By EPA

Upcoming Webinar: Bridging the Gap – How Parents and Teachers Talk “Digital”

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming webinar in the Code4Europe webinar series.

As technology increasingly shapes our children’s futures, many of us are left wondering: How can we support our children’s digital education without being experts ourselves? And how can we make sure the educational and the home environment are on the same page and don’t tug in different directions? 

To answer this question, we are thrilled to welcome our special guest speaker, Dr. Louise Heeran Flynn from Trinity College Dublin. Drawing from her extensive expertise, Dr. Heeran Flynn will share invaluable insights on how parents and teachers can team up effectively to make digital learning a success both at school and at home.

This event is part of the CodeWeek initiative, dedicated to helping families and educators build a stronger digital future together.

📅 Event Details:

  • Date: June 17, 2026

  • Time: 17:00 CEST

  • Location: Online

  • Cost: Free (Registration required)

  • Funding: Funded by the European Union

📝 How to Join:

Please share this event widely with your networks, schools, and parent communities!

👉 Click here to register and secure your spot

Upcoming events
By EPA

A New Chapter for EPA: Strengthening the Voice of Parents Across Europe

We are thrilled to share some momentous news that marks a historic turning point for our association. As we move into 2026, the European Parents’ Association has officially entered into a Strategic Grant Agreement (SGA) with the European Commission under the Erasmus+ program.

This partnership is a profound recognition of a truth we have championed for years: parents are vital partners in shaping the European Education Area.

"For EPA, this is more than just funding; it is a commitment to growth, professionalization, and deep-rooted inclusion." 

What This Means for Families and Communities

With the launch of our new project EURO-PARENTS, we are scaling up our operations to ensure that grassroots family experiences directly inform EU policy. Over the next two years, you will see EPA transforming its capabilities:

  • Expanding our reach: We are actively reaching out to underrepresented regions and minority groups across Europe.
  • Accessibility & multilingualism: We believe language should never be a barrier to advocacy. Our website and core toolkits will therefore be available in at least 4 European languages plus Simple English.
  • Equipping parents for the future: We are delivering concrete resources on the issues that matter most to modern households - from digital literacy and AI in education to youth mental health, vocational training and education, and green skills.
  • Collecting good practices: We are launching an online EPA Knowledge Base to powerfully bring our members’ proven success stories and good practices out into the world, so that others do not have to reinvent the wheel.
  • Training more parents: We are stepping up our training delivered to members and grass-roots communities. 

Building a More Family-Friendly Europe

Our goal is simple: to cultivate a stronger, more inclusive EPA that provides invaluable resources to national communities and projects a proud, unified voice in Brussels.

Whether you are a parent looking for guidance, a national organization looking to collaborate, or an ally in education, you are part of this journey. Together, we are co-creating the future of European education. 

🔍 Explore the Full Strategy

Want to see the specific pillars, measurable targets, and formal governance structures driving this initiative?

 

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By EPA

Bratislava 2025: A Look Back at the EPA General Assembly and International Conference

The European Parents’ Association (EPA), in collaboration with the Slovak Council of Parents’ Associations (SRRZ), hosted an enriching General Assembly (GA) and International Conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, from October 17th to 19th, 2025.

Under the central theme, “Development of Education from 2026 to 2030 in Slovakia and Worldwide” , the program was filled with vital discussions, expert lectures (including from OECD ), and unique cultural experiences. Discover for yourself in pictures on these pages!

We are excited to announce that during the General Assembly, Stefano Crico from Italy was elected as the new EPA President, and two new Board Members were elected from Spain and Cyprus.

 

🏆 Discover the Winner of the 2025 ALCUIN Award!

 

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By EPA

EU Code Week

11 October 2025 – 26 October 2025
organised by the Code4Europe consortium, of which EPA is a Member (EU project)

Are you dealing with digitalization and coding? Get ready for EU Code Week, running from October 11-26! This is your chance to discover exciting coding activities happening in your region or online – unplugged activities included!

Check out the official website at https://codeweek.eu/ to find events and get involved. You can also register your own initiatives and become a part of the vibrant community.

Join us in celebrating creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration through coding – both plugged and unplugged!

Upcoming events
By EPA

Reimagining Citizenship and Learning: Preparing Young People for an Uncertain Future

High-Level Experts’ Policy Lab by the Education Inspiring Peace Laboratory (EIP Lab)

Venue: TBC, Brussels
Wednesday 1st October 2025 | 10:00–16:00

The Education Inspiring Peace Laboratory (EIP Lab) is hosting a high-level Experts’ Policy Lab in Brussels on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The event, titled “Reimagining Citizenship and Learning: Preparing Young People for an Uncertain Future,” will bring together youth voices, policymakers, educators, and civil society to address a critical question: are our current education systems truly preparing young people for the challenges of the 21st century?

About the Policy Lab

The event will explore how education can better prepare young people not only for work and life but also for active and peaceful participation in a democratic society. A central theme will be the importance of Citizenship Education as a core part of basic schooling. The goal is for this type of education to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to navigate uncertainty and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Inspired by Jane Hanckel’s documentary, “Preparing Young People for an Uncertain Future,” the lab will feature insights from young people and global education experts. The ultimate goal is to develop a set of shared policy recommendations that will inform a new European-level report and future grant initiatives for 2026/27, aiming to improve youth well-being and citizenship education across the continent.

Attach: Save the date – The Infinite Game Policy Lab – EIP Lab

Upcoming events
By EPA

Pathways to Educational Success – SCIREARLY project final conference

September 24, 3:00pm – 5:00pm CEST
Brussels, European Parliament

With Arja Krauchenberg (Speaker)

Join the European Parents’ Association and all our consortium partners for the SCIREARLY project final conference.
“Pathways to Educational Success – Co-creating Scientific Evidence for All Children to Learn and Thrive” will give you an overview of the results of the SCIREARLY Horizon project that has gathered information and good practices on how to foster educational success and avoid early school leaving, putting together a toolkit and other valuable resources for practitioners, policy makers and researchers.

Find more information on the project here: https://scirearly.eu/
and register at this link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=pfZFRzvUHkuTrbM_OMLcoYtTwxsx7LNJkzn5Fh0efGZUMkc2OTI5S0VZQjlPNEZXVEs4TkIwNkQ1SyQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

Upcoming events
By EPA

Proud to reveal our 40 Years Anniversary Book

40 Years of Parent Representation, of partnering for a common objective! This book is dedicated to all children. They are the red threa, inspiration and driving force behind our work – past, present and future. We thank all our wonderful members and partners for this common journey.

Download the book in digital from HERE .

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By EPA

A New Chapter: Highlights from the May General Assembly

The momentum continued on May 24th as EPA members gathered for their General Assembly in Brussels. This assembly marked another milestone,as Victor Petuya ended his last mandate as EPA President and was succeeded by Elena Odysseos, a long-stading Member of the Board. Amongst the other highlights:

A warm welcome to the National Federation of Romanian Parents – Edupart (FNPE) as our newest member! Learn more about EDUPART.

Thank you Claudio Masotti for all your energy, time and dedication to EPA! You have been an extraordinary Ambassador!

Thank you Silvija Stanić for your time and dedication on the EPA Board! We hope to see you back soon!

“The miracle of Digital Technology: Beyond benefits and fascination, children’shealth and development are at risk. How we can protect our children.” – Keynote by Dr Stella Canna Michaelidou, Expert on the Impact of toxic Factors on Children‘s Health & Food Safety, President of the National Committee on Environment & Children’s Health Cyprus (More).

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By EPA

A Message from our new President

Dear Members, Parents, Partners & Friends,

It is with immense pride and gratitude that I share my first message with you as the newly elected President of the European Parents’ Association.
The recent 40th Anniversary International Conference and General Assembly in Brussels were truly inspiring events, marking a significant milestone in our collective journey.

 

Witnessing so many of you gathered, reflecting on four decades of dedicated parent representation and actively shaping the future of education and family policy across Europe, was a powerful experience. The energy, commitment, and passion you bring to advocating for parents and children are the very essence of what makes EPA such a vital and impactful organization.

 

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our previous President, Victor Petuya, for his outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication. We are thrilled that Victor will continue to contribute to our mission as an EPA Ambassador. I also warmly welcome the National Federation of Romanian Parents – Edupart (FNPE) as our newest full member. Your presence strengthens our diverse network and enhances our collective voice.

 

Our 40th Anniversary Conference, “Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy: Shaping our Common Future,” was a resounding success, and I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for their generous hosting and invaluable partnership. Their support was instrumental in creating such a memorable and impactful event.

 

Our deepest appreciation goes to every single one of our speakers for making this event so enriching. A huge thank you, in particular, to Gwang-Chol Chang from UNESCO for providing such a memorable and inspiring keynote speech!

 

We are also deeply grateful to our esteemed sponsors, Santillana, Concept Hotel Management, GEME and Lost in Translation?, whose contributions were essential in bringing our vision to life. A special thank you also goes to our many partners and networks on the EU stage who joined us, enriching the discussions and strengthening our collective voice.

 

As we look ahead, I am filled with optimism for the opportunities that lie before us. Building on the strong foundations laid, we will continue to champion the crucial role of parents, advocate for their voices at every level, and foster a Europe where families and children thrive.

 

On behalf of the entire EPA Board, I wish you all a wonderful summer holiday, filled with joy, relaxation, and precious moments with your families. We look forward to a rich autumn of continued collaboration and advocacy. Mark your calendars for our next General Assembly in Bratislava, Slovakia, from October 17-19 (preceded by the World Youth Art & Folklore Days in Bratislava on October 16!). Our Slovakian member, SRRZ, has done everything to organize an outstanding and very special program for us, and we can’t wait to see you there!

With warm regards,

 

Elena Odysseos

President, European Parents’ Association

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