Voices That Shape Europe: CIVIS Students at the European Student Assembly 2026 in Strasbourg

Strasbourg, April 2026 — In the very chambers where European democracy unfolds, the fifth edition of the European Student Assembly (ESA2026) brought together around 250 students from across the continent for three days of debate, negotiation, and collective vision-building. From 20 to 22 April, the European Parliament transformed once again into a living laboratory of ideas—where Europe’s future was not only discussed, but actively drafted by its next generation.

Organised under the European Universities Community Voices (EUC Voices) Erasmus+ initiative, ESA2026 reaffirmed its role as a flagship platform for student-led policymaking. Selected through a competitive and collaborative process involving European University Alliances, participants joined as contributors and coordinators across eight thematic panels—each tackling one of the European Union’s most pressing challenges.

From strengthening democracy and scaling the circular economy to unlocking digital potential and redefining Europe’s strategic autonomy, the Assembly was driven by one central question: how can young Europeans co-create a more resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking Union?

Policy in Practice: From Preparation to Parliament

Behind the three-day Assembly stood months of intensive preparation. Students worked across borders in interdisciplinary teams, meeting weekly, drafting proposals, and navigating the complexities of policymaking long before arriving in Strasbourg.

Ayman Bouzid El Bouti, a biomedical engineering student from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, initially questioned his place in Panel 3 – Aligning Budget with Impact. But the experience reshaped his perspective.

This experience has taught me that life is as interdisciplinary as it gets. The real world is diverse, filled with people from different fields, backgrounds and perspectives. They all get to have a seat at the table—because when their voices are heard, that’s when progress in Europe is made

His panel successfully saw all 12 of its proposals adopted, contributing to a broader outcome where the overwhelming majority of recommendations passed through the Assembly—demonstrating both the quality of student work and the power of collaboration. 

Europe in the Making: Rethinking Strategic Autonomy Together

One of ESA’s defining strengths lies in its diversity—not only of nationalities, but of academic backgrounds. Students from law, engineering, communication, political science, and beyond come together to rethink and co-create solutions that transcend disciplinary boundaries.

For Camille Houyoux, social and political sciences student from Université libre de Bruxelles, participating in Panel 8 – Europe’s Strategic Autonomy, the experience was as demanding as it was transformative:

“Participating in the European Student Assembly 2026 in Strasbourg was a truly rewarding and intense experience. As part of Panel 8 on Europe's strategic autonomy, I engaged with complex questions around security, resilience, and the EU's capacity to act independently in a rapidly changing global context.

When we finally met in person in Strasbourg, the collaboration immediately felt more real and dynamic. Bringing together our subgroup work into common recommendations, and then presenting them at the European Parliament through a formal voting procedure, gave a very concrete dimension to our efforts”.

Beyond the policy work, what I value most is the opportunity to connect with students from all over Europe, exchange perspectives on what Europe's future looks like, and build lasting relationships.

Digital Futures and Democratic Confidence

In Panel 5 – Unlocking Digital Potential, students tackled some of the most urgent questions surrounding data privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

For Brentdellé Lydia Etienne, a 4^th year law student at Stockholm University, ESA2026 was both intellectually rigorous and personally meaningful:

“The three days I spent participating in ESA were some of the most wholesome days I’ve ever experienced. During ESA I made many friends from all over Europe with a shared vision of preserving the future of Europe. We developed recommendations on how the EU can regulate data privacy, cybersecurity and AI systems. I am pleased to say that all of our recommendations were adopted—especially Recommendation 1, which I played an instrumental role in developing”.

My biggest takeaway is that every student can contribute to European policy. What really differentiates us is the passion we have for Europe—a sort of fire in our eyes. European policymaking stands to benefit greatly when more young people are involved

Her reflection speaks to a broader shift: students are no longer passive observers of European policy—they are active contributors shaping its direction.

CIVIS Students at the Heart of the Assembly

CIVIS Alliance was once again strongly represented at ESA2026, with students contributing across multiple panels, bringing interdisciplinary insight and a shared commitment to civic engagement. From CIVIS partner universities across Europe, CIVIS students embodied the spirit of European cooperation and active citizenship.

As Konstantina Triandafyllopoulou, a Political Science student from NKUA, reflected:

ESA2026 was a unique experience. Actively shaping policies in the European Parliament about such important topics made one thing clear: we are the ones responsible for our future. Our voices have strength—and we shouldn’t hesitate to use them

More Than an Assembly

ESA2026 was an experience that blurred the lines between classroom and reality, theory and practice, national and European identity.

Across eight panels—covering democracy, economy, mobility, education, digital transformation, and beyond—students debated, revised, and voted on proposals that reflect the priorities of a new generation. The process was not always smooth; compromises were made, ideas merged, and disagreements navigated. But that, perhaps, was the most valuable lesson of all.

Because ESA is, at its core, a rehearsal for democracy.

A Generation Ready to Lead

As the Assembly closed in Strasbourg, one message stood out clearly: Europe’s future is not waiting—it is already being shaped.

Through ESA2026, students did not simply imagine change; they practiced it. They argued, collaborated, voted, and built something collectively meaningful. And through voices like those of our CIVIS students, the Assembly once again proved that when young Europeans are given the space to speak, they do far more than participate. They lead.

 Read more about ESA26

Download the Handbook of ESA26

Explore more about the CIVIS journey at ESA through the years:

ESA22 ESA23 ESA24 ESA25

Photo credits: Ayman Bouzid El Bouti, Brentdellé Lydia Etienne, Konstantina Triandafyllopoulou.