Pilot project on European Schools Alliances and its contribution to citizenship education, democratic competences and European values
TA-10-2026-0338 · P10_TA(2026)0338 · PE796.326
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 443–98–47 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2026/2713
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Parliament's resolution welcomes the Commission's forthcoming pilot on European Schools Alliances, run under the Erasmus+ 2026 work programme, as a chance to strengthen school cooperation across the EU.¶ It says the pilot should combine better educational outcomes, basic skills, innovation, mobility, social inclusion, democratic resilience and preparation for future skills needs.¶ It calls for citizenship education, democratic competences, media literacy, critical thinking and knowledge of the EU to be integral parts of the pilot, with inclusive participation and less administrative burden for schools.¶¶¶ It asks for accessible pupil and teacher mobility, lessons from the European Universities Alliances, synergies with EU funding programmes, and clear monitoring and evaluation criteria.¶¶¶ It stresses that the pilot must respect Member State competences, involve national and regional authorities and schools, promote balanced partnerships, and keep Parliament regularly informed.¶¶¶
Key points
- Parliament welcomes the Commission's forthcoming pilot on European Schools Alliances, rolled out under the Erasmus+ annual work programme in 2026, as an opportunity to strengthen school education cooperation across the EU.¶
- It says the initiative should pursue a balanced set of objectives: educational outcomes, basic skills, innovation in teaching and learning, mobility, social inclusion, democratic resilience and preparation for future skills needs.¶
- It calls on the Commission to make citizenship education, democratic competences, media literacy, critical thinking and knowledge of the EU and its values integral to the pilot, including participatory and experiential learning.¶
- It demands genuinely inclusive participation, with targeted measures and tailored support for schools in disadvantaged or low-capacity contexts and learners with fewer opportunities, and inclusion of vocational education and training and specialised schools such as sport or art.¶
- It asks the Commission to minimise administrative burdens for participating schools through proportionate reporting, simplified procedures and clear guidance for schools, school authorities and local actors.¶
- It encourages the pilot to support accessible and inclusive pupil and teacher mobility through group exchanges, collaborative teaching, peer learning, digital cooperation and exchange of teaching practices, in line with the 'Europe on the Move' objectives.¶
- It says the pilot's design should draw on lessons from the European Universities Alliances on governance, stakeholder engagement, transparency, communication and long-term sustainability, while recognising the specific nature of school education.¶
- It invites the Commission and Member States to promote synergies between the pilot and existing EU funding programmes and initiatives such as Erasmus+, national and regional partnership plans, the European Social Fund Plus and the Youth Guarantee.¶
- It calls for clear monitoring and evaluation criteria from the outset, covering participation, inclusion, learning outcomes, mobility uptake, administrative efficiency and impact on basic skill levels including civic competences.¶
- It stresses that European cooperation in school education should complement national systems while fully respecting Member State competences in education.¶
- It says the pilot's design and implementation should involve close cooperation with Member States, national and regional authorities, schools, teachers and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and ownership by beneficiaries.¶
- It encourages geographically and territorially balanced partnerships, including schools from diverse regions and socio-economic contexts, with targeted outreach for less represented or lower-capacity areas, and requests that Parliament be regularly informed during preparation and implementation.¶¶
Who is affected
- Schools across the EU, especially those in disadvantaged, low-capacity, rural, remote, border, island and outermost regions, which should receive support to take part.¶¶¶
- Learners with fewer opportunities, who should benefit fully from European education initiatives and mobility.¶
- Teachers and school authorities, who should get clear guidance, simplified procedures and opportunities for mobility and collaborative teaching.¶¶¶
- Member States and their national and regional authorities, whose competences in education must be respected and who should cooperate on the pilot.¶
- The Commission, which is asked to design and run the pilot with inclusive participation, less bureaucracy, synergies with EU funds and clear evaluation criteria.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- At least 20 % of learners benefiting from learning mobility abroad should be people with fewer opportunities by 2027, under the Council Recommendation 'Europe on the Move'.¶
- Only 42 % of 16–30-year-olds understand a great deal or a fair amount about the EU, according to Eurobarometer surveys.¶
- Only 30 % of 16–30-year-olds feel they have a say over decisions affecting the EU, according to Eurobarometer surveys.
Legal basis: Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶