Geschiedenis AEGEE-Europe

In a nutshell...

1985, 16 April: birthday in Paris, with a huge conference named EGEE - Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe. Bringing together over 700 young Europeans, EGEE wanted to be a platform for discussions on the future of Europe. The EGEE enthusiasm soon led to the creation of local "EGEE" branches: Paris, Munich, Milan, Leiden, London and Madrid.

1986, March: the "Night of Europe" or "European Night", a huge TV broad-cast linking 7 cities by satellite. This technically pioneeristic (and without money changing hands) transmission lasted for 4 hours and was witnessed by 4500 students. Hence the tradition to call the party on the last -and sometimes best- night of our events "European Night".

1987, 15 March:the biggest political success. Through a dinner with Francois Mitterand, some founding members among which Franck Biancheri successfully lobbied for the approval of the Erasmus Mobility Scheme for European students. As soon as next day, its birth was officially announced.

1988, January: Name of the association changed to AEGEE. It already counted 12.000 members from 50 local branches throughout West Europe.

1988, July and August: first "Summer University" project. What is still the most successful AEGEE project initially offered just ten events (Barcelona, 8Madrid, Sevilla, Heidelberg, Kiel, Milano, Amsterdam, Orléans, Paris, Toulouse) and 320 places. With no computers or Internet it was a big challenge to coordinate events around Europe!

1989: the Berlin Wall crumbled; AGORA in Salerno decided to open up to the East. First students' association to bring together people from the whole continent.

1990: new AEGEE logo representing "your Key to Europe".

1993: introduction of the Yearplan project. The "modern" project-oriented structure of year-round activities is shaped.

1995: 10th Anniversary celebrations in Antalya.

1998, December: after Paris, Delft and Brussels, the AEGEE-Europe head-office moves to its current location; rue Nestor de Tiere 15, Brussels/Schaerbeek.

1999, April: foundation of the AEGEE-Academy at the AGORA Barcelona, triggered by preparations made during the European School in Gießen. This Human Resources Working Group gave a high stress to training events, highly sharpening the profile of AEGEE in this respect.

2000: "Education for Democracy": the new scholarship program which enables students from war-shattered Kosovo to study at universities abroad. In this same year, members of AEGEE-Beograd were standing in the first row when the Milosevic dictatorship was defeated during autumn.

Nowadays: more than 90 Summer University events (with more than 2000 places offered), and on average about 150 events taking place every year. The network has currently 241 branches and 12,000 members.