Each year, hundreds of students from across Europe come together to share ideas, challenge perspectives, and imagine a better future. The European Student Assembly (ESA) is where their voices meet - a living forum that turns young Europeans’ hopes and debates into concrete policy recommendations for the future of the continent.
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What began in 2022 as a bold experiment has now become a vibrant tradition. Since the first Assembly in Strasbourg, ESA has connected more than 1,000 students from dozens of European University Alliances. Together, they’ve explored themes from mental health and diversity to AI, housing, and democratic participation, producing tangible ideas discussed by Members of the European Parliament and European Commission representatives.
Now, the journey continues.
The fifth edition of the European Student Assembly (ESA26) invites a new generation of students to take part in months of dialogue, learning, and collaboration. Through online debates and cross-border teamwork, participants will prepare policy recommendations on eight key topics that reflect the challenges and dreams of their generation.
The project will culminate in a three-day Assembly at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (20–22 April 2026) - a space for discussion, discovery, and community among students from 65 European University Alliances.
But beyond policy papers and debates, the ESA experience is deeply personal.
It’s about learning to listen, to collaborate, and to lead. It’s about building friendships across borders and seeing Europe not as a distant idea, but as a shared project we create together.