Brussels, 19/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - Intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education play an important role in the fight against religious radicalism. This message was adopted on Tuesday 19 January by the European Parliament, in response to the increasing rise in attacks over recent months.
The report by Julie Ward (S&D, United Kingdom) is in addition to the Paris declaration adopted in March 2015 by Education Ministers. It underlines the need to combine efforts in an effort to prevent and fight against marginalisation, intolerance, racism and radicalisation, in the context of equal opportunities for all. MEPs believe that this will come through “the increase of public investment in formal and informal, accessible and quality education”.
The resolution was adopted by 554 votes in favour, with 147 against (the ECR and ENF groups voted against) and suggests integrating dialogue and cultural diversity in all areas of EU action that have an impact on the EU's fundamental values. Reference is made to youth policy, education, mobility, employment, social and foreign affairs, women's rights and gender equality, as well as trade and regional development. It also suggests including these questions in the EU's external and development policy. The resolution calls for Union representations in non-EU partner countries to create the post of cultural attaché.
At a more general level, MEPs assert that “they need to encourage the promotion of an intercultural, interdenominational strategy founded on values in the area of education”. They also highlight the need for a civic education from early childhood years.
When the Commissioner for Education, Tibor Navracsics, spoke, he indicated that he completely agreed with the EP Resolution. He pointed out that he would work together with EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, to strengthen the intercultural dialogue. He also said that in 2016, €400 million would be spent on transnational projects in favour of including new migrants in the Erasmus + initiative. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)