Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001200/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sabrina Repp (S&D), Hannes Heide (S&D)
OBESSU is currently the only European umbrella organisation of national school student unions. It is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme. However, there are serious doubts about the democratic legitimacy and representativeness of the organisation.
OBESSU represents national school student organisations, but not all school students in Europe. Some Member States do not have national school student unions or are not represented in OBESSU. What is more, the uneven distribution of votes resulting from differences in organisational structures leads to distortions. While some school student unions are democratically legitimate, others represent only small groups, which has an impact on decision-making.
Involving school students in educational policy decisions at EU level is essential. Democratically legitimate student representation could make measures more targeted and sustainable – something that is not currently guaranteed. The situation is particularly problematic in countries without a national school student union or with insufficient representation.
- 1.What action is the Commission taking to promote democratic school student representation structures in the Member States?
- 2.Is the Commission planning a pan-European democratically legitimate school student union?
Submitted: 20.3.2025