Council Resolution on improving and diversifying language learning and teaching within the education systems of the EU
The Council has adopted a Resolution which aims to provide a basis for reflection on how the educational systems in the EU can contribute to the construction of a Europe without internal frontiers and strengthen understanding between its people. Linguistic diversity is a key issue here and thought needs to be given as to the most appropriate tools to be used for improving and diversifying the teaching and practice of the various languages of the Member States. The Council draws attention in particular to the need to: - Promote qualitative improvement in the knowledge of the EU's languages within the various education systems, with the aim of developing communication skills within the EU and ensuring that all Member States' languages and cultures are disseminated as widely as possible; - Take steps to encourage diversification in the languages taught, so as to give school children and higher education students the opportunity to become competent in several languages of the EU. The Council stresses the need to ensure that measures taken to achieve these objectives concern general and vocational education at all levels, including higher education. The Resolution invites the Commission to support the actions of Member States taken to fulfil these objectives and to submit a three-yearly report on the progress of schemes supporting modern language teaching policy at both the Member State and the EU level.