Words of supportTurkey's commitment to joining the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union isclear for all to see. Our reforms to bring Turkey's laws inline with the Copenhagen Criteria are in place and full implementationis under way. We share the same objectives andvalues as all the other Member States of the EU, and we areready to accept the same obligations. Our policy is already ofgreat benefit to Turkey and it is a credible basis for our eventualmembership of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union.Since it is a programme for the future it is of paramount importancethat it is supported by the younger people of our society,not only of Turkey, but also of her future partners in the EU.I am glad to say that not only we are sure of this support, weare inspired by it. We also, therefore, owe it to our youngpeople to achieve our goals so as to ensure an irreversiblydemocratic, safe, prosperous and equitable future for themand their children.This future will be based on certain universal values which lieat the heart of the United Nations and the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union:Democracy, the rule of law, human rights, the care and protectionof minorities, the outlawing of all forms of discriminationbased on race, ethnic background, religion, or genderand a transparent, market economy. Such values are thebedrock of our society.In pursuing these goals Turkey has come under the internationalspotlight as seldom before. In the past much of theattention focussed on Turkey has been because of deviationfrom these norms. No one country fulfils its obligations perfectly.Turkey, for a variety of reasons, had special difficultiesin matching these values. But with its intense desire to seechange at home and integration with the EU, and with widespreaddomestic and international support, Turkey hasembraced these universal values. In my view they are bothirrefutable and irreversible. They can become an inspirationto our neighbouring Moslem societies when they see theproof that these values are of real, practical value in securingpeace, prosperity and social equity.The success of Turkey's economic and financial reforms willdepend increasingly on our younger men and women becomingeven better educated, finding modern jobs in new fields ofskill and discipline, and broadening our middle-class, consumersociety that is the hard core of democracy.Those who are members of <strong>AEGEE</strong> are already showingleadership by their very activity in this excellent organisation.Within a very few years they will be in positions of middlemanagement. They will be among the new decision-makers.Their support for Turkey's aspiration to become a full memberof the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union is a huge asset today and will be aguarantee to the existing EU of their devotion to our commonvalues in the future.Prime Minister of the Republic of TurkeyRecep Tayyip Erdogan4 <strong>Key</strong> to <strong>Europe</strong> <strong>2003</strong>/<strong>2004</strong>
<strong>AEGEE</strong>, in which all students feel at home...<strong>AEGEE</strong> - structureEGEE stands for Association des EtatsAGénéraux des Etudiants de l'<strong>Europe</strong>. It takesits name from one of the birthplaces of democracy:the Aegean Sea, and from the first parliament establishedat the dawn of the French Revolution, LesEtats Généraux.<strong>AEGEE</strong> is represented in 260 academic cities, in 42countries and by 17.000 students, and is thereforethe largest interdisciplinary student association in<strong>Europe</strong>. Its activity, not linked to any political party,is secular, and characterised by the voluntarism andnon-profitability of all projects.<strong>AEGEE</strong> promotes a unified <strong>Europe</strong> without prejudices,striving to create an open and tolerant societyof today and tomorrow by involving students andyoung graduates in valuable projects and discussionson topics of importance for the societies young peoplefind themselves in. It promotes communicationand integration in academic environments across<strong>Europe</strong>, and at the same time forms a network of<strong>Europe</strong>an friends.Being truly <strong>Europe</strong>an, <strong>AEGEE</strong> does not recognize thenational level and does not use national administrativestructures. The two levels officially recognized in<strong>AEGEE</strong>’s structure are: the local level, providing thecore for all activities and an opportunity for regularsocial meetings; and the <strong>Europe</strong>an level, offering abasis for intercultural knowledge sharing by involvementin working groups and international projectteams. <strong>AEGEE</strong> members work for what they believein. In return they get personal satisfaction and atrust that they will have a say in the course ofevents. The <strong>Europe</strong>an-minded find in <strong>AEGEE</strong> a perfectenvironment to learn and act as a <strong>Europe</strong>an citizen.<strong>AEGEE</strong>: “Strangersare just unknownfriends”A Strong Voice for Ideals<strong>AEGEE</strong>, as a student organisation notlinked to any political party, providesprompt reactions to the needs arisingin student environments, creating aninterdisciplinary platform among students,enabling them to exchangeand share their ideas directly with<strong>Europe</strong>an as well as national decisionmaking institutions.<strong>Europe</strong> of colourful experiencesTraditional flamenco nights inBarcelona, limoncello tasting inNapoli, tango in the shadows of theCastle of Heidelberg, sauna inHelsinki - our continent's culturaldiversity opens its doors thanks to<strong>AEGEE</strong>. Our events are truly multiculturalexperiences, presenting thescale of <strong>Europe</strong>'s national cultures attheir best, with participants comingfrom all over<strong>Europe</strong> andthus creatingthe environmentfull ofmutual curiosityand stimulatedinterest.A Living DreamEthical and idealistic valuesgive a clear directionaction. Thanks to highlyto all our activities. Theprofessional Internaldream of <strong>Europe</strong> withoutEducation events, as wellborders has inspired andas the opportunity tocontinues to inspire generationsof students fromorganise their ownevents and carry intothe Caucasus to theeffect their own projects,Atlantic. <strong>Europe</strong>an<strong>AEGEE</strong> offers its membersaccess to a wideIntegration throughActive Citizenship, projectspromoting Peacevariety of tools for developingvarious personaland Stability, Higherskills and complementingEducation conferencestheir education with lifeand cultural exchangesexperience.are means to reach thisdream. <strong>AEGEE</strong>,an organisationwith only localand <strong>Europe</strong>an A Model for Democracystructures andhaving nonational level,has influencedhistory in thespirit of a borderless<strong>Europe</strong>,where nationalidentities areshared ratherthan protected,creating a spacewhere we all canlive our dreams.Non-Formal EducationPromoterActive debates and discussionsfind fertileground among openmindedstudents. Beingan interdisciplinary studentorganisation, ourevents deal with a widevariety of topics, allowingmeaningful expression ofour ideals through<strong>AEGEE</strong>'s main fields ofWith a core structure evolved over morethan 15 years into an example for anydemocratic organisation, <strong>AEGEE</strong> hasalways enabled students to make decisionsfor themselves and develop theirpotential as active citizens, now and inthe future. With the JuridicalCommission supervising the statutesand their application, the NetworkCommission improving co-operationwithin the network, and a range of othercommissions and working groups, a widevariety of options allow every student tofind a place within the organisation.ne of the factors distinguishing <strong>AEGEE</strong> from other stu-associations is its unique structure. It is character-Odentized by the lack of a national level, going directly from the<strong>Europe</strong>an to the local level (an academic city where <strong>AEGEE</strong> ispresent). This structure gives <strong>AEGEE</strong> a truly <strong>Europe</strong>andimension, reflecting our ideas of a borderless <strong>Europe</strong>an continent,open for all its people to travel freely and feel themselvescitizens of one common <strong>Europe</strong>, free of prejudice.Members<strong>AEGEE</strong> members are incredibly motivated young people, whowork for what they believe in, getting in return personal satisfactionand the hope that they have influenced the courseof things they have touched. In short, the <strong>Europe</strong>an mindedfinds in <strong>AEGEE</strong> an almost perfect environment to learn andact as an <strong>Europe</strong>an.AntennaeAntenna is the name of an <strong>AEGEE</strong> local group. An antennausually organises at least one <strong>Europe</strong>an event per year aswell as any number of local activities. Currently there areover 260 antennae and contact groups in <strong>AEGEE</strong> in 42<strong>Europe</strong>an countries.AgoraThe Agora, the General Assembly of <strong>AEGEE</strong>, meetstwice a year. Almost 1000 <strong>AEGEE</strong> members gather forthree days in order to discuss proposals, projects,strategies and policies for the following severalmonths. It is also the meeting at which allimportant decisions concerning the future of <strong>AEGEE</strong> aretaken.Planning MeetingThe Planning Meeting is the association's think tank. Itserves to give orientation for <strong>AEGEE</strong>'s thematic work andtakes place twice a year: in March under the title "Think<strong>Europe</strong>!" and in September as the "Action <strong>Europe</strong>!" meeting.Comité DirecteurThe Comité Directeur, or board of directors, consists of up toof nine <strong>AEGEE</strong> members from at least four countries. EveryCD member has a particular area of responsibility. As a team,the CD is the chief administrative and representative body of<strong>AEGEE</strong>, with responsibility for contact with the <strong>Europe</strong>anUnion Institutions and The Council of <strong>Europe</strong>.Working GroupsWorking Groups are the thematic and specialist backbone of<strong>AEGEE</strong>. They are international groups of <strong>AEGEE</strong> memberswho are interested a particular field. Some focus on a particulartheme, such as Human Rights, and others offer supportin a particular discipline, such as Public Relations.CommissionsThe Commissions are elected to support and monitor thework of the CD. There are currently four commissions: theAudit Commission, the Members Commission, the JuridicalCommission and the Network Commission.Project TeamsInternational project teams manage the <strong>Europe</strong>-wide projectsof <strong>AEGEE</strong>. These projects are composed of multiple coordinatedactivities in different places intended to achievespecific goals, either in the long term, or over a set period.Liaison officersLiaison officers are appointed by the CD and to be points ofcontact between <strong>AEGEE</strong> and other organisations, institutionsand companies, on the <strong>Europe</strong>an and national levels. Theirwork is co-ordinated by the Liaison Office.What <strong>AEGEE</strong> means to me Focus on training Fields of action What is <strong>AEGEE</strong>? Introduction6 <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>7
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