[KISA Representative] Dear Commissioner for Children's Rights

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Sep 22, 2016 - Dear friends,. It is a great pleasure to be here today and represent the. European Commission in this tim
ΕΤΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΕΠΙΣΡΟΠΗ- AVRUPA KOMİSYONU- EUROPEAN COMMISSION ΑΝΣΙΠΡΟ΢ΩΠΕΙΑ ΢ΣΗΝ ΚΤΠΡΟ- KIBRIS TEMSİLCİLİĞİ- REPRESENTATION IN CYPRUS

Shaping the European Educational Agenda from the Bottom up Welcome speech by Mr George Markopouliotis, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus Thursday, 22 September 2016, 09:05 Journalists House, Nicosia Check against delivery - Ισχύει μόνο ότι λεχθεί

Dear [KISA Representative] Dear Commissioner for Children's Rights, dear Ladies and gentlemen, dear Ms Κουρσουμπά [TBC] Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

It is a great pleasure to be here today and represent the European Commission in this timely event.

European societies are, and will continue to become, increasingly diverse. Today, there are 20 million non-EU nationals residing in the EU who make up 4% of its total 1

population. Human mobility, in varying degrees and for a variety of different reasons, will be an inherent feature of the 21st century for Europe as well as globally, meaning the EU not only needs to step up its efforts when it comes to managing migration flows, but also when it comes to its integration policies for third-country nationals.

Ensuring that all those who are rightfully and legitimately in the EU, regardless of the length of their stay, can participate and contribute is key to the future well-being, prosperity and cohesion of European societies. In times when discrimination, prejudice, racism and xenophobia are rising, there are legal, moral and economic imperatives to upholding the EU's fundamental rights, values and freedoms and continuing to work for a more cohesive society overall. The successful integration of third-country nationals is a matter of common interest to all Member States.

To this end, a lot has been done. However, notwithstanding the efforts made, third-country nationals across the EU continue to fare worse than EU citizens in terms of employment, education, and social inclusion outcomes. At the 2

same time, recent measures taken to improve the management of the large numbers of persons in need of protection which the EU currently faces, including measures on relocation and resettlement, have highlighted the need for those Member States with less experience with integration to develop effective integration strategies.

Education plays a crucial role in helping migrants and refugees settle in new countries and environments. From language learning to the recognition of qualifications, education is a part of the solution throughout the integration process. Equally, education institutions and organisations can benefit from guidance and good practices on how to tailor the provision of education for migrants.

Indeed, education and training are among the most powerful tools for integration and access to them should be ensured and promoted as early as possible. The acquisition of basic skills is the foundation for further learning and the gateway to employment and social inclusion.

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This is especially true when it comes to children: all children, regardless of their family or cultural background or gender, have the right to education to further their development. Refugee children may well have had a break in their education or in some cases not been able to go to school at all and will need tailored support including catch-up classes. Teachers need the necessary skills to assist them and should be supported in their work in increasingly diverse classrooms, also to prevent school failure and educational segregation.

The European Commission is helping Member States to deal with these challenges. Our key tool to do this is Erasmus+, the EU's flagship youth programme for the period 2014-2020. Erasmus+ supports actions that promote social inclusion of all young people, including those from a migrant background. Case in point is the "Abused no More" project which has a meaningful contribution in our fight against discrimination and exclusion – and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all those involved in this project.

Ladies and gentlemen, 4

Racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance continue to be a strong concern in the EU, including for young people with a migrant background. We must step up our efforts to tackle discrimination and promote inclusion, and I hope that today's conference will serve as fertile ground for the exchange of best practices and ideas.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a fruitful conference.

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