Brussels, 10/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - For the European Students' Union (ESU), the European Year of Citizens 2013 offers a unique opportunity to make politicians aware of the danger of overly stringent austerity policies which affect the population, particularly young people and students, as many European states have cut the budget for education, and are still cutting it.
“It is crucial that people tell the Members of the European Parliament and heads of national governments how their decisions affect daily lives. Harsh austerity measures can damage the social structures and trust in democratic institutions that are needed in order to drive Europe forward”, stressed Karina Ufert, the president of the ESU, on Tuesday 9 April.
A recent Eurydice report confirmed the harsh budget cuts decided upon in the education sector by several member states, most of them in South-East Europe, despite the ambitious objectives laid down for education in the EUROPE 2020 strategy. Cyprus, for example, has cut funding for adult education by 30.8%. As most European countries earmark less than 2% of their GDP for the education sector, these cuts will have a major negative direct impact on higher education institutions and on students, the ESU warns.
“We are concerned that the EU will be set astray from its policy for inclusive growth if too much emphasis will be placed on implementing flat budget cuts. The EU had already recognised how important education is to support long-term economic growth. A strong and inclusive education system is the foundation of prosperity, to support innovative measures”, Ufert said. The European students feel that the Commission has taken a wrong turn by considering that the strict objectives laid down for taxation are the best way of supporting economic growth and employment. “We want all European institutions on board immediately to change the focus of this austerity policy (…). Education is a human right and that should be our demand to the EU and especially the Eurogroup in this European Year of Citizens”, Ufert concluded. (IL/transl.fl)