European Trade Union Committee for Education

Today, on 5 November 2014, European sectoral social partners in education ETUCE and EFEE, and European cross-sectoral social partners (ETUC, BusinessEurope, UAEPME, CEEP) discussed with the Education Committee of the Council of the European Union on the economic case for education and training in the context of the mid-term revision of the EU2020 Strategy. The social partners and the representatives of the ministries of education welcomed the initiative of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union of inviting the European-level social partner organisations to explain their views on investing in education.

ETUCE, which represents 14 million teachers and trainers in 48 countries of Europe, underlined that quality education, which leads to quality life and employability, is not possible without sustainable investment to education.  Also in our Message to the EU institutions on Investing in Education, our positions on the European Semester 2014-2015 and on the EU2020 Strategy, we highlighted that:

'It is not acceptable that several member states cut on their education budgets endangering the future of our children and contributing to increase the rate of low-skilled people in Europe.'

Efficient and effective resources invested in education should focus on the development of the key competences and basic skills of the students and learners, mostly on the competence of "learning to learn".

Commenting on the event, Martin Rømer, ETUCE European Director stated: 'The role played by the teachers, whose priority is the success of students in the personal and work life, is essential factor in achieving the goals of the EU2020 and ET2020 objectives. The new objectives of these European strategies should put special attention to the individuals in Europe, on the low-skilled and on teachers' professional development.'

To achieve quality education as the objective of EU2020 and ET2020 cannot happen without the involvement of the social partners in all levels.  It is essential to enhance social dialogue in all fields of the education and training policy to this aim at all levels.