AEGEE was founded in 1985 in Paris under the name EGEE (Etats Generaux des Etudiants de l'Europe). At that time, the European Economic Community was growing and a group of students thought how they could create a platform through which young people could convey their ideas to institutions and proposals on Europe.

The EGEE has prompted many students to establish offices (or antennas) in its cities, and a year later, the group of students was already a European association based in 6 cities including Madrid, Leiden, London, Milan and Munich.

The association grew rapidly throughout the continent also due to the support of politicians and the media. In 1987, the EGEE, together with Francois Mitteran, drove the very important Erasmus. In 1988 the name changed to AEGEE. Since 1990, AEGEE also supports the integration of the countries of Central and East Europe.

In 1996, there was a headquarters in Brussels where the 7 members of the Director (Directorate of AEGEE-Europe) live and work in a variety of projects of AEGEE.