Brussels, 12/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - The school systems of Europe should be reformed to lay greater emphasis on the history and values of the EU and to further facilitate the mobility of pupils. This is the gist of two own-initiative reports adopted by a vast majority at the European Parliament, on Tuesday 12 April.
The first report, by Damian Drãghici (S&D, Romania), entitled Learning EU at School, makes the point that being aware of and understanding the common history and values of the Union and of its member state is vital for mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence, tolerance and solidarity. To this end, he calls upon the Commission to propose a common framework and to draft guidelines together with concrete examples for education on the European Union. The report also calls on the member states to “take new measures to promote inter-cultural, non-discriminatory learning which is open to all and the values of citizenship in school and university programmes”.
The second report was drawn up by Ernest Maragall (Greens/EFA, Spain). “We are a long way short of the EU2020 strategy's objectives for education. We need change, reforms, particularly at the level of the programme Erasmus +”, commented the rapporteur, who called for vocational learning and training to be taken more into account. The resolution calls upon the Commission to create an 'electronic European student map' and reiterate its support for a 'European apprentice' status. It goes on to suggest a Green Paper on vocational learning and training, mobility and the recognition of skills and abilities in Europe. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)