Tibor Navracsics, Member of the Commission.
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Madam President, the
Commission wholeheartedly welcomes the report on the role of intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EU fundamental values. I would like to congratulate the rapporteur Ms Ward on the excellent result of her work. The terrible terrorist attacks in France and elsewhere in
Europe remind us yet again of the importance of building cohesive societies, where everyone can feel safe and valued irrespective of one’s conviction or background.
The richness of the social, linguistic and cultural diversity that the EU represents is indeed held together, as the report says, by the fundamental values that we share: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Continuous efforts to promote multiculturalism, integration and social cohesion are needed to guarantee a
Union in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality prevail.
The Commission welcomes the strong emphasis of the report on the role of intercultural dialogue and education, which helps learners to show an open

mind and be active, responsible citizens equipped with a critical mind and committed to our common fundamental values. This is precisely the point of the Paris Declaration which the Education Ministers and myself endorsed in
March last year. To follow up on this declaration with concrete actions is a key priority for me. Preventing violent radicalisation by promoting an inclusive society and democratic values is firmly embedded in the European
Security Agenda, which recognises the key role of education, youth work and intercultural dialogue in this context.
We will also follow up on the European Council’s call to address the factors underlying radicalisation. Such a complex phenomenon cannot be handled in a simplistic manner. Quick fixes and spectacular announcements will not do.
We need deeper changes in the social fabric of our societies that can only be achieved through longer-term actions, particularly through formal and non-formal learning.
The Ward report identifies several very relevant areas for action: the need for civic education to start from an early age, the creation of common education platforms, the development of quality training programmes promoting diversity, the provision of counselling services at schools, the

need to provide teachers with multilingual and intercultural skills, and the creation of rights-based and gender-sensitive learning environments.
Important steps have, in the meantime, already been taken. Firstly, the
Education Ministers have agreed to anchor the objectives of the Paris
Declaration firmly in the current priorities for European cooperation in the field of education and training. Secondly, we will also use the Erasmus+ programme to its full, in order to put the Paris Declaration into action.
Projects linked to equity, inclusion and non-discrimination will be substantially reinforced. In 2016, EUR 400 million will be spent on transnational projects which will enhance, amongst others, the education of disadvantaged learners and promote the integration of newly arrived migrants. In addition, a specific call will soon be released with a budget of
EUR 13 million to disseminate good practices in the field of inclusion, antiradicalisation and integration of migrants.
The report also rightly emphasises the importance of intercultural dialogue in promoting fundamental values. The Commission Work Programme for
2016 stresses the importance for the EU to take advantage of opportunities to advance its values, as well as European history and culture. In line with

this idea, I, together with High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini, am currently working on measures to further cultural diplomacy, in particular to enhance intercultural understanding through direct people-to-people contacts and civil society relationships. Again, this is fully in line with the report in front of us, which calls on the EU to include culture and cultural exchanges and to enhance education in EU external relations. Generally speaking, promoting intercultural dialogue, cultural awareness and cultural expression are high up on our working agenda with the Member States and they will be discussed at the European Culture Forum, which will take place in Brussels on 19 and 20 April.
I greatly appreciate the commitment of Parliament to stand behind this important agenda of enhancing fundamental values through culture and education. I am looking forward to working with you on these issues. We have no time to lose and we need to join forces to take concrete action now.