Activities of Victor NEGRESCU related to 2021/2008(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Implementation of citizenship education actions (debate)
Amendments (62)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 33 a (new)
Citation 33 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on shaping digital education policy;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas education is a fundamental right that should be equally accessible for free to all; whereas the Pillar of Social Rights states that everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education in order to participate fully in society;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas new systemic changes such as the climate crisis, supranational political integration and the digital shift require the corresponding adaptation of educational systems, including citizenship education; whereas the green transition calls for expanding citizenship education to include the need to act responsibly not only within a given community or society but towards the planetas a whole; whereas the digital shift opens new opportunities for active citizenship and democratic participation online but also encompasses risks and threats posed by misinformation and disinformation; whereas active digital citizenship should take into account and address the digital gap among generations;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas new systemic changes such as the climate crisis, supranational political integration, the pandemic, social and territorial gaps and the digital shift require the corresponding adaptation of educational systems, including citizenship education;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas sociopolitical changes observed in Member States, ranging from social polarisation and low institutional trust to democratic backsliding, the erosion of the rule of law, exclusionary nationalism and the instrumentalisation of Euroscepticism for political purposes, along with the rise of extremist movements, fake news and authoritarianism, may pose a serious threat to European democracies and destabilise the EU as a whole; whereas strengthening citizenship education in formal, non- formal, informal and lifelong- learning education could play an important role in countering this trend;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the emergence of a dynamic European citizenship has been hindered by a knowledge and emotional gap; as well as a lack of mechanisms enabling citizen’s participation and dialogue; whereas European identity complements the multiple local, national, geographical, cultural or other identities a person might have; whereas insufficient knowledge about the EU and poor understanding of its added value may contribute to the perception of a democratic deficit and may lead to Euroscepticism in Member States;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas, the European Parliament resolution of 12 April 2016 on Learning EU at school called on the Commission to provide a common framework and to prepare guidelines with concrete examples on learning about the EU in order to foster objective and critical thinking about the benefits of the European Union for its citizens;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Commission has failed to undertake any substantial initiative of systemic nature in this strategic field; whereas the Commission should do more in increasing the level of information about the European Union and specific rights and obligations;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regrets that there is no common definition of citizenship education; believes that teaching citizenship education involves a combination of knowledge, skills, competences and caremethods, tools, content, competences and care; underlines the important role played by teachers and educators in delivering citizenship education and calls for their active involvement in the process of establishment of a common framework at European level; calls for the creation of a specific framework of competences on citizenship education in partnerships with European universities and EU affairs experts;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regrets that there is no common definition of citizenship education; believes that teaching citizenship education involves a combination of knowledge, skills, competences and care; considers that, as a minimum, citizenship education should provide a theoretical understanding of the political, legal, social and economic concepts and structures including those pertaining to the European level, as well as global developments and sustainability commensurate with the level of education and training, coupled with practical experiences;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned about the limited focus on European and global citizenship in national curricula; notes with concern that only half of students studying in the EU report having opportunities to learn about Europe in school; highlights that students' support for cooperation among European countries was positively associated with higher levels of civic knowledge; deplores the increasing tension between the national and European level in some Member States’ curricula; warns against the politicisation of citizenship education and the ensuing shifts in the delivery of citizenship education following government changes;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned about the limited focus on European and global citizenship in national curricula; regrets citizenship education is unequally treated between and within member states and underlines the need to reduce the gaps currently existing, notably for rural, remote, mountain and social disadvantaged areas;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that sociopolitical and global changes will require an increase in the current level of citizenship education; is concerned about the imbalances in terms of average civic knowledge across and within Member States; notes that students living in rural areas face additional barriers when engaging with citizenship education programmes; affirms that that every single student must have access to high quality citizenship education; is concerned that male students score significantly below their female counterparts;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that sociopolitical and global changes will require an increase in the current level and quality of citizenship education; is concerned about the imbalances in terms of average civic knowledge across and within Member States;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that while some aspects of citizenship education are present in most national curricula, there are strong differences across Member States in terms of the education levels at which it is taught, total hours devoted to the subject, contents and methodologies; notes that only some Member States have structured assessments, objectives, pedagogical orientations or specific training for teachers; notes that even when these elements are present, there is a gap between the national programmes and its effective implementation in schools; recalls that initial and continuous teacher training must be a priority in the field of citizenship education; and in particular as regards to European and global citizenship education;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that while some aspects of citizenship education are present in most national curricula, there are strong differences across Member States; recalls that initial and continuous teacher and educators training must be a priority in the field of citizenship education; underlines the need to include this type of training modules in the Teacher’s academies program and insists of the need to provide adequate tools, methods, materials, in physical or digital format, for every teacher or educator across Europe;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights that the lack of solid research on how to teach and assess citizenship education in an effective manner and the lack of appropriate pedagogical instruments to this end, hinder the effective teaching of citizenship education; notes that some empirical evidence points towards a ‘whole school’ or ‘whole community’ approaches as having a positive impact on civic skills and attitudes;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Decries the lack of attention to citizenship education in initial vocational education and training; ; calls for the inclusion of citizenship education at all level of education, adapted to the specific characteristics and need, from early education to university and seniors education and learning;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Believes that it is never too early to learn about citizenship; notes that early childhood education plays an important role for the development of critical social and emotional skills and plants the seed for wellbeing, dialogue, mutual respect, understanding, and common values;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls the crucial pedagogical role of non-formal and informal learning, including youth work, volunteering and sport, in developing social and civic skills, competences and behaviours, and in shaping responsible and active European citizens; calls for a multi-stakeholder approach leading to the creation of specific Citizenship Education platforms of all relevant stakeholders – social partners, civil society, local authorities – and their involvement in the process of teaching and developing citizenship education;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that the political consensus at European level on the need to advance citizenship education and the teaching of common European values has not been translated into concrete objectives, targets, actions and benchmarks and regrets the rejection by the Commission of several pilot projects proposed by the European Parliament in this direction; concludes that citizenship education policies suffer from an implementation gap and calls upon the Commission to approve the pilot projects proposed by the European Parliament designed to strengthen citizenship education;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets that EU programmes have not been able to provide substantial and effective support for EU and global citizenship education; calls for the inclusion in the RRF and the educational programs financed with EU funds of specific targets related to citizenship education;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets that EU programmes such as Erasmus +, Horizon Europe, the European Solidarity Corps, the Rights & Values, or Creative Europe, among others, have not been able to provide substantial and effective support for EU and global citizenship education;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Affirms that on the basis of Articles 9, 10, 165 and 166 TEU, and the EU Charter for fundamental rights the EU has a primary responsibility to foster EU citizenship education as a way to ensure deeper knowledge among its citizens of the European project as a union of democratic states, thus guaranteeing its citizens the right to fully participate in political life and decision-making at EU level;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Highlights the will to encourage a European common identity through a common academic programme and to strongly integrate a European dimension in education as expressed by citizens in the context of the Conference of the Future of Europe, as well as the demand of European youth to include knowledge about the opportunities and benefits of Europe in curricula;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that some Member States acknowledge the positive influence of EU policy developments in fostering educational change in the area of citizenship education; underlines the need for extensive cooperation between Member States, local actors, educators and EU affairs experts in order to create synergies between practices and methods applied across Europe;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Draws attention to the awarding of the 2021 European Citizen’s prize to student´s debate initiatives; considers that in a climate of increasing polarisation, democratic debate is more important than ever; believes that fostering skills and competences for debate is an integral part of citizenship education;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12 d. Asks the Member States to enhance and broaden initial and ongoing, professional, and lifelong development opportunities for teachers, educators, families and the wider educational community to provide them with appropriate support and resources to teach citizenship education; stresses the need to promote and encourage multilingual and intercultural competences of educators, as well as mobility opportunities, peer-to-peer learning and exchanges of best practices among teaching staff;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)
Paragraph 12 f (new)
12 f. Urges the Commission to develop a common citizenship education competence framework for teachers and students for the Key competence active citizenship;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 g (new)
Paragraph 12 g (new)
12 g. Calls for the recognition and validation of citizenship competences acquired through non-formal and informal learning, including youth work, volunteering and for the strengthening of links between formal, non-formal and informal learning in citizenship education;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that in the post-ET 2020 cooperation framework, attention should be focused on developing curricula and national assessments in citizenship education that integrate all relevant aspects of the subject area in line with European Reference Framework for Democratic Culture of the Council of Europe and the European Reference Framework of Key Competences for Lifelong Learning, in particular with regards to Social and civic competences;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for a new Working Group focusing on citizenship education to be established to follow-up on the works of the ET 2020 Working Group on Promoting Common Values and Inclusive Education set up after the 2015 Paris declaration;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for the creation a specific European citizenship education action plan with concrete targets for 2025 and synergies with the European Education Area;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Underlines the important added values brought by the Jean Monnet chairs in promoting a better education about the European Union and calls for a permanent financing of existing and future chairs;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Underlines the need to extend the European Schools networks and existing promotional activies related to citizenship education or education about the EU;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Calls upon the Parliament to allocate more financial resources to its activities, tools and actions related to the promotion of citizenship education across all Member States and seek for their active deployment;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14 d. Underlines the importance of involving local, national and European medias in popularizing European culture and history and citizenship education and calls for the creation of further financing programs designed to support existing or new initiatives in the field on a permanent basis;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the need for a more structured approach towards the identification and dissemination of the results of citizenship education projects from EU programmes, notably Erasmus plus, Horizon Europe, Europe for Citizens and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme, Creative Europe and the European Solidarity corps in order to scale up results across the Union; considers to this end the need to establish a permanent review and analysis mechanism at EU level to identify good practices which can be disseminated and scaled-up widely to contribute to systemic and long-lasting policy changes;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the need for a more structured approach towards the identification and dissemination of the results of citizenship education projects from EU programmes and calls for the involvement of the European Parliament in the process;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the need to decisively advance the research on how to best teach and assess citizenship education, taking into account new systemic and contextual changes; underlines the importance to this end of KA2, KA3, Jean Monnet actions and Horizon Europe; welcomes the greater focus of KA2 to ‘common values, civic engagement and participation’ in the Erasmus + 2021-2027; asks for dedicated calls on citizenship education in all above mentioned actions and programmes;
Amendment 163 #
16 a. Underlines the need to invest more in education formats about the European Union at school and university level by strengthening existing networks and developing new curricula adapted for this type of training; calls for the involvement of specialized faculties in European affairs in researching and deploying best teaching methods and tools for citizenship education while using available EU funds and resources;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Believes it is important to disseminate further existing opportunities at EU level among the VET educational community, considers important to provide tailored support to facilitate access to the programmes; calls for the inclusion of a dedicated focus on citizenship education on all EU vocational education and training actions, in particular within the activities of the Centres of Vocational Excellence;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to include European citizenship learning modules and a visit programme to heritage and memory sites of historical significance for the Union and the host countries to promote an intercultural and dialogical approach to history and strengthen European values and principles as an integral part of any Erasmus + and European Solidarity Corps mobility opportunity;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls for the creation of European badges for schools and universities actively promoting citizenship education; calls for the creation of an European award supporting the educators and local actors actively promoting education about Europe;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Asks the Commission to assess the introduction of a new specific strand in Erasmus + and the Citizens, Equality, Rights& Values to foster citizenship education, with dedicated budgetary allocations;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Calls on the Commission to boost research to develop innovative pedagogical approaches for citizenship education in early years;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17 c. Calls on the Commission to make the most of the 2022 European Year of Youth to develop specific programmes and actions strengthening European citizenship and identity;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17 d. Highlights the role of the House of European History to advance the development, specific programmes, instruments and activities that build up a cogent narrative of European integration and its basic values, in particular for students and teachers at all levels of education; asks the Commission and the Parliament to assess modes to decentralise the House of European history in order to broaden accessibility, including from the Member States and in particular, the educational community, through among others, enhanced collaboration with Member States cultural institutions, itinerant exhibitions, and a network of permanent delegations;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for a comprehensive European strategy on European civic and citizenship education, as well as the creation of supporting platforms to promote its implementation, focusing notably on shared EU democratic values and principles; calls for the creation of an European agency or permanent structure in charge of creating synergies at European level on citizenship education, managing EU resources allocated in this direction and coordinating efforts on common methods, practices, tools and content;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Stresses that the strategy should include a lifelong learning and community perspective, involving the informal, non formal sectors, as well as business and NGOs, in particular those that receive EU funding, which should directly contribute to enhance the knowledge about the EU among participants and the communities in which they are inscribed;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for reinforced coordination and synergies across EU programmes to be reinforced in order to increase the systemic impact of citizenship education, inter alia, by introducing and providing a compulsory module on the EU citizenship in all training courses financed by the EU through structural funds and mobility programmes; believes that undertaking a modules in EU citizenship education should entail a certification through microcredentials;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for synergies between Member States and coordination across EU programmes to be reinforced in order to increase the systemic impact of citizenship education;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Encourages the Commission to promote learning about the EU at school in negotiation processes with candidate countries for EU membership;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Asks the Commission to propose a recommendation containing indicative primary and secondary school curricula on the EU and global civic education for its voluntary adoption by the Member States, in full respect of Treaty provisions; believes that said common demonstrative curricula should foster a better understanding of the existing EU institutions, the European electoral and decision-making processes, and the history and cultures of Member States and the common links between them, combining different pedagogical approaches and methods, including theoretical and project- based learning; calls for the creation of a network of specialized EU affairs experts developing common tools, methods and curricula that can be made available for their voluntary adoption by universities, in full respect of academic independence and Treaty provisions;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Asks the Commission to propose a recommendation containing indicative primary and secondary school curricula on the EU and global civic education for its voluntary adoption by the Member States, in full respect of Treaty provisions; in particular Article 165 TFEU, developed jointly with Member States’ experts, teachers, students, and the wider educational community, and accompanied by incentive measures for its uptake; believes that said common demonstrative curricula should foster a better understanding of the existing EU institutions, the European electoral and decision-making processes, and the history and cultures of Member States and the common links between them, combining different pedagogical approaches and methods, including theoretical and project- based learning;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the establishment of a new EU agency on citizenship education to improve accessibility to and the quality of citizenship education in all Member States and to support the development of a European dimension in citizenship education; considers that said Agency should be in charge of data collection, and of evaluating the impact of citizenship education actions financed by the Union, in view of upscaling those most successful and allowing the Commission to identify tested initiatives in order to propose legislative acts in this field;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls forReiterates the call of the Parliament and the recommendations of the citizens panel and of the online platform of the Conference on the Future of Europe for rapid the establishment of a new specific EU agency on citizenship education to improve accessibility to and the quality of citizenship education in all Member States and to support the development of a European dimension in citizenship education for all ages;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Believes that it is urgent to kick- start work in this direction by introducing a feasibility action focused on data collection and evaluation of the impact of citizenship education actions; considers that in the mid-term, such an Agency should operate on a model of shared governance, allowing for the direct contribution of Member States, the European Parliament, students and the wider educational community in order to ensure a wider expertise and ownership of its activities;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Praises the Ambassadors schools programme and the Euroscola initiative; calls for the introduction of certification and recognition of the skills and competences obtained by participants, for students and teachers alike; considers it a best practice that deserves to be scaled up to achieve a systemic effect across the Union; believes that in the long run it could be jointly managed by the EU Agency on citizenship education and the European Parliament; asks in this regard for a dedicated and enhanced budget line;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers the Conference on the Future of Europe a timely opportunity to hold a multilevel discussion on policy development in the area of education and culture; believes that shared competences in the field of education should be introduced, while the exercise of that competence by the EU shall not result in Member States being prevented from exercising theirs; calls on the Member States and the Commission to embrace and take forward the concluding reports of the Conference’s Working Group on Education, Culture, Youth and Sport;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers the Conference on the Future of Europe a timely opportunity to hold a multilevel discussion on policy development in the area of education, youth and culture; calls on the Member States and the Commission to embrace and take forward the concluding reports of the Conference’s Working Group on Education, Culture, Youth and Sport;