Brussels, 16/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - In a formal statement issued on Thursday 15 March the European Parliament asks the European Commission and member states to back the introduction of the “Chess in School” programme in the European Union member states' education systems.
The EP says that “chess is an accessible game for children from every social group and can help social cohesion and contribute to policy objectives such as social integration, combating discrimination, reducing crime rates and even the fight against various addictions. Whatever the age of the child, chess can improve children's concentration, patience and persistence and can develop the sense of creativity, intuition, memory, and analytic and decision-making skills; chess also teaches determination, motivation and sportsmanship.” The EP asks the Commission “in its forthcoming communication on sport, to pay the necessary attention to the 'Chess in School' programme and to ensure sufficient funding for it from 2012 onwards” and calls on the Commission “to take into consideration the results of any studies on the effects of this programme on children's development.” (LC/transl.fl)