Welcome

Welcome to Speak Out! on European citizenship, brought to you by the Institute for Citizenship. This education project aims to develop the notion of a diverse and inclusive European citizenship by bringing together students from across Europe discussion and debate.

The Institute for Citizenship aims to help impart the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary for citizens to play an effective role in society at local, national and international levels. It helps students to become informed, thoughtful and responsible members of their societies.

You can join the Discussion on European citizenship here on the web in our special Speak Out! on European citizenship discussion forum. Anybody is free to join in the discussion and share their views with students from around Europe.

Speak Out! on European citizenship is endorsed by Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe:

"As the chief executive of the oldest European political organisation, the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, I heartily welcome the "Speak Out! on European citizenship" initiative, for three reasons:

• The debate on the enlargement of the European Union is linked to the fact that Europe, as a community of history and culture, extends well beyond the borders of the Union, indeed to the 44 member states of the Council of Europe and the 48 of the Cultural Convention.
• The cornerstones of the European constitution must be the practice of democracy and the respect and promotion of human rights, expressed in particular in the European Convention on Human Rights, a key instrument of our Organisation.
• Democracy should be a living process of debate, in which we learn from each other before deciding. The Internet offers exciting possibilities of enriching democratic debate across national and cultural borders, and young people must lead the way in exploring them.

"I warmly encourage young people from all parts of Europe, and their teachers, to contribute to this project."

Walter Schwimmer
Secretary General of the Council of Europe

This website is endorsed by De@fchild International

Speak Out! is supported by the UK Office of the European Parliament

Speak Out! on European citizenship provides a forum where young people can share their views and opinions, whatever they are, on issues that matter to them. Speak Out! on European citizenship is a strictly non-partisan project. It does not propose to take a stand in the pro/anti debate around the EU. The views of participants are, of course, their own and do not necessarily represent the view of the Institute for Citizenship or its sponsors.