29.11.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 349/99

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having regard to the European Consensus on Development, which underlines that ‘the EU will pay particular attention to development education and raising awareness’,

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having regard to the conclusions of the Structured Dialogue concerning the role of civil society and local authorities in development, which calls on ‘EU Member States and the European Commission [to] strengthen their strategies for Development Education and Awareness Raising’,

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having regard to Rule 123 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.

whereas development education and awareness-raising are central to European development policies, as outlined in the European Development Education Consensus (‘The European Consensus on Development: The contribution of Development Education and Awareness Raising’);

B.

whereas, despite being one of the biggest funders of development education in Europe, the European Union does not have a dedicated strategy in this field;

C.

whereas, during periods marked by austerity, crises and the rise of nationalist and populist movements, it is particularly important to support active global citizenship;

1.

Calls on the Commission and the Council to develop a long-term, cross-sectoral European strategy for development education, awareness-raising and active global citizenship;

2.

Calls on the Member States to develop or strengthen national development education strategies;

3.

Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories (1), to the Commission, the Council and the parliaments of the Member States.