The Observatory on History Teaching in Europe

Recommendation 2224 (2022)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 27 January 2022 (8th sitting) (see Doc. 15423, report of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, rapporteur: Mr Bertrand Bouyx). Text adopted by the Assembly on 27 January 2022 (8th sitting).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly, referring to its Resolution 2426 (2022) “The Observatory on History Teaching in Europe”, believes that history education is key to strengthening young people’s competences to be fully part of and adhere to democratic culture. Historical knowledge and a critical understanding of political, social, cultural and economic systems and their interaction are the basis for a more nuanced and mutually respectful debate, and for a deeper understanding of the past and present, thus preparing young people for taking an active part in democratic life.

2. The Assembly welcomes the decision of the Committee of Ministers to establish the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe, thus giving a timely impetus to its long-standing intergovernmental programme on history education. In light of this very positive momentum, the Assembly considers that it is important to define in more detail how the activities of the observatory would tie in with the ongoing work of the Council of Europe on history education (involving its 47 member States), so that their respective activities are mutually reinforcing.

3. The Assembly emphasises that the Council of Europe’s “Quality history education in the 21st century – Principles and guidelines” and “Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture” are excellent guidance tools that should be further promoted and broadly implemented in member States.

4. In this context, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

4.1 provide adequate financial support for the activities of the Council of Europe Education Department concerning history education to ensure good synergy with the activities of the observatory and the long-term viability of the intergovernmental programme;

4.2 provide assistance to member States in reviewing their education policies and also in integrating the Council of Europe’s “Quality history education in the 21st century – Principles and guidelines” and “Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture”;

4.3 develop co-operation with the European Union, UNESCO and other relevant international organisations within the framework of the activities of the observatory;

4.4 encourage co-operation between European professional associations and institutes active in history education, making full use of the co-ordination platform provided by the observatory;

4.5 invite those States Parties to the European Cultural Convention (ETS No. 18) which have not yet become members of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe to do so.