IP/06/332
Brussels, 20 March 2006
Spring Day in Europe 2006: young Europeans are invited to participate in a discussion on the future of Europe For the fourth consecutive year, the network of education ministers (European School Net) is organising, in collaboration with the European Commission, the “Spring Day in Europe” event aimed at raising awareness of European issues among young people. Activities are being organised between 21 March and 9 May in schools in the Member States and acceding countries and in other European countries (including Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Switzerland) on the subject “Let’s discuss our future”.
The “Spring Day in Europe” has been organised every year since 2001 to raise the awareness of young people about European matters by initiating a dialogue between schoolchildren, teachers and other parties active in the European Union on their vision of Europe and its future.
In the words of Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström, “Spring Day in Europe is part of this much-needed debate on the future of Europe since it concerns those who will be in charge of the Union in a few years’ time. They need to know that their voices are being heard and that the Union can provide added value."
Spring Day in Europe 2006 offers a unique opportunity to all schools with pupils of between 7 and 17 years old to express their opinions and raise the awareness of European citizens about how young people and institutions in Europe can join forces to improve dialogue and understanding of democratic developments in Europe. “Each year, tens of thousands of young Europeans, from schoolchildren to young people in higher and vocational training, participate in European programmes specially designed for them”, says Ján Figel’, the Commissioner in charge of education and training. “Access by young people to greater information on Europe and participation in the debates on its future are essential training in citizenship.”
National and European political personalities (members of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee) are invited to participate in and contribute to the debates on the future of Europe by visiting a school and organising debates between 21 March and 9 May and by participating in on-line discussions. The activities organised at schools include role-play in the decision-making process, discussions and activities connected with European values.
The three previous Spring Day in Europe events were organised around the themes of the Convention (2003), enlargement (2004) and the Constitution (2005). The event website is available in 20 languages at:
www.springday2006.org
