Promoting Citizenship through Education

The four priorities identified in the "Paris Declaration"

The Paris Declaration was adopted by the Informal Meeting of EU Education Ministers in Paris on 17 March 2015, as a reaction to the terror attacks in Paris and Copenhagen in 2015. In particular, it invites Member States to pursue a series of national and local level objectives and identifies four overarching priorities for EU-level cooperation:

1. Ensuring young people acquire social, civic and intercultural competences, by promoting democratic values and fundamental rights, social inclusion and non-discrimination, as well as active citizenship;
2. Enhancing critical thinking and media literacy, particularly in the use of the Internet and social media, so as to develop resistance to of discrimination and indoctrination;
3. Fostering the education of disadvantaged children and young people, by ensuring that our education and training systems address their needs; and
4. Promoting intercultural dialogue through all forms of learning in cooperation with other relevant policies and stakeholders.

Actions undertaken by the Commission to implement these priorities

The objectives of the Declaration go much beyond a narrow focus on violent radicalisation. They also cover issues, such as inclusive education, citizenship education, anti-discrimination and fundamental values in a broad sense.

As a follow-up to the Declaration, the Commission has adapted its policy framework on education, training (ET2020) and youth.  

Moreover, a dedicated Working Group composed of Member State experts, representatives from civil society and international organization was launched on 22 February. The objective of the working group is to promote the exchange of good practices on issues, such as enhancing social and civic competences, critical thinking and media literacy, combating discrimination, enhancing intercultural understanding and enhancing inclusive education.

Erasmus+ funds are also mobilised to support transnational projects and partnerships with a focus on social inclusion, active citizenship and intercultural understanding. A call for proposals on policy experimentations targeted at high level public authorities with a total budget of EUR 14 million, with a specific topic on promoting inclusion and fundamental values has already been issued (deadline for application: 14 April 2016.) Moreover, another specific call with a total budget of EUR 13 million is planned for March with the main objective of supporting dissemination, replication and mainstreaming of good practices at grass-root level in areas falling under the scope of the Paris Declaration.