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Board of Learners Member Miriam Magritzer Participated in the Third European Student Assembly

The third European Student Assembly (ESA) session took place this year from April 10th to 12th, 2024, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. ESA is a project that gathers more than 220 students representing different European student alliances. The goal is to debate current issues, draft policy recommendations on the future of Europe, and advocate for them among stakeholders and decision-makers. Below is a list of our 11 debating topics that we have been working on over the past months. The students of ENGAGE.EU were represented in Panels 1, 4, and 5.

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 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 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 globalization 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 for the promotion of its heritage and ensure access to culture for 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?

Board of Learner member from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), took part in the ESA and has told us about her experience.

ENGAGE.EU: Tell us about your experience in taking part in ESA.

Miriam: Our program’s preparation began in January with online sessions. In the following weeks, we worked together in groups to research for our proposals. Workshops and meetings with experts helped us prepare. After months of online sessions, we were thrilled to finally gather at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to finalize our proposals.

In Strasbourg, students from 59 countries debated about different political ideas in groups for three days. On the last day, the exciting part we’d all been waiting for: voting day! My group, Panel 1, managed to get 8 out of 9 of our ideas approved!

ENGAGE.EU: What was the best part of you entire ESA24 experience?

Miriam: Totally the group photo in the hemicycle! It captured the spirit of all 220 students from around the world who had been working together for a better European Union.

Beyond the amazing memories, I want to express my deepest gratitude to ENGAGE.EU. Being part of the Learner’s Community and participating in this incredible program has been life changing. It wasn’t just about proposal writing; it was a deep dive into the European Union, its goals, and the challenges it faces. Furthermore, it fostered friendships with incredible people from diverse backgrounds. Thank you for this unforgettable experience!