. 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 [...]
Policy Paper On Advocating For Comprehensive Sexuality Education For Young People In Europe And The Role Of Youth Led Organisations
Policy Paper written by Florina-Marieta Neagu in March 2024 Comprehensive sexuality education plays a crucial part in equipping young people with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to further enjoy their human rights. Going beyond their sexual and reproductive health and rights, comprehensive sexuality education empowers youth to navigate their development, feelings and relationships, while living in a safe and inclusive space with their peers. However, across Europe, comprehensive sexuality education differs in its content, the age of delivery and implementation, and many young people still lack the necessary information and skills. Furthermore, there has been a rise of [...]
Agenda 2024-2029: What is new for European education?
Joint press release of AEGEE-Europe and MEP Victor Negrescu. 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 [...]
Statement | Two Years Since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
On 24th February 2022, exactly two years ago, Russia launched its unprovoked and unjustifiable full scale invasion of Ukraine. This full scale attack was a further escalation of the ongoing conflict since February 2014, when Russia illegally occupied and annexed Crimea, later supporting separatists in the regions of Donbas and Luhansk, where the fighting was ongoing for 8 years before the escalation. The full scale invasion has led to immense human suffering, the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, including tens of thousands of civilian casualties. Since the escalation of the war, nearly 1 800 children have been killed. [...]
Statement | COP28
Sustainability is part of AEGEE's core values and it is part of our strategic plan to work towards a society that respects planetary boundaries in the fight against climate change. In this statement we want to highlight the agreements that have been reached during the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP 28, that was held in Dubai from November 30th to December 12th of 2023 and to raise awareness on the decisions that affect the future on Earth and whose effects might be irreversible. Thereby, we think it is important to express our opinion with regards [...]
Statement | Migratory Law
AEGEE-Europe is deeply concerned about the recent reports at the European borders. On June 14, 2023, a fishing boat that departed Libya and was carrying hundreds of migrants sank near the coast of Greece. This tragedy, which resulted in the death of almost everyone on board, happened in a context where both FRONTEX, the EU’s border control agency, and the Greek authorities made no rescue attempts (International Rescue Committee, 2023). More recently, another tragedy occured on August 3, and to this date, only 4 survivors were rescued by a merchant vessel near Lampedusa, while 41 people are still missing (United [...]
European Youth Event 2023
The European Youth Event (EYE) is an initiative organised by the European Parliament, typically held every two years in Strasbourg, France. It serves as a unique platform for young people from all over Europe to come together, exchange ideas, and engage in discussions on various political, social, and cultural topics. The event aims to empower and inspire young Europeans to actively participate in shaping the future of the European Union. During the European Youth Event, participants have the opportunity to attend workshops, panel discussions, and interactive activities, allowing them to express their views on important issues, connect with fellow young [...]
Position paper on Circular Economy
CIRCULAR ECONOMY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND Written by Jana Niedringhaus AEGEE (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe/European Students’ Forum) is a non-governmental, politically independent, and non-profit student organisation, which was created in 1985. The mission of AEGEE is the creation of a borderless Europe, based on democracy and respect for human rights, by bringing together 13,000 students in around 150 cities and 38 countries with different cultural backgrounds. We strive for a democratic, diverse and borderless Europe, which is socially, economically and politically integrated and values the participation of young people in its construction and development. Our [...]