Sophie de Miranda Connolly is a master's student in European Law and Public Affairs at UCD. In May 2025, she took part in the European Student Assembly (ESA), held in Strasbourg, France. She shares her experiences below.
In May, I had the incredible opportunity to take part in the 2025 European Student Assembly (ESA), in Strasbourg, France. It was an amazing experience right at the heart of EU democracy.
But let us rewind a bit. Given my academic background, it will not surprise you that I have a strong interest in European Union affairs and policymaking. That is exactly what drew me to ESA. I applied not just because of my passion for the field, but also because I genuinely want to help shape meaningful, positive change across the EU. I was excited by the chance to contribute to well-researched, evidence-based policy proposals, and to represent University College Dublin, and the Una Europa Alliance, ensuring our perspectives and priorities were part of the conversation.
Setting the scene
The Assembly took place in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg – the actual chamber where MEPs debate and vote! It was incredibly exciting (and a little surreal) to sit in those seats and vote on policy just like a real Member of the European Parliament.
Around 230 students from across various European universities and alliances were selected to attend ESA25 from thousands of applications. In the months leading up to the event, I took part in a series of training sessions covering topics such as advocacy, policymaking and public speaking. These sessions also gave us the chance to connect with our panel groups to begin researching, drafting, and shaping our policy proposals in advance.
During the Assembly, we heard from a range of inspiring speakers, including current MEPs and ESA alumni. We worked intensively with our panels to complete our proposals, engaged in inter-panel debates, and explored the Alliance Village, where each university alliance presented their work and culture. The event ended in a full-scale vote on around 80 policy proposals, using the same digital voting system that real MEPs use in plenary sessions, which was super cool. Read theESA25 Policy Recommendations.
Panel participation
I was part of Panel 6: "Living with Dignity – What measures should the EU consider to ensure affordable housing for its younger generations?" This topic felt especially close to home, as the housing crisis is something we are grappling with in Ireland. Like many young people across Europe, I have seen first-hand how difficult it is to find secure and affordable housing.
This issue is also one I’ve explored a lot during my academic studies, so I was excited to bring both my personal insights and academic knowledge to the panel. Affordable housing is becoming one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing Europe’s youth. This crisis affects much more than just housing; it delays independence, affects mental health, restricts access to education and jobs, and erodes the fundamental right to live with dignity.
Within my panel, I worked on a proposal to introduce a mandatory EU-wide housing needs assessment for new developments. This would help ensure that new builds actually respond to local social and economic needs. We also proposed a European socially balanced housing label to recognise and promote projects that prioritise social equity. I was thrilled when our proposal passed during the final vote in the hemicycle, it was a proud moment!
Impactful and enriching
ESA25 was a truly enriching experience that left a lasting impact on me both personally and academically. On a personal level, being part of a pan-European dialogue on youth housing policy helped me sharpen key skills like debating complex issues, conducting research, and negotiating towards consensus, all in a dynamic, real-world setting far beyond the lecture hall.
I also developed greater confidence in advocating for ideas under pressure, communicating across cultures and languages, and ensuring that the policies we proposed were grounded in evidence, realism and ambition. Most importantly, I discovered a deeper sense of purpose in wanting to help shape inclusive, forward-thinking public policy.
Academically, my understanding of how EU policymaking works in practice, all the way from proposal to vote, deepened a lot. I also learned a great deal from the diverse policy proposals presented by other panels, which tackled challenges ranging from sustainability and AI to economic inequality and competitiveness.
These insights align closely with my studies at UCD and will enrich my approach to both research and my upcoming thesis. ESA25 also reinforced my aspiration to pursue a career in public policy or European affairs, where I hope to continue contributing to meaningful and positive change.
Highlights
A real highlight of ESA25 for me was the final voting session. It was intense, exciting and gratifying seeing everyone’s hard work come together. It was like a full circle moment.
A personal highlight was when my own policy proposal passed. Knowing that something I worked on developing received cross-European support was very rewarding. It was a proud moment that made all the preparation, research and debate worth it. It made the entire journey feel even more worthwhile and was a powerful reminder of what collaborative policymaking can achieve.
A note to others
It can be intimidating to step outside your comfort zone and apply for something like ESA. But honestly, the process of applying itself is a valuable experience, and if you’re accepted, it will be one of the most rewarding opportunities you’ll have as a student.
(Group photo credit: Fusing Phoenix)