Brussels, 05/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - European students are afraid that rising tuition fees are making access to higher education more difficult. This is one of the conclusions from a seminar organised by the European Students Union (ESU) in Tallinn at the end of April. Forty-five student unions from different countries took part in the seminar. ESU president, Bert Vandenkendelaere, declared: “Everywhere in Europe, we see that tuition fees are on the rise. This is causing major problems as it is becoming more difficult for people to participate in higher education. We have to stand up for the right to access higher education and make our voices heard.” During the seminar, European students shared experiences on financing systems in their respective countries and debated the benefits and disadvantages of public and private financing of higher education. European students will soon work out their priorities for the next few years at the 60th Board Meeting of the ESU, at the end of which they will adopt several declarations. The ESU and the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) concluded a partnership to help and support democratic change in North African and Middle Eastern universities (Jordan, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia). Revolutionary change has occurred in these countries over recent months, which makes the creation of a solid basis for the emergence of a democratic civil society crucial, declared the different student partners. (I.L./transl.fl)