Yearplan Project 2004

About the relations between the EU

and its new neighbours after the enlargement

Within the Yearplan Topic “European Identity”

Target regions

• Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova

• Russia

• Romania, Bulgaria

• Turkey

• Western Balkans

Aims of the project

• present characteristics of each of the target regions and challenge stereotypes about them

• discuss possible definitions of what Europe is in terms of geography, customs, politics and culture

• decide on the place the EU has in Europe through the relations it develops with the other countries and regions

• identify the (possible) elements of a common European identity and of its system of values

Coordination team• Olivier Genkin• Pamela Steinmetz• Susanne Strunck• Ioana Muresan• Berta Mrak• Theijs van Welij• Elia Varela• Lukasz Malys• Lukasz Rozycki• Patrik Reuter

Activities (1/2)

• Opening conference „Europe‘s (Torn?) Identity“Ljubljana, 12-19 October 2003

• Action Week „Welcome, New Europe!“All over Europe, 1-8 May 2004

• The Future of EuropeAthina, 14-16 May 2004

• Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine & EUMinsk, 3-5 June 2004

Activities (2/2)

• Russia & EUMoskva and Sankt Petersburg, 2-11 July 2004

• Bulgaria, Romania & EUBucuresti, 16-19 September 2004

• Turkey & EUIzmir, 21-24 October 2004

• Western Balkans & EUSarajevo and Mostar, 9-13 November 2004

Europe‘s (Torn?) Identity

• Ljubljana, 12-19 October 2003

• Main topics and results:– Borders of Europe– Inclusive and exclusive identities– Cultural, national, regional, individual identities

vs. European identity

Welcome, New Europe!Action Week all over Europe, 1-9 May 2004Activities organised by AEGEE locals

• We decide about Europe: European Parliament Simulation - Warszawa• Europe MAJ Love: Festival of reunited Europe - Gdansk• Hitch-hiking contest: Crossing Old Borders - Groningen et al.• Europe - Your Parliament, Your Vote - Valletta• Poland in the structure of the EU: The End of the Beginning of

integration? - Katowice• More activities in Brussels, Bucuresti, Bydgoszcz, Dresden / Wroclaw,

Gorizia / Nova Gorica, Helsinki, Lodz, Lublin, München, Poznan, Rzeszow, Trieste...

Thanks to the network !!

The Future of Europe

• Athina, 14-16 May 2004

• Main topics and results:– The enlarged EU needs more maturity before further enlargement– The European Constitution is a major step for the EU to become a

political actor– There is a huge distance between the EU decision-makers and

the citizens, more communication and transparency are needed

Belarus, Ukraine & EU

• Minsk, 3-5 June 2004

• Main topics and results:– Ukraine and Belarus between the EU and Russia

=> a mediating role?– A decision towards the west might help to speed up the

democratisation process– Progress in the educational systems should be done

Russia & EU

• Moskva and Sankt Petersburg, 2-11 July 2004

• Main topics and results:– Russia is not expected to join the EU but political and cultural

co-operation should be strengthened– The history of Russia and the former Russian and Soviet

territories (partly EU member states) should be enlightened in order to reduce stereotypes and prejudices

– Mobility between the EU and Russia should be facilitated (visa, Erasmus)

Romania, Bulgaria & EU

• Bucuresti, 16-19 September 2004

• Main topics and results:– Both Romania and Bulgaria are expected to join the EU in a few

years– Both Romania, Bulgaria and the EU will benefit from the EU

accession in the long run– But we should not ignore the difficulties the next EU enlargement

will bring, the expectations currently are too high

Turkey & EU

• Izmir, 21-24 October 2004

• Main topics and results:– Turkey did huge progress in the past years in order to fulfil the

Copenhagen criteria– Many EU citizens are not ready for accepting Turkey in the EU,

much more communication is needed– The simulation of the European Council did not lead to the

decision to open EU accession negotiations with Turkey, mainly because of the Cyprus issue

Western Balkans & EU

• Sarajevo and Mostar, 9-13 November 2004

• Main topics and results:– The region made a strong development in the past years, the EU

perspective is significant for the stability of the region, the borders still are subject to negotiation

– The management of multiethnic societies and human rights includes the requirement that refugees return back home

– The corruption in higher education has to be overcome in order to ensure fairness and equal chances

THANK YOU• AEGEE-Europe, mainly the Comité Directeur• AEGEE-Ljubljana, mainly Katarina, Berta and Stasa• AEGEE-Athina, mainly Angeliki and Panos• AEGEE-Minsk, mainly Dima• AEGEE-Moskva, mainly Olga and Maria• AEGEE-Sankt Petersburg, mainly Katerina• AEGEE-Bucuresti, mainly Ioana, Mira and Radu• AEGEE-Izmir, mainly Basak and Halit• AEGEE-Sarajevo, mainly Elia, Nermina and Amar• AEGEE-IPWG and friends

• as well as every single co-organiser and every single participant !!!

www.aegee.org/eueeue@aegee.org

…and see you in Europe!!

Thank you for your attention…