During the Hungarian EU Presidency, Hungary wants to initiate debate on what kind of knowledge and educational need Europe will be facing in the future.
The main topic at the informal EU ministerial meeting on education in Budapest in March therefore focused on the member countries´ commitment to an active citizenship education, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills.
State Secretary Lisbet Rugtvedt from the Ministry of Education and Research attended from the Norwegian side.
Informal EU meeting on education in Gödöllö/Budapest. Fotó: c 2011, András Kovács / www.eu2011.hu / MFA.GOV.HU Acting as the chair of the meeting, Minister for Education in Hungary, Rózsa Hoffmann pointed out that the purpose of a citizenship education is to teach students to think and participate in economic, political, social and cultural life.
The focus on active citizenship is especially timely in the light of the strategic objectives of the EU2020 strategy, and the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Supporting Active Citizenship.
The chosen issue was also acknowledged by the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Ms. Androulla Vassiliou.
– The crisis made it clear that we need citizens who can solve their own problems. Our educational and training systems must be better adapted to the needs of society. This is why I am glad that the Hungarian Presidency selected this issue, said the Commissioner.
The two day sessions addressed interrelated topics in relation to active citizenship where each delegation had three minutes (per session) to exchange relevant experience and future possibilities.