The European Students' Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 43 national unions of students from 40 countries, representing almost 20 million students. A consultative member of the Bologna Process, ESU is also a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ).
History On 17 October 1982, seven National Unions of Students (NUSes) from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, France, Denmark, Norway and Austria established the Western European Students Information Bureau (WESIB) at a gathering in Stockholm. In February 1990, WESIB dropped the "W" to become the European Student Information Bureau (ESIB) following the political upheaval in Europe at the time. In 1992 the name was changed yet again into the National Union of Students in Europe. This reflected the recognition of the changing mission of ESIB from being a pure information-sharing organisation into a political organisation that represented the views of students in European institutions. In May 2007, the current name, European Students' Union (ESU), was introduced.
Over the years, the office of ESU has moved around Europe and was first hosted by the member NUSes. Following the establishment of WESIB in Stockholm, the office was based in the SFS Office in Sweden from 1982 until 1985, funded by a grant by the Swedish Government. By 1985 the grant was running low, and so NUS UK offered to host WESIB in their London headquarters. In 1988, the office moved to the ÖH offices in Vienna and remained there until 2000 when it was decided that for reasons of being near the European institutions, the office should move to Brussels and was hosted by VVS.
Structures The highest ESU structure is the "board meeting", bringing together representatives from all the National Unions of Students it represents. The board meeting sets the organisation's policy direction and elects members to the executive committee to run the organisation.
Executive committee The executive committee (EC) is elected for a one-year term at the annual board meeting by representatives of the member organisations, with each country (not organisation) given two votes. The president and vice-presidents together make up the presidency of ESU, and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organisation along with the seven general members of the EC.
As of 2025, the executive committee includes: Title Name CountryPresidencyPresidentLana ParVice PresidentsDaciana PopArno SchrooyenExecutive CommitteeDuarte LopesFranziska Sophia KnoglerBálint KoósKatariina JärveLuka LešićUrszula LisNora Angelova
Member organisations Country English name Local name ESU Abbrev.Abbreviation given in ESU's member list, may differ from the associations' local or official abbreviationsArmenian National Students AssociationՀայ ուսանողական ազգային ասոցիացիաANSAAustrian Students' AssociationÖsterreichische Hochschüler_innenschaftÖHBelarusian Students' AssociationЗадзіночанне Беларускіх СтудэнтаўBSABrotherhood of Organizers of Student Self-GovernmentБОССBOSSFederation of French-speaking StudentsFédération Des Etudiants FrancophonesFEFFlemish Union of StudentsVlaamse Vereniging van StudentenVVSStudents' Union Republic of SrpskaUnija studenata Republike SrpskeSURSNational Assembly of Student's Councils in the Republic of BulgariaНационално представителство на студентските съвети в Република БългарияNASCCroatian Students' CouncilHrvatski Studentski ZborCSCPancyprian Federation of Student UnionsPagkypria Omospondia Foititikon EnoseonPOFENStudent Chamber of the Council of Higher Education InstitutionsStudentská komora Rady vysokých škol SKRVSNational Union of Students in DenmarkDanske Studerendes FællesrådDSFFederation of Estonian Student UnionsEesti Üliõpilaskondade LiitEÜLFaroese National Union of StudentsMeginfelag Føroyskra StudentaMFSNational Union of University Students in FinlandSuomen Ylioppilaskuntien Liitto, Finlands studentkårers förbundSYL, FSFUnion of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied SciencesSuomen opiskelijakuntien liitto, Finlands studerandekårers förbundSAMOKNational Federation of Student's AssociationsFédération des Associations Générales d'ÉtudiantsFAGEGeorgian Student's Organizations AssociationGeorgian Student's Organizations AssociationGSOAFree Association of Student Unionsfreier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaftenfzsNational Union of Students in HungaryHallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos KonferenciájaHÖOKNational Union of Icelandic StudentsLandssamtök íslenskra stúdentaLÍSAontas na Mac Léinn in ÉirinnAontas na Mac Léinn in ÉirinnAMLÉNational Union of Israeli Studentsהתאחדות הסטודנטים בישראלتحاد الطلاب في إسرائيلNUISUnion of University StudentsUnione degli UniversitariUdUStudent Union of LatviaLatvijas Studentu apvienībaLSALithuanian National Union of StudentsLietuvos Studentu SajungaLSSNational Union of Students in LuxembourgUnion Nationale des Etudiant(e)s du Luxembourg UNELUniversity Students' CouncilKunsill Studenti UniversitarjiKSUStudent Alliance of MoldovaAlianta studentilor din MoldovaASMStudent Parliament of the University of MontenegroStudentski Parlament Univerziteta Crne GoreSPUMDutch National Students AssociationInterstedelijk Studenten OverlegISODutch Student UnionLandelijke StudentenvakbondLSVbNational Union of Students' in NorwayNorsk studentorganisasjonNSOStudents' Parliament of PolandParlament Studentów Rzeczypospolitej PolskiejPSRPAcademic Forum for Information and External RepresentationFórum Académico para Informação e Representação ExternaFAIReNational Alliance of Student Organizations in RomaniaAlianta Nationala Organizatiilor Studentesti din RomaniaANOSRStudents Conference of Serbian UniversitiesStudentska konferencija univerzitetâ SrbijeSKONUSStudent Council for Higher EducationŠtudentská Rada Vysokých ŠkôlSRVSSlovene Student UnionStudenska Organizacija SlovenijeŠOSCoordinator of Student Representatives of Public UniversitiesCoordinadora de Representantes de Estudiantes de Universidades PúblicasCREUPSwedish National Union of StudentsSveriges Förenade StudentkårerSFSVSS-UNES-USUVerband Schweizer StudierendenschaftenUnion des Etudiant-e-s de SuisseUnione Svizzera degli UniversitariVSS-UNES-USUUkrainian Association of Student Self-governmentУкраїнська асоціація студентського самоврядуванняUASNational Union of StudentsNUS-UK
Candidate members Candidate-members are NUSes that have submitted an application of membership to ESU but have not yet been granted member status by the Board Meeting. Candidate-members retain their status for one year and are subject to a "study visit" by ESU to ensure they meet membership criteria. CountryEnglish nameLocal nameESU Abbrev.National Students’ AssemblyДржавно Студентско СобраниеNSA
Associate organisations Associate members of ESU are pan-European and international student organisations that have similar goals to ESU. The criteria for associate membership require the organisation to be democratic and student-run, have either students or NUSes as members, and represent students from at least 8 countries that are parties to the European Cultural Convention. Associate organizations can attend and speak at all ESU meetings, but cannot vote at Board Meetings.
Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA) European Dental Students Association (EDSA) European Deaf Students' Union (EDSU) European Nursing Students Association (ENSA) European Medical Students' Association (EMSA) European Pharmaceutical Students' Association (EPSA) European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisation (FEMYSO) International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) International Students of History Association (ISHA) Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)
List of executive representatives
Source: +Year (Mandate)PresidentCountryVice PresidentsExecutive CommitteeCoordinators (appointed by the executive committee)2025–2026Lana ParDaciana Pop Duarte Lopes, Franziska Sophia Knogler, Bálint Koós, Katariina Järve, Luka Lešić, Nora Angelova, Urszula LisBianca Pace Arno Schrooyen 2024–2025Iris KimizogluLana Par Duarte Lopes, Jens Bartnes, Lauren Pray, Levente Varga, Lisa Schivalocchi, Nora Angelova, Tamara CiobanuEstelle Née, Magnus við Streym, Urszula LisArno Schrooyen 2023–2024Horia-Șerban OnițaIris Kimizoglu Joanna Maruszczak (until October), Lana Par (substituting Joanna Maruszczak), Andrej Pirjevec, Ana Gvritishvili, Arno Schrooyen, Ida Flemmich, Tamara Ciobanu, Tór Marni Weihe (until October), Magnus við Streym (substituting Tór Marni Weihe)Emily MacPherson, Bastien Degardins, Lauren PrayTanguy Guibert 2022–2023Matteo VespaKatrīna Sproģe Tanguy Guibert, Iris Kimizoglu, Andrej Pirjevec, Emily MacPherson, Tór Marni Weihe, Oraz Myradov, Ana GvritishviliAntoine Bakhash, Joanna Maruszczak, Sandi RizvićHoria-Șerban Onița 2021–2022Martina DarmaninZamzam Ibrahim Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Meral Nur, Stanimir BoyadzhievKatrīna Sproģe, Borna Nemet, Anastasia KreisJakub Grodecki 2021Martina DarmaninZamzam Ibrahim Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Ronja Hesse, Otto RosenlundVicky Reichling, Borna Nemet, Carmen Romero (until June), Katrīna Sproģe (substituting Carmen Romero)Jakub Grodecki 2019–2020 Gohar Hovhannisyan (Oct.-Dec. 2020)Martina Darmanin Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud, Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki,Martin Paluoja, Daniel Lindblom (until November), Carmen Romero (substituting Daniel Lindblom)Sebastian Berger Robert Napier