Shield – ECED – European Centre for the Education for Democracy

This means that...

...the greatest threat to the security of Poland and the EU is the devastation of citizens' awareness, shaping their views on the sense of the existence of the Community and the values of a democratic state, in the manner of theses suggested from the outside - by authoritarian regimes and from the inside - by domestic populist and anti-democratic circles. The effects of this devastation directly translate into voters' decisions, and this devastation leads to a cognitive war for minds, which the liberal-democratic option loses, as evidenced by the results of the next general elections in the EU.

In the absence of coherent and long-term educational strategies, democracy is clearly degrading, and the result of the lack of common EU solutions is that Europe remains defenseless and is at risk of collapse.

Consolidation at the level of education - broadly understood as equipping EU citizens (especially the youngest generations) with defense mechanisms against populism and disinformation - is the true and best SHIELD of democracy.

A citizen aware of these forms of manipulation is a safer citizen.

We need an updated "architecture" of the European Union at the level of education.

We need to strengthen the "democratic informative vaccine", reminding voters what they gain from the EU and democracy, and - therefore - what they stand to lose if they stop supporting EU unity and democratic values and opt for opposing options.

The lack of democratic education at EU level has a negative impact on EU democracy and our common security.

The lack of consolidation is a fundamental error of oversight that goes against common sense and which Poland, under its presidency of the EU Council (on the basis of the "Polish brand"), can begin to correct and strengthen its role in the EU.

The above clearly shows the need for a center at the European level consolidating activities in the field of democratic education established for the purpose

RESEARCH on democratization processes
DESIGNING educational strategies
EDUCATION of teachers and students
PROMOTING democratic values

Why do we need to consolidate democratic education at EU level? Why do we need a european centre serving the role of a SHIELD?

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
Common education strategies increase Europe's competitiveness, sustainability and security The EU has a wide range of different experiences, and their exchange can - analogously to the world of e.g. business and trade - have a great impact on the results The basis of the community are (convergent) values, and (divergent) systems are only a means to them The EU assumes a common European identity, and the extent to which it is shaped to meet the challenges of modern times depends on education (and its reality)	The EU is particularly weak where it is unable to reach a common position The lack of common educational standards promotes educational inequalities and differences in living standards, and thus social destabilization in Europe In the absence of a common agenda and unified information flow systems, disinformation, populism and parochialism reap the rewards Narrowing the spectrum of educational opportunities (in the absence of EU policies) blurs the entire meaning of the EU

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Common education strategies increase Europe's competitiveness, sustainability and security
The EU has a wide range of different experiences, and their exchange can - analogously to the world of e.g. business and trade - have a great impact on the results
The basis of the community are (convergent) values, and (divergent) systems are only a means to them
The EU assumes a common European identity, and the extent to which it is shaped to meet the challenges of modern times depends on education (and its reality)

The EU is particularly weak where it is unable to reach a common position
The lack of common educational standards promotes educational inequalities and differences in living standards, and thus social destabilization in Europe
In the absence of a common agenda and unified information flow systems, disinformation, populism and parochialism reap the rewards
Narrowing the spectrum of educational opportunities (in the absence of EU policies) blurs the entire meaning of the EU

OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS
It is education that allows for the development of common universal values that underlie the existence of the European Union and counteracts bad trends Partial coordination of education at EU level can bring benefits in terms of social cohesion (without infringing on states' sovereignty over their unique/traditional educational approaches) Programs (at the higher education level) such as Erasmus+ point to multiple benefits; extending such cooperation to primary and secondary levels is a valuable step towards greater integration Common education policy is a direction towards deregulation and a modern order in education [initiated in the Year of Breakthrough in Poland]	Member States acting individually may find it difficult to rapidly modernize education (and a common policy could speed up this process) Identifying the common EU educational strategy with authoritarian/totalitarian thinking means the risk of binary (zero-one) thinking about the world and excluding liberal democracy Lack of consolidation at the education level maintains distrust of member states towards each other (just as it would happen at the legal level in the absence of legislative unification) Educational deficits in any Member State threaten all others (economic, climate, etc.)

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

It is education that allows for the development of common universal values that underlie the existence of the European Union and counteracts bad trends
Partial coordination of education at EU level can bring benefits in terms of social cohesion (without infringing on states' sovereignty over their unique/traditional educational approaches)
Programs (at the higher education level) such as Erasmus+ point to multiple benefits; extending such cooperation to primary and secondary levels is a valuable step towards greater integration
Common education policy is a direction towards deregulation and a modern order in education [initiated in the Year of Breakthrough in Poland]

Member States acting individually may find it difficult to rapidly modernize education (and a common policy could speed up this process)
Identifying the common EU educational strategy with authoritarian/totalitarian thinking means the risk of binary (zero-one) thinking about the world and excluding liberal democracy
Lack of consolidation at the education level maintains distrust of member states towards each other (just as it would happen at the legal level in the absence of legislative unification)
Educational deficits in any Member State threaten all others (economic, climate, etc.)