With its Green Paper "Migration & Mobility: challenges and opportunities for EU education systems", adopted on 3 July 2008, the Commission wants to open the debate on how education policies may better address the challenges posed by immigration and internal EU mobility flows.

It raises issues such as how to prevent the creation of segregated school settings, so as to improve equity in education; how to accommodate the increased diversity of mother tongues and cultural perspectives and build intercultural skills in the EU; and how to adapt teaching skills and build bridges with migrant families and communities.

The Green Paper forms part of the Renewed Social Agenda, the Commission's package of measures, adopted on 2 July 2008, to reinforce Access, Opportunities and Solidarity among all EU citizens.

EFSC welcomes the focus given in the Green Paper on the children of migrant workers, considering in particular the growing European dimension of the phenomenon of street children which is increasingly linked with migration phenomena both from third countries and within the European Union.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on these issues and has invited interested parties to make their views before 31 December 2008. The results of this consultation will be analysed and published in early 2009.

EFSC will provide its contributions and invites its member organisations to get actively involved in the consultation.

Find out more at http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/news490_en.htm