Today, on the First of April 2016, we, students and teachers from France, Greece and Romania, part of the eTwinning project “European school Days for High school students” are gathered here, in the European Parliament.

We have been involved in every dimension of this project, from the preparation to the animation.

We got to know each other, we discussed and debated during workshops, but also had fun and found what we have in common.

This is why, at the end of our meeting we decided to go further, and to express our thoughts and decisions into a Constitution, which will drive our future gatherings.

The constitution was adopted on April First, 2016, in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The constitution can be changed by the future representatives of the European Student Council.

We declare that we are different in our nationalities, traditions, languages, customs, skin color, religion, political or social beliefs, and that these characteristics are what make us humans. We love our differences and respect each other regardless of those.

We affirm that we know, remember and respect the history of our respective nations, the struggles and battles of our peoples for peace, equality, prosperity and progress. This is precisely what makes us realize that as human beings, we have the same fears, the same hopes, the same dreams, that we fight daily for the same values and share the same ideas.

We declare that we together are determined to fight for our common European values. These values are: respect and protection of our human rights, acceptance and tolerance of our differences, freedom, equality, democracy, solidarity among the people of Europe and prosperity for all.

We declare that we, as children or grandchildren of immigrants or refugees, most of us from different countries or even different continents, now we all feel and are Europeans and we keep our eyes, our minds and borders open to human suffering and human struggle for survival, always trying to help in a spirit of humanism.

We declare that we know the starting points, the historical, cultural, social, political and economic conditions that have formed, influenced and determined Europe, as it is today, and we strongly state that we, as young citizens, will give all our efforts and strength to ensure that facts and mistakes of the past will not happen again.

We declare that the Europe we dream of living in is a Europe of peace, happiness, prosperity, respect of human rights, tolerance and acceptance.

To support these declarations, we unanimously decide to create a Council of Students of Europe, the constitution of which will be the following.

To promote solidarity and communication between students from high schools all over Europe, a council of elected students from high schools has been created at the European Parliament of Strasbourg on April First, 2016.

The European Student Council is a body which promotes European citizenship and European values, and calls for a better cooperation between European citizens and students from high schools.

The European Student Council is neutral from political and religious points of view. It excludes any form of discrimination and does not support any partisan message.

This Council could have its headquarters in the European Parliament of Strasbourg and regularly meet there with the authorization of the European Parliament.

Article. 1. Name of the Council

This Council, bringing together students from high school aged 15 to 19 is enabled to cover the following :

• Europe: it brings together students from Europe ;
• High school: its members are students from high school – or the equivalent level, according to all partner countries ;
• Representability: its members are representing high school students from Europe ;
• High schools’ life: for any given European country, the members are involved in transmitting information and improving life in high school all over Europe.

For evident organization and communication reasons, the official name of the council should be in English. Each partner country can have its own translation.

The name of the council is “European Student Council ».

Article. 2. State members

The council will recruit its representatives within the European Union.

Article. 3. An eTwinning project

This project is an eTwinning project. Its preparation and creation have been facilitated within the Twinspace. This is why this platform will be used for preparing future meetings.

This platform ensures a better visibility within partner countries, offers a collaborative work despite geographical distance, a safe and protected electronic environment.

Having the European Student Council in the Twinspace allows recognition from an official device of the European Commission and the European Schoolnet.

As a consequence, the representatives would not be able to come from a school which is not registered on eTwinning.

Article. 4. Elections and mandates of the representatives

Paragraph 1. Date of the elections

The elections will to be held every year between October First and November Thirteenth

Paragraph 2. Applications

​Voting systems will be held in each partner countries with the support and agreement of each ministry of Education.

Paragraph 3. Mandate of representatives

​Students, members of the Council are chosen for a two years term. A strict gender balance must be observed for every national delegation.

Every representative shall be registered in the eTwinning project as soon as they are elected and be active in preparing the project.

If an event will occur to the representative (e.g. leaving high school before the end of its term, or being unable to fulfil his/her duties), he/she will be replaced by an alternate from the same country. Each partner country should consider its own rules of replacement.

Article. 5. Meetings

Paragraph 1. Meeting place

The city of Strasbourg offers to install this Council in Strasbourg, in the European Parliament with the agreement of the European Parliament.

This Council will be able to meet in ordinary sessions every year in Strasbourg.

This council is also warmly invited by the city of Strasbourg to extend its meetings at the “Lieu d’Europe”.

Paragraph 2. Frequency of meetings

​The council should meet every year, from February to March before Easter, outside the summer school holidays and outside of the plenary sessions of the European Parliament.

Paragraph 3. Representatives’ supervision

Each country should have one adult (teacher, headmaster), leader for the project. This person should be registered on eTwinning, and having completed at least one project.

Each national delegation shall be supervised by at least two adults during the meetings. The choice of supervisors belongs to the country concerned.

By supervision, it is meant controlling the work and progress of its delegation of representatives.

The NSS shall take part in the project as a supervisor.

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Paragraph 4. Language used for communicating

​The language used for communicating on the Twinspace should be English, the most common used language. However, if they wish, students could share in the language they want.

Article. 6. Working principles

Paragraph 1. Agenda 

​An agenda shall be established for every meeting.

This agenda is discussed and preliminary established via project’s Twinspace, by every representative.

This agenda will be planned depending on the needs expressed by the students and deliberated during the session.

Paragraph 2. Meetings’ reviews

​At the closure of every meeting, the Council shall provide a review of discussions and propositions, and all useful information for all representatives. 

Paragraph 3. President and Vice President

​The council will elect its own president and vice-president. They should be elected during the first session after each candidate’s mission statement.

President and vice-president should come from two different countries.

A representative shall not be elected if he/she has to leave the Council before the next session.

If necessary, aditionnal elections shall be organized for electing the next president or vice-president, regarding the next session.

Article. 7. Competencies

This Council will work towards the high school life in every member states. Its decisions should not be binding measures but should be seen as advice, proposals and support for the European cooperation.

The competencies of the council will be:

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• Promoting  European citizenship among high schools of Europe.
• Supporting the European students in discovering the different possibilities of European mobility.
• Promoting an association network for high school students.
• Supporting students in taking part to the EU political life, by promoting the participation to the European elections for those old enough to vote.
• Sharing students’ experiences and exchanging good practices.
• Taking part in the high schools’ policies against bullying, hate speech, racism and discrimination and policies promoting gender equality, tolerance and acceptance of the difference, respect of the Human rights and environmental issues.
• Promoting a strict equality between European Students irrespective of their origins, religion, social conditions.
• Ensuring communication for its works and reviews.

Article. 8. Communication

The Council will ensure its communication through the eTwinning platform but also with its own website. The website shall be available in English and in the official languages of every members.

Each delegation is responsible for its activity on the site and social network.

The Council should have its own Facebook page and ensure its effective presence on the social networks.

Article. 9. Modification of statutes​

The Council, during its annual session, could be in charge with reviewing this Constitution. 

These rules could be changed if accepted by a majority of two thirds of the voters.