The AEGEE, or (literally: Association of States General of Students of Europe), known as European Students' Forum in English, is one of the largest transnational, interdisciplinary student organisation in Europe.
Established in 1985, AEGEE currently has around 13,000 yearly members more than 200 local groups (Antennae) in university cities across Europe, including Russia, Turkey and the Caucasus, with a European board and head office in Brussels. It promotes an equal, democratic and unified Europe, open to all across national borders. Several hundred conferences, training and cultural events are organised across the network every year, and AEGEE also advocates for the needs and interests of European students.
The short name "AEGEE" evokes the Aegean Sea, one of the birthplaces of democracy, and the full name includes the first parliament established in France, the États Généraux.
AEGEE played a pivotal role in the creation of the Erasmus Programme in 1987.
Structure AEGEE has a yearly elected European board, the Comité Directeur with a head office in Brussels, and a number of European-level working groups. There is a large network of autonomous local groups, the antennae. Active members meet twice a year in Spring and Autumn in a general assembly called Agora, hosted by a different antenna each time. Most candidates for positions at the European level are elected at the Agora, which also ratifies the establishment or deletion of antennae, working groups and projects. There is also a smaller annual European Planning Meeting (EPM), intended to develop projects and campaigns and usually held in late winter: During the EPM, AEGEE also works on developing its Strategic Plan in an Action Agenda for the whole AEGEE network.
The association has no national level, and it does not recognize the current national borders within Europe.
Antennae are supported by the Network Commission, a group of experienced members elected by the Agora to help the network grow and develop. They provide advice, training and practical help, especially with local human resources and event organisation. Each Network Commissioner has responsibility for a number of locals across several national borders, which can be reorganised at each Agora to prevent the creation of any fixed national or regional division.
Each city antenna is a separate legal person under its own local law, not under the direct control of the Comité Directeur. However, to become a part of the AEGEE network, prospective antennae must include the principles of AEGEE's statute within their own, and have them approved by the Comité Directeur and Juridical Commission. They sign a contract called Convention d'Adhésion which allows AEGEE to have an antenna wound up in case of inactivity or serious misconduct.
Membership of an antenna is generally open to anyone younger than 35 living in the local area, upon payment of a membership fee set by the local board. Many antennae concentrate their promotional activities on students at their home university, and are not very visible to outsiders.
Most AEGEE events are open to non-members, however this tends to be poorly promoted except to local students. It is quite common for all participants to be from the host city or other AEGEE antennae. Some activities, most notably the statutory Agorae and EPMs and the Summer University project, are explicitly restricted to AEGEE members who must be approved by their home antenna's board.
AEGEE was founded in France and still uses a number of French terms, but the main working language at European level is now English, which is also defined as the official language of the Agora. Most antennae use their own local language for their local activities, however local board members generally need a working knowledge of English.
Its current board consists of five people. The statutory sixth and seventh board positions remain vacant until the next board takes office. +Comité Directeur 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026PositionNameAEGEE-LocalNationalityPresidentPetra GombárBudapestSecretary General & Vice-PresidentAlejandra Izquierdo GonzálezBurgosFinancial DirectorWiktor BoguszKrakówNetwork Director & HR DirectorBilal CeyhanOsnabrückProjects DirectorZsófia Napsugár BallaAachen
Affiliations and platform AEGEE-Europe is involved in bigger platforms and works with many other international institutions and organizations, in order to bring a students perspective to each one of the processes.
AEGEE-Europe is a full member of the European Youth Forum. AEGEE has had 2 representatives in its history in the Board of Directors of European Youth Forum.
AEGEE-Europe is also full member of the European Movement International (EMI).
AEGEE-Europe is also a full member in the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP).
AEGEE-Europe was founding member and currently board members of the European Civic Forum (ECF). AEGEE-Europe has been in the board of the ECF several terms, always represented by the President of AEGEE-Europe.
AEGEE-Europe works closely inside the Council of Europe. Since 2013 AEGEE is back-to-back an elected to be part of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. AEGEE is also involved in the Conference of INGOs and works closely with the Youth Department and the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.
AEGEE-Europe has consultative status at the United Nations, working closely with UNESCO, ECOSOC, UNEP, UNFPA, UNDP and other agencies and bodies.
AEGEE-Europe works with the World Bank, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
AEGEE-Europe is a member of IFISO (Informal Forum of International Student Organizations).
History 1985 The association was born the 16 April 1985 as a result of the EGEE 1 conference (États Généraux des Étudiants de l'Europe), when it held its first event in Paris: an assembly of students from Paris, Leiden, London, Madrid, Milan and Munich, organised by founding president Franck Biancheri in cooperation with five Grandes Écoles in Paris. It had the aim to overcome the paralysis of the European integration process at the time. Franck Biancheri led the whole process and soon all students involved wanted to turn the EGEE conference into an organisation being the platform for young Europeans. The aim of the founders was to create a space for young Europeans to discuss European matters and present their ideas to both the European and national institutions. Due to the uniqueness of the idea at that time, EGEE was able to stimulate many students to establish antennae in their cities.
1986 Three EGEE working groups were formed: Sponsoring, Traineeships and Language Study. EGEE hosts a conference on cross-border developments in Nijmegen. By the start of the academic year, EGEE has 26 branches and 6,000 members. EGEE organizes in Heidelberg, a conference on relations between the Far East and Europe. EGEE organizes in Toulouse, the first European Space Weekend. EGEE organizes in Paris a conference on the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. EGEE organizes in Munich, a conference on the European Monetary System. EGEE organizes, together with the newspaper Le Monde the Night of the 7 European cities, broadcasting political debates about the future of Europe between students and high level politicians in seven different cities.
1987 EGEE persuades French president François Mitterrand to support funding for the Erasmus programme, a student exchange program financed by the European Commission. Inspiring and unlocking the ERASMUS programme in 1987 is considered as AEGEE's major achievement, as explained by Domenico Lenarduzzi, Head of Education of the European Commission at the time (1984–87), in an interview: The creation of the Erasmus Programme, and the role of AEGEE. EGEE organizes in Madrid a European Week to mark the first anniversary of Spain and Portugal joining the European Community.
1988 The association changes its name from EGEE to AEGEE following a trademark dispute. The Summer University Project was launched. It allows young Europeans to have an intense European experience in a city in Europe for 2 weeks, providing them with a real intercultural experience and opening them the doors to Europe.
1989 After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Agora in Salerno opens up AEGEE to local antennae outside the European Community, making it one of the first European organisations to expand beyond the old Iron Curtain. Leipzig becomes the first local beyond the Iron Curtain. AEGEE organizes the first European Moot Court Competition on human rights for law students to train themselves in Model law cases, fostering their skills for the futures. Franck Biancheri, receives the Honorary Member award of AEGEE-Europe and becomes Honorary president.
1990 Les Anciens d'AEGEE-Europe is founded during the EGEE VI meeting in Paris. A new AEGEE logo is released, representing "Your Key to Europe".
1991 The first European School 1 training is organized in Madrid.
1992 Istanbul has joined the network as the first Turkish antenna. AEGEE gets consultative status at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
1993 AEGEE gets official NGO status in the Council of Europe (CoE). Georgina von der Gablentz, receives the Honorary Membership of AEGEE-Europe for her work with the "East-West WG" and her initiatives to open AEGEE to Central and Eastern Europe. Vittorio Dell'Aquila, receives the Honorary Membership of AEGEE-Europe for his contribution to the development of the Summer University project. Jeroen Hoogerwerf, receives the Honorary Membership of AEGEE-Europe for his extensive contribution to the Network through many of his positions. Michael Merker, receives the Honorary Membership of AEGEE-Europe for his involvement in the expansion of AEGEE to the East and founding the first local over the Iron Curtain.
1994 AEGEE develops its first website.
1995 Ankara and later several other Turkish antennae join the network. 10 anniversary of AEGEE´s foundation. AEGEE strongly advocates against nuclear tests in Europe. Zsuzsa Kigyos, receives the Honorary Membership of AEGEE-Europe for her role in establishing AEGEE in Central Eastern Europe, and being the first female president of AEGEE-Europe.
1996 More than 1000 students are actively involved in the conference series Find Your Way... explaining what students can do in the emerging civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. AEGEE moves its head office from Delft, to Brussels. Philipp von Klitzing, receives the Honorary Membership of AEGEE-Europe for introducing the strategic planning to the Network and his endless support in the management of the IT infrastructure.
1997 AEGEE organises its first visit to Cyprus. Following this, in 2001 an antenna is created in Famagusta. AEGEE carried out its Socrates Project contributing to improving all the student mobility initiatives in Europe. Launch of Europe and Euro project in 1997, raising awareness of the new European currency five years before its introduction. David Stulik becomes the first Young European of the Year, an award given by the Heinz-Schwarzkopf Foundation for his active engagement in AEGEE in building a better Europe through volunteer projects. AEGEE organizes first case study trip to Moldova and through Former Yugoslavia. AEGEE become candidate member organization of the European Youth Forum.
1998 AEGEE organizes a Case Study trip to Transilvania AEGEE becomes full Member Organization of the European Youth Forum
1999 Foundation of the AEGEE-Academy for training and human resources at Agora-Barcelona, prompted by preparations for the European School in Gießen AEGEE organizes its Peace Academy dealing with the topics of conflict in Spain, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina.