Serbia

The  European  Students’  Union  –  ESU                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Formerly  known  as  ESIB  –  The  National  Unions  of  Students  in  Europe   10,  Rue  d  l’Industrie   1000  Bruxelles   Belgium     Tel:  (+32)  (2)  893  25  45   www.esu-­‐online.org                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Students’ rights ignored in Serbia The European Students’ Union is appalled by the Serbian Government’s recent amendments to the National University Law and strongly condemns the entire process. The students of Europe stands united behind the Serbian Union of Student’s attempt at overturning the amendments. Recently, just 10 days before the beginning of the new academic year, the Serbian Government introduced a number of amendments to the national Law of Higher Education Law that among many things limits the number of exam periods from 6 to 5 and cuts the funding for the students’ 5th year of studies. The changes were announced in the middle of the exam period and enters into force immediately, effectively removing the students’ chances of protesting or accommodating for the changes in their studies. This is a major breach of European Students’ Union’s (ESU) Students’ Rights Charter’s article 12 that states that “students have the right to be informed about all higher education affairs in a transparent manner.” The Serbian Union of Students (SUS) together with Students Conference of Universities of Serbia (SKONUS) took to the streets across the country on the 8th of October in order to protest the amendments. More than 3.000 students showed up in Belgrade alone and the protests received wide media coverage. In a move to silence the students the management of University of Belgrade have attempted to dissolve the Students’ Parliament. A move which neglects the management’s responsibility to obey to article 10 of the charter: “all students have the right to organise themselves freely in legally recognised entities. Students must not suffer academic, financial or legal consequences stemming from such involvement.” These are some of the worst examples of breach of ESU’s Students’ Rights Charter that Europe has witnessed in recent years. In addition the decisions fly in the face of the commitments made in the Bologna process by the Serbian government to the European Higher Education Area. The quick withdrawal of student support and cutting down on student democracy go directly against the Bologna Process commitments. ESU stands united behind SUS and Students Conference of Universities of Serbia (SKONUS) in their efforts to overturn the amendments and to initiate a process of developing a new Law of Higher Education with students as a stakeholder. Once again ESU   –   The   European   Students’   Union   -­‐   is   the   umbrella   organisation   of   47   national   unions   of   students   from   39   countries,   and   through   these   members   represents   over   15   million   students.   The   aim   of   ESU   is   to   articulate   and   promote   the   educational,   social,   economic  and  cultural  interests  of  students  at  a  European  level  towards  all  relevant  bodies  and  in  particular  the  European  Union,   Bologna  Follow-­‐Up  Group,  Council  of  Europe  and  UNESCO.  

The  European  Students’  Union  –  ESU                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Formerly  known  as  ESIB  –  The  National  Unions  of  Students  in  Europe     ESU wants to remind the Serbian Government about article 13 of the charter: “All students have the right to have their opinion considered as that of a stakeholder on equal footing in higher education.” Further, ESU calls for the Serbian Government to take decisive actions against the management at University of Belgrade and to protect the Students’ Parliament from being dissolved. Nothing less can be expected in a situation like this. Education is what builds the foundation of future societies, but we will only be able to see strong foundations, when students are respected and have influence over their own education.  

  Elisabeth  Gehrke   Chairperson   ESU,  The  European  Students’  Union  

ESU   –   The   European   Students’   Union   -­‐   is   the   umbrella   organisation   of   47   national   unions   of   students   from   39   countries,   and   through   these   members   represents   over   15   million   students.   The   aim   of   ESU   is   to   articulate   and   promote   the   educational,   social,   economic  and  cultural  interests  of  students  at  a  European  level  towards  all  relevant  bodies  and  in  particular  the  European  Union,   Bologna  Follow-­‐Up  Group,  Council  of  Europe  and  UNESCO.