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from April 10, 2024 to April 12, 2024
Published on April 23, 2024– Updated on May 3, 2024

Throwback of the EUTOPIA participation to the European Student Assembly 2024



After months of preparation, including expert meetings, workshops, and brainstorming, more than 250 students selected from most European Alliances gathered in Strasbourg for the third edition of ESA (European Student Assembly). This event organised by the European Universities Community (EUC) took place from April 10 to 12, 2024 inside the European Parliament, a symbolic place where democracy comes alive.

ESA is a grassroots project where students debate current issues, draft political recommendations for the future of Europe and advocate them among stakeholders and decision makers. One of the flagship projects of the EUC, the ESA is entirely designed and implemented by a steering committee composed of students and academic and non academic staff members from different higher education institutions.

Ten students from EUTOPIA representing Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Vrije Universiteit Brussels (Belgium), Ca'Foscari University of Venice (Italy), the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal) and the University of Pompeu Fabra Barcelona (Spain) got the opportunity to meet and discuss policy proposals with other fellows from all over Europe on 11 different panels:
  • Panel 1 - European election year. How to tackle the lack of (and dis-) information and encourage citizens’ engagement in the upcoming elections?
  • Panel 2 - Greener is better. How can the EU establish a responsible growth in the context of climate change? Panel 3 - Cohesion through budget policies. How can the EU budget policy take part in strengthening cohesion amongst its Member States?
  • Panel 4 - Seeking a better future in the EU. What strategy should the EU adopt to guarantee a treatment with dignity of migrants from outside of the Union?
  • Panel 5 - EU in the world. How can the EU be a more responsible actor in globalisation through its leadership?
  • Panel 6 - EU Artificial Intelligence Act. What strategies could be implemented to maximise the benefits of AI while addressing its challenges?
  • Panel 7 - European heritage. How can the EU effectively coordinate with institutions the promotion of its heritage and ensure access to culture to all?
  • Panel 8 - Cure of the future. What approach should the EU adopt regarding health and more particularly the advancements of biomedicine? Panel 9 - A place for everyone. How can higher education institutions be a place of opportunities for all?
  • Panel 10 - EU of tomorrow. How can the EU secure a safe and well guided enlargement in the upcoming years?
  • Panel 11 - Addressing euroscepticism. How to build a stronger and more united EU in the face of the rise of euroscepticism?
Romaysa Sadaoui from University of Pompeu Fabra and Linn Sundgren from University of Gothenburg had the honour to be nominated as two of the 11 panel coordinators, moderating the debate between panel members and presenting the result of the panel’s work. They contributed to organise the dissemination by panel members.
 

While students delved into intensive brainstorming sessions and worked on recommendations during the interpanels debates and meetings, a village of Alliances was set up aiming to promote each Alliance participating to ESA. The EUTOPIA booth offered an insight at the EUTOPIA Student Think Tank (EUSTT) and Ecotopia programmes through dedicated flyers. Our stand was held by Ilenia Sutto, Central Office Adminstrator.

This transformative journey significantly enhanced the students’ knowledge of European economic policies and sharpened their skills in strategic planning, team coordination, and effective communication. The event reached its peak in a vibrant session where coordinators from various panels presented the students’ resolutions, set to influence future European Union policies. Most of the recommendations were adopted after a voting process.



See what the participants experienced on our Instagram account.