The Council of Europe has decided to proclaim the year 2005 European Year of Citizenship through Education. The Launching Conference ''Learning and living democracy'' took place in Sofia , Bulgaria, on 13-14 December 2004 (Princess Hotel - Maria Louisa Boulevard).

The conference was opened, on Monday 13 December, by Bulgarian Education and Science Minister Igor Damianov and Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio.

The conference brought together more than 150 participants, among them professionals and experts experts in educational policies, as well as representatives of NGOs and of other European and International institutions. They shared their experiences and achievements and endorse a Declaration and a Plan of Action for the “Year”.

The conference also launched local, regional, national and international activities aimed at the dissemination of best practice, awareness raising and developing initiatives and partnerships. The Council – set up in 1949 with a remit to uphold democratic values – will co-ordinate work in each of its 46 member states.

The conclusions of the conference will be brought to the attention of the Third Council of Europe Summit of Heads of state and government, which will take place in Warsaw on 16-17 May 2005 with the goal to ensure the Council's continued relevance for European citizens.

The conference wished to draw attention to how crucial education, both formal and non-formal, in a life long learning perspective, is to the development of active citizenship, the quality of participation in a democratic society and in fostering democratic culture.