EPA - European Parents' Association

02/10/2026

⏳ 6 Days Left To Regıster for “CodeWeek: The Future is Now”!
📅 14 October 2026
🕘 09:00-18:30
📍 Brussels
On 14 October, we are bringing together education, industry and community stakeholders in Brussels to explore how collaboration can help build stronger pathways for digital skills across Europe.

What’s on the agenda?
🧩 Project results & success stories
Discover key achievements and lessons learned from the CodeWeek project.
🛠️ Practical tools & resources
Explore the CSR Toolkit and Matchmaking Platform supporting education and industry collaboration.
🔗 Connections & collaboration
Exchange experiences, meet other stakeholders and discover opportunities for future cooperation.
🚀 The digital skills of tomorrow

Explore how stronger partnerships can create more opportunities for learners and support the next generation of digital talent.
🎟️ Do not mıss out, only 6 days left to register!

👉 Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Gzc3zpCChZ
We look forward to bringing the CodeWeek community together in Brussels!

🤝 Together with our CodeWeek partners:
JA Europe ,CoderDojo Belgium Profil Klett,Digitale Wolven, Matrix Internet, eSkills Malta Foundation,LIKTA , JA Ukraine, CityLab STEM Labs, ECWT, Euractive,Officina Futuro, Charlie Miller Group CyRIC, Uni Systems, Science on Stage Germany, EPA - European Parents' Association

And with the support of organisations helping shape Europe’s digital future:
Google, Amazon, LEGO, Apple, SAP, Vodafone European Commission,HP

01/10/2026

On 29 and 30 September, the European Parents' Association took part in the EU Parliamentary Democracy Forum at the European Parliament, bringing together members of the European Parliament, national parliaments and civil society to discuss how to protect and strengthen democracy in Europe.

A clear message ran through the two days: Europe has many democratic commitments on paper, and the challenge now is making them work in practice. The discussion on the EU Strategy for Civil Society highlighted what that means for organisations like ours: civil society must be treated as a partner, involved early rather than consulted once decisions are made, with funding that protects its independence. Speakers stressed that smaller, grassroots and volunteer based organisations must be heard alongside the largest ones, and that the planned Civil Society Platform should give them a real role.

The session on parliamentary oversight then turned to what happens after legislation is adopted. Participants identified stronger follow up on implementation and greater transparency as top priorities, with examples ranging from petitions to public hearings that give citizens a direct voice.

Building on this, EPA's Education Policy and Research Officer took the floor to raise a concrete case: AI in education, a high risk area under the AI Act. AI tools are already entering classrooms, and parents are often the first to see how they are used, yet have no structured channel into oversight. EPA asked how parents' organisations could be structurally involved in monitoring the implementation of the AI Act in education.

The question was warmly received. Majolein Moorman Deputy Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives, said it went to the heart of the discussion. Brando Benifei MEP, Co-Chair of the Working Group on the Implementation and Enforcement of the AI Act, linked it to upcoming EU work on protecting children from addictive design and algorithmic manipulation, and noted that national authorities will supervise high risk AI in education from the end of 2027.

29/09/2026

Join us on 1 October for “VET Education Joins EU Code Week" and discover practical approaches to bringing coding and digital skills into vocational education and training.

In this interactive session we will:
✅ Discover how EU Code Week can fit naturally into VET centres, through simple, concrete examples from fellow educators
✅ Join a breakout room session to adapt an easy-to-replicate EU Code Week activity to your own VET context
✅ Leave with a ready-to-use lesson plan and personalised guidelines
✅ Get support to register your activity on the EU Code Week map and connect with Leading Teachers and peers across Europe

Register to the event and get ready for EU Code Week 2026 👀
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=p-2lRoNVDUCAXTMPbv4IvWXijY3gNLBJjts1eEttFpdUNjNXUDJDR1c0QlZSMFREUUNMN1dPUDNRVy4u&route=shorturl

27/09/2026

🌿 We want to hear from you before our ECOFamilies Eco-Lab launch!

Whether you're a parent trying to navigate youth eco-anxiety at home, or an educator handling student cynicism in the classroom, you help build this event.

Take our anonymous 3-minute survey to submit your real-life situations and questions:

🔹 Parents: What is the hardest part of talking to your child about climate change?

🔹 Educators: How well does your curriculum balance climate knowledge, practical skills, and emotional resilience?

We will address selected submissions live during our Eco-Lab!

🗓️ Save the Date:

🟢 28 September 2026 | 17:30 – 19:00 CEST

📍 Live Online, in English | Free (Co-funded by the EU)

🔗 Survey: https://lnkd.in/epN2aXxj &

Registration Link: Registration:https://lnkd.in/eA_jeXX8

Organised in the framework of the ECOFamilies project by the European Parents' Association & Diaspora Solidarity Group. Co-funded by the EU.

25/09/2026

🌿 ECO Families Live Eco-Labs!
Whether you’re a parent navigating youth climate anxiety at home, or an educator/youth worker fostering resilience in the classroom, we invite you to join our 90-minute live online masterclasses co-created with Teo Akinola (EU Climate Pact Ambassador / Diaspora Solidarity Group) and the European Parents' Association (EPA)!

🗓️ Save the Date:
🟢 28 September, 2026 | 17:30 – 19:00 CEST
📍 Live Online, in English | Free (Co-funded by the EU)

📋 Shape the live workshops before they begin! Take our short, anonymous pre-survey to share your real-life situations, questions, or classroom challenges. We will use your input to build our live case studies and discussion topics!

👉 Take the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQt47xfr78LBJ36QZTUHtmSqlFIwLCx-fTnFtwFrT5BdqOZA/viewform?usp=header

Register for the workshop here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdm4betB8u5d6sQP9wmPlYU8n7f9U9Yx_Tfv0hqWdV7izL6Gg/viewform?usp=header

23/09/2026

📢 Upcoming European Semester Webinar & Call for Policy Contributions

Bridging the Gap Between EU and National Policy for Poverty Eradication
Join the joint European Semester webinar on 5 October, 10:00–12:00, designed especially for national civil society organisations working on social policy.

The webinar will explore:
🔹 How the European Semester works and why it matters for social policy
🔹 How civil society organisations can engage effectively in the process
🔹 Practical tools, examples and opportunities for engagement
🔹 Peer exchange to strengthen coordination and contribute to EU and national social policy priorities

📅 Date: 5 October
🕙 Time: 10:00–12:00
📝 Registration deadline: 28 September 2025
👉Register
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=QSCVULgCh0Wi_-Sbltsft3ZBR5gyBidIiCFyJYvD1RZUMlFNSjFOVDBDVUlHWjhFOTE3M1dWT0VDOS4u&route=shorturl

📣 Call for policy materials
A draft policy position is also being prepared on EU action to support the activation of people excluded from the labour market and equality between women and men in labour market opportunities.
Do you have a recent policy position or relevant policy material to share?

📩 Please send it to Camilla Franchi at [email protected] by 25 September, end of day.

23/09/2026

Have Your Say on Europe’s Better Internet for Kids Strategy!
The European Parents’ Association (EPA) is joining hands with the European School Net by encouraging parents, caregivers, educators, children and young people, and other stakeholders to take part in the second evaluation of the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+).

Children’s digital lives are changing rapidly, with new technologies, platforms and online risks emerging every day. It is important that European policies continue to reflect the real experiences and needs of children and families online.
The 2026 evaluation will look at:
🔹 How well the BIK+ strategy continues to respond to children’s online needs
🔹 Progress made since the strategy was adopted
🔹 What more can be done to protect, empower and respect children online
🔹 How emerging technologies and developments in European legislation and policy are shaping children’s digital experiences

🗣️ Take part in the consultation and make your voice heard!
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/2026_BIKPlus_Evaluation_Parents
Surveys are available in all EU languages.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents and caregivers have an important voice in this conversation. Your experiences and perspectives can help shape future efforts to create a safer, more inclusive and empowering digital environment for children.

For further background, the official evaluation page is available here and also includes links to the other surveys: https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/bik/bik-plus-strategy/second-evaluation

22/09/2026

Join the seventh webinar for a discussion on Inclusive Education and Family Participation.

Designed for policy-makers, researchers, education practitioners and professionals working in inclusive education, the webinar is part of EASNIE’s 30th anniversary monthly series, exploring key themes and developments in inclusive education across Europe and beyond.

From meaningful parent engagement to stronger home-school partnerships, the session will explore ways to ensure families are active partners in inclusive education.

EASNIE Director João Costa will be joined by:

🎙️ Elizabeth Gosme (she/her) Gosme, Director of COFACE Families Europe
🎙️ Arja Krauchenberg, Project Co-ordinator of the EPA - European Parents' Association

📅 Register to join the webinar this Thursday, 11.00–12.00 CET https://lnkd.in/eU6fvGj6
🔗 Learn more about the speakers https://lnkd.in/eSwCn7VT

21/09/2026

Two days of Transnational Partners' Meeting of our project that is part of the European Commission initiative discussing:
- the common structure of the four learning paths that have been developed to foster ,
- piloting the different elements of the learning paths in the teacher training courses
- how to bring the results to policy makers
- the creation of a teacher alliance
A big thank you to Prof. Jenny Page and her colleagues from Iannina University for the organization.

21/09/2026

The European Commission calls on to share their experiences and let them know what measures they would like to see to make the internet a better place => take the survey!

Parents and caregivers: we want to hear from you! 💬
As a parent or caregiver, your experience and perspective can help us understand how children and young people experience the online world. 🌐
Take part in the survey to share your thoughts on how the European Commission can make the internet a better and safer place for children and young people.
📝 Complete the survey by 2 October 2026. The survey is available in all EU languages.
👉https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/bik/bik-plus-strategy/second-evaluation