Honouring the teaching profession in Europe

Venue: online & in Brussels

Languages: EN-FR-DE

Honouring the Teaching Profession in Europe

Breakfast hearing at the European Parliament, room SPINELLI 5G1

Hosted by MEP Hristo Petrov, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education

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Register here!

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Dear members,

You are warmly invited to attend an honorary breakfast hearing on 25 September at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels, or to join us online.

This event, hosted by Hristo Petrov, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, will focus on raising awareness of the vital role and value of the teaching profession across the EU as well as the role of schools partnerships and mobility to foster high-quality education.

Across the European Union, poor working conditions and critical staff shortages are placing increasing pressure on education systems, threatening not only the quality and access to learning, but also the social and economic resilience of our societies. As demand for qualified educators rises, many countries are experiencing a sharp decline in recruitment and retention—driven by low salaries, unsustainable workloads, and a lack of professional progression.

The forthcoming EU Teachers Agenda, fostered by instruments such as the European Pillar of Social Rights with its main principles on, the European Semester, the European Education Area, and the Union of Skills present strategic opportunities to champion the teaching profession.

These frameworks empower trade unions and civil society to shape national reforms and EU priorities in education. As CESI´s Teachers’ Manifesto addresses the digital transformation of teaching, this event aims at amplifying the voices of teachers’ unions from across Europe to advocate for fair pay, professional autonomy, supportive policy environments, and sustainable investment—key to restoring teaching as a respected, attractive, and future-proof profession.

The breakfast hearing would also be the opportunity to exchange views on the forthcoming Pilot on European School Alliances. This initiative aims to increase pupil and teacher mobility, cross-border cooperation between schools in the European Union and innovative teaching methods.

Teachers will play a crucial role in the success of this project, as the primary drivers for curriculum innovation and better outcomes for students. Thus, drawing on their solid experience is essential. It will also be an additional opportunity to develop teachers' capacities and skills by providing the necessary means to promote impactful school exchanges with high educational value.

Proposed agenda:

1.     09:00 – Welcome address

MEP Hristo Petrov (Renew Europe), Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education

2.     09:15 – Introduction and key remarks

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI

3.     09:20 – A French perspective to the teaching profession and challenges

Luc Viehé (Spelc), President of CESI’s Expert Commission ‘Education, Training and Research’

4.     09:30 – An Italian perspective to the teaching profession and challenges

Marcello Pacifico (CISAL), President of CESI’s Europe Academy

5.     09:40 – A German perspective to the teaching profession and challenges

Simone Fleischmann (Deputy Chair of the dbb)

6.     09:50 – A Dutch perspective to the teaching profession and challenges

Daniëlle Woestenberg (CNV), Vice-President of CESI’s Expert Commission ‘Education, Training and Research’

7.     10:00 – A Romanian perspective to the teaching profession and challenges

Laviniu Lacusta, President of the Romanian Free Trade Union in Pre-University Education

8.     10:10 – Looking towards the future of education: closing remarks from a youth perspective

NN, CESI Youth Representative

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Following the breakfast hearing, discussions will continue at the CESI premises with the meeting of the CESI’s Expert Commission ‘Education, Training and Research’, held in the framework of EU co-funded PillACT project.

1.     11:00 – Opening of the meeting of the Expert Commission on 'Education'

Klaus Heeger, Secretary-General of CESI

2.     11:05 –  Adoption of the agenda

Klaus Heeger, Secretary-General of CESI

3.     11:10 – Election of a new President and two Vice-Presidents of the Expert Commission, following CESI’s Congress in December 2024

4.     11:15 –Priorities of the Expert Commission in CESI’s 2025 work programme in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and CESI’s PillACT project

Raluca Radescu, Policy Officer, CESI

5.     11:20 – The Quality Job Roadmap and the Teachers’ role in supporting EU ambitions in light of the European Pillar of Social Rights

NN, European Commission, Cabinet of the Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills

Hendrik Meerkamp, Senior Policy Advisor, CESI

6.     11:50 – QVO VADIS EU? Latest Developments within the European Education Area and their link to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights

NN, member of the European Parliament

NN, European Commission, DG EAC Representative or NN, Strategy Unit

12:30 – 13:30 Light lunch

7.     13:30 – Exchanges of information on national practices for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights

8.     14:00 – Education for a digital-era citizenship: Upholding European values and social rights in the context of the European Pillar of Social Rights

NN, Council of Europe

Giuseppina Tucci, OBESSU

9.     14:30 – Adoption of a joint teacher position for CESI’s PillACT project
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10.  14:50 – Any other business and decision on the date of the next meeting

Luc Viehé (Spelc), President of CESI’s  Expert Commission ‘Education, Training and Research’

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*The event takes place in the frame of CESI's 'PillAct' project.

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