Coimbra Academic Association wants to “give a voice” to European youth

Considering that Europe is “not well” and that the next European deputies must take into account the concerns of young people, the Academic Association of Coimbra (AAC) presented last Saturday, March 23rd, the motion “For the Student. For Europe” at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra. After discussion and approval in the Magna Assembly, the motion will be presented to the political forces running in the next European Elections.

The creation of the European Higher Education Student Statute is one of the proposed measures. With this objective, AAC proposes the preparation of a Green Paper that would “function as a driver” between European universities and academic associations in Europe. The document will be “a catalyst for change”, in the opinion of José Carlos Machado, General Coordinator of the AAC Political Area.

The person responsible highlights some challenges that Bologna posed and that the diploma will seek to resolve.

“Bologna is an unfinished project”, says the General Coordinator of the AAC Political Area. The person responsible remembers the initial spirit of Bologna and considers it important to implement the Single European Diploma, which will facilitate issues of mobility and relations between European universities.

Housing in Higher Education is a topic that concerns Portuguese students. AAC understands that it makes sense to take the issue to European partners and is committed to a mechanism that defines “guidelines” and “objectives to be achieved”.

With the creation of the European University Psychological Support Network, it will be possible to overcome “scars” left by the pandemic. When implemented by a directive, it will help to minimize problems such as school dropout and other psychological problems.

José Carlos Machado recalls causes of death in young people that justify, from the AAC’s point of view, European measures in mental health.

In November, the AAC presented the need to create a European Youth Council. However, he remodeled the proposal and now advocates the creation of a European Youth Committee as a way of deepening the participation of younger people in decision-making. According to José Carlos Machado, like the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, the committee will have to be enshrined in a treaty.

The last review of a treaty in the European Union took place in 2007 with the Lisbon Treaty.

The motion “For the student. For Europe”’s ultimate mission is to “give a voice to youth” and bring young people closer to their European citizenship. After being debated and approved by the Magna Assembly, it will also be presented, in the form of a petition, to the European Institutions.

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