Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is conducting a visit to Helsinki, including meetings with President Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja. The focus of discussions is Finland in the Council of Europe, reform of the Organisation, and European Union accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. On Friday April 26th, at Finlandia Hall, the Secretary General opens the24th Education Ministers Conference.

The theme of the conference is ‘Governance and Quality Education'. The ministers will be discussing issues relating to interaction of school and home environment and the need for enhanced cooperation, greater opportunities for the involvement of pupils, students and other stakeholders, and the promotion of ethical and good practices in education.

On Saturday, ministers are expected to endorse a declaration to undertake to develop education and their national education systems with the result that everyone will be guaranteed an opportunity for quality education. Ministers will also agree to promote the ‘Helsinki Agenda for Quality Education'. Over the next few years, the priorities for European cooperation will be to foster ethical and good practices and enhance democratic culture and participation in education.

Secretary General Jagland will take part in a press conference at 14.50 with the Minister of Education of Finland Jukka Gustafsson and European Union Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou.

Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Eero Heinäluoma and Minister of Education of Andorra Roser Suñé, on behalf of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, will be among the most prominent contributors at the Conference.

Opening speech by Thorbjørn Jagland
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Conference: Photo gallery