European school alliances: Parliament backs initiative to build cooperation on basic skills

Citizenship, democracy, media literacy and EU values must be part of the pilot

Initiative is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation across the EU

EU countries, national authorities, schools, and teachers should be involved in the pilot project’s design and implementation

MEPs recommend including schools from disadvantaged contexts and striking a geographical balance in the future European school alliances pilot scheme.

Welcoming the decision to include a European school alliances pilot scheme in the education package to be presented shortly, Parliament calls on the Commission to ensure that the programme will cover citizenship education, democratic competences, media literacy, critical thinking and knowledge of the EU and its values.

In their resolution, adopted on Thursday by 443 to 98 and with 47 abstentions, MEPs state that the initiative of connecting schools from different countries in organised networks should have a clear set of objectives, including improved educational results, stronger basic skills, mobility opportunities, and preparation for future skills needs. They consider this an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in school education across the EU, and to enable teachers to work together and share best practices, innovating in teaching and learning.

Parliament wants targeted measures to facilitate the participation of schools from disadvantaged socio-economic contexts and learners with “fewer opportunities”. It also stresses the importance of including different education pathways, such as vocational education and training, and schools operating within specific fields such as sport or arts.

MEPs defend targeted outreach and support measures for geographically and territorially balanced partnerships, allowing the representation of schools from a wide range of regions and socio-economic contexts, including from less represented or lower-capacity areas.

Noting that responsibility for education lies with the EU member states, MEPs highlight that this European pilot project to help teachers and pupils focus on basic skills should complement and support national systems.

Quote

“Experiencing Europe shouldn’t begin only when young people go on Erasmus exchanges at university. With European school alliances, we will bring Europe directly into the classroom. When schools work together across borders, children gain new perspectives, and experience first-hand what European cooperation and democracy mean,” said rapporteur and chair of the Committee on Culture and Education Nela Riehl (Greens/EFA, DE).

Background

The Commission is expected to present a European school alliances pilot programme in November. The objective is to promote cross-border cooperation for basic skills and pupil/teacher mobility.

The European Commission launched the European Partnerships for School Development earlier this year, with a budget of €20 million from Erasmus+. Forty projects in nearly all EU countries have been funded, covering around 400 school authorities and schools. The partnerships began operating on 1 October. The lessons drawn from implementing these projects will be used to prepare the European school alliances tool that the Commission is planning to launch as part of the 2028 Erasmus+ working programme.