Advocating to enhance democratic competences & promote European values

Our goal is for the EU to reinforce investment in citizenship education and democratic infrastructure

Why Citizenship Education

European values, as set out in Article 2 TEU and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, are under pressure.

The EU has tried to counter this trend with several measures and instruments, including a Rule of Law toolbox, annual Rule of Law Reports and the European Democracy Action Plan. However, until now, the measures taken have had little impact on the violations of key principles of European cooperation, such as the rule of law, non-discrimination or the freedom of the press.

In order to reverse this trend, the EU must first and foremost invest in its citizens’ democratic competences. Citizens are the basis of democracy in the EU. It is crucial to provide all people in the EU with the necessary knowledge and skills to actively engage in politics. As such, we advocate for the EU to reinforce investments in citizenship education and democratic infrastructure.

Our supporters

We have built an alliance of politicians, civil society, citizenship educators and academics from across Europe endorsing our cause.

If we don't strengthen European action in the field of European citizenship education, we are limiting the capacity of Europeans to fully participate in the democratic life of the Union, which is their right. A European Agency for Citizenship Education could contribute to ensure that citizens have the knowledge to fully participate in shaping the future of the European Project.

Although an "agency" is based on the German Federal Agency, in view of the developments in recent years in Europe there are many good reasons to invest more strongly and in a more targeted way in democracy education in Europe and to promote it. Therefore, I wholeheartedly support the idea, will continue to stand by in an advisory capacity and promote it in the #EuropeanPeopleParty and vis-à-vis the Commission.

"Democracy needs active and informed citizens, engaging in discussions from different angles, but always on the basis of facts. I wholeheartedly support a European agency to enable this informed exchange."

“The EU should step up its efforts in citizenship education to provide its people the support to acquire knowledge and skills they need to understand but also question our societies, politics, and media. Also, it will help to become aware of the values of democracy and our Union we live in. The EU should provide a program which will aid in guiding Member States in teaching it the best way possible and share best case practices.”

Our Proposal

Provide all people in the EU with the necessary knowledge and skills to actively engage in politics

NEWS

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Presentation at the NECE Campus

June 9, 2021

Today, Susanne Zels presented the proposal for a European Agency for Citizenship Education and the pilot project proposal submitted at the European Parliament at the NECE Campus.

EP CULT Committee calls for a comprehensive European strategy on civic and citizenship education and supporting platforms

April 28, 2021

As called for my Values Unite the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) at the European Parliament has suggested for the European Commission to develop

ECDC Proposal submitted to the Conference on the Future of Europe

April 22, 2021

Today, European citizens lack equal access to citizenship education. Public and private funding for non-formal and informal citizenship education varies greatly throughout the EU. Likewise,