Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13900 | 02 October 2015

The promotion of social competencies through education for a more cohesive society

Signatories: Mr Thomas FEIST, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Pedro AGRAMUNT, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Jim D'ARCY, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Mr Namik DOKLE, Albania, SOC ; Mr Axel E. FISCHER, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Hans FRANKEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Sir Roger GALE, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Adele GAMBARO, Italy, ALDE ; Mr Francesco Maria GIRO, Italy, EPP/CD ; Ms Annette GROTH, Germany, UEL ; Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Ms Rózsa HOFFMANN, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan, ALDE ; Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC ; Ms Lotta JOHNSSON FORNARVE, Sweden, UEL ; Mr Ertuğrul KÜRKÇÜ, Turkey, UEL ; Ms Inese LAIZĀNE, Latvia, EC ; Sir Edward LEIGH, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Michele NICOLETTI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Johan NISSINEN, Sweden, NR ; Ms Kerstin RADOMSKI, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Ms Elisabeth SCHNEIDER-SCHNEITER, Switzerland, EPP/CD ; Mr Piotr WACH, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Sinuhe WALLINHEIMO, Finland, EPP/CD ; Ms Gisela WURM, Austria, SOC

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

Europeans are faced today with major societal challenges stemming inter alia from cultural diversity, industrial changes, demographic developments and strongly increased global migration. Those challenges must not lead to societal rifts and the creation of parallel societies in Europe; they must not threaten the process of European co-operation and integration.

The mental or moral development of people and greater societal cohesion depend largely on social competencies rather than mere knowledge or material support. Humanity, tolerance and openness are vital for all people in Europe, in order to resist cultural exclusion and violence.

In this context, several countries have had good experiences by educational programmes for culture, music and the arts, especially with young people, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, disadvantaged people as well as people with disabilities. Those examples should inspire policies throughout Europe.

The intensity of the current challenges requires that the Parliamentary Assembly revisit its past work on cultural education, raise awareness among politicians and educators, and call on national parliaments and governments to strengthen their action in this area in order to prevent a fragmentation and dehumanisation of our societies.