European Union

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for teachers.

Most people have heard of Erasmus, the EU’s successful student exchange programme, which has enabled millions to study abroad. Less well known is that teachers – from universities, schools, vocational colleges and adult education – can also take part. In 2015, over 100,000 teachers travelled abroad with the help of EU grants.

Erasmus offers teachers opportunities to travel to 33 countries for up to two months. During their trips, some teachers take part in training courses, others join the staff of schools and universities to experience working in a different educational system. Another option is job shadowing to learn how teachers from other countries deal with day-to-day challenges. All of these activities are a great way for teachers to develop professionally, get new ideas and make new contacts.

© johoo / Fotolia

As well as Erasmus, the EU brings together teachers from different countries through networks and online communities. For example, on eTwinning, there are nearly half a million teachers from 180 000 schools all over Europe exchanging ideas on subjects as varied as awareness-raising of smoking health risks to craft activities for school libraries. School Education Gateway offers access to free online training courses and teaching materials.

For teachers who would like to spend more than a few months abroad, the EU has removed some of the barriers to working abroad through mutual recognition of teaching qualifications; this means that, for example, a teacher who qualified in one EU country can teach in another without having to take additional exams.

Further information

• The EU and the teaching professions: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/school/teaching-professions_en
• eTwinning home page: https://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htm
• School Education Gateway: https://www.schooleducationgateway.eu/en/pub/index.htm

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for early school leavers.

Did you leave school early? Or do you know someone who might? Leaving school without qualifications may seem a personal choice, yet around 6.4 million young people in Europe are in the same situation. School can seem too difficult or irrelevant and other problems may make walking out seem like the thing to do. Yet young people who leave school early are less likely to find a job, will probably earn less, might miss out on some benefits of technology, and can have more health problems later on.

© Monkey Business / Fotolia

This is not always the case, but as the risks are high, the EU has made it its business to work on the situation. It brought education ministers together to agree to bring down the share of early school leavers in the EU to less than 10 % by 2020. Member States will need to try different solutions to achieve this result, so the EU offers support by helping them exchange experiences. In this way they can learn from each other which changes are more likely to produce good results. It is also monitoring results so Member States can understand how well they are doing.

You may feel all this is too late for you now, but if you regret not having much to show for your skills, and if you wish to improve them further, it’s never too late to go to your local job office or education authority. The EU developed the Youth Guarantee to help Member States give people a second chance, not necessarily in a classroom, but possibly even in a workplace setting. Tools are also being developed to recognise the skills you might have developed outside school in a way future employers are likely to appreciate.

Further information

• Early School Leaving Commission webpage http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/school/early-school-leavers_en
• Youth Guarantee http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1079
• Basic skills http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/school/math_en

Member states have reached an agreement on a package of measures aimed at reducing risk in the banking industry. The political consensus built upon a joint proposal by the French and German Finance ministers paves the way for a deepened reform of the Economic and Monetary Union.

On 25 May 2018, the Coreper agreed its position on a draft directive aimed at adapting EU copyright rules to the digital environment.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk 28 May - 3 June 2018

On 25 May 2018, the Council adopted on In-depth reviews and implementation of the 2017 country specific recommendations.

On 25 may 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on the sustainability of public finances in the light of ageing populations.

The Council agreed on proposals to reduce risk in the banking industry, implementing reforms agreed internationally after the 2007-08 financial crisis.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The EU adopted a declaration calling on Russia to accept its responsibility in the downing of flight MH17 and to fully cooperate with all efforts to establish accountability.

The Council adopted a directive aimed at boosting transparency with regard to tax intermediaries that design and promote tax planning schemes.

On 25 May 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on the EU standard provision on good governance in tax matters for agreements with third countries.

The Council removed Bahamas and St Kitts and Nevis from the list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, bringing the names on the list down to seven.

On 25 May 2018, the Council adopted Joint conclusions of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Written by Marcin Grajewski,

© pixs:sell / Fotolia

European Union officials have warned the United Kingdom that time is running out if definitive agreement on the country’s withdrawal from the Union is to be reached by this autumn. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to keep her Cabinet and Conservative Party united as the focus of negotiations has shifted to the future customs regime and the accompanying, highly sensitive, issue of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

This note offers links to reports and commentaries from some major international think-tanks and research institutes on Brexit negotiations and related issues. More reports on the topic can be found in a previous edition of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking’, published in January 2018.

Brexit: Next steps in UK’s withdrawal from the EU
House of Commons Library, May 2018

Brexit and EU agencies
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, May 2018

Brexit: What Theresa May’s White Paper must do
European Policy Centre, May 2018

How “special” will the UK-EU security partnership really be?
Open Europe, May 2018

Brexit endgame: Uncertainty mounts in face of deep Tory divides
Scottish Centre for International Relations, May 2018

UK must swallow the unpalatable Irish backstop
Centre for European Reform, May 2018

Theresa May’s Cabinet customs row is irrelevant, it’s the Brexit backstop that really matters
Centre for European Reform, May 2018

Getting over the line: Solutions to the Irish border
Policy Exchange, May 2018

Brexit Brief
Institute of International and European Affairs, May 2018

While May must decide what to do about Northern Ireland and Brexit, here’s what the people themselves think
UK in a Changing Europe, May 2018

Brexit: Implications for cross-border lives
UK in a Changing Europe, May 2018

India and the UK adjust to the realities of Brexit
UK in a Changing World, May 2018

Voting on Brexit: Parliament’s consideration of the withdrawal deal and future framework
Institute for Government, April 2018

Devolution after Brexit: Managing the environment, agriculture and fisheries
Institute for Government, April 2018

The reopening of the Irish question
Carnegie Europe, April 2018

Brexit: What impact on British global power?
Institut Thomas More, April 2018

Plugging in the British: EU defence policy
Centre for European Reform, April 2018

What third-country role is open to the UK in defence?
Centre for European Policy Studies, April 2018

The EU budget after Brexit: Reform not revolution
Centre for European Reform, April 2018

‘Zero-sum’ approach to defence and security during Brexit negotiations risks a less secure UK and EU
Rand Corporation, April 2018

Deepening political divisions and exacerbating peripherality: Scotland, Northern Ireland and Brexit
Scottish Centre for International Relations, April 2018

Brexit roundup series
Scottish Centre for International Relations, April 2018

The bigger EU problems hidden by Brexit
Friends of Europe, April 2018

Who will cope with the post-Brexit resentment?
Notre Europe, April 2018

Wishful Brexiting: Or the complicated transformation of what Britain wants into reality
Fondation Robert Schuman, March 2018

Brexit: Half in, half out or right out?
European Policy Centre, March 2018

Believe it or not, EU doesn’t share Britain’s obsession with Brexit
Friends of Europe, March 2018

Brexit and the financial services industry: The story so far
European Policy Centre, March 2018

Negotiating Brexit: The views of the EU27
Institute for Government, March 2018

Keeping Europe safe after Brexit
European Council on Foreign Relations, March 2018

Rethinking the European Union’s post-Brexit budget priorities
Bruegel, March 2018

The Brexit transition deal
Bruegel, March 2018

Costing Brexit: What is Whitehall spending on exiting the EU?
Institute for Government, March 2018

A Brexit gentlemen’s agreement
Centre for European Policy Studies, March 2018

The impact of the UK-EU agreement on residence rights for EU families
UK in a Changing Europe, March 2018

There is life for the EU after Brexit
Carnegie Europe, March 2018

Getting accustomed to Brexit: UK and the customs union scenario
Bruegel, March 2018

Will the unity of the 27 crack?
Centre for European Reform, March 2018

Plugging in the British: EU foreign policy
Centre for European Reform, March 2018

Theresa May’s deep and comprehensive free trade agreement
Centre for European Policy Studies, March 2018

Brexit: Promising the impossible
Carnegie Europe, March 2018

Implications of Brexit for food and agriculture in developing countries
Trinity College Dublin, March 2018

Why a good Brexit outcome matters (and it’s not just the economy, stupid!)
Bruegel, February 2018

Ireland-UK relations and Northern Ireland after Brexit
LSE Ideas, February 2018

Global champion: The case for unilateral free trade
Policy Exchange, February 2018

Brexit and beyond: The future of Europe
Dahrendorf Forum, February 2018

Over-the-counter interest rate derivatives: The clock is ticking for the UK and the EU
Centre for European Policy Studies, February 2018

Brexit: The transition period
Fondation Robert Schuman, February 2018

Brexit and human rights
Centre for International Governance Innovation, February 2018

Cross-border insolvencies after Brexit: Views from the United Kingdom and Continental Europe
Centre for International Governance Innovation, February 2018

Failing financial institutions: How will Brexit impact cross-border cooperation in recovery, reconstruction and insolvency processes?
Centre for International Governance Innovation, February 2018

Brexit and environmental law: The rocky road ahead
Centre for International Governance Innovation, February 2018

Leaving the EU, not the European model? New findings on public attitudes to Brexit
Institute for Public Policy Research, February 2018

Have your cake or eat it
Institute for Public Policy Research, February 2018

Theresa May et le bateau ivre du Brexit
Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques, February 2018

Brexit and European security
Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, February 2018

UK foreign and security policy post-Brexit: The search for a European Strategy
Swedish Institute of International Affairs, February 2018

Brexit, strategy, and the EU: Britain takes leave
Egmont, January 2018

Read this briefing on ‘Brexit negotiations‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

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