The Council of Europe has released a new publication, Implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)10 on Developing and Promoting Digital Citizenship Education – State of Play, presenting the first comprehensive review of how member states have implemented the Council of Europe’s Digital Citizenship Education (DCE) Recommendation adopted in 2019.
The report provides a detailed overview of national policies, strategies and initiatives related to digital citizenship education across 46 member states. It examines how DCE principles are reflected in formal, non-formal and informal education settings, and how governments are responding to challenges linked to digital participation, online safety, media literacy, digital skills and democratic engagement in the digital age.
Key findings show that while many member states have developed policies and strategies aligned with elements of digital citizenship education—such as digital education, online safety and media literacy—only a limited number explicitly reference the DCE Recommendation in national legislation, policies or curricula. At the same time, the report highlights a wide range of innovative awareness-raising initiatives, including curriculum reforms, teacher training, child-friendly resources, digital platforms and national campaigns.
The review also underlines the importance of stakeholder involvement, noting strong collaboration during the design and implementation of policies, but more limited evidence of systematic stakeholder participation in evaluation processes. In addition, it points to the growing role of international co-operation, notably through the DCE Promoters’ Network, Safer Internet Centres and partnerships with international organisations.
Based on its findings, the publication formulates clear recommendations to support further implementation of the DCE Recommendation. These include strengthening alignment of national frameworks with the Council of Europe’s DCE principles, improving monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, expanding teacher training, increasing translation and dissemination efforts, and reinforcing international co-operation—particularly in the context of the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education 2025.
The publication reaffirms the commitment of the Council of Europe to supporting member states in fostering inclusive, rights-based and democratic digital citizenship education, equipping learners of all ages to participate safely, ethically and responsibly in an increasingly digitalised society.
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