Reference texts
Running parallel to the main phases of the division's programme, the following reference texts were adopted by the various organs of the Council of Europe (Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly, Standing Conference of European Ministers of Education, Summits of Heads of States and Government of the Council of Europe).
These texts either served as guidelines for the division's work, or, sometimes, came about as a result of the work of the division. They too reflect the historical and social changes that took place over the years and that have influenced the work of the whole directorate of Education.
Textbooks reform
1949-1964
Council of Europe reference texts
1949: Treaty of London establishing the Council of Europe
1954 – Signature of the European Cultural Convention, forming the framework for the Council's work in education
1964 – Resolution (64) 11 on "Civics and European education"
Events
1953: first conference on "The European Idea in history teaching" in Calw (Germany)
History at school
1965-1990
Council of Europe reference texts
1983: Recommendation (83) 4 of the Committee of Ministers concerning the "Promotion of an awareness of Europe in Secondary schools"
1990: Accession of the first State from the former Soviet Block: Hungary
Events
1965: Symposium on "History Teaching in Secondary Education" in Elsinor (Denmark)
The New Europe
1991-1997
Council of Europe reference texts
1991: Standing Conference of European Ministers of Education: "The European dimension of education" , Vienna (Austria)
1993: First Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government: "Combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance", Vienna (Austria)
1996: Recommendation 1283 of the Parliamentary Assembly on history and the learning of history in Europe
Events
1991: Symposium on "History Teaching in the New Europe" in Brugge (Belgium)
Intergovernemental projects and regional cooperation
1996-2016
Council of Europe reference texts
1996: Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe: The "New initiative of the Secretary General"
1997: "Trends, Common Issues and Priorities for Pan-European Co-operation" : Standing Conference of European Ministers of Education, Kristiansand (Norway)
1999: First Informal Conference “Education for democratic development and stability in South-East Europe”, Strasbourg (France)
2001: Rec(2001)15 of the Committee of Ministers on history teaching in twenty-first-century Europe
2005: "Intercultural dialogue": Third Summit of Heads of State and Government in Warsaw (Poland)
2007: The way ahead – " Building a more humane and inclusive Europe": Standing Conference of European Ministers of Education, Istanbul (Turkey)
2008: White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue – “Living Together As Equals in Dignity”.
2011: Recommendation CM/Rec(2011)6 on intercultural dialogue and the image of the other in history teaching
Events
1997: First regional seminar on “The reform of history teaching in secondary schools” in Tbilissi (Georgia)
1997-2001: Project "Learning and teaching the history of the 20th century in Europe"
2002-2006: Project "the European dimension in history teaching"
2006-2010: Project "The Image of the Other in history teaching"
2010-2014 Project "Shared histories for a Europe without dividing lines"
2015-2019: Project "Educating for diversity and democracy: teaching history in contemporary Europe"