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Tracing the Roots: The Origins and Evolution of European Union Education Policy

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Education and Public Policy in the European Union

Abstract

Although ideas for a European space for education were shunned during the early stages of European integration to concentrate on a predominantly economic mission, education maintained a presence during the integration process. However, its development into a European Union policy area has followed a long and circuitous path. The aim of this chapter is to trace the development of activities in the field of education within the narrative on European integration and to highlight key events in its evolution into a recognised field of European Union policy. The chapter seeks to provide an overview of formal activities constituting an education policy in order to contextualise the chapters to follow, which shed light on activities relating to education and training that emerged in other fields of policy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Lord Briggs of Lewes states in his foreword that Neave’s study constitutes: ‘The first printed record of the educational interests and activities of the European Community [...]. It is more than a work of reference, however, for it explains as far as possible why as well as how the Community has become involved in education’.

  2. 2.

    Initiated in 1999, the Bologna Process is an intergovernmental process which facilitates the mutual recognition of diplomas in higher education across 48 countries, COM (2017 673, 14.11.2017).

  3. 3.

    Corbett suggests that Kingdon challenges the idea of rational policy processes, by defining the stages of agenda setting, decision-making and implementation. Kingdon’s most well-known work Agendas, alternatives and public policy (1984) presents a policymaking model in the agenda-setting phase whereby ideas advance due to linkages between the three processes (Corbett 2005).

  4. 4.

    After exploring the holdings available at the HAEU, the collections consulted from the EU institutions were those of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM); the Council of EEC and EURATOM ministers—1958–1974; the Communauté économique européenne/Communauté européenne de l’énergie atomique (CEE/CEEA) commissions—Collections BAC of the European Commission; and the Economic and Social Committee, 1958–1977. From corporate bodies, the relevant collections are those of the European University Institute, including the Convention and the establishment; the Assembly of Western European Union, including the Proceedings of the Assembly of Western European Union, Sessions 1957–1962, Sessions 1963–1967, Sessions 1968–1973 and Sessions 1974–1979; the Association européenne des enseignants (from 1956) (European Teachers Association); the Centre international de formation européenne (from 1938) (International Centre for European Training); the European Movement (from 1940); the European Federalist Movement (from 1945); and the European Union of Federalists (from 1946).

  5. 5.

    The Vital Question, proceedings from the Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME421, HAEU (1948).

  6. 6.

    Speech of Dr Henri Brugmans, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME421, HAEU (1948).

  7. 7.

    Speech of M. Carandini for the Congress of Europe at The Hague, plenary session II. ME421, HAEU (1948).

  8. 8.

    Message de M. De Gasperi, European Cultural Conference, ME534, HAEU (1949).

  9. 9.

    Message from M. Paul Van Zeeland, European Cultural Conference, ME534, HAEU (1949).

  10. 10.

    General Report of the European Cultural Conference, ME531, HAEU (1949).

  11. 11.

    De Rougement: Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  12. 12.

    Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  13. 13.

    Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  14. 14.

    Congrès de Lausanne, Préparation à la conférence Européenne de la culture, Proposals for a European Education by Prof. Anne Siemen, Hamburg, ME540, HAEU (1949).

  15. 15.

    Congrès de Lausanne, Préparation à la conférence Européenne de la culture, Lausanne, Proposals for a European Education by Prof. Anne Siemen, Hamburg, ME540, HAEU (1949).

  16. 16.

    Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1949).

  17. 17.

    Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1949).

  18. 18.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531, HAEU (1949).

  19. 19.

    Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  20. 20.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531, HAEU (1949).

  21. 21.

    Speech of F. Casandey, ME538 (1949).

  22. 22.

    Suggestions brought to the European Cultural Conference by the French Cultural Committee for a United Europe, ME540 (1949).

  23. 23.

    Pour une histoire de l’Europe par le Prof. Falco de la délégation italienne, Congrès de Lausanne, ME540, HAEU (1949).

  24. 24.

    Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  25. 25.

    Resolutions – Committee on Exchanges, Congrès de Lausanne, ME537, HAEU (1949).

  26. 26.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531, HAEU (1949).

  27. 27.

    Note sur les échanges culturels européens, Congrès de Lausanne, ME537, HAEU (1949).

  28. 28.

    Rapport sur les rencontres Franco-Allemandes, Initiatives concernant la jeunesse proposées au Mouvement Européen avant la création de la Campagne Européenne de la Jeunesse, ME162, HAEU (1949).

  29. 29.

    Congress of Europe at The Hague, Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  30. 30.

    Préparation à la conférence Européenne de la culture, Proposals for a European Education by Prof. Anne Siemen, European Cultural Conference, ME540, HAEU (1949).

  31. 31.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531, HAEU (1949).

  32. 32.

    Présentation du Rapport Générale par Denis de Rougement, Congrès de Lausanne, ME538, HAEU (1949).

  33. 33.

    Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  34. 34.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531, HAEU (1949).

  35. 35.

    Verbatim Report, I Plenary Session, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  36. 36.

    Resolutions of the Committee of Institutions, Congrès de Lausanne, ME536, HAEU (1949).

  37. 37.

    Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  38. 38.

    Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  39. 39.

    Verbatim Report, IV Cultural Committee, Congress of Europe at The Hague, ME2945, HAEU (1948).

  40. 40.

    Speech of Salvador de Madariaga, Congrès de Lausanne, ME538, HAEU (1949).

  41. 41.

    Speech of Salvador de Madariaga, Congrès de Lausanne, ME538, HAEU (1949).

  42. 42.

    Speech of Salvador de Madariaga, Congrès de Lausanne, ME538, HAEU, 1949).

  43. 43.

    Commission des institutions – Projet sur l’institution permanente du Collège d’ Europe, Congrès de Lausanne, ME536, HAEU, 1949.

  44. 44.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531, HAEU, 1949.

  45. 45.

    Resolutions of the Committee of Institutions, Congrès de Lausanne, ME536, HAEU (1949).

  46. 46.

    Resolutions of the Committee of Institutions, Congrès de Lausanne, ME536, HAEU (1949).

  47. 47.

    General Report, Congrès de Lausanne, ME531. HAEU (1949).

  48. 48.

    Resolutions of the Committee of Institutions, Congrès de Lausanne, ME536, HAEU (1949).

  49. 49.

    Bureau européen de l’éducation populaire, Créations et activités du Bureau Européen de l’éducation populaire, ME1371, HAEU (1954).

  50. 50.

    Projet du statuts, Créations et activités du Bureau Européen de l’éducation populaire, ME1371, HAEU (1954).

  51. 51.

    Bureau européen de l’éducation populaire, Créations et activités du Bureau Européen de l’éducation populaire, ME1371, HAEU (1954).

  52. 52.

    Resolutions of the Committee of Institutions, Congrès de Lausanne, ME536, HAEU, 1949.

  53. 53.

    Bureau européen de l’éducation populaire, Créations et activités du Bureau Européen de l’éducation populaire, ME1371, HAEU (1954).

  54. 54.

    Avant-projet de communiqué pour l’académie, Académie d’Europe Note 1, ME456, HAEU (1949).

  55. 55.

    Liste provisoire de membres de l’académie européenne, Académie d’Europe Note 1, ME456, HAEU (1949).

  56. 56.

    Projet de création d’une académie d’Europe, Académie d’Europe Note 1, ME456, HAEU (1949).

  57. 57.

    Treaty of Rome, article 3c.

  58. 58.

    Education in the European Community, Commission of the European Communities, doc. COM(74) 253 final/2, Brussels, 14 March 1974 (CES,/1974-20.63.01, HAEU).

  59. 59.

    Opinion of the Section for Social Questions on the Education of the European Community, Economic and Social Committee, dossier 71/SOC, doc. CES367/75 fin pk, Brussels, 17 April 1975 (CES/1974-60.23.04, HAEU).

  60. 60.

    Janne, H (1973), For a Community policy on education, Bulletin of the European Communities, Supplement 10/73.

  61. 61.

    Opinion of the Section for Social Questions on the Education of the European Community, Economic and Social Committee, dossier 71/SOC, doc. CES367/75 fin pk, Brussels, 17 April 1975 (CES/1974-60.23.04, HAEU).

  62. 62.

    European Convention on the equivalence of diplomas leading to admission to universities, 11 December 1953, Documents of Henri Cartan (HC-64, HAEU).

  63. 63.

    Rapporteur: M. Hougardy, Assemblée parlementaire européenne et Parlement européen avant l’élection directe, 18 August 1969 (PEO-1021, HAEU).

  64. 64.

    Action Programme in favour of migrant workers and their families, COM(74) 2250, 14 December 1974 (European Communities).

  65. 65.

    Council Resolution of 21 January 1974 concerning a Social Action Programme, Official Journal C 013, 12/02/1974, pp. 0001–0004.

  66. 66.

    Resolution of the Council and of the Ministers of Education, meeting within the Council of 9 February 1976 comprising an action programme in the field of education, Official Journal of the European Communities, No. C 38/1, 19/02/1976.

  67. 67.

    A Resolution of the ministers of education, meeting within the Council, followed in June 1974 on cooperation in the field of education. The member states also adopted two action programmes: The Social Action Programme in 1974 and the Education Action Programme in 1976.

  68. 68.

    Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture, The European Commission’s contribution to the Leaders’ meeting in Gothenburg, 17 November 2017, Strasbourg, COM (2017)673 final (14.11.2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Sarah K. St. John

  2. European University Institute, Florence, Italy

    Sarah K. St. John

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Correspondence to Sarah K. St. John .

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  1. School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Sarah K. St. John

  2. School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Mark Murphy

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St. John, S.K. (2019). Tracing the Roots: The Origins and Evolution of European Union Education Policy. In: St. John, S., Murphy, M. (eds) Education and Public Policy in the European Union. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04230-1_2

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