Preamble to 2008 update

Raising children is a sign of hope.  It shows that people have hope for the future and faith in the values they pass on to the next generation.
 Therefore the responsibility of parents for their children is an irreplaceable cornerstone of society.  Parents need not stand alone in bearing this responsibility, neither in the Europe of today nor that of tomorrow.  The education community helps them with this task, social groups and institutions support them, public services offer material assistance and expertise.
 Many people contribute to the raising of children in society, as children do not grow up in isolation but right in the middle of the real world.  Growing up is thus much more than academic education, but is almost impossible without the efforts made by schools.  Mutual support and mutual respect for the responsibility of parents and schools is the “conditio sine qua non” for raising children in our age.
 The hopes of many people in Western and Eastern Europe are based upon a new cooperation on our continent, leading to increased unity and a common identity.  Today’s young people will be citizens of the Europe of tomorrow, each with their distinctive spiritual and cultural background, each with their distinctive talents and expectations.  For them and for ourselves we demand a democratic Europe, which will continue to regard its diversity as a source of inspiration.
 Education and schooling in Europe should be focused on this objective.
 If we want to achieve this goal, parents must work together: in schools, with schools, but also at European level and in national associations.  Mutual inspiration and growth towards European solidarity are our objectives.
 EPA regards this as its “to be or not to be”.  But even more is needed.
 Parents in Europe should have always the right to count on respect for their prime responsibility as educators of youth.  This means recognition for their parental duties and emphasis on their task as prime educators for their children as well as support from dedicated people in education and society as a whole for their educational efforts.
 EPA wishes to formulate this philosophy in a declaration of principles, the “Rights and Duties of Parents in Europe”.  We ask the European Commission and Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe to support this Charter and join us in its realization.