# European Students' Union

The European Students' Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 44 national unions of students from 40 countries, representing almost 20 million students. A consultative member of the Bologna Process, ESU is also a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ).

## History

On 17 October 1982, seven National Unions of Students (NUSes) from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, France, Denmark, Norway and Austria established the Western European Students Information Bureau (WESIB) at a gathering in Stockholm. In February 1990, WESIB dropped the "W" to become the European Student Information Bureau (ESIB) following the political upheaval in Europe at the time. In 1992 the name was changed yet again into the National Union of Students in Europe. This reflected the recognition of the changing mission of ESIB from being a pure information-sharing organisation into a political organisation that represented the views of students in European institutions. In May 2007, the current name, European Students' Union (ESU), was introduced.
Over the years, the office of ESU has moved around Europe and was first hosted by the member NUSes. Following the establishment of WESIB in Stockholm, the office was based in the SFS Office in Sweden from 1982 until 1985, funded by a grant by the Swedish Government. By 1985 the grant was running low, and so NUS UK offered to host WESIB in their London headquarters. In 1988 the office moved to the ÖH offices in Vienna and remained there until 2000 when it was decided that for reasons of being near the European institutions, the office should move to Brussels and was hosted by VVS.

## Structures

The highest ESU structure is the Board Meeting, bringing together representatives from all the National Unions of Students it represents. The Board Meeting sets the organisation's policy direction and elects members to the executive committee to run the organisation.

### Executive committee

The executive committee (EC) is elected for a one-year term at the annual Board Meeting by representatives of the member organisations, with each country (not organisation) given two votes. The president and vice-presidents together make up the presidency of ESU, and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organisation along with the seven general members of the EC.
| Title | Title | Name | Country |
| Presidency | President | Iris Kimizoglu | Germany |
| Presidency | Vice Presidents | Lana Par | Croatia |
| Presidency | Vice Presidents | Arno Schrooyen | Belgium |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Duarte Lopes | Portugal |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Jens Bartnes | Norway |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Lauren Pray | Czech Republic |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Levente Varga | Hungary |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Lisa Schivalocchi | Italy |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Tamara Ciobanu | Romania |
| Executive Committee | Executive Committee | Nora Angelova | Bulgaria |

## Member organisations

| Country | English Name | Local Name | ESU Abbrev. |
| Armenia | Armenian National Students Association | Հայ ուսանողական ազգային ասոցիացիա | ANSA |
| Austria | Austrian Students' Association | Österreichische Hochschüler_innenschaft | ÖH |
| Belarus | Belarusian Students' Association | Задзіночанне Беларускіх Студэнтаў | BSA |
| Belarus | Brotherhood of Organizers of Student Self-Government | БОСС | BOSS |
| Belgium | Federation of French-speaking Students | Fédération Des Etudiants Francophones | FEF |
| Belgium | Flemish Union of Students | Vlaamse Vereniging van Studenten | VVS |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Students' Union Republic of Srpska | Unija studenata Republike Srpske | SURS |
| Bulgaria | National Assembly of Student's Councils in the Republic of Bulgaria | Национално представителство на студентските съвети в Република България | NASC |
| Croatia | Croatian Students' Council | Hrvatski Studentski Zbor | CSC |
| Cyprus | Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions | Pagkypria Omospondia Foititikon Enoseon | POFEN |
| Czech Republic | Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions | Studentská komora Rady vysokých škol | SKRVS |
| Denmark | National Union of Students in Denmark | Danske Studerendes Fællesråd | DSF |
| Estonia | Federation of Estonian Student Unions | Eesti Üliõpilaskondade Liit | EÜL |
| Faroe Islands | Faroese National Union of Students | Meginfelag Føroyskra Studenta | MFS |
| Finland | National Union of University Students in Finland | Suomen Ylioppilaskuntien Liitto, Finlands studentkårers förbund | SYL, FSF |
| Finland | Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences | Suomen opiskelijakuntien liitto, Finlands studerandekårers förbund | SAMOK |
| France | National Federation of Student's Associations | Fédération des Associations Générales d'Étudiants | FAGE |
| Georgia | Georgian Student's Organizations Association | Georgian Student's Organizations Association | GSOA |
| Germany | Free Association of Student Unions | freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften | fzs |
| Hungary | National Union of Students in Hungary | Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos Konferenciája | HÖOK |
| Iceland | National Union of Icelandic Students | Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta | LÍS |
| Ireland | Union of Students in Ireland | Union of Students in Ireland, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn | USI |
| Israel | National Union of Israeli Students | התאחדות הסטודנטים בישראל تحاد الطلاب في إسرائيل | NUIS |
| Italy | Union of University Students | Unione degli Universitari | UdU |
| Latvia | Student Union of Latvia | Latvijas Studentu apvienība | LSA |
| Lithuania | Lithuanian National Union of Students | Lietuvos Studentu Sajunga | LSS |
| Luxembourg | National Union of Students in Luxembourg | Union Nationale des Etudiant(e)s du Luxembourg | UNEL |
| Malta | University Students' Council | Kunsill Studenti Universitarji | KSU |
| Moldova | Student Alliance of Moldova | Alianta studentilor din Moldova | ASM |
| Montenegro | Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro | Studentski Parlament Univerziteta Crne Gore | SPUM |
| Netherlands | Dutch National Students Association | Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg | ISO |
| Netherlands | Dutch Student Union | Landelijke Studentenvakbond | LSVb |
| Norway | National Union of Students' in Norway | Norsk studentorganisasjon | NSO |
| Poland | Students' Parliament of Poland | Parlament Studentów Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej | PSRP |
| Portugal | Academic Forum for Information and External Representation | Fórum Académico para Informação e Representação Externa | FAIRe |
| Romania | National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania | Alianta Nationala a Organizatiilor Studentesti din Romania | ANOSR |
| Serbia | Students Conference of Serbian Universities | Studentska konferencija univerzitetâ Srbije | SKONUS |
| Slovakia | Student Council for Higher Education | Študentská Rada Vysokých Škôl | SRVS |
| Slovenia | Slovene Student Union | Studenska Organizacija Slovenije | ŠOS |
| Spain | Coordinator of Student Representatives of Public Universities | Coordinadora de Representantes de Estudiantes de Universidades Públicas | CREUP |
| Sweden | Swedish National Union of Students | Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer | SFS |
| Switzerland | VSS-UNES-USU | Verband Schweizer Studierendenschaften Union des Etudiant-e-s de Suisse Unione Svizzera degli Universitari | VSS-UNES-USU |
| Ukraine | Ukrainian Association of Student Self-government | Українська асоціація студентського самоврядування | UAS |
| United Kingdom | National Union of Students | | NUS-UK |

### Candidate members

Candidate-members are NUSes that have submitted an application of membership to ESU but have not yet been granted member status by the Board Meeting. Candidate-members retain their status for one year and are subject to a "study visit" by ESU to ensure they meet membership criteria.
| Country | English Name | Local Name | ESU Abbrev. |
| North Macedonia | National Students’ Assembly | Државно Студентско Собрание | NSA |

## Associate organisations

Associate members of ESU are pan-European and international student organisations that have similar goals to ESU. The criteria for associate membership require the organisation to be democratic and student-run, have either students or NUSes as members, and represent students from at least 8 countries that are parties to the European Cultural Convention. Associate organizations can attend and speak at all ESU meetings, but cannot vote at Board Meetings.
* Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA)
* European Dental Students Association (EDSA)
* European Deaf Students' Union (EDSU)
* European Nursing Students Association (ENSA)
* European Medical Students' Association (EMSA)
* European Pharmaceutical Students' Association (EPSA)
* European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS)
* Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisation (FEMYSO)
* International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS)
* International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA)
* International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO)
* International Students of History Association (ISHA)
* Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)

## List of Executive Representatives

Source:
| Year (Mandate) | President | Country | Vice Presidents | Executive Committee | Coordinators (appointed by the executive committee) |
| 2024–2025 | Iris Kimizoglu | Germany | Lana Par Croatia | Duarte Lopes, Jens Bartnes, Lauren Pray, Levente Varga, Lisa Schivalocchi, Nora Angelova, Tamara Ciobanu | Estelle Née, Magnus við Streym, Urszula Lis |
| 2024–2025 | Iris Kimizoglu | Germany | Arno Schrooyen Belgium | Duarte Lopes, Jens Bartnes, Lauren Pray, Levente Varga, Lisa Schivalocchi, Nora Angelova, Tamara Ciobanu | Estelle Née, Magnus við Streym, Urszula Lis |
| 2023–2024 | Horia-Șerban Onița | Romania | Iris Kimizoglu Germany | Joanna Maruszczak (until October), Lana Par (substituting Joanna Maruszczak), Andrej Pirjevec, Ana Gvritishvili, Arno Schrooyen, Ida Flemmich, Tamara Ciobanu, Tór Marni Weihe (until October), Magnus við Streym (substituting Tór Marni Weihe) | Emily MacPherson, Bastien Degardins, Lauren Pray |
| 2023–2024 | Horia-Șerban Onița | Romania | Tanguy Guibert France | Joanna Maruszczak (until October), Lana Par (substituting Joanna Maruszczak), Andrej Pirjevec, Ana Gvritishvili, Arno Schrooyen, Ida Flemmich, Tamara Ciobanu, Tór Marni Weihe (until October), Magnus við Streym (substituting Tór Marni Weihe) | Emily MacPherson, Bastien Degardins, Lauren Pray |
| 2022–2023 | Matteo Vespa | Italy | Katrīna Sproģe Latvia | Tanguy Guibert, Iris Kimizoglu, Andrej Pirjevec, Emily MacPherson, Tór Marni Weihe, Oraz Myradov, Ana Gvritishvili | Antoine Bakhash, Joanna Maruszczak, Sandi Rizvić |
| 2022–2023 | Matteo Vespa | Italy | Horia-Șerban Onița Romania | Tanguy Guibert, Iris Kimizoglu, Andrej Pirjevec, Emily MacPherson, Tór Marni Weihe, Oraz Myradov, Ana Gvritishvili | Antoine Bakhash, Joanna Maruszczak, Sandi Rizvić |
| 2021–2022 | Martina Darmanin | Malta | Zamzam Ibrahim UK | Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Meral Nur, Stanimir Boyadzhiev | Katrīna Sproģe, Borna Nemet, Anastasia Kreis |
| 2021–2022 | Martina Darmanin | Malta | Jakub Grodecki Poland | Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Meral Nur, Stanimir Boyadzhiev | Katrīna Sproģe, Borna Nemet, Anastasia Kreis |
| 2021 | Martina Darmanin | Malta | Zamzam Ibrahim UK | Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Ronja Hesse, Otto Rosenlund | Vicky Reichling, Borna Nemet, Carmen Romero (until June), Katrīna Sproģe (substituting Carmen Romero) |
| 2021 | Martina Darmanin | Malta | Jakub Grodecki Poland | Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Ronja Hesse, Otto Rosenlund | Vicky Reichling, Borna Nemet, Carmen Romero (until June), Katrīna Sproģe (substituting Carmen Romero) |
| 2019–2020 | Gohar Hovhannisyan (Oct.-Dec. 2020) | Armenia | Martina Darmanin Malta | Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud, Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, | Martin Paluoja, Daniel Lindblom (until November), Carmen Romero (substituting Daniel Lindblom) |
| 2019–2020 | Gohar Hovhannisyan (Oct.-Dec. 2020) | Armenia | Sebastian Berger Austria | Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud, Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, | Martin Paluoja, Daniel Lindblom (until November), Carmen Romero (substituting Daniel Lindblom) |
| 2019–2020 | Robert Napier (until Sept. 2020) | Malta | Gohar Hovhannisyan Armenia | Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud | Martina Darmanin, Daniel Lindblom, Martin Paluoja |
| 2019–2020 | Robert Napier (until Sept. 2020) | Malta | Sebastian Berger Austria | Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud | Martina Darmanin, Daniel Lindblom, Martin Paluoja |
| 2018–2019 | Adam Gajek | Poland | Katrina Koppel Estonia | Daniel Altma, Joāo Martins, Gohar Hovhannisyan, Monika Skadborg, Sebastian Berger, Ursa Leban, Yulia Dobyshuk | Rob Henthorn, Hélène Mariaud, Marie Desrousseaux, (1st part of mandate), Martina Darmanin (substituting Marie Desrousseaux) |
| 2018–2019 | Adam Gajek | Poland | Robert Napier Malta | Daniel Altma, Joāo Martins, Gohar Hovhannisyan, Monika Skadborg, Sebastian Berger, Ursa Leban, Yulia Dobyshuk | Rob Henthorn, Hélène Mariaud, Marie Desrousseaux, (1st part of mandate), Martina Darmanin (substituting Marie Desrousseaux) |
| 2017–2018 | Helge Schwitters | Norway | Caroline Sundberg Sweden | Chiara Patricolo, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Filip Prihoda, Gohar Hovhannisyan, João Pedro Estêvão Martins, Katrina Koppel, Yolanda Trujillo Adriá | Simona Gamonte, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Henthorn |
| 2017–2018 | Helge Schwitters | Norway | Adam Gajek Poland | Chiara Patricolo, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Filip Prihoda, Gohar Hovhannisyan, João Pedro Estêvão Martins, Katrina Koppel, Yolanda Trujillo Adriá | Simona Gamonte, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Henthorn |
| 2016–2017 | Lea Meister | Switzerland | Līva Vikmane Latvia | Beth Button, Gramoz Shpendi, Adam Gajek, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Frederik Bach, Chiara Patricolo, Milana Jankovic (1st part of mandate), Helga Lind Mar (substituting Milana Jankovic) | Melanie Fröhlich, Filip Prihoda, Helge Schwitters |
| 2016–2017 | Lea Meister | Switzerland | Blazhe Todorovski North Macedonia | Beth Button, Gramoz Shpendi, Adam Gajek, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Frederik Bach, Chiara Patricolo, Milana Jankovic (1st part of mandate), Helga Lind Mar (substituting Milana Jankovic) | Melanie Fröhlich, Filip Prihoda, Helge Schwitters |
| 2015–2016 | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares | Spain | Lea Meister Switzerland | Liva Vikmane, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Cristi Popescu, Rebecka Stenkvist, Tijana Isoski, Viktor Grønne | Melanie Fröhlich, Chiara Patricolo, Martin Retelj |
| 2015–2016 | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares | Spain | Blazhe Todorovski North Macedonia | Liva Vikmane, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Cristi Popescu, Rebecka Stenkvist, Tijana Isoski, Viktor Grønne | Melanie Fröhlich, Chiara Patricolo, Martin Retelj |
| 2014–2015 | Elisabeth Gehrke | Sweden | Erin Nordal Norway | Blazhe Todorovski, Maksimas Milta, Cat O’Driscoll, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Lea Meister, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Tijana Isoski | Melanie Fröhlich, William Benn, Viktor Grønne |
| 2014–2015 | Elisabeth Gehrke | Sweden | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares Spain | Blazhe Todorovski, Maksimas Milta, Cat O’Driscoll, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Lea Meister, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Tijana Isoski | Melanie Fröhlich, William Benn, Viktor Grønne |
| 2013–2014 | Rok Primozic | Slovenia | Elisabeth Gehrke Sweden | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares, Erin Nordal, Elin Blomqvist, Nevena Vuksanovic, Blazhe Todorovski, Maroš Korman, Maksim Milto, Michael Tolentino Frederiksen | Gabriela Bergan, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Aengus Ó Maoláin (1st part of mandate), Melanie Fröhlich (substituting Aengus Ó Maoláin) |
| 2013–2014 | Rok Primozic | Slovenia | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares Spain | Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares, Erin Nordal, Elin Blomqvist, Nevena Vuksanovic, Blazhe Todorovski, Maroš Korman, Maksim Milto, Michael Tolentino Frederiksen | Gabriela Bergan, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Aengus Ó Maoláin (1st part of mandate), Melanie Fröhlich (substituting Aengus Ó Maoláin) |
| 2012–2013 | Karina Ufert | Lithuania | Taina Moisander Finland | Fernando M.Galan Palomares, Florian Kaiser, Blazhe Todorovski, Tinja Zerzer, Nevena Vuksanovic, Elisabeth Gehrke, Liliya Ivanova | Aengus Ó Maoláin, Karl Agius, Brikena Xhomaqi (until November 2012), Gabriela Bergan (substituting Brikena Xhomaqi) |
| 2012–2013 | Karina Ufert | Lithuania | Rok Primozic Slovenia | Fernando M.Galan Palomares, Florian Kaiser, Blazhe Todorovski, Tinja Zerzer, Nevena Vuksanovic, Elisabeth Gehrke, Liliya Ivanova | Aengus Ó Maoláin, Karl Agius, Brikena Xhomaqi (until November 2012), Gabriela Bergan (substituting Brikena Xhomaqi) |
| 2011–2012 | Allan Päll | Estonia | Rok Primozic Slovenia | Nevena Vuksanovic, Kaloyan Kostadinov | |
| 2010–2011 | Bert Vandenkendelaere | Belgium | Rasa Cincyte Lithuania | Robert Santa, Karina Ufert | |
| 2009–2010 | Ligia Deca | Romania | Allan Päll Estonia | Andrea Blättler, Alma Joensen, Bert Vandenkendelaere | |
| 2008–2009 | Ligia Deca | Romania | Anita Lice Latvia | Bruno Carapinha, Alma Joensen, Olav Øye | |
| 2007 | Koen Geven | The Netherlands | | Anela Beso, Bartlomiej Banaszak, Lara Lena Tischler, Maria Noleryd, Matthew Tabone, Viorel Proteasa, Rossella Iraci Capuccinello | |
| 2006 | Justin Fenech | Malta | | Maher Tekaya, Sime Visic, Marja-Liisa Alop, Tatsiana Khoma, Victor Vidilles, Janja Komljenovic | |
| 2005 | Vanja Ivosevic | Croatia | | Öyvind Reidar Bakke, Justin Fenech, Marzia Foroni, Katja Kamsek, Jean-Baptiste Prévost, Marija Stambolieva | |
| 2004 | Johan Almqvist | Sweden | | Marzia Foroni, Lene Henriksen, Vanja Ivosevic, Péter Puskás, Robin Semal, Chris Weavers | |
| 2003 | Stefan Bienefeld | Germany | | Johan Almqvist, Mads Aspelin, Nikki Heerens, Vanja Ivosevic, Marija Mitrovic, Bettina Schwarzmayr | |
| 2002 | Martina Vukasovic | Serbia | | Petra Arsic, Stefan Bienefeld, John C. Friend-Pereira, Chris O’Sullivan | |
| 2001 | Jacob Henricson | Sweden | | Stefan Bienefeld, Ante Matic, Marlous Veldt, Martina Vukasovic | |
| 2000 | Remi Bordu | France | | Polona Car, Aleksandar Dimiskov, Magne Hustavenes, Taru Liira | |
| 1999 | Antti Pentikäinen | Finland | | Remi Bourdu, Anja Kovacs, Marieke Rietbergen, Uros Vajgl | |
| 1998 | Peter Sondgaard | Denmark | | Antti Pentikäinen, Judith Sargentini, Emese Szitasi, Hilde W. Wibe | |
| 1997 | Agnieszka Bolimowska | Poland | | Malcolm Byrne, Outi Hannula, Helena Randerborg, Reuben Seychell | |
| 1994 - 1996 | Stephen Grogan | UK | | | |
Prior to 1997 ESIB was Chaired by a NUS instead of an individual, though its first director was employed in 1994.
| Year | Union | Country |
| 1996 | Hökosz | Hungary |
| 1995 | SYL | Finland |
| 1994 | SYL | Finland |
| 1993 | SFS | Sweden |
| 1992 | SFS | Sweden |
| 1991 | VVS-UNES | Switzerland |
| 1990 | NUS (UK) | United Kingdom |
| 1989 | NUS (UK) | United Kingdom |
| 1988 | ÖH | Austria |

## Notable people

* Ligia Deca, Minister of Education (Romania)
* Carmen Ria Smith, Baroness Smith of Llanfaes, member of the House of Lords (United Kingdom)