The launch of the political autumn in Brussels begin of the week was keeping the new EDS leadership busy, just one day after concluding the Prague Council Meeting. Newly elected Chairman Juraj ANTAL, joined by former Chairman and now Honorary Chairman Bence BAUER, alongside new Secretary General Samuli KAURANNE and Deputy Secretary General Dace SPELMANE attended the most important meetings and presented the new Bureau and EDS work plan to a number of officials.
After conducting the last part of changeover meetings, the new leadership was officially introduced to EPP President Wilfried MARTENS who showed big interest in the EDS activities. President MARTENS will be a special guest at the Council Meeting in Antwerp/Brussels begin of May.
Also EPP Secretary General Antonio LOPEZ-ISTURIZ congratulated the new Bureau and was confident to continue the good relations and the fruitful cooperation with European Democrat Students. He underlined the importance of EDS activities and was pleased to have such an active member association. EDS from the first moment on was fulfilling all criteria of the new framework for EPP associations.
EPP Deputy Secretary General Luc VANDEPUTTE underlined the constant work EDS is contributing to the EPP. As a sign of this, EDS will be present at the EPP Congress in Marseille with large numbers. EDS and its members have thus the possibility to present their work and policies directly to the Congress delegates.
Furthermore, Chairman of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Hans-Gert PÖTTERING, congratulated Juraj ANTAL and was pleased to receive the invitation as speaker to the Antwerp/Brussels Council Meeting, where he will deliver the presentation of the EDS book on the Day of Europe, May 9.
As most important success for EDS, during the EPP Political Assembly, which discussed and decided on the venue of the EPP Congress in October 2012 which will be Bucharest and the personal greeting by new Chairman ANTAL, voted with a unanimous vote on the EDS Resolution “European Identity and EP elections” which is emphasizing the need of a European-wide debate and campaign, accentuated with a European Identity when it comes to the EP elections 2014. (Resolution on EP Elections and Identity)
During all meetings, EDS publications Annual Report, BullsEye and the special WinterU booklet about the Visegrad panels were presented and gladly welcomed by all partners. EDS offering the unique publication BullsEye is mostly visible and well perceivable in Brussels and always appreciated by its partners. With its 1.600.000 members it is today the biggest organisations of youngsters in Europe.
EDS is a member association of