“I would like to underline here one particular aspect which is particularly important for the Commission, and I think for all other EU institutions, the European schools are also a key factor in attracting and retaining talented staff in the institutions. All institutions have difficulties to ensure geographical balance among their staff, and the offer of high quality and multilingual education for children of staff and also of members, of course, is an important element in attracting staff from all member states of the European Union. Equally important are the strong ties between the European schools and the national education systems. European schools are also schools of them, or are schools of the member states, and this is very important as it allows children and their parents to return easily into the national school systems and to allow the recognition of a European Baccalaureate when they want to study and find work after leaving school in the Member States. A word on the European Education Area, which was also or which is also an important topic for the European Parliament. The schools play a growing role in this area. Their experience in promoting multilingualism, civic competence, but also the fact of learning and studying together as Europeans in the same schools can be valuable contributions to the national systems, and these exchanges between national and European schools are mutually enriching, and therefore the European schools participate in working groups of the European Education Area, which fall under the competence of DG. It is often repeated, and the Commission often repeats that the Commission is only one among many members of the Board of Governors. This is true when it comes to the voting rights.”
Recruitment policies in the EU · Multilingualism in EU institutions