Panhellenic Coordination of Student Unions of the Students’ Struggle Front:"Counterattack! Degrees that matter, free education - no to repression and removal from the student regitry!"

On December 6 and 7, 2025, the Nationwide Coordination of the Student Unions of the Students' Struggle Front (MAS) held its proceedings at Panteion University  concluding with mass participation and a militant, optimistic spirit.

A total of 117 Student Unions from 38 cities and 17 Universities took part, with their representatives sending a message of counterattack in response to the widespread attack on their rights in all areas of their lives and studies, particularly in the context of war preparations. The aim is to strengthen the struggle for a modern, free public university, meaningful qualifications, and science and research that serve social needs rather than war.

Under the slogan “Counterattack! Degrees that matter, free studies – no repression or deregistration of students!', the meeting concluded with a militant plan of action for the coming period. This plan will be discussed in depth in all Student Unions and amphitheatres across Greece and covers all the 'fronts' concerning students.

The following plan of action was agreed:

• Student Unions will participate in rallies organised by trade unions across the country on 16 December, protesting against the state budget.

• A new two-day nationwide blockade of faculty offices on 10–11 December to protest against student deregistration.

• Mobilisation at the Rectors' Council in Volos on 12 December.

• Solidarity visits to farmers' roadblocks around the country

• A joint resolution by the Student Unions against their transformation into a cog in the war machine. Organising the struggle to cancel universities' cooperation with NATO and war monopolies.

• Support for the Nationwide Coordination of Student Dormitory Associations and their legitimate demands.

• Solidarity initiatives for fellow students facing serious problems, especially ahead of the holidays.

• Measures to improve the functioning of the student unions and everyday student life

• A large joint meeting of the cultural and sports groups of the student unions

Panos Spiliopoulos, president of the Student Union of the Athens University of Economics and Business and member of the Executive Secretariat of MAS, delivered the introductory speech, highlighting that “The fundamental dilemma emerging in every aspect of our lives and studies is: ‘Either their profits or our lives’.”

Trade unions and mass organisations once again expressed their solidarity with the students and their just and shared struggle in a series of greetings. Those addressing the meeting included representatives from PAME, the Federation of Administrative Personnel of Higher Education, the Federation of Women of Greece, the Union of Salaried Lawyers, the Coordinating Committee of Athens School Students and the Progressive Student Movement from Cyprus. Representatives of the Merchant Marine Academy Students’ Association and the Students’ Associations of the Dance, Theatre and Cinema Schools also spoke. Just the day before, they had supported the Hellenic Actors’ Union during its successful strike.

Messages of solidarity also arrived from students and student unions around the world, and a video greeting from elected students in Italy was screened.

The students also expressed their solidarity with the farmers' just struggle in various ways — a struggle that concerns the people. At noon, they carried out a symbolic blockade of Syngrou Avenue in support of the ongoing roadblocks that farmers have set up across the country.

The slogan that dominated their demonstration was: “Workers, farmers, students – united we will win!”

A particularly moving moment of the meeting was the video greeting from a representative of the Nikaia roadblock, who emphasised that 'In this struggle, no one is superfluous because without allies — the workers, the youth and the self-employed — we cannot prevail. We have common adversaries and common interests”.

Meanwhile, the three parallel meetings concerning teaching qualifications, student dormitories and internships concluded with joint resolutions on each issue.

In fact, the discussion on student dormitories resulted in the formation of the Nationwide Coordination of Student Dormitory Associations.

Before the Meeting began, a delegation of Student Unions from around the country laid flowers at the site where 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was murdered by special police guard Epaminondas Korkoneas 17 years ago.