The famous politician and diplomat Edward Everett once said:
‘Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army’
All European nations, including Ukraine, have repeatedly experienced (and still experience) the harsh truth of this statement. That is why Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) explicitly stipulates that the Union shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action. These actions are aimed at developing the European dimension in education, particularly through the teaching and dissemination of the languages of Member States, encouraging mobility of students and teachers, encouraging (inter alia) the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study, promoting cooperation between educational establishments, developing exchanges of information and experience, encouraging the development of youth exchanges, encouraging the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe, and developing distance education.
Moreover, in 2020, the European Commission finally introduced the concept of the European Education Area, where the Commission and 27 Member States work together to improve education and training in the EU. The following year, the Council adopted a resolution on a strategic cooperation framework in the field of education within and outside the European Education Area for the period 2021–2030, with a special focus on digital technologies.
The European Union offers several dedicated programmes to improve the academic and research capacity of EU and non-EU citizens, including Ukraine. With the Association Agreement and Ukraine’s candidate status, the EU has opened up even more opportunities for Ukrainian students and young scientists to acquire knowledge and skills of the highest European and global standards.
In this difficult time as Ukraine struggles for freedom, sovereignty, and its European future, the European Union provides its comprehensive and inclusive assistance in the field of education and upbringing of Ukrainian youth. This support can be divided into five main areas where significant resources and efforts are currently mobilised:
“Russia’s war of aggression is robbing thousands of Ukrainian children of a normal life and education. Our most recent initiative underlines the EU’s unwavering commitment to ensure an educational environment that is as safe as possible for all children in Ukraine.”
