A3-0379/93
Resolution on environmental education
The European Parliament,
-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Arbeloa Muru on environmental education programmes (B3-1565/92),
-having regard to the resolution of 24 May 1988 of the Council and the ministers of education meeting within the Council on environmental education,
-having regard to the conclusions adopted on 1 June 1992 by the Council and the ministers of education meeting within the Council on the development of environmental education,
-having regard to the resolution of the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 1 February 1993 on a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development,
-having regard to the Commission working document of 6 May 1992 on environmental education (SEC(92)0934),
-having regard to its resolution of 18 April 1991 on the nature of Community acts,
-having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,
-having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media and the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A3-0379/93),
A.whereas 85% of Europeans are of the opinion that environmental protection and the fight against pollution are immediate and pressing problems,
B.whereas Directive 90/313/EEC, on the freedom of access to information on the environment, and Articles 126 and 127 of the EC Treaty could serve as the basis for a genuine European policy on environmental education,
C.welcoming the growing number of associations and organizations working in this area and the interest shown in this issue by teachers, youth workers and young people,
D.endorsing the undertakings given by the European countries at the Rio Conference, which devoted a chapter of 'Agenda 21' to education, training and raising public awareness,
E.whereas 'eco-citizenship' must in future form an integral part of education for citizenship, particularly European citizenship, and can be most effectively promoted by social organizations,
F.whereas the Member States and the Commission should encourage the inclusion in environmental education of practical environmental protection activities which require participants to alter their behaviour, even on a small scale; whereas this approach to environmental education has proved very effective, because it makes people aware of how they can help to establish an ecologically sustainable economy,
G.whereas the European Community can help to create the conditions for the establishment in the Member States of the principles of genuine environmental education, by promoting cooperation between the Member States and their authorities in this area, and supporting and supplementing their activities,
H.whereas the definition of environmental education varies from one Member State to another; whereas it is important that the Community focus its action in this field on activities within the framework of school or university education,
I.whereas the measures implemented in this area by the Commission have hitherto been of a preparatory nature; whereas a genuine European environmental education policy is still lacking,
1.Calls on the Member States and the Commission to define together, in the form of an appropriate legal instrument, such as a multiannual action programme and/or a recommendation, the principles of a genuine European policy on environmental education, which must respect the articles on education and training in the EC Treaty, and calls on the Member States in particular to:
-include the environmental dimension in all aspects of education at all levels,
-focus efforts on organizing training programmes for teachers,
-define a minimum common content for school curricula,
-promote continuing adult education on environmental issues,
-promote the development of research and interdisciplinary education centres for environmental education;
2.Calls on the Commission to:
-hold European round tables for the purpose of consultation and coordination relating to environmental education,
-promote the creation of a number of environmental education networks, involving representatives of teaching staff and various existing institutions, in different educational sectors, and support existing networks in this field;
3.Calls urgently for regional and local authorities to be directly involved in the preparation and implementation of this framework initiative via the Committee of the Regions provided for in the Maastricht Treaty;
4.Emphasizes the fundamental role of schools and their teachers in the development and implementation of a policy of this kind and stresses the importance of participation by professional bodies and associations;
5.Stresses the importance of enough human, material and financial resources being made available to support the application of the principle of environmental education in the Member States;
6.Proposes that these resources should be administered jointly by the Directorates-General responsible for the environment and education;
7.Calls on the Commission to contribute directly to the funding and implementation of a Community information and exchange network on environmental education made up of the existing national, regional and local networks and bringing together the different categories of people active in this area;
8.Wishes one week each year to be devoted to the environment in all Community schools, with activities and practical work which will enable the children to define their aims for themselves;
9.Wishes awareness-raising campaigns of this kind to be organized at the work place by works councils along lines to be defined;
10.Calls on the Commission to initiate a debate on and an analysis of the appropriateness of the existing legal instruments and their typology for the purpose of developing the area of education in general, with a view to presenting a proposal in time for the revision of the Treaties in 1996;
11.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States.
