Board Meeting Motions

BM 64 - On the process of designing a new research funding allocation system in Sweden

Fri 03 May 2013

Recently the Swedish government initiated an inquiry into and with the mission to suggest a new resource allocation system for research with the main commission going to the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).

BM 64 - On the Law “On Higher Education” in Ukraine

Fri 03 May 2013

The European Students’ Union, as an umbrella organisation of the National Unions of Students in Europe, would like to point out the fact that there is a need for an equal stakeholders’ participation in discussions on changes to the legislation, especially students and academia representatives.

BM 64 - Student discounts in public transportation in the Czech Republic

Fri 03 May 2013

The Czech Ministry of Transport has recently put forward a proposal on abolishing the regulation on publicly subsidised discounts in public transportation. In case the proposal would be accepted, public and private transport companies will not have the obligation to offer any discounts to students.

BM 64 - Pedagogy in higher education from a student’s perspective

Fri 03 May 2013

Higher education should convey critical thinking, self-reflection and nuanced analytic skills to the student. Teachers applying pedagogy designed for higher education institutions requirements are a prerequisite for the development of these learning outcomes.

BM64 - Resolution on the establishment of a scheme for persecuted students

Fri 03 May 2013

ESU commends the work of students taking an active role in society. We demand that governments within the European community establish a scheme in which students, who have been expelled from higher education institutions on the basis of their political commitment, can complete their education in Europe. These students must also be provided with the required financial and practical support.

BM 64 - European students oppose the Master’s Degree Loan Guarantee Scheme

Fri 03 May 2013

As students we demand that the European Parliament and the Council reject the idea of establishing a EU Master’s Degree Loan Guarantee Scheme, as currently stands in the proposal from the European Commission on “Erasmus for all”. We, representative students’ organisations in Europe, demand that the money originally planned to establish the loan scheme, will be directed towards supporting student mobility through grants.

BM64 - Appropriate and affordable housing for all students

Fri 03 May 2013

Finding an appropriate and affordable housing has become a major challenge for students in Europe. In times of growing student mobility, the students' need for flexible changes of their place of living has increased and still increases rapidly.

BM 64 - Keeping the Dutch government from financial cuts to grants and changes to public transport

Fri 03 May 2013

ESU calls upon the Dutch government not to persist with its proposed abolishment of the grant system and the changes the government wishes to make on the regulations concerning public transport for students. Laying the burden upon students is not a way to fill up budget deficits. The accessibility of higher education will be in danger if these plans are carried through.

BM 64 - ESU encourages Alþingi to focus on Icelandic students’ grants

Fri 03 May 2013

The European Student’s Union (ESU) encourages the newly elected Icelandic Parliament, Alþingi, to confirm the government bill making changes to the Icelandic loan system for students.

BM 64 - Intergenerational equality

Fri 03 May 2013

We, the European Students’ Union, demand that the European Union takes action to put in place measures that will guarantee an intergenerational equality in the midst of the financial crisis. ESU further demands that the EU takes a decisive action to prevent a rise in youth unemployment, prolongation of periods spent in working life, and the irresponsible use of pension funds as a tool to solve the financial crisis.

BM 64 - ESU Condemns the commodification of medical studies in France

Fri 03 May 2013

ESU expresses its fears after the Portuguese University Fernando Pessoa (UFP) opened a branch in Toulon (France). UFP claims to have the right to provide healthcare education such as dentistry, speech therapy, physiotherapy and pharmacy studies to students in France.

BM 64 - ESU against raising tuition fees for foreign students in Switzerland

Fri 03 May 2013

The Social Democrat Party of Switzerland put forward a motion in March requesting that students studying at the Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne would have to pay between two and three thousand Euros of tuition fees per year, depending on their fiscal residence, while domestic students would have to pay just over one thousand.

BM 63 - Supporting grant reforms in France

Thu 13 Dec 2012

The current grant system in France was conceived during the late 40’s and has never undergone any major change. Nonetheless, in 60 years, the number of students in the country was multiplied by 10 (growing from 200 000 to 2,4 million today), allowing access to HE to many more students from lower-class families.

BM 63- Support to Serbian students urging an immediate adoption of National Qualifications Framework

Thu 13 Dec 2012

Serbia is one of the few countries where National Qualifications Framework doesn't exist. Having this document adopted, the problem with about 60.000 students will be solved, who got diplomas under Bologna process with vocations which don't exist in the official registers.

BM 63 - Economic Crisis, youth and democracy

Thu 13 Dec 2012

Austerity is based on the idea that cutting public expenditure along with the concept of internal devaluation will inspire confidence in the markets and hence will lead to economic recovery.

BM63 - Higher education as a tool for creating a dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli students

Thu 13 Dec 2012

Due to current events in Israel and the palestinian authorities, ESU would like to declair that although the last happenings, we are still committed to our support in a dialogue and cooperation between students of both sides.

BM 63 - ESU calls for abolition of general tuition fees in Bavaria and Lower Saxony

Thu 13 Dec 2012

In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the main responsibility for education policies lie with the sixteen federal states.

BM63 - Motion of supporting Camila Vallejo and Chilean student movement

Thu 13 Dec 2012

Today, 3rd December 2012, the Chilean student representative leader, Camila Vallejo, left her mandate as Vice-President of the Student Federation of the University of Chile (FECH).

BM63 - The Swedish Quality Assurance System

Thu 13 Dec 2012

It is with great dismay that ESU notes the deviation from the previous commitment to European cooperation within higher education from the Swedish government reflected in the abandonment of the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance.

BM63 - ESU calls for legal institution of publicly constituted student bodies in Bavaria

Thu 13 Dec 2012

In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the main responsibility for education policies lies with the sixteen federal states.

BM63 - Support for the Danish student grant system (SU)

Thu 13 Dec 2012

It has come to the attention of the European Students’ Union (ESU) that the Danish government is currently discussing austerity measures with regards to the Danish student grant system “Statens Uddannelsesstøtte” (SU).

BM 63 - ESU gravely concerned about tuition fees development in Finland

Thu 13 Dec 2012

European Students’ Union expresses its deep concern over recent developments in Finland concerning the implementation of tuition fees for students outside the EU/EEA area.

BM 63 - ESU calls for continuing Higher Education Reform in Lithuania

Thu 13 Dec 2012

The European Students’ Union (ESU) calls upon ensuring the continuation of the Reform of Higher Education in Lithuania.

BM 63 - Resolution against new building regulations in Iceland

Thu 13 Dec 2012

In early 2012 the government of Iceland adopted a set of new building regulations which has the consequence of increasing rents on student housing.

BM 63 - Resolution in support of investment in higher education in Iceland

Thu 13 Dec 2012

ESU strongly encourages the Icelandic government to increase its investment in higher education.

BM 62 - Support to the Increase of Transparency within HEI Governance in Lithuania

Thu 03 May 2012

LSS calls upon the European Students’ Union to support the increase of transparency within HEI governance in Lithuania by including 2 student representatives into Board of HEI in Lithuania.

BM 62 - Resolution on Postgraduate Mobility Loans

Wed 02 May 2012

Whilst ESU’s stance against mobility loans is laudable and right in principle, all the indicators are pointing towards a European wide loan system to be implemented anyway.

BM 62 - Support to Syrian’s movement for democracy and call for respect of human rights

Wed 02 May 2012

For more than one year, a social movement, part of what is known as “the Arab spring”, in favour of democratic transition is facing in Syria, a dreadful repression. ESU is supporting this movement, where students take a very important role.

BM 62 - Resolution on the reform of the VAT system in Europe

Wed 02 May 2012

The European Commission is reforming the VAT system in Europe. This is being done because the system we have today no longer fits the European economic system.

BM 62 - ESU calls for more balanced Bologna implementation in EHEA

Wed 02 May 2012

Initiated by UASS, in the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012, a national study was conducted by a group of Ukrainian NGOs, on the implementation of the Bologna process in Ukraine.

BM 62 - ESU resolution on degree legal value in Italy

Wed 02 May 2012

In the last year, the financial crisis brought a change in the national government in Italy and a new Prime Minister was nominated with the aim to save the country from the financial default.

BM 62 - Call for Lithuanian Goverment to concentrate on employability of students

Wed 02 May 2012

In response to the current situation of youth unemployment in Lithuania and all over the Europe, European Students’ Union (ESU) calls upon the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for actions.

BM 62 - ESU resolution on tuition fees in Quebec

Wed 02 May 2012

In many European countries, tuition fees are rising dramatically. We, students of all over Europe, are aware of the severe consequences for society implied by such a process.

BM 62 - Responsible Reforms in Hungary

Wed 02 May 2012

After one and a half years of numerous objections and protests, the new law on higher education in Hungary was adopted on 23rd December 2011 by the Parliament.

BM 62 - Support on repayment of student loans for parents and public sector workers in Estonia

Wed 02 May 2012

European Students` Union calls upon the Estonian Parliament to deal with the issue of student loan repayments in Estonia. The issue is further explained below.

BM 62 - Resolution of support of Montenegrian Students

Wed 02 May 2012

The Ministry of Education and Sport adopted a strategy to reduce the number of graduates in Montenegro due to the high levels of unemployed graduates (approximately 5,000).

BM 62 - ESU support to Spanish students against the measures adopted by the government on Education

Wed 02 May 2012

Call for European Student Union to support Spanish students against the measures adopted by the government on Education Issues.

BM 62 - Free access to knowledge

Wed 02 May 2012

ESU would like to express its clear commitment to knowledge sharing efforts across Europe. Dissemination of knowledge is the foundation of active and dynamic higher education institutions and is an essential part of the academic community.

BM 62 - ESU supports IGLYO’s statement to condemn Russian LGBT ‘propaganda’ law

Wed 02 May 2012

The European Students' Union supports IGLYO to condemn the recent adoption of the law on the prohibition of the so-called propaganda of 'sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism, and pedophilia to minors’, which was signed on February 29, 2012.

BM 61 - Cuts on student grants undermines the right to education

Tue 29 Nov 2011

In an attempt to cut its budget deficit the Government of Cyprus proposed a decrease in student grants by 10%.

BM 61 - Investment in higher education should be a central policy goal for each state

Tue 29 Nov 2011

According to the budget that the Government of Cyprus submitted at the House of Representatives, the proposed budget on higher education for 2012 has been reduced. The largest cut concern is the state funding of the three public universities equivalent to a decrease of 13.2% compared to the funding of 2011. The reductions are even greater if we compare the budget of 2012 to the 2010 budget. In this case, the cuts are leading to a decrease of 18.7%.

BM 61 - ESU supports student welfare : Student will not pay for the crisis

Tue 29 Nov 2011

In the context of austerity policies, the French government chose to double the taxrate on the health care system. By raising this rate from 3,5% to 7%, the government chose to inflict the crisis on students studying in France. The ESU, by this motion, wants to support French students in their will to see this tax removed. We strongly oppose this tax for the following reasons. At the same time the student’s health care public funding is threatened, and is bound to be lowered from round 53 € to

BM 61 - ESU supports Chilean movement for a free and public higher educational system

Tue 29 Nov 2011

For five months, the Chilean students reached historical mobilisation. Now it’s almost all the society, which is on the side of the students and ask for education as a public good. At the end of August, more than 200 000 people were present in Santiago for a national demonstration. This movement is historical in the sense that it’s really challenging the commodified higher education system of Chile, inherited from the Pinochet dictatorship. The Chilean students in the street claims «Chilean educ

BM 61 - Solidarity for CREUP

Tue 29 Nov 2011

After knowing about the latest news regarding the changes on the Portuguese policy about the students’ social transportation support (the Government has removed the 50% grant on public transportation passes to higher education students). CREUP would like to ask ESU to stress this opportunity to public demonstrate its solidarity with the Portuguese Students not only regarding this specific situation but also regarding all the financial difficulties that Portuguese students have been facing now du

BM 61 - Support for CREUP-AGAINST HIGH TUITION FEES

Tue 29 Nov 2011

In the context of public funding of HEI's, the Spanish National and Regional government agreed to increase the tuition fees within a 3'5-7'6%. By raising this rate from 3,5% to 7'6% , the government chose to inflict the crisis on Spanish students .

BM 61 - Support for CREUP-QA student experts’ pool

Tue 29 Nov 2011

CREUP would like to get the support of ESU for ensuring collaboration with the different stakeholders for our QA STUDENTS EXPERTS POOL, we set it up, we are starting and with budget cuts for education we are concerned about collaboration of the QA agencies and Ministry of Education with us.

BM 61: External Tuition Fees

Wed 23 Nov 2011

The European students' union (ESU) with this statement confirms our position on the right to education. We believe that education is a strong factor contributing to the development of societies, states and individuals. We therefore reassure our position that education should be accessible to all potential students.

BM 61: Students involvement in Ukraine and legislation changes

Wed 23 Nov 2011

Talking into consideration often students protests in Ukraine European Students’ Union, as an umbrella organization of the National Unions of Students in Europe is pointing out on the fact that students are a crucial part of the academic community, and they should be fully involved in the decision-making process on all the levels.

BM 61: The right to study, emergency in Italy

Wed 23 Nov 2011

The right to Higher Education represents the right of a generation to have access to the higher levels of Knowledge without being hampered by the social or economical backgrounds they come from and represents the chance for every individual to build his of her future.

BM 61: Introduction of master vocational studies into Serbian higher education

Wed 23 Nov 2011

ESU supports initiative of the SUS and Students’ Conference of Academies of Vocational Studies and requires from Serbian government and Ministry of Education and Science to introduce the master vocational studies into Serbian higher education with argumentation that basic human rights to education are threatened. Everyone must have right to assess higher education by enrolling in their prefered higher education system. No individual can be forced by a law to specialise only through academic stud