There has been recent concern about an EU event last November in Staffordshire County promoting the EU agenda to school children in the UK.

Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for schools said the event was 'purely educational' and there was no cost to the taxpayer.  However the event cost £ 3500.  So if the taxpayer did not foot the bill for this conference, who did?  Whose taxes pay for all of the EU programmes which are dispersed back into the Member states?  The cabinet member also indicated that the aim is to expand our children’s horizons by learning about other European countries.   

This conference was sponsored by the EU Comenius programme.  This programme targets schools, colleges, councils, not for profits and other NGOs and is supported by the British Council.  At least 438 schools in the UK were funded to form links with other European schools in 2011.  You can look at their promotional materials HERE on the British Council's Comenius programme page.  

While the EU Commission has denied propaganda that the conference had a political agenda, complaints were made to Staffordshire Council.

An EU spokesperson has commented that "UK authorities vigorously promoted British involvement." Teachers attending the conference were given brightly coloured pencil cases embellished with the EU 12 star logo for their students.  There have been concerns that these programmes and perks will result in ‘brainwashing’ the children into backing the EU. 

Andrew Allison, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, was quoted as saying, “Taxpayers will be shocked to read the cash they pay to Brussels is being spent in this way. If schools want children to know about the EU, there are plenty of unbiased resources.” The conference was attended by 50 teachers.  One focus of the conference was to let teachers know about EU funding available to the schools. 

Nick Griffin MEP commented: “More Taxpayer subsidised propaganda from the EU, interfering in our educational systems and it has no place in our schools.  It shows how desperate they are to bolster their tarnished image.”

The EU Commission has denied that pencil cases amount to propaganda.  Take a look below at the aims of the Comenius programme and decide for yourself:

Specific objectives of Comenius consist of teaching young people about the diversity of European cultures, languages and especially European values.  Their aim is for young people to acquire basic life skills necessary for active European citizenship.  Not political?

Furthermore, operational objectives consist of expanding the movement of pupils and educational staff in various Member states.  These objectives aim not only to increase this cross-border movement, but also the mobility of partnerships between schools in different Member states.  They aim to involve at least 3 million pupils in joint educational activities, by encouraging students to learn foreign languages and by building a European dimension of teacher training.  Not political?

Who does this programme target?  Pupils to upper secondary education, schools in Member states, teachers and other educational staff, associations, not for profits, NGOs and other representatives involved in school education who hold responsibility for the delivery of education at local, regional and national levels.

Projects involve disseminating educational ‘best practices’ (as determined by Europe) including new teaching methods and materials, developing exchange experiences and disseminating new teacher training courses and course content.  Other initiatives which are aimed at promoting the objectives of the Comenius Programme include e-Twinning.  Much of the focus of Comenius is around mobility between Member states.