Statement on the European Parliament elections
towards education and research issues

Preamble

ESIB- the National Unions of Students has existed since 1982 and seeks to promote
the social, cultural, political and economic interests of students in Europe towards
decision makers and partners at national, European and international level. ESIB
currently has 50 members from 37 countries and thus represents more than 11
millions students in Europe.

Introduction

The proposal and the future implementation of a European Constitution will bring a
lot of changes within the enlarged European Union as much as outside it. The new
regulations will affect also the functioning of Higher Education, therefore ESIB is
concerned.

As the role of European Parliament could increase, and viewing the importance of
Higher Education for development of European identity and European future, ESIB
wishes to highlight the education and research issue, as well as its vision upon it.

Education 

Education is not a commodity.

Higher Education, and education in general, plays a key role in the development of
societies, economically, but also democratically and socially. Education is a human
right and must be treated as such, and not as a market good reserved to a minority.
Education should be free of any charge, explicit or implicit.

Therefore, citizen’s right for free Higher Education has to be included in EU founding
treaties; and Higher Education should be excluded from market trade through an
“educative exception”.

On the European level, the role or the Parliament, the most democratic, accountable
and transparent body among the European institutions, should be strengthened. This
increase, however, should not go in the direction of delegating more and more power
to the European Commission.

The cooperation within the European level has to be further developed, but education
is and must stay under the responsibility of the national governments. The principle
of subsidiarity must be respected, as well as the European cultural and linguistic
diversity.

Research and development

In the spirit of the Lisbon objectives EU institutions must increase its funding for
research and development, and encourage member states to invest in quality
research an innovation systems.

Regional cooperation networks also have to be supported and encouraged.

Student participation

The involvement of relevant actors both at the national and international level must
be ensured in all debate concerning Higher Education. Therefore, ESIB recalls to
attention the fact that students, as the biggest group of stakeholders of the
universities and a vital part of academic community, have to be part of all decisionmaking
procedures where universities and students are concerned.

On the European level, students are represented by ESIB – The National Unions of
Students in Europe.

The role of ESIB, as the sole student representative in the European level has to be
fully acknowledged and it should acquire an official position within the European level
decision-making bodies dealing with education.

Student mobility

Student mobility has taken a major role in the development of European Higher
Education and European identity. This is why student mobility has to be further
developed and increased, with a special attention towards new member countries.
For the same reason, all financial barriers to mobility, and Higher education in
general, should be removed.

Socially sustainable European Union

Economic growth within the European Union must benefit to all citizens; growth has
to be socially and ecologically sustainable and social cohesion has to be the heart of
the process as a major objective. Life-long learning possibilities have to be available
for all, ensuring the growth of the entire population.

Conclusion

ESIB considers of great importance that regular consultations on matters regarding
Higher Education and students’ participation are put in place between ESIB, the
representative European students’ organization, and the members of the European
Parliament working on education and research. ESIB will take action to reach this
goal.

This statement was adopted at the 46th Board Meeting in Banja Luka, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, April 2004