Friday, 4 September, 2026 - 16:34

From 7–9 May, Erasmus Student Network participated in the European Youth Forum’s General Assembly in Tromsø, European Youth Capital 2026. The network’s Liaison Officer for the European Youth Forum (YFJ), Giulio Del Giudice, and Liaison Officer for Youth Affairs, Nathan Lusseau, represented ESN throughout the Assembly. 

A key moment for ESN was the presentation and adoption of the motion: Inclusive learning mobility and Volunteering: Addressing Visa Barriers for Youth, which was approved almost unanimously, with strong support from both membership pillars. 

The motions aim to integrate the YFJ Policy Programme with urgent matters or to strengthen the platform's work on specific topics that could already be addressed but that the membership needs prioritised.


  

For ESN, visa barriers are an important issue for the network, particularly for students from outside the EU who face additional challenges when accessing learning mobility opportunities. To highlight these challenges, ESN drew on the findings of research conducted by ESN Türkiye, Barriers of Mobility: Visa Issues for Non-EU Students, alongside testimonials from students who have experienced these barriers firsthand.

The motion concludes with a call to action, advocating for improvements in five key areas:

  • Digitalisation and simplification

  • Harmonisation of the processes

  • Transparency

  • Affordability and equity

  • Consistency and recognition.

Together, these priorities aim to contribute to fairer and more accessible mobility opportunities for young people.

Beyond policy advocacy, ESN also had the opportunity to share one of its initiatives during the Made in MOs session, where member organisations exchange best practices and successful initiatives. ESN presented its experience with online campaigning and digital outreach, showcasing the Erasmus Destination of the Year initiative and how digital tools can be used to engage students and promote mobility.

 

The Assembly also included reports from the different bodies of the European Youth Forum and the election of representatives for the 2026–2028 mandate, including the Board, CBMA (Consultative Body on Membership Application), and FCC (Financial Control Commission). ESN congratulates all elected representatives and wishes them a successful mandate ahead.

Finally, GoFor, the Youth Organisations Forum of Türkiye, was approved as a full member of the European Youth Forum, further strengthening the representation of young people and youth organisations. 

ESN’s participation in the General Assembly was an important opportunity to bring the challenges faced by mobile students to the European youth policy level. By advocating for more accessible and equitable visa processes, while sharing initiatives and best practices from its network, ESN continues to contribute to making learning mobility and volunteering more inclusive and accessible for all young people.