Brussels, 17/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner for Education, Tibor Navracsics, has welcomed the commitment of the European education ministers to tackle radicalisation.
The ministers met in Paris on 17 March to discuss ideas to be implemented to put education at the service of the fight against extremism (see EUROPE 11275).
Together, they adopted a “Joint statement on promoting citizenship education and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination”.
“We are all facing the same challenge: how to protect the spirit of European freedom, whilst improving our mutual respect and understanding. By working together at the European level, we can share the best ideas, learn from each other and inspire each other”, said the commissioner. Navracsics announced that by the end of this year, he will present recommendations to look in greater depth at the question of inclusion, diversity and citizenship values in schools, drawing inspiration from the provisions of the Erasmus + programme.
“We reaffirm our determination to put on a united front to work in favour of the fundamental values which are at the heart of the European Union: respect for human dignity, freedom (in particular the freedom of expression), democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights”, declared the European ministers and Commissioner Navracsics. The greatest challenge of these times is to protect the pluralism of the European societies, which calls for concrete actions at European, national, regional and local level, they state, stressing their particular role “in handing down to future generations the humanist and civic values we share”. They undertake to join forces to fight marginalisation, intolerance, racism, radicalisation and in favour of equal opportunities. At national, regional and local level, they aim to step up actions to: - ensure that the fundamental values are passed on to children; - guarantee an inclusive education for all young people, which fights discrimination in all its forms; - reinforce the critical minds of young people; - fighting equality in all its forms; - take measures to fight school drop-out rates and improve occupational and social integration; - encourage dialogue and cooperation between all players in the field of education; - train and accompany teachers in their duties. At European level, the ministers and Commissioner undertake to work together and exchange experiences in view of the objectives laid down. The ministers will go into these questions in greater depth at the forthcoming session of the Education Council, to be held on 18 and 19 May and which will be attended by Navracsics. (Isabelle Lamberty)