<strong>Europe</strong>an integrationEGEE strives to foster <strong>Europe</strong>an integration, democracy, human rights, tolerance, cross-border co-operation, mobil-and a <strong>Europe</strong>an dimension in Aity education.Active CitizenshipEGEE is characterized by great responsiveness to events taking place in different fields in <strong>Europe</strong>. By closely fol-events we take the opportunity to express our opinion as active young people. Keeping up to date with theAlowingcurrent situation on our continent, we put hot social and political topics on the agenda of our discussions and addresstopics such as globalisation, disabilities, white papers of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Commission and ethnic conflicts, taking everyopportunity to influence the course of development of the societies we live in.Higher educationhe activities of <strong>AEGEE</strong> in the field of Higher Education focus on attempts to influ-the educational policies drafted by the <strong>Europe</strong>an Commission and the CouncilTenceof <strong>Europe</strong>. Since 1999 <strong>AEGEE</strong> has taken an active role in promoting student mobility,as well as drafting, by means of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Education Campaign, a new higher educationprogramme for <strong>Europe</strong>. With the numerous activities of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Day ofLanguages, <strong>AEGEE</strong> expresses another key interest: linguistic diversity.Peace and stabilitypreading knowledge of democracy, tolerance and open mindedness, <strong>AEGEE</strong> hasSalways had a role to play in the field of Peace and Stability. One project in this fieldin <strong>2003</strong> was the hugely successful Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue. Another major project,Education for Democracy, aims to allow an exchange of students from conflict-riddenareas into EU countries to study and develop an objective view of the issues thatthey face in their everyday lives.Cultural exchangene of the mainstays of <strong>AEGEE</strong>’s life is cultural exchange. Due to the organisation’s genuinely international charac-this ideal is reflected in every activity it undertakes. It constitutes the main goal of our most successful proj-Oter,ect, Summer University, and is also the basis of the new Find <strong>Europe</strong> project. Every year more than 5000 students applyfor around 100 Summer Universities taking place all over <strong>Europe</strong>, to satisfy their curiosity about the history, languageand people of the country of their summer destination.NetworkMembers16 <strong>Key</strong> to <strong>Europe</strong> <strong>2003</strong>/<strong>2004</strong>
Beyond our <strong>Europe</strong>an ShoresThe Youth & Globalisation Year Plan project <strong>2003</strong>ooking back and thinking of the year just gone by, van-are all the hardships, tension and nervous out-Lishedbreaks endured throughout the course of the Youth &Globalisation Project. All that lies inside, in my deepestmemories are sensations of sheer bliss. In truth, for me themanagement of this project remains tied to the most pleasurablevoyage of discovery of my life, a transforming experienceof living close to the edge and testing the limits ofone's abilities.It all started as a late summer dream back in September2002, when I participated at the nine-hour workshop at theCagliari Planning Meeting, the first ideas behind the proposedyear plan topic of '<strong>Europe</strong> in the World'. The actualpreparations began with the development of the ProjectTeam under the direction of Aniko Vass, then Projects Coordinatorof <strong>AEGEE</strong>-<strong>Europe</strong>, right after the Agora in Athina inlate autumn 2002. Having prepared the full concept with itsGlobal Study Meetings flaming the <strong>AEGEE</strong> summerAlexianne Galea003 was a summer with a difference! Besides the usual2Summer Universities, the <strong>AEGEE</strong> summer was definedby a series of Study Meetings, in Bayreuth, Paris, Riga,Cluj-Napoca and Izmir, scheduled within the framework ofthe year plan project 'Youth & Globalisation.' This was thesetting for heated discussions all through summer on theburning challenges raised by globalisation at the dawn ofthe 21st century.Given the huge scope of the subject matter, globalisationwas analysed from five distinct but related angles; politics,economics, culture, geo-communications and civil society.This five-fold approach catered for a holistic look at thishotly debated matter through four actions, starting with anonline survey and culminating in the World Youth Summiton Globalisation.The indications emerging from the online survey served asa basis for further investigation and analysis at the fiveStudy Meetings. The Summer Globalisation Tour started offin Bayreuth in July with the geo-communications StudyMeeting entitled 'Communication as a Privilege,' wherequestions were raised relating to the sources of power andaccess to information content in an information society.Another issue debated was whether the advanced means ofcommunications available today in certain parts of theworld have a real value in the new social formation. Laterthat same month, the World Bank building in Paris hostedthe Study Meeting on Economics: "The rich get richer andthe poor get poorer." The meeting enquired whether extensivefreedom of movement is desirable in this world, whateffect it has in practice and what should be done in futureto either promote or amend free mobility whilst combatingpoverty and promoting sustainability.The Study Meeting on Culture in the Latvian capital Rigaquestioned the processes of cultural integration set inmotion by the breakdown of physical, mental and socialborders, in view of the future of the so-called <strong>Europe</strong>an valuesthat will be endorsed in the Draft Constitution for<strong>Europe</strong>. Under the title of "<strong>Europe</strong> the Mediator, <strong>Europe</strong> theSuperpower," the participants assembled in Cluj-Napocatried to envision a <strong>Europe</strong>an government capable of intefivethematic pillars and the accompanying implementationprogramme at the Planning Meeting in Enschede, the projectwas named 'Youth & Globalisation' with NicolasMildenstein as manager.This Project was a breakthrough for <strong>AEGEE</strong> in that its mainfield of interest extended far beyond our <strong>Europe</strong>an shores.The Youth & Globalisation project attempted to encompassone of the most challenging issues of our time, the phenomenonof globalisation. Having the possibility to raisetheir concerns, young people were given the opportunity todevise an action strategy addressing the difficult questionsassociated with the issue. However, owing to the scope ofthe topic under discussion, we analysed globalisationthrough a five-fold approach, thus ensuring an all-encompassingperspective by devoting special interest separatelyto politics, economics, culture, geo-communications and civilsociety.>>>Alexianne Galeagrating into a new, democratic, global political infrastructure.Discussions were held as to how <strong>Europe</strong> should ensurethe stability of its political institutions and spread this stabilitybeyond itself. Izmir hosted the participants for theCivil Society Study Meeting. Invited to brainstorm aboutthe ideal environment for political participation, the participantssought to envisage one which enjoys an ideal balancebetween civil engagement and government.The conclusions drawn in Bayreuth, Paris, Riga, Cluj-Napoca and Izmir by the end of October were formulatedinto a single Working Document on globalisation. TheWorking Document was prepared at the Joint StudyMeeting held in Udine and Trieste. This Working Documentgathers the results achieved at the five study meetings,outlining policy recommendations in politics, economics,culture, geo-communications and civil society vis-à-vis theglobalisation process. This Working Document served as astarting point for discussion at the World Youth Summit onGlobalisation, which took place at the <strong>Europe</strong>an Parliamentin Brussels in December <strong>2003</strong>.Commencing with an online survey, theproject gave us immediate satisfactionin that the response was simply incredible:nearly a thousand submissions. Thisgave us a very useful basis for discussionat the subsequent study meetings.In fact, throughout the summer months,five intimate gatherings of around twentyparticipants took place in Bayreuth,Paris, Riga, Cluj-Napoca and Izmir, ateach of which the group thoroughly analysed one of thethematic pillars of the project. The position papers fromeach Study Meeting were all re-evaluated at the Joint StudyMeeting hosted by Udine and Trieste, so as to produce theWorking Document for the World Youth Summit onGlobalisation. This was the culmination of the project, gatheringyoung delegates from all across the world in the<strong>Europe</strong>an Parliament building, to formulate the finalStrategy Paper on Globalisation, a paper with really burningdebates as its main ingredients.However, the Youth & Globalisation Project was never a bedof roses. There were far too many times where everything<strong>AEGEE</strong>-RigaStarringAntennahis year <strong>AEGEE</strong>-Riga willTblow out the 3rd candle onour birthday cake. Although weare only 40 people and all in ourearly childhood, we are active,mobile and enthusiastic: total<strong>AEGEE</strong> addicts.In the last three years wehave organised a numberof educational and entertainingevents; first, ofcourse, our famousSummer Universities. Themost recent one was full of(un)expected experienceswith a crazy,rainy boat tourand the <strong>AEGEE</strong>-Riga trademark survivalgame. In December we alsohad our first winter University,'(sp)ICE matters', with a lot of(sp)icy feelings!<strong>AEGEE</strong>-Riga already has manyunique traditions. Our dance, "Ijust can't get <strong>AEGEE</strong> out of myhead" (in corporation with KylieMinogue), chocolate cake,sauna parties and much more.We made <strong>Europe</strong> see, noticeand accept us; now, come tothe place in the northern cornerof <strong>Europe</strong> where you are alwaysdearly welcome! We want tosee your happy, shiny face!Peopleseemed at stake, where gloomy shadows overpowered andinterfered in the preparation process, and there were momentswhere this ambitious project faced collapse. The Project Teamitself changed significantly in the course of the project, and inAugust, upon the departure of Nicolas to the United States, Itook over as manager. Nonetheless, in these peculiar momentsand with each difficult experience, the Project Team gainedstrength, courage and confidence which fuelled the great determinationthat stayed with us all throughout. However, all thiscould not be possible were it not for the network of friends whoconstantly kept believing and making sure that our burningenthusiasm never ran out. It was thanks to the great supportfrom our friends that the Team could overcome the difficultiesand successfully complete our mission.Having gone so deep into such an important and complex issue,it is important for the globalisation debate to be extended, so theYouth & Globalisation Project will continue in the year <strong>2004</strong>. Anew concept focusing on our proactive role as young <strong>Europe</strong>ansvis-à-vis the growing globalisation gap in the world is currentlybeing worked out. The <strong>2004</strong> debates will concentrate on civicengagement, cross-cultural dialogue, sustainable developmentand democratisation.of the PresentEgita Aizsilniece, 23, is a founder member of<strong>AEGEE</strong> Riga. She was president of this, the onlyLatvian antenna, for 2 years. After organisingmany successful events on a local level shejoined the Youth and Globalisation Project Teamand went to Brussels to work on the project withthe support of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Commission’s EVSprogramme. She was the first person everaccepted to this programme to work for <strong>AEGEE</strong>.While staying in Brussels, she co-ordinated theStudy Meetings and the Creativity Contest of the Y&G project, aswell as a large part of this year plan's final conference: the WorldYouth Summit.You have been actively involved in <strong>AEGEE</strong> for quite some time already,and you still keep your positive attitude; how is that possible?Two years for some members would only be the start. I have always taken<strong>AEGEE</strong> seriously, and I believe it’s <strong>AEGEE</strong> magic to gather interesting people.I value this charm and attraction in <strong>AEGEE</strong>, and I am truly convincedthat it is the people I work with that bring me this positive attitude. It’srather important what kind of people I reach results with for our dear<strong>AEGEE</strong>.Working on the Y&G project must have been quite a challenge; didyou find this experience valuable?Yes, for sure! This project was a challenge for both the association whenthe Agora voted for the concept, and for the international team. I’m satisfiedwith the results: experience in making administrative arrangements fora global event, intercultural communication, friends for a lifetime and onememorable conclusion; there is no problem without a solution.Living and working in the CD house in Brussels gives you a great picture of<strong>AEGEE</strong> in general; where do you see yourself next year?Oh yes! The peculiarity is that you picture your world in one way, then youget into <strong>AEGEE</strong> and see the same world varicoloured with broader horizons.After all the experience in the CD house, I came to the conclusion that<strong>AEGEE</strong> is really an independent world where you meet strangers, findfriends, and come across serious challenges. You simply find yourself inplaces you wouldn’t have imagined before. Now I feel ready to help futurestrivers reach their goals. As things stand now, I’m ready to give the flourto the next generation. But where will I be next year? Who knows…What <strong>AEGEE</strong> means to me Focus on training Fields of action What is <strong>AEGEE</strong>? Introduction18 <strong>Key</strong> to <strong>Europe</strong> <strong>2003</strong>/<strong>2004</strong> <strong>Key</strong> to <strong>Europe</strong> <strong>2003</strong>/<strong>2004</strong>19
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