Brussels, 23/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - The AEGEE (European Students' Forum) enthusiastically welcomed the Commission's proposals for the new programmes on education, youth and culture, presented last week (see EUROPE of 16 July, p.10). The Association mainly hails the initiative aimed at increasing the budget devoted to programmes of higher education. The initiative will allow improvements to be made to the quality of educational and training systems, Nicolas Rega, AEGEE President, believes. The Forum also welcomes extension of the age group for beneficiaries of the Youth Programme and the special attention granted to student exchanges, an essential point of AEGEE action. It now hopes the Commission will be able to achieve its ambitious goals and promises: "We are committing ourselves to popularise the new programmes among European students and will continue our involvement in motivating students to take part in them".