European Democrat Students NEWSLETTER

FOLLOW EDS ON TWITTER @EurDemStu
MAY 2013
European Democrat Students
NEWSLETTER
4TH EDS COUNCIL MEETING, VILNIUS
DEAR READERS AND SUPPORTERS OF EDS!
Between 24-28 April EDS gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania for
its Council Meeting and Seminar “Creative Economy: Youth Enterpreneurship and Innovation”. During the event participants had
the opportunity to attend lectures about the European experience
of the crises and how Lithuania tried to find proper answers for
these problems. They also learned about how innovative economy and youth entrepreneurship are promoted in Lithuania. After
gaining deeper knowledge about the main topic of the event, the
participants discussed and amended the conference resolution
under the title “Innovation and creative economy - a key factor
for a better future”. Besides EDS moved forward with its Higher Education and Research Programme. The Permanent Working
Groups discussed motions on the Freedom of Speech on Internet,
on Energy Market Policy and on the Mobility of Academics. EDS’
Bureau hereby would like to thank all the participants, high level
speakers and most importantly JKL Lithuania for contributing to
the success of the event.
May has brought about finally awaited sun and
many political turmoil. Conferences, meetings in Brussels and elsewhere are in full steam mode. The Irish
presidency is working on fulfilling its goals before it
soon ends its term, just like this bureau is working
tirelessly before the end of our academic year and this
bureau’s mandate. The month of May will bring early
parliamentary elections in Bulgaria and YEPP Congress, where we wish our friends good luck. EDS will
be on the ground and will speak at universities in Bulgaria, before the electoral moratorium is in effect.
I hope you will enjoy and read the news we wish to
share with you with a smile and interest.
Juraj Antal
Chairman
STUDENT ELECTIONS IN GREECE
YCEG NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
On 27 March YCEG elected its new executive committee. Alexander O’Brien, the new chairman, studied law at
Nottingham and now works in London. James Willby joins as
the new Vice Chairman (Political) whilst Bernard Geerlings
continues as Vice Chairman (Membership). James is studying computer science at Birbeck, University of London while
Bernard read law at Cardiff and recently qualified as a solicitor. Each of the new exec has a history of active participation in EDS and they really look forward to continuing the
positive and constructive relationship YCEG has developed
with EDS over the past few years.
EDS wishes to congratulate DAP-NDFK, Greece for
its very good results during the last student elections
towards Greece. The situation in the universities are not
easy and there is still lots of violence but DAP-NDFK
maintained its position as first Greek student organisation. DAP-NDFK got 43,04% of votes.
FPK PROTOPORIA: THE LATEST ELECTION RESULTS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AKTIONSGEMEINSCHAFT!
Last week, AktionsGemeinschaft, Austria celebrated its 30th birthday together with many alumni. From
the beginning on, AktionsGemeinschaft was the strongest group in the national student parliament, striving for
proactive student politics, solving their problems in everyday life. AktionsGemeinschaft was proud to celebrate
with leading European personalities like Othmar Karas,
underlining the strong pro-European commitment of AG.
The upcoming student elections, 14-16 May, will show
how AG’s approach focusing on the students is crucial
for the future.
Several student elections were held at universities where Protoporia is active. Protoporia was victorious at Rethymno (Crete, Greece) on the 8th March,
Larissa (Greece) on the 10th March with 59.54% of
the ballot up 9.54% compared to last year’s election
and at Frederick University of Technology (Cyprus)
with 44.54% of the ballot up 12% compared to last
year’s election. The winning streak ended at the Cyprus University of Technology on the 15th March
where Protoporia came second with 33.33% of the
ballot, down 8% compared to last year’s election.
Fortunately, Protoporia soon returned to winning
ways on the 24th March, winning the National Union of Cypriot Students in the Czech Republic elections with 54% and the elections held in Komotini
(Greece) with 69% up 6% compared to last year’s
election. The National Union of Cypriot Students in
the UK election was cancelled because of the Cypriot presidential elections in February. A total of 15
student elections are held each year. Depending on
their performance at each election, student organisations earn seats in the Cypriot student parliament
which assembles in December every year.
GLOBSEC 2013
EYF COMEM IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 18-21 APRIL
On 18-21 April EDS attended the EYF Council of Members Meeting (COMEM) in Brussels, Belgium. The COMEM
dealt with statutory motions, policy work, new member organisations and elected 20 organisations to the Advisory
Council of the Council of Europe. Our friends in YEPP were
elected in the AC, and EDS congratulates them with this.
Vice-Chairwoman Ingrid Hopp represented EDS in the EYF
COMEM.
18-20 April EDS was represented by Chairman Antal
at the Globsec, International Security Conference in Bratislava. Chairman Antal was also part of the Young Leaders forum of the Globsec conference which ran simultaneously with the main event. Topics discussed included
the future policies of NATO, global security issues, but
also more regional happenings such as radicalisation
tendencies of the voters behaviour in the EU and building institutions in North Africa. Chairman Antal put the
name of EDS to ears and places where they have never
heard or been before. The keynote speech was delivered
by Zbigniew Brzezinski, former foreign policy advisor to
US President Carter. EDS wishes to thank the organisers
of the YLF for a splendid event.
NORWEGIAN STUDENT ELECTIONS
Last month Høyres Studenter, Norway, EDS full member organisation, participated in the student elections in
the Universities of Oslo, Bergen and Tromsø. HS gained
almost a 40% election result in Tromsø, and retained the
power in the Student Parliament as well as the Student
Government. Heidi Fuglesang, EDS Council Member got
elected into the University Board in Bergen and the HS
Oslo branch got 3 candidates elected into the Student
Parliament. EDS congratulates Høyres studenter with the
great results
RCDS
At the start of April RCDS held one of its most important event for this year- the European congress. It is
the annual gathering of the federal committee for Europe. The venue was the old federal capital of Germany,
Bonn. The program included visit of the United Nations
European headquarters and of the federal Ministry of Education. Besides the working session, the main idea was
to connect and exchange with the German members of
the European Parliament. RCDS met with the Leader of
the CDU/CSU group in EPP - Herbert Reul, as well as with
other important representatives of the German interests
in Europe- Axel Voss and Birgit Collin-Langen. All in all
this event was evaluated as extremely fruitful.
PUBLISHER
European Democrat Students
Rue du Commerce 10,
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel. +32 2 285 41 50
Fax +32 2 285 41 41
EDITOR
Amélie Pommier
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Avram Crișan
www.edsnet.eu
STUDENT ELECTIONS IN MALTA
On the 18th of April SDM, Studenti Demokristjani Maltin, Malta retained the control of the University Students´
Council with winning the elections in Malta with a 55% majority. Their electoral campaigns focused on a number of
issues, including calls for quicker exam results and better
parking facilities. We congratulate SDM with their great results and especially Thomas Bugeja, which will be the new
KSU President.
NEXT EDS EVENTS
JUNE 5-9, 2013
Policy Days Helsinki, Finland
“Funding strategies in Higher Education”
JULY 28 - 2 AUGUST, 2013
Summer University in Berlin, Germany
TWITTER
Follow EDS Chairman on Twitter
@EurDemStu
EDS is a Member association of