AEGEE Day 2026 – STRAIGHT OUTTA 1985

This April, AEGEE-Europe turned the network’s 41st birthday into something genuinely unexpected. Instead of the usual birthday party format, every local across Europe was told they were filming an episode. Set in the 80s, the decade AEGEE was born.

The mission was simple: organise an event, document everything, and crown your Hero of the Episode — the one member who showed up hardest, carried the team, and it is always there to saved the day.

The Local Heroes

One of the highlights of this year’s AEGEE Day was the call to nominate a Local Hero, one member per antenna to be recognised at Agora Izmir for their work on the local level. Here are the nomenees:

Sinerida Güleroğlu (AEGEE-Muğla): nominated for being the most cheerful Secretary General. Proof that paperwork and good energy are not mutually exclusive.

Irem Sude Erdoğmuş (AEGEE-Aachen): nominated for being the Mother of AEGEE-Aachen. The kind of person who holds an antenna together through warmth, patience, and sheer presence.

Franciszek Baczyński (AEGEE-Kraków): nominated for working around the clock to rescue a struggling antenna. With the right team and enough determination, nothing stays broken forever.

Alessandra Bianchi (AEGEE-Napoli): nominated for being the hottest local organiser. Great events don’t just happen on their own.

Maicol Bouyelfane (AEGEE-Torino): nominated for being the blondest treasurer. The books are balanced and the hair is impeccable.

David Mediavilla Aller (AEGEE-León): nominated for being the most good-looking vice Chairperson. Leading with style and getting things done at the same time.

Kraiwin Namsri (AEGEE-Amsterdam): nominated for being the most thorough organiser and Amsterdam’s resident jokester. The rare person who nails the spreadsheet and the punchline.

Sándor Árpád Zsók (AEGEE-Budapest): nominated for years of devoted work and for always keeping the local entertained with his (non)funny jokes. We laugh anyway. We always do.

41 years in

Forty-one years is a long time for a student network. Long enough to have seen borders change, currencies come and go, and generations of members pass through. AEGEE is still here, still genuinely pan-European, still worth celebrating!

Thank you for joining us in Agora Izmir 2026!

We are happy to share the new Key to Europe 2025!

You can access the online flipbook edition of the yearbook here.

The Key to Europe is AEGEE’s most prominent annual publication. It sums up the previous year in various articles reflecting on the organisation’s activities and gives a glimpse of AEGEE’s future during the upcoming year.

Dive in and enjoy the read!

Statement of AEGEE-Europe concerning the recent elections in Hungary on 12 April 2026

On 12 April 2026, the Hungarian people spoke wishing to bring an end to the heavily eurosceptic period, choosing to move closer to Europe once again. Voter turnout reached record highs (around 80%), with people standing in line for hours to cast their ballots. The change in leadership was followed by widespread celebrations in the capital and across the country.

We celebrate the elections! As Ursula von der Leyen stated on Monday, 13 April: “Today, Europe is Hungarian, without any question. The people of Hungary have spoken, and they have reclaimed their European path. It is a victory for fundamental freedoms.”

For the past 16 years, Hungary has gone through changes where the rule of law has been weakened, mis-management of public funds has become a serious issue – leading to the freezing of EU funds – and instead of a full democracy, it was formed into a hybrid regime.

As AEGEE-Europe, we are hopeful about the changes to come in Hungary and excited to see the country transform in the coming years in line with the values we share, fostering a democratic and pro-European country.

Report Reveals How Mental Health Challenges Affect the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Young People.

A new report from AEGEE‑Europe and YOUTHreach suggests that improving youth mental health in Europe is not simply a matter of expanding clinical services. It requires systemic reform, sustained investment, and a shift toward approaches that recognise mental health as a human rights issue.

The report contributes to that effort by amplifying young people’s voices. Young people were invited to respond to a survey, situating their experiences within the broader landscape of structural determinants, rights obligations, and persistent research gaps. Many described barriers that carry real‑life consequences for their education, work, safety, and participation in society, concerns that are reinforced by existing international evidence.

The report situates these lived experiences within a growing body of global research. International evidence consistently points to rising levels of distress among adolescents and widening inequalities shaped by gender, socioeconomic status, and discrimination.

Read the full report to explore the lived experiences behind the data, understand how mental health challenges are restricting young people’s rights, and discover the evidence‑based reforms needed to build youth‑centred, rights‑respecting mental health systems.

About the report

This publication is complementary to AEGEE‑Europe’s contribution to the United Nations OHCHR for the 2026 Human Rights Council Resolution 57/30 – Study on the impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people. It synthesizes insights from AEGEE‑Europe’s and YOUTHreach’s networks and places them within global evidence.

AEGEE-Europe in Full Solidarity with Ukraine as Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion Enters Its Fifth Year

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As this unprovoked war of aggression against the Ukrainian people turns into its fifth year, we again join the voices demanding peace, justice, territorial integrity, and a European future for Ukraine. On this day, it is also important to remember that this war is a continuation of violence by Russia, which lasted over four years. The illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 already showed that Russia disregards Ukraine’s right to self-determination. We stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian youth.

As AEGEE-Europe, we are alarmed by the findings stated in the latest ODIHR reports documenting the sharp escalation of civilian harm in Ukraine. HRMMU verified that conflict-related violence in Ukraine in 2025 killed 2,514 civilians and injured 12,142. According to the latest UN reports, First-Person View (FPV) drones have become the leading cause of civilian deaths and injuries near the frontline. Civilian casualties caused by short-range drones increased by 120% in 2025, resulting in 577 people being killed and 3,288 injured. Documented incidents include strikes on civilian vehicles, homes, humanitarian evacuation teams, and medical transport. As the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has warned, the scale and pattern of these FPV drone attacks indicate that, in some instances, they appear to have been deployed in ways that intentionally targeted civilians or civilian objects, which would amount to war crimes. The continued rise in civilian deaths demands urgent international attention and immediate steps to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law.

Russia does not just harm civilians through direct attacks, but interferes with every aspect of life in Ukraine: Ever since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure. One of the most horrendous of these attacks was the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Kherson Oblast on June 6, 2023, leading to the release of 20 cubic kilometers of water, flooding over 80 settlements and drowning hundreds. According to the Ukrainian energy think tank Green Deal Ukraina, Russia has destroyed or damaged around two-thirds of Ukraine’s electricity generating capacity, dropping it from 40 GW  before the invasion, to merely 12 GW at present. Recently, this terror campaign included launching 4,442 drones and 135 missiles amidst the coldest January Ukraine has seen in over a decade. A majority of this was focused on energy infrastructure, depriving millions of heat, electricity, and water in temperatures reaching -20°C.

The war does not impact all Ukrainians in the same way. We particularly call attention to the special and leading role that women and girls play in the war, as they deal with gender-based violence, relocation, and double-burden of work. Their contribution in these demanding times, both on the battlefield and in humanitarian positions, continues to inspire us. Furthermore, AEGEE expresses its solidarity and compassion with Ukrainian children and youth. We are horrified by reports that estimate that 35 000 Ukrainian children remain missing, possibly constituting a war crime. Even those who were not abducted from their families were forced to grow up early, being deprived of a carefree childhood. The irreversible impact of Russia’s actions on this vulnerable group of the population is a tragedy. With regards to the future, we point out that both Ukrainian women and Ukrainian youth voices must be actively involved.

“Four years is long enough for teens to grow into adults, however, for Ukrainian teens, their youth was taken away the second the war started. No matter if they stayed or had to leave, they lost the “home” they knew, their friends and sometimes family; their carefree life with dreams about the future turned into survival in the unknown and uncertain. 

Not by choice, but Ukrainian youth went through things many others didn’t have to, things that made them both broken, stronger and different, with a unique perspective in life. That’s why their voices are so important, and can’t be ignored.”

– Diana, Ukrainian Youth Voice

The past year has seen several initiatives for peace talks. Recent talks in the United Arab Emirates and in Switzerland have ended without specific results or a meaningful breakthrough that give hope for real peace in Ukraine. While the delegations said they would meet again, they did not provide a new date. We strongly criticise that Russian negotiators insist on claiming the entire Donetsk region, despite 20% of the territory remaining outside their military control. Russian carelessness about the continuation of the war, including the loss of thousands of lives, is unacceptable.

In this context, we reaffirm that under no circumstances must Ukraine be put in a position to cede territory that is illegally annexed by the Russian Federation. Ukraine should not be forced to accept a peace that falls short of viable security guarantees and justice for Russia’s action. We stress that Ukraine’s demands must be respected and supported by its European allies. It must be clear that peace plans cannot be successful if Ukraine’s self determination is not respected, and that the future of Ukraine can only be defined by the Ukrainian people itself.

As European Union officials, including Ursula von der Leyen, have stated, Ukraine’s future is in the EU, making commendable progress as a candidate country albeit simultaneously fighting at war. We strongly commend the reforms taking place and reaffirm that Ukraine and its youth belong to the European family. We also call on all European actors to accompany Ukraine’s path to membership in a united and productive way, and we condemn countries that continuously veto loans for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Ukraine must be able to count on its European partners in times in which other partners’ behaviour fluctuates. From East to West, Europe has no choice but to actively stand united and realize that the aggressor in the conflict is the Russian Federation. AEGEE-Europe reiterates its full commitment in supporting Ukraine on their path and calls on all actors to do the same. A strong and independent European future cannot exist without joint and determined support for Ukraine.

Written by Charlotte Burkhard, Leon Kogel and Nathan Kogel, members of the Help Ukraine Task Force of AEGEE-Europe.

Sources: 

Carr, Kalynych, Meissner, Mikhnych, Stubbe, Zachmann.  Green Deal Ukraina.(2025-2026). Electricity and Gas Supply in Ukraine: Winter 2025/2026 destroyed or damaged energy generating capacity of Ukraine https://greendealukraina.org/products/analytical-reports/winter-outlook-2025-26-jan-2026

Court, E. (2023, September 13). Von der Leyen: Future of Ukraine is in EU. The Kyiv Independent. https://kyivindependent.com/von-der-leyen-future-of-ukraine-is-in-eu/

Irynka Hromotska. (2024, June 6). Looking back at the Kakhovka Dam explosion one year later (Photos). The Kyiv Independent. https://kyivindependent.com/in-big-water-kakhovka-dam-destruction-photos/

Kumar, R. (2025, June 2). “Basically impossible to get them back”: Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime, say experts. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/27/russia-ukrainian-children-abduction-war-crime

Melkozerova, V. (2026, February 18). Surprise, surprise: Russia-Ukraine talks yield no peace breakthrough. POLITICO. https://www.politico.eu/article/surprise-surprise-russia-ukraine-talks-yield-no-peace-breakthrough/

Moffat, L. L. (2026, February 18). Chart of the week: Russia’s attacks push Ukraine’s energy system to the brink. The Kyiv Independent. https://kyivindependent.com/chart-of-the-week-russias-attacks-push-ukraines-energy-system-to-the-brink/

Monde, L. (2025, November 21). War in Ukraine: What we know about Donald Trump’s 28-point peace plan. Le Monde.fr; Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/11/21/war-in-ukraine-what-we-know-about-donald-trump-s-28-point-peace-plan_6747683_4.html

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. (2025, July 15). Seventh Interim Report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine. Osce.org. https://odihr.osce.org/odihr/594634

Tomko, Liliana (2025). Redefining Roles: How Russia’s War is Transforming Ukrainian Women’s Place in Society | Development Dispatch | CSIS. Center For Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/blogs/development-dispatch/redefining-roles-how-russias-war-transforming-ukrainian-womens-place

Ukrainer in English. (2024, March 8). Women at war • Ukraïner in English. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YepcuvWqhII

United Nations Human Rights Office of the Higher Commissioner. (2025). 2025 deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, UN human rights monitors find | UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Ohchr.org. https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/2025-deadliest-year-for-civilians-in-Ukraine-since-2022-UN-human-rights-monitors-find

“Intersecting Realities – Youth Redefining Europe: Inclusive Civic Narrative”

From 13th to 16th June, a group of about 40 young people from across the continent came together in Brussels for the final conference of Europe on Track 11 [1]. The event marked the final destination of a month-long interrail journey across Europe, during which young ambassadors facilitated workshops and collected insights into lived realities of youth navigating overlapping forms of discrimination. Throughout the conference day, youth activists, AEGEE members, policymakers, civil society representatives, and the EoT11 project team members had the opportunity to share their experiences, exchange ideas, network, and inspire one another.

This generated several key outcomes: It began by bringing together the voices from across Europe collected along the ambassador’s journey. Stories revealing structural, social, and institutional barriers faced by young people with intersecting identities. Together, participants transformed these insights into collective demands for a more inclusive and just Europe. They drafted a shared political message and co-developed a set of youth-driven policy recommendations across five thematic areas: Economy & Education, Accessibility & Repre

sentation, Housing & Healthcare, Transport & Climate, and Data & Bureaucracy. These proposals aim to strengthen inclusive civic spaces and inform policy work beyond the AEGEE-Network. Additionally, the conference opened the space for intergenerational dialogue between youth and institutional representatives, paving the way for a continued collaboration.

Across the conference discussions, several common themes emerged:

• Educational and economic inequalities disproportionately affect youth with intersecting identities. Participants stressed the need for educator training on accessibility, intersectionality, and equity to ensure supportive learning
  environments.
• Representation gaps persist in youth policy processes. Participants highlighted that lived experience must be valued alongside expertise, especially for groups like rural Roma youth, queer youth, and migrants.
• Systemic barriers in housing and healthcare continue to create unequal access, calling for transparent rent regulation and the elimination of discriminatory practices.
• Mobility and climate policies should prioritise safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability in public transport to ensure equitable mobility for all young people.
• Data collection and bureaucracy often overlook intersecting identities; participants underscored the need for qualitative approaches and integrated public services to break cycles of exclusion.

Based on these findings, the AEGEE-Europe calls on European institutions, national governments, and youth organi

sations to:

1. Implement mandatory intersectionality and accessibility training across educational institutions and youth-serving structures.
2. Ensure youth policies centre the experiences of the most marginalised, using participatory methods and alternative channels to elevate excluded voices.
3. Adopt anti-discrimination safeguards in housing and healthcare systems, ensuring young people can access dignified living conditions and appropriate services.
4. Invest in inclusive, safe, and environmentally responsible public transport, integrating accessibility into national mobility strategies.
5. Improve intersectional data collection, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, and integrate public services to avoid bureaucratic exclusion.

Only by acting upon these demands can Europe move beyond inclusion that is merely symbolic and ensure that all young people, taking into account the complexity of their identities and lived realities, are able to participate, belong, and shape our shared future. Intersectional youth policies are not a favour to young people, but a responsibility of policy-makers at all levels!

[1] Europe on Track is a long-standing youth-led project by AEGEE-Europe that empowers young people to raise

 awareness, take action, and advocate for a better Europe. For this year’s edition, the focus was on intersectionality and its role in youth representation and civic engagement,
responding to Europe’s shifting socio-political landscape and the need for policies that acknowledge overlapping identities. Besides ambassadors travelling across Europe for one month by train, the project also ran a podcast to amplify its message by sharing experiences, interviews, and discussions connected to the theme.

This policy statement has been written by Ann Kristin Gildhoff, Policy Officer “Bridges of Dialogue”, AEGEE-Wien assisted by Anna Lena Seidel & Maddalena Pierini, members of EoT 11 team with the financial support of the  European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe. The opinions expressed herein are the responsibility of the authors and do not reflect the official opinion of the Council of Europe. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of our partners and the participants whose lived experiences provided the foundation for this policy statement during the conference.

Brussels, October 2025 

AEGEE-Europe is pleased to introduce the new members of its Secretariat team, who will be supporting the organisation’s projects, communications, and fundraising efforts over the coming months. Based at the AEGEE office in Brussels, the Secretariat plays a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of the European level, while also contributing to the long-term development of the network and its external impact.

As of this autumn, the Secretariat is composed of three dedicated individuals who bring energy, professionalism, and a shared commitment to European youth work.

Diana Badea – Projects Officer & Alumni Relations Responsible

Diana joins the team as Projects Officer and Alumni Relations Responsible. In this dual role, she will coordinate the implementation of ongoing European projects while also serving as a bridge between AEGEE-Europe and its alumni network. Her responsibilities include project management, stakeholder communication, reporting, and supporting activities involving AEGEE’s broader community of former members. Diana brings prior experience in youth work and event coordination, and her work will be key in fostering both institutional continuity and strategic growth.

Alice Gastaldi – Projects and Fundraising Trainee

Alice takes on the position of Projects and Fundraising Trainee, supporting the development and implementation of AEGEE’s European projects. Her work will focus on assisting in grant writing, identifying new funding opportunities, and supporting project delivery through logistical and administrative contributions. Alice brings with her an academic background in international relations and a strong interest in youth empowerment and civic engagement. Her work will contribute to diversifying AEGEE’s funding portfolio and ensuring sustainable support for the network’s initiatives.

Mónica Romão – Communications Trainee

Mónica joins the team as Communications Trainee, where she will support AEGEE-Europe’s internal and external communication efforts. This includes producing content for the organisation’s digital channels, coordinating outreach campaigns, and ensuring consistent messaging across platforms. With a background in communication & multimedia studies and experience in digital media and design, Mónica will play an important role in amplifying AEGEE’s voice both within the network and in external contexts, from social media to institutional outreach.

We welcome our new Secretariat members and look forward to the positive contributions they will make in their respective roles. Their presence marks an important step in advancing AEGEE’s strategic priorities and supporting the ongoing work of the network.

For more information about the Secretariat or how to collaborate with AEGEE-Europe, feel free to contact us at contact@aegee.eu.