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European Student Assembly 2026 - call for applications open

October 23, 2025

Students from universities within the European Universities alliances can now apply to join the 5th edition of the European Student Assembly (ESA), the flagship initiative of the EUC Voices Erasmus+ project, designed to bring together approximately 250 students from across Europe each year. This dynamic event provides a unique platform for selected European students to delve into essential issues facing the European Union, sparking impactful discussions and fostering intercultural exchange.

Selected participats will collaborate online in international teams from January to April 2026 to co-create policy proposals for Europe’s future. The project culminates in a three-day Assembly at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from 20–22 April 2026. Around 5 students per alliance will be selected.

Applications are open to students from all nationalities, fields and levels of study from the second year of Bachelor to PhD, who are not older than 30 years of age.

🔹 In order to participate, students must be registered in a higher education institution belonging to one of the 65 European Universities alliances.
🔹 Students who never participated in ESA are welcome to apply as participant and/or panel coordinator.
🔹 Students who participated in previous editions of ESA as coordinators cannot apply anymore.
🔹 Faculty members are not eligible except for PhD candidates.

Information session

Students can join ESA's information session on 21 October 2025, at 19:00 CET, to connect with the organisers and learn what ESA26 is all about, how the Assembly works, and how to prepare an application.

Panels for ESA 2026

Panel 1—Strengthening democracy, engaging citizens: How can the EU bridge the gap between its institutions and its citizens to build trust and foster civic participation?
Panel 2—Scaling the circular economy: How can the EU overcome uneven progress and encourage change across sectors and societies?

Panel 3—Aligning budget with impact: How can the Union’s funding rebalance and adapt to the social changes?

Panel 4—Europe moving together: How can the EU develop an inclusive public transport system?

Panel 5—Unlocking digital potential: How can the EU empower inclusive digital literacy and cybersecurity and build resilience?

Panel 6—Educating without borders: How can the EU support universities in fostering interdisciplinarity?

Panel 7—Enabling generational solidarity: How can the EU address demographic change and promote meaningful participation for older generations in society?

Panel 8—Europe’s strategic autonomy: How can the EU reconcile strategic autonomy with its core values in the field of trade agreements?

➡️ Click here to apply before 2 November 2025, 23:59 CET

➡️ Click here to download the handbook of ESA 2026 to learn all the information about ESA