Report from Opening Conference of the 20 Years of the Erasmus Programme

Organiser: ESN International Board

Date of Event: 18/01/2007

Celebrations of the 20 Years of the Erasmus Programme have just started in Brussels with the Opening Conference at the Committee of the Regions on the 18th-19th of January 2007. The conference was fully organised by volunteers from ESN. 200 enthusiastic former students of the three phases of the programme came to Brussels to share their Erasmus Experiences and urged the Commission to do more to improve the Erasmus Programme.

See pictures of the Conference, the Erasmus Birthday Party and accompanying events.

Margot Wallström, Vicepresident of the European Commission had an opening speech during which she acknowledged the work of student volunteers supporting Erasmus at local universities. By quoting Margot Wallström ‘the final lesson of the Erasmus experience is that you who have benefited from Europe can do something for Europe in return. You can be an ambassador for Europe’. She also mentioned: ‘The Erasmus Van is going to be playing its part this year as it tours Europe, creating interest, awareness and dialogue’

International students and members of Erasmus Student Network from over 40 countries had the possibility to give their comments and suggestions about the Erasmus Programme to the European stakeholders. Click here to see the main recommendations from students to the European Commission.

Erasmus Unit of the European Commission and Erasmus Student Network decided to work together, with support of other international student organisations, on the enhancement of the Erasmus Programme. ESN will prepare the document with suggestions and comments from Erasmus students to programme managers, as well as present the results of ESNSurvey2006 on exchange students’ rights.

Erasmus Student Network has opened the 20 years celebrations with this first Event in Brussels, the heart of Europe, and the Van has already arrived to the city!

We would like to thank all the speakers and partners of the conference for their contribution, especially Universita’ Bocconi and the Committee of the Regions. As well as the neighbours of the ESN Office Council of the National Researches of Italy for their support.

Let’s celebrate Erasmus!

Written by Zahira Servera, Intern for the 20 years of Erasmus Project

Speech of Margot Wallström [external link]

Speech of Davide Capecchi

Speech of Desiree Majoor

Presentation of Kerstin Janson

Presentation of Seweryn Krupnik and Ewa Krzaklewska

Speech of Odile Quintin

Speech of Jyrki Myllivirta

Speech of Hugo van den Bos

Speech of Mrs Belén Bernaldo de Quirós

Presentation of Zahira Leticia Servera