“Democracy is learned, transmitted, upheld and, above all, lived, day in, day out,” said France’s Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, at the opening of the World Forum for Democracy.

The Minister welcomed the Council of Europe’s efforts on the education front, in particular as regards promoting intercultural dialogue, developing linguistic diversity and plurilingualism, the recognition of qualifications, which, with the refugee crisis, is more relevant than ever, citizenship and human rights education, the fight against violent extremism and living together.

In her speech and during her preparatory meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, she emphasised the importance of the new “Framework of Competences for democratic culture” presented by the Council of Europe in April 2016 and which should “help satisfy our civil societies’ tremendous yearning to take part in the process of European construction and rekindle enthusiasm for its democratic model”.

“The proposed framework echoes the approach developed in France in the new common core of knowledge, competences and culture, one of the cornerstones of which concerns personal and civic development,” explained the Minister. She also said she would be following with interest the progress of the “Digital Citizenship Education” project, which is to be developed shortly by the Council of Europe

“There is nothing innate about citizenship, therefore. It is something that has to be learned,” said Ms Vallaud-Belkacem, adding that when it comes to citizenship education, “Europe, as the cradle of democracy, has a key role to play” and that “the present forum is a landmark event in this democratic life”.