UNEL calls for action
Dear OBESSU Members and fellow youth organisations,
Recently the Luxembourgish government and its student aid system were convicted by the European Court of Justice for being unfair and discriminating against cross-border commuters. This forced the governement to create a new student aid system that would include the children of commuters, who deserve this aid in since their parents pay taxes to the Luxembourgish state.
On the 20th of March 2014, the proposed law concerning the student aids was handed in by the minister of high education, Claude Meisch. Massive cuts were to restrict the independence of students, put a burden on the families budgets and thus, the students’ future isn’t in their own hands anymore. Altogether, the cuts plan to reduce the aid by up to 70% each month.
That´s why we claim:
- a basic student aid, that covers the daily living costs
- a further aid which is bound to paying a rent
- a third pillar that is depending on the number of children living in the houshold
We urge the responsible politicians to rethink this system. After months of many discussions and a lot of exchanges with the minister, there was no other solution than to go to the next level. We launched a petition, which was fairly successful. However, realizing it would take more than several thousands signatures to make a real change, we decided to take the protest to the streets. The UNEL, together with several other organisations including several youth parties, called out for a strike on the 25th April 2014. This was a great success as it has mobilized over 15.000 people including pupils, students and parents. It left a strong impression on the minister and we are taking up the dialogue again, relying on the government’s political sensitivity to start making concessions!
In that context and in order to put even more pressure on the government, we ask you to join us in our struggle for students’ rights and to show your support.
For more information please send an email to the UNEL Vice President Flore Friden at victoria-lux(a)hotmail.com
Luxembourg, 26th April 2014
Flore Friden, Vice President
Leo Gaasch, Secretary
See the original UNEL Call for action
