Educating in citizenship” “

Twelve months’ “full immersion” to bring the national and European institutions closer to citizens and to revive participative democracy: that is the objective set by the Council of Europe (based in Strasbourg, 46 member states, 800 million inhabitants) in proclaiming 2005 “European Year of citizenship through education”. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio , the Council’s deputy general secretary, has explained the aims and intentions of the year in a conversation with Gianni Borsa, SIR correspondent for European affairs. What are the reasons that led the Council of Europe to make this decision? “Democracy does not only consist of laws and institutions: it is active, attentive and critical citizens who become the guarantors of the vitality and solidity of democracy. Democratic citizenship is learnt, from the earliest age, within the family, at school, in sports or recreational associations, or through the mass media… Education in citizenship, above all, is not something that can be improvised, nor can it be limited to a course in ‘civic education’. It is through the example of a school that is itself democratic, thanks to teachers who are active citizens and to interactive and involving teaching methods, that the value of citizenship is transmitted. The Council of Europe has launched this European Year to propagate these ideas, mobilise educators and encourage the public authorities to pass from words to action”. Democracy, rule of law, defence of human rights: are these principles at risk in Europe today? What are the countries that present the biggest problems? “I don’t want to compile a league table. Democracy and human rights need appropriate legal systems and institutions, but they also need a deeply rooted culture of democracy and respect for others. The Council of Europe is working on these two fronts, bearing in mind the evolution of these ideas in our society. For example, the Council is helping its member states to provide themselves with mechanisms for the protection of minorities, based on international conventions”. Problems of racism and xenophobia are not lacking… “We are very conscious that acts of racism or intolerance, and the exclusion of or discrimination against minorities still exist in many countries: it is enough to cite the world of work. A decade ago the Council of Europe organized a campaign against racism, called ‘Everyone different, everyone equal’ and is continuing its programmes of education in human rights. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), one of the concrete results of this campaign, is closely monitoring the situation inside the member countries”. Many citizens say they are pro-European. Yet in the last elections to the European Parliament voter turnout was low: why? “Electoral absenteeism is a complex phenomenon and deserves a response that goes beyond mere electoral data. It is certain that the more citizens are ignorant of the daily work of the men and women who present themselves at the elections, the lower the voter turnout is. Voter percentages are higher for municipal than for European elections. Citizens need to understand what’s at stake, be sure that their vote counts, and feel close to and involved in political life. The effort to show and explain how national and European MPs work, how their decisions change the way we live, is absolutely crucial. A certain mistrust of politicians has in fact been created and few people realise that genuinely democratic elections do not exist in a large part of the world. Parliamentary democracy has become fundamental for us yet many of us don’t realise that it needs to be constantly protected and enriched”. What needs to be done in this direction? “A democratic society must provide occasions for participative democracy: it must enable citizens to enjoy their own rights but also assume their responsibilities. The main challenge is ensuring that the institutions are close to and communicate with all Europeans. The Council of Europe is working to bring home to people the advantages but also the weaknesses of our democratic systems and to propose reforms that may restore vigour to the role of citizens”. What was said at the Sofia Conference that inaugurated the European Year? “The Conference, held in December 2004 with 150 delegates involved in the educational sector, formulated an action programme: materials and aids were prepared for campaigns to raise awareness of democracy in youth environments”.