2 minute read
Foreword by Daniël Amesz, President of AEGEE-Europe 2019-2020
DEAR READER,
Welcome to the annual review of AEGEE for 2019-2020. Every year our association aims to change the world, if only for a little. This year, however, the world changed more dramatically than we ever witnessed and everyone was playing catch-up. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is inescapable and made that this was very much a year of two halves.
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The first half was full of ambition and excitement as we were looking for opportunities after the European elections and working towards the year that had been a dot on the horizon of many long term projects: 2020. There had been many predictions and targets regarding the state of Europe for this year, but nobody expected it would look quite like it did. The second half was filled with reacting and adapting to the new reality that had come upon us so suddenly.
Looking back, I am proud of all our volunteers that switched to the online environment relatively seamlessly. Some had to give up organising an event for which they had already dedicated months of their lives, while everyone was torn from their comfort zone. Still, in a short period of time, our calendars were filled with online events and activities. Already familiar with online meetings and changeable conditions, one could see the advantage of the (international) youth sector during the first months of the pandemic. Many stories appeared of young people teaching their parents how to efficiently discuss in a conference call.
But the corona crisis had many facets and laid bare a big weakness in the current state of Europe. Nation states rushed to protect their own needs and were not afraid to disadvantage their allies to do so. The need for a collective approach has rarely been higher in the past fifty years and yet it was an immense struggle to let collaboration materialise.
To me, this highlighted why AEGEE and the ideals we stand are still a priority in today’s society. Since our founding in 1985, the European project has come a long way and we can celebrate many victories on the path to integration. Yet, it is clear that there is also still such a long way to go. Whether it’s nation states thinking about the bigger picture or a less toxic media environment that does not put citizens of different countries against each other with biased news coverage, it’s a change that needs to come sooner rather than later. Luckily, it’s something that everyone can contribute to. Through volunteering, voting or even all kinds of small positive actions, we shape the future of Europe together.
I hope that you enjoy reading through our stories of last year and that you will join us to create many more in the future.
Truly yours,
