In its 2009 Recommendation on media literacy in the digital environment for a more competitive audiovisual and content industry and an inclusive knowledge society, the Commission encourages Member States to open a debate on the possible inclusion of media literacy in the compulsory education curriculum.

In order to facilitate this debate, the Commission in 2011 created an expert group focusing on media literacy in schools. This group is composed of representatives of all EU Member States and the EFTA countries. Its objective is to examine the current place of media literacy in schools in all the countries represented and to debate, with respect for subsidiarity, its possible inclusion in formal education.

The expert group is supported by independent experts who are invited to present good practice, experiences and case studies.The group had its first meeting in September 2011.

The precursorof this Expert Group was the Media Literacy Expert Group, 2006-2010.