1985-88: The Begining
The 16 April 1985 is recorded as the birthday of AEGEE.
On
this day a huge conference was opened in Paris, called "EGEE", aiming
at overcoming the ongoing Eurosclerosis, the paralysation of the European
integration process. Under leadership of Franck Biancheri, the five Grand Ecoles
in the French capital organised this event, creating a platform for 700 young
Europeans from all European Community countries. The name EGEE (Etats Généraux
des Etudiants de l'Europe) due to a name collision with a French company, was
changed to AEGEE in 1988.
AEGEE wanted to be a platform for young Europeans to discuss the future of
Europe. The participating students became enthusiastic and established local
branches in their cities, thus creating a network. Starting in Paris, the
association was soon present in Munich, Milan, Leiden, London and Madrid. In
1988, locals were already established in 40 university cities.
In this early period the association successfully lobbied for the implementation
of the Erasmus Mobility Scheme after a dinner with Francois Mitterand on 15th
March 1987. Impressive was also a satellite link of seven cities in 1986 - which
caused bankruptcy for AEGEE-Brussels, however. Moreover, the network showed big
projects to the outside world: Euromanagers, Europolice, Moot Court, Euro Stage,
and the Summer University Project. Today, nearly all of these initiatives work
independently.
Already
at the first AGORA (AEGEE general assembly) in Munich, April 1986, the structure
of the association was created, composed by the AGORA, Planning Meeting (from
2001 Presidents' Meeting and after 2004 European Board Meeting), Comité
Directeur (CD) and Working Groups. The Network Commission was established only
in November 1996.
1989-95: Embracing the East
Europe changed, the Iron Curtain was disappearing, and new
perspectives were opened. In 1989 Aegee decided to open up to interested
students in Central and Eastern Europe.
In this time, more and more locals regarded the structure of AEGEE as not
very democratic and an opposition list was elected at the AGORA in Bonn, in
November 1990. The new CD had only few links to the old one. AEGEE lost most of
its files, since there was no office, where the whole CD worked and lived.
AEGEE-Europe had basically to start from scratch.
AEGEE-Europe supported the development in Central and Eastern Europe, especially
by transferring major events to Eastern Europe. The extensive growth of the
network in the East changed the character of the network and the understanding
of Europe of all members.
A drawback was the fact that basically only president, treasurer and secretary
were working in the AEGEE-Europe office, which was nothing else than one room,
hosted by the University of Delft. Most of the other CD members - at that time a
CD was composed out of 16 people - lived at home. E-mail was not common among CD
members, so a proper work according to today's standard was not possible.
1996-99: Growing Professionalism in Brussels
The growing network makes clear the need of a stronger
administration. The AGORA in Budapest in November 1995 decided to move the head
office to Brussels in Saint Peter Street
.
In December 1998 AEGEE-Europe moved again, to its current location in rue Nestor
de Tière 15, Brussels-Schaerbeek.
Constantly the working conditions were improved. In general IT was becoming very
important, and the fact that many technology students are in the network
resulted in AEGEE-Europe being a frontrunner in modern technologies. Already in
1994, the year when Netscape was invented, AEGEE-Europe had its first homepage.
In March 1997 AEGEE registered its own Internet domain, aegee.org.
In 1996 the number of CD members was reduced to nine, and the Network
Commission was introduced, dividing the network in ten regions and assisting the
locals in all matters.
2000-2007: Our History
In 2000-2002, new projects were born, such as "Education
for Democracy" and “Eureca” a contribution to the design of a new education
programme for the enlarging European Union. AEGEE started this successful
scholarship programme, which enabled students from war-shattered Kosovo to study
at Western European universities.
The Peace Academy was concluded with a Peace Summit at the Aegean Sea,
developing concepts for conflict resolution in Europe.
AEGEE presented itself at the Nice EU summit - giving its input for the future
Europe.
Again huge projects dominated the association. "Quo Vadis Europe" and the
"European Day of Languages".
In this time the strong network growth of the previous years continued - Our 262
local branches organised 136 conferences and seminars, more than 170 different
events and 89 Summer Universities.
Click
here to know more.