History
How it all began …
In February 2006, the student conference “What Holds Europe Together?” took place. The conference was initiated by then-Federal President Horst Köhler and was held in parallel with a meeting of European heads of state.
100 students and scholarship recipients from numerous foundations across various European countries grappled with the central question of how to strengthen identification with Europe and its institutions. A key insight from many discussions was that ways need to be found to foster exchange in Europe that involve people directly through face-to-face encounters. The idea for Europa macht Schule was born!
The Birth of Europa macht Schule e.V.
Driven by a sense of personal responsibility as well as enthusiasm for the idea, committed participants founded the association Europa macht Schule e.V. shortly after the conference. Even the pilot phase, with over 30 projects, demonstrated the powerful impact of the idea of direct European exchange. In the years that followed, the number of locations grew steadily, and more and more projects were successfully implemented.
Financial support from the BMFTR & coordination by the DAAD
Since 2009, financial support for the Europa macht Schule program has been provided by what is now the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). In the same year, the National Agency for Erasmus+ University Cooperation, which is based at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Bonn, took over the full-time coordination of the program. The conceptual development of the program remains the responsibility of the association Europa macht Schule e.V.
Milestones and Anniversaries
Over the years, Europa macht Schule has reached numerous milestones. Among other achievements, the 500th participant was honored in 2010/11, the 1,500th in 2016/17, the 2,000th in 2018/19, and the 2,500th in 2021/22. The program celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2015/16, its 15th in 2020/21, and looks forward to its upcoming 20th anniversary in 2025/26. These anniversaries symbolize the steady growth and lasting impact of European exchange.
Awards and Honors
Europa macht Schule has received numerous honors for its commitment and innovative projects. Over the years, the program has been awarded significant honors at both the national and European levels.
A complete overview of prizes and awards can be found here in German.
