Brussels, 05/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 4 February, the European Students' Union (ESU) launched the “Vote for Education” campaign, calling on candidates in the European elections next May to commit to education. “We need to get the students' voice heard in the Parliament. For this reason, we have created a manifesto with the ten most important things that we would like to see the new parliament work for”, said Elin Blomqvist, one of the campaign organisers. The national unions of the ESU will ask candidates in their respective member states to sign the manifesto which picks up on the ten recommendations adopted by the ESU in December 2013 for quality higher education for all. At the same time, the European students are encouraging young people to vote in the European elections in order to make their voice heard. “Young people are the future of Europe and decisions that are taken now will affect their lives in the years to come”, said Blomqvist. In the ESU's view, higher education is a public resource, subject to public responsibility, and is an unassailable right for all citizens residing on European territory - “Education is an institution at the centre of our society and one of the pillars of our modern civilisation”. The ESU has created a new website - http://www.voteforeducation.eu - which explains the objectives of the campaign and asks MEP candidates to support their campaign by signing on line. The ESU plans to organise a demonstration at the headquarters of the European institutions in Brussels in March so as to reiterate its expectations, while a round table will be organised at the European Parliament in April. The ESU will also participate in the European Youth Event which will take place in Strasbourg. The European Youth Forum hailed the positive welcome given to their “Love Youth Future” campaign by the ALDE MEPs and candidates during a congress organised in Brussels on 1 February. This campaign, which was inaugurated at the European Parliament on 15 October, asks MEPs to sign up to a series of pledges for young people (see EUROPE 10945). (IL/transl.fl)