AEGEE was founded in 1985 in Paris by a group of students from the "Grand Ecoles" under the name EGEE des États Généraux des Étudiants de l Europe. The first President was Frank Biancheri. Due to a name collision with another organisation, the name was changed to AEGEE in 1988.

AEGEE takes its name from the Aegean Sea (la Mer Egée), one of the birthplaces of democracy 2000 years ago, and from the first parliament at the dawn of the French Revolution, Les États Généraux. It is pronounced as if it were a French word "aégée".

AEGEE is one of the largest interdisciplinary student associations in Europe. It is a secular, voluntary, politically independent and non-profit organisation open to students of all faculties.

AEGEE strives for cross border co-operation, communication integration among students and to create an open and tolerant society of tomorrow. We promote the idea of a unified Europe trying to focus on four main fields, which are Higher Education, Cultural Exchange, Peace and Stability and Active Citizenship. We hope to influence youth in becoming part of an open and tolerant society.

AEGEE fulfils these goals by means of its network. Every year numerous events are organised by the different locals that are extensively promoted throughout the network, thus making sure that AEGEE members from all different countries can participate. To have young people from all over Europe together, creates a very special atmosphere and the desire to learn about other cultures, a desire to make new friends and a shared passion for Europe and the people that live in it.

AEGEE with offices in Brussels Belgium, is supported by the European Commission and enjoys a consultative status at the Council of Europe and the United Nations. The association has operational status with UNESCO and it is a member of the European Youth Forum

AEGEE logo also reflects its aims. The twelve stars symbolize unity. The abbreviation AEGEE breaks through the circle of stars, signifying that AEGEE wants to be in the vanguard of the process of European integration. Finally the whole logo symbolizes a key, the key to Europe, which AEGEE promises to give to all its members.

Read more about AEGEE-Europe History