Background for the Campaign :
50 years after the Treaty of Rome (1957-2007), the reflection on how Europe should move forward together is a main concern on the European agenda. The recent agreement reached by the European Heads of State and Government on the new EU Reform Treaty – in place of the abandoned European Constitution - has revived the debate and captivated the public attention on the future of the European Union. A new Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) has been convened by the Portuguese Presidency of the Union with a mandate to prepare the text of the new Treaty, to be finalised before the end of 2007, and ratified before the next European elections in 2009.
The Laeken Declaration from 2001 remains outstandingly valid today, as one of its three basic challenges set out was to bring citizens closer to the European design and institutions. European civil society and social partners should be listened to in the upcoming IGC negotiations as a matter of course, and will play an important role in the forthcoming debates during the process of ratifying the new Treaty. In this context, ETUCE highlights that teachers and teacher unions play a key role in the development of educational and social policies at EU level and in the protection of the European Social Model. Teachers are bearers of culture in Europe and thus crucial actors to embed the European dimension in education, including the promotion of European common values and active citizenship.
Teacher union organisations can contribute with a clear vision on the concrete advancements necessary to achieve a better and more social Europe. In order to fully participate in the opened debate on the future of the EU, the EIE and ETUCE decided to start a campaign called “Teachers for a Social Europe”, so as to enhance its member organisations’ understanding of the functioning of the European Union, of its basic values and results achieved trough the European integration, prior to opening a debate between trade union representatives.
Purpose of the Campaign:
The Campaign aims to engender a debate amongst the EIE and ETUCE member organisations on their views on the impact of the EU policies at national level, the future of the EU and the role of teachers as key actors to embed the European dimension in education.
A special issue of the ETUCE Newsletter will be published in September, presenting the point of views of six of our member organisation from six different EU countries on topics mentioned above. These articles will not only contribute to engage unions in the debate at national level, but will also serve as a starting point to launch the debate at EU level.
The debate will be further conducted via the organisation of a Conference, taking place later this year. Teacher unions’ representatives from all over Europe will meet to discuss and determine what the EU’s teachers aspire for in the future.
Prior to the Conference, a special Magazine “Teachers for a Social Europe” will be elaborated in order to facilitate the debates, containing comprehensive information about the various topics of the Campaign :
•
the European Social Model
•the social dimension of the new Treaty
•the social dimension of education in the Education and Training 2010 process
•the European Commission’s new Social Policy Agenda (2006-2010)
•EU enlargement and solidarity
It is our sincere hope that this campaign will highlight the importance of the teaching profession in the EU and for the future of the EU. We also look forward to obtain an important input and involvement from our Member Organisations. ETUCE believes that the campaign – by reinforcing the teachers’ voice in Europe – will strengthen the dialogue between the European Union and its citizens.
For further information, please consult the following documents :
For further information on the Social Europe, check on the ETUC website :
NEW :
The Campaign Magazine, available in English, French, German and Spanish, contains several interviews with trade union representatives taking position on Social Europe and the future of the EU, as well as comprehensive information about the various topics of the Campaign:
* The European Social Model
* The social dimension of the new Treaty
* The social dimension of education in the Education and Training 2010 process
* The European Commissions' new Social Policy Agenda (2006-2010)
* EU enlargement and solidarity
The special edition of the ETUCE Newsletter, dedicated to the Campaign is available in English and French, presents articles written by seven teacher trade unions, members of ETUCE and EIE, presenting the views of the national ffiliates on the values and accomplishements of the EU.
The national teacher unions have considered the following four issues related to the theme of the Campaign:
* the impact of European Union policies on their societies, including the EU added value to education
* the role of education in the European Social Model
* the future of the EU, including analysis of the current constitutional crisis and the new EU Treaty
* the role of teachers as transmitters of culture in Europe, including the promotion of Active European Citizenship
Download the Special Edition of the "ETUCE Newsletter"... in English
