Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12149 | 27 January 2010

Expediency of use of common manuals in the European educational network

Signatories: Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan, ALDE ; Mr Igor CHERNYSHENKO, Russian Federation, EDG ; Lord David CHIDGEY, United Kingdom ; Mr Mike HANCOCK, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Mladen IVANIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPP/CD ; Mr Jan KAŹMIERCZAK, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Haluk KOÇ, Turkey, SOC ; Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Ms Lilja MÓSESDÓTTIR, Iceland, UEL ; Ms Christine MUTTONEN, Austria, SOC ; Mr Ivan POPESCU, Ukraine, SOC ; Mr Lluís Maria de PUIG i OLIVE, Spain, SOC ; Mr Amadeu ROSSELL TARRADELLAS, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Jadwiga ROTNICKA, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Valeriy SUDARENKOV, Russian Federation, SOC ; Mr Mehmet TEKELİOĞLU, Turkey, EPP/CD ; Mr Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ, Turkey, EDG ; Ms Özlem TÜRKÖNE, Turkey, EPP/CD ; Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Education is one of the most appropriate means for strengthening current and future integration between European peoples.

The use of common manuals on a number of major subjects in European countries would both ensure better integration of Europe’s educational systems and effectively enhance European peoples’ recognition of each other and their unity with respect to intellectual and moral qualities.

The history, literature and culture of European countries are taught in secondary and high schools in European countries. As these manuals are prepared on the basis of individual conceptions and approaches, the knowledge delivered by one European country to its young generation is distinguished by many details from one or other European country. The pages that present an interest for the history of one European people in the context of common European development may be unknown to the pupils of another European country, or the classics that left an irreplaceable mark on the history of literature and art of specific European countries are not made known to others.

One of the major dimensions in the manuals envisaged for the common European space should consist of directing attention to accepting as a background the moments which bring European peoples together.

The Council of Europe is able to act as a most respected co-ordinator in this direction among Council of Europe member states.

The following are recommended to implement this idea:

to instruct the appropriate Committee of the Assembly to investigate the problem in detail and define the conceptions for common manuals;

to arrange through the Parliamentary Assembly of a special colloquy attended by well-known experts of member states;

to work properly with member states in areas within the powers of the Council of Europe.