Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 13341 | 21 October 2013

Towards a European framework of competences for democratic citizenship, human rights and intercultural dialogue

Signatories: Mr Gérard TERRIER, France, SOC ; Mr Volodymyr ARIEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Josep Anton BARDINA PAU, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Maryvonne BLONDIN, France, SOC ; Mr Michael CONNARTY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Paolo CORSINI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Carlos COSTA NEVES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Milena DAMYANOVA, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Ms Ismeta DERVOZ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPP/CD ; - Alexander [The Earl of] DUNDEE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Gvozden Srećko FLEGO, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Hans FRANKEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Jan KAŹMIERCZAK, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Pierre-Yves LE BORGN', France, SOC ; Mr Jean-Yves LE DÉAUT, France, SOC ; Ms Vesna MARJANOVIĆ, Serbia, SOC ; Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Nicos NICOLAIDES, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Carmen QUINTANILLA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Robert SHLEGEL, Russian Federation, EDG ; Mr Spyridon TALIADOUROS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Mr Ahmet Kutalmiş TÜRKEŞ, Turkey, EDG

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

Democratic citizenship, respect for human rights and intercultural dialogue are the backbone of modern societies. The competences required to practice citizenship and to act towards the protection of human rights, as well as to strengthen intercultural dialogue are acquired competences. They have to be nurtured from an early age and throughout one’s life. They also have to be evaluated against a set of competence descriptors, which are developed through concerted actions at European level.

The current assessment of competences in this area should be reviewed. A thorough reflection is needed on whether the educational provision contributes to greater intercultural understanding, improved democratic participation and respect for human rights standards. Measuring achievements in this area will help educators and policy makers identify areas where more work is needed.

Therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly asks the Committee of Ministers to study the possibility to develop a European framework of competences, which will provide competence descriptors and an evaluation methodology, and, possibly, pan-European programmes in this area to support its implementation.