ESA 2026: Shaping the future of the EU is a tangible task for young citizens

A group of EUGLOH students recently travelled to Strasbourg, France, to represent the EUGLOH alliance at the 2026 European Student Assembly (ESA). The goal of the ESA is to encourage student cooperation and participation in the European Union, allowing them to have their voice be heard in a democratic process. In preparation for the ESA, the students work in remote groups on different topics. From 20-22-April, over 250 students from across Europe met in Strasbourg to debate and draft policy recommendations.

Maria João Soares is an undergraduate student at the University of Porto and was one of the EUGLOH participants of the ESA 2026.

Maria's EUGLOH Story:

As an International Relations student, participating in the European Student Assembly 2026 was far more than just an academic exercise; it was an immersion into the heart of European democracy. While many of my studies focus on the theory of power, being at the European Parliament in Strasbourg allowed me to feel the pulse of it. It gave me the realization that shaping the future of the European Union is not a distant concept, but a tangible task that young citizens like us can embrace. 

The journey started online, collaborating with brilliant minds from across the continent to refine our ideas. This process of continuous debate was incredibly eye-opening, showing me how diversity of thought can lead to stronger solutions. Within this framework, I contributed to Panel 3 (Aligning budget with impact), where we tackled the rebalancing EU funding to meet modern social shifts. However, the technical discussions were only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

The true impact of this experience came from the sense of community. Being surrounded by such motivated and high-achieving peers from different universities made me feel part of something truly significant. We shared future career paths, and a collective fire for change. These interactions were deeply inspiring and made the "European project" feel more personal than ever before.

Another highlight of this experience was getting in the European Parliament’s hemicycle. Walking into that iconic room was the fulfilment of a dream; standing where so much history has been written made me realize that our voices were finally being heard. The atmosphere reached its peak during the voting session, where going through the process exactly as Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) do was truly exhilarating. It was the empowering moment where all our hard work, and the complex debates of our panel, finally crystallized into something formal and official. I left Strasbourg not just with more knowledge, but with a renewed sense of purpose and the certainty that our generation has the power to define the Europe of tomorrow.

This text is part of the “My EUGLOH story” series, in which members of the EUGLOH community talk about their EUGLOH experience.

Read Luka's story from the ESA 2026: Work that was worth it

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