The Council of Europe is launching a new education strategy "Learners First" 2024-2030, which aims to promote a culture of democratic participation among all learners in order to safeguard democracy. The strategy will be endorsed at the 26th session of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education to be held in Strasbourg at the Council of Europe, which is committed to investing in a democratic future for all by ensuring that everyone, and especially young people, can play their part in democratic processes. The strategy focuses on developing, through formal and non-formal education, the values, skills, attitudes, knowledge and critical understanding necessary for citizens to participate fully and actively in a democratic society.

The main actions of the strategy will focus on flexibility in curriculum and programme design, learner autonomy, professional development of education professionals, and democratic and participatory governance of education systems and institutions. The Strategy will extend and strengthen the Council of Europe's previous efforts in education cooperation in Europe and contribute to regional and global efforts, such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).

The strategy will benefit learners in each of the 46 countries that make up the Council of Europe, as well as the wider public. The expected outcomes are linked to the development of new legal and policy instruments, reference standards and capacity building tools.

Member State governments will promote the implementation of the Strategy at national, regional and local levels, in close cooperation with education stakeholders.

The first implementation phase of the strategy will run from 2024 to 2026 and the second from 2027 to 2030. The strategy focuses on the development of three dimensions in every learner: the "civic" learner, the "intercultural global" learner, the "digital" learner. Particular attention will be paid to the overall well-being of the learner.