II ASSEMBLY OF EUROPEAN STUDENTS
UNIVERSITY OF ROME TOR VERGATA, 3rd-6th JULY, 2003
The year 2003 will witness the approval of the new
Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. The Treaty will mark
an important step in the European integration process, which has characterized
our continent for more than a decade, in which all citizens are called
upon to participate. Young people, in particular, are showing a notable
amount of reactivity and enthusiasm.
To encourage the discussion amongst its students, the
University of Rome “Tor Vergata” is part of a network
of other
20 European Universities - coordinated by the prestigious Institut
d’Etudes Politiques (“Sciences Po.”) in Paris
- which is developing a common position on the work of the Convention.
A delegation of students from Tor Vergata have thus participated in
the “I
Convention of European Students,” held at Sciences Po., from
the 15th to the 18th of January 2003.
The II Convention of European Students is the natural follow-up of this
initiative: the students, who in the past months have continued to follow
the work of the “real” Convention, as well as to exchange
ideas and proposals
on-line, as well as to take positions on the current
situation of the new Europe, will meet again at the University
of Rome Tor Vergata in correlation with the start of the Semester
of the Italian Presidency for the EU. As a result of the high level
and quality of the students’ work, the II Convention of European
Students has been included in the official program of the Italian
Presidency of the European Union.
When the students met for the
first time in January, divided into working groups, they produced
amendments to the draft of the Constitution which were then presented
to the members of the European Convention. With an innovative formula,
the students themselves conducted the plenary sessions in which politicians
were freely interrogated. Without fear of speaking their minds, the
students thus gave life to an extremely interesting and content filled
debate. The University partners are thus developing a common reflection
on concerning the elaboration of innovative educational methods.
At Rome, the students will maintain the original working
methods as laid-out in Paris: panels of plenary sessions will be paired
with thematic working
groups concentrated on specific issues. The aim is to propose a
high-level debate and, as in Paris, to
produce a comprehensive and innovative final document . Amongst
the various Italian and European political personalities present, the
following have already confirmed their attendance and their desire to
debate with the students: PierFerdinando
Casini, Giuliano
Amato, Gianfranco
Fini, Franco
Frattini, Rocco
Buttiglione, Valdo
Spini, Umberto
Ranieri,
Inigo Mendes de Vigo, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Antonio Martins Da Cruz,
the
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Kohout,
the Secretary
of the Pontificial Council of Justice and Peace Giampaolo Crepaldi.
In addition, a part from the academic work, there will be moments of
relax and entertainment to allow the participants to socialize: the
first evening the students will have the opportunity to become familiar
with our capital “by night”, while the two following nights
will revolve around two major parties. For more information, consult
our program!!!
The event is organized in collaboration with the European
Commission and European
Parliament’s Representatives in Italy and under the High Patronage
of the President of the
Republic, and under the Patronge of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the Presidency of the Council - Ministry
of Community Policies, the Ministry of Education, University
and Research, Cantiere Europa, and the Municipality
of Rome. We gratefully thank the generous contributions of our
sponsors, among which deserve particular mention the Italian
Post and the Foundation
Aristide Merloni, for which we owe acknowledgment for the realization
of the event.
Last, but not least, the II Convention has been entirely organized by
our small
team of represented in Italy students, in collaboration with the
office of International Relations and European
Affairs and with the enthusiastic support of the Rector
Prof. Alessandro Finazzi Agrò.
A warm and genuine thanks to all…and we’ll
see you in July!!
For information: european.students@uniroma2.it,
federiga.bindi@uniroma2.it;
tesauro@uniroma2.it
Phone: 06/7259.2757 / 3618 / 2556 fax 06/7259.3618
