Creative protesting, the student way
22 April 2025
When you hear the word protest, you probably think of banners, crowds, and chants. But as Serbian students have shown, sometimes the most out-of-pocket tactics have a meaningful impact. And when authorities won’t listen, or worse, when they respond with oppression, switching up your methods might just give you the edge you need to achieve your goals.
Faced with the EU's deafening silence, 80 Serbian students biked over 1,400 km to reach Strasbourg and hand-deliver open letters to the Council of Europe and French president Macron.
Curious locals in Germany, France, Austria, and Hungary joined diaspora efforts to organise accommodation for the students, and their arrival made headlines everywhere they went. From the opposition-party mayor of Budapest, who called for a pact between Serbian and Hungarian democrats, to nearly all other local mayors and politicians in towns along the way, public figures lined up to deliver passionate speeches at welcome rallies and publicly endorse the movement.
To top it off, Croatian, Slovenian, and French members of the European Parliament welcomed the students in Strasbourg. "You’ve done more in 13 days than politicians have in 13 years. We promise to do everything in our power to make sure you have a better future", Slovenian MEP Irena Jovova said. They will take the student letters and their concerns to the next European Parliament plenary session on 5 May.
 | Nevena Vračar The students show that if you cannot start from the top, start where you are. While the EU (unsurprisingly) still needs time to think, the students managed to create political momentum, make allies, and spread their message across Europe. But the fight for justice is far from over. Building on the political momentum of the cyclists, yet another bold campaign was announced: a relay race from Novi Sad to Brussels, starting on 25 April and ending on 11 May. You can follow their route to Brussels, and if you’re nearby, don’t miss the chance to come and cheer them on! |
〉N/A
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.