27th session of the Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education
December 3-4, 2026 | Podgorica, Montenegro
Empowering Educators for a Democratic Europe in the Digital Age
The Council of Europe convenes Education Ministers from across Europe and beyond to strengthen the teaching profession, reinforce democratic culture, promote a human-centered digital transformation in and through education, and to protect academic freedom.
Conference at a glance
Dates: 3–4 December 2026
Pre-Ministerial High-Level Exchange: 3 December 2026
Venue: Podgorica
Host: Ministry of Education of Montenegro
Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Responsible Body:
Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU)
Languages: English and French
Simultaneous interpretation in English, French, German, Italian and passive Spanish
This Conference contributes to the implementation of the objectives of the New Democratic Pact for Europe — the Council of Europe's central commitment to restoring trust and resilience in democratic governance. Education and those who deliver it are at the heart of democratic renewal. Teachers' organisations are recognised as strategic partners in this Pact.
About the Conference
The 27th Session of the Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education takes place at the mid-point of implementing the Education Strategy 2024–2030, "Learners First." It serves both as a mid-term evaluation and a European forum to chart priorities for 2027–2030 and beyond.
Ministers will hold a focused discussion on how Europe can strengthen, protect and modernise the teaching profession across schools, vocational education and training (VET) and higher education. In a period marked by rapid technological change, geopolitical instability and social transformations, education systems play a stabilising role for societies.
The Conference is co-organised with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, which will hold the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers starting from 10 November 2026. It will conclude with the adoption of a Ministerial Resolution defining European education priorities for 2027–2030.
Three Sub-Themes
The Conference is structured around three interconnected sub-themes — from democratic culture in classrooms to the protection of academic freedom, and including digital transformation .
1 - Reaffirm the democratic mission
Strengthen trust in the teaching profession and its role in democratic culture across Europe.
2 - Endorse European initiatives
Launch the European Space for Citizenship Education (ESCE), White Paper on the Futures of Teachers and the Teaching Profession, and support the development of a European system for the protection of academic freedom.
3 - Review the Education Strategy
Mid-term evaluation of the Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024–2030 "Learners First", and course-setting for 2027–2030.
4 - Align with global Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4)
Contribute Europe's voice to the post-2030 global education agenda.
5 - Adopt a Ministerial Resolution
Define priorities and commitments on empowering educators as agents of democratic resilience in the era of digital transformation.
Teachers and school leaders are key actors in strengthening democratic culture. They play a decisive role in creating environments where democratic values are embedded in governance, school culture and everyday practice — aligned with the RFCDC.
How can teachers strengthen democratic culture in schools and VET?
What role do school leaders play in democratic governance?
Sub-Theme 2
Teachers and Digital Transformation
The digital transformation must be built on human rights. It should respect the rights of teachers and learners, ensure equity, protect privacy and dignity, and remain democratically accountable. It should also address the ethical dimensions of digital technologies, including questions of authorship, academic integrity, and the responsible use of AI-generated content.
How can digital transformation strengthen professional autonomy?
What safeguards are needed for data, algorithms and platforms?
How to ensure equitable access to digital professional development?
Sub-Theme 3
Safeguarding Academic Freedom
Academic freedom faces growing pressures — from political interference to online harassment and self-censorship.
The Conference will explore policy and legal measures to protect academic freedom in Europe as a core democratic value.
How to bridge the gap between principle and effective legal protection?
What governance structures best protect academic independence?
What added value might result from strengthening the normative framework at Council of Europe level, including the possible development of a legally binding instrument?
High-level Exchange with education stakeholders: Empowering educators
The Pre-Ministerial High-Level Exchange, with a focus on teachers’ organisations, is conceived as a strategic contribution to the New Democratic Pact for Europe.
It provides a structured space for dialogue between ministers of education, the Council of Europe, teachers’ organisations (notably Education International and the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), and representatives of the wider school community including those involved in teacher education, school leadership, parents and students.
It ensures that the lived experience of educators directly informs ministerial deliberations and the future work of the Organisation.
The Exchange will also contribute directly to the Ministerial Conference starting in the afternoon, with key messages from the Exchange to be included in the Ministerial Resolution. In addition, the Exchange will inform the Council of Europe’s future work concerning the teaching profession together with the forthcoming White Paper on the Futures of Teachers and the Teaching Profession.
Session Outputs Key messages from the Interactive Roundtables will inform the Ministerial Conference Resolution and the White Paper.
09:00–09:30: Welcome and Opening Remarks
Welcome by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (tbc) • Introduction to the purpose of the High-Level Exchange and interactive format
09:30–09:45: Setting the Scene: Educators at the Heart of Democratic Security
• Short framing presentation by the lead author of the White Paper on the Future of the Teaching Profession
• The White Paper from the perspective of the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE)
• The White Paper from the perspective of a Minister of Education.
09:45–10:30: Interactive Roundtables: Challenges and Opportunities for Educators
Participants seated at mixed roundtables, each with a facilitator • Each table discusses the following items:
1) How can educators and the wider school community best strengthen a democratic culture?
2) What is needed most to support educators increasingly under pressure?
3) What is one concrete idea to empower the profession?
• Facilitators capture 2-3 key points per table.
10:30–11:00: Coffee break
11:00–11:50: Plenary: Sharing insights, participation interaction and key messages
Takeaways from each table:
• Open mic
• Rapporteurs summarise key shared messages to inform the Ministerial Conference Resolution and the White Paper.
11:50–12:15: Interactive Poll and Prioritisation
Live poll: top three priorities to empower educators for democracy and digital change • Discussion of poll results.
12:15–12:45: Concluding Reflections and Next Steps
Closing remarks by the Secretary General and a Minister of Education.
• Brief outline of how today’s messages will feed directly into the Ministerial Conference Resolution and White Paper.
Three days structured for maximum efficiency — CDEDU Plenary on 2 December, the full morning of 3 December dedicated to Teachers, the formal Ministerial opening at 16:00 on 3 December, and the Conference closing by 13:00 on 4 December.
16:15 – 17:00: Ministerial Introduction: Empowering Educators for a Democratic Europe in the Digital Age
Ministerial
17:00 – 18:15: Thematic Session I — Teachers as Builders of Democratic Culture
Sub-Theme 1
18:15 – 18:30: Conclusion of Day 1
18:30 – 18:35: Family Photo
Sub-Theme 2
19:30: Bus Departure for the official Dinner for Heads of Delegation Hosted by the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro (Venue to be confirmed)
Informal Dinner for all other participants (Hosted by the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro)
4 December 2026
Day 2 Ministerial morning Resolution Close
08:00 – 09:00: Badge collection · Registration desk open — Main lobby
09:00 – 09:10: Opening of Day 2
DAY 1 RECAP AND AGENDA FOR THE MORNING SESSIONS
09:10 – 10:10: Thematic Session II —Teachers and Digital Transformation
Sub-Theme 2
10:10 – 11:10: Thematic Session III — Safeguarding Academic Freedom
SUB-THEME 3
11:10 – 11:30: Coffee break
11:30 – 12:15: Ministerial Roundtable: Post 2030 UN Agenda —Towards a Shared European Commitment
Roundtable
12:15 – 13:00: Adoption of the Ministerial Resolution and Closing Statements
The Conference will formally launch three flagship Council of Europe initiatives at the intersection of democratic culture, digitalisation and academic freedom.
European Space for Citizenship Education
The ESCE is a direct response to democratic backsliding by enhancing quality of citizenship education across Europe. Based on some 30 years of Council of Europe acquis in education for democratic citizenship (EDC), it is composed of a set of principles, a quality framework and co-operation mechanism. The ESCE promotes a truly enabling environment in which EDC is not only taught, but experienced, practiced, and embedded in a culture of democracy.
White Paper on the Futures of Teachers and the Teaching Profession
The White Paper will guide future policy and standard-setting in Education within the Council of Europe. It sets out the main challenges teachers face today and may face tomorrow. It describes a shared European vision built on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It explores policy options and paths for action. And it proposes practical steps to strengthen teaching as a profession – one that builds knowledge, drives change, and supports democratic resilience. The White Paper also looks at how digital technologies – including but not only AI – affect teachers and teaching.
European Framework for Protection of Academic Freedom
The proposed European framework — potentially a legally binding instrument — would strengthen the protection of academic freedom as a core European value. Academic freedom safeguards evidence-based inquiry, pluralism of ideas, institutional autonomy and the integrity of public debate. It protects the rights of the entire academic community – including researchers, teachers and students – to pursue, develop and communicate knowledge without undue interference, Without academic freedom, democracy is weakened.
Two separate registration channels are available — one for Ministerial Delegations, one for education stakeholders invited to participate in the High-Level Exchange.
High-Level Exchange with
Education stakeholders
Participation in this Exchange with the Secretary General and ministers is by invitation only. The Council of Europe will send letters of invitation to the individuals nominated by these organisations.
Deadline for nominations: 15 July 2026
Organisation details and type (national / international)
Nominee profil (name, position, country)
Ministerial Session
Delegation composition (step 1) and participant registration (step 2)
The process of communicating the composition of delegations and of registering participants takes place in two steps.
STEP 1: Upon receipt of the invitation letter, national Delegations and countries and institutions participating as Observers are kindly invited to communicate their composition as soon as possible and before 10 September 2026, through the link available in the invitation message.
Council of Europe member States, the Holy See and Kazakhstan may be represented by up to three participants. Federal countries and those countries with separate Ministries for Education and Higher Education may be represented by up to four participants. Countries or institutions participating as Observers may be represented by up to two participants.
Once the composition of each Delegation has been confirmed, participants will be invited to register online from 11 September 2026 (See step 2 below).
STEP 2: All members of each delegation, as well as the press and media, persons accompanying a Conference participant (and who will not be part of the official delegation, such as partners of Heads of Delegation) and security officers, must register individually online, through the online registration form indicated below.
Online Registration (Available from 11 September to 3 November)
Participants
Who Attends
The Conference brings together Education Ministers and high-level representatives from across the Council of Europe membership, international organisations and education stakeholders.
Full Participants
Council of Europe Member States (46 countries)
Holy See
Kazakhstan
Committee of Ministers
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity
European Union
Education International (ETUCE)
Observers
Canada
Japan
Mexico
United States of America
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Observers admitted by the CDEDU
High-Level Exchange Participants
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
European teachers’ unions and teacher associations, teachers from the host country
Student and learner organisations, parent organisations
Date Badge Collection
2 Dec: 14:00 – 19:00 — Main lobby (before/during CDEDU)
3 Dec: 08:00 – 09:00 — Main lobby (before HLE)
4 Dec: 08:00 – 09:00 — Main lobby (before Day 2)
Interpretation & Languages
Working languages: English and French.
Simultaneous interpretation in plenary: English, French, German, Italian and passive Spanish.
Interpretation in other sessions subject to availability.
Visa
Citizens of most CoE member states do not require a visa for Montenegro (stays ≤ 90 days). Delegations should verify requirements at the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Government of Montenegro - GOV.ME.
Note: a Schengen visa does not confer the right to enter Montenegro.
Secretariat Contacts
Council of Europe: Education Department
Address: Council of Europe, 67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France
Website: www.coe.int/education
Host Ministry: Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation — Montenegro
Useful Information
Time zone: UTC+1 (CET in winter) Currency : Euro (€) — ATMs widely available Climate (December): 8–12 °C days / 5–8 °C evenings · rain likely Emergency: 112 (general) | Police 122 | Ambulance 124
Dates: 3–4 December 2026
Venue: Podgorica
Host: Ministry of Education of Montenegro
Responsible Body: 
Languages: English and French
About the Conference
Three Sub-Themes
Pre-Conference · 3 December 2026
Key messages from the Interactive Roundtables will inform the Ministerial Conference Resolution and the White Paper.
Draft Programme
Strategic initiatives
Accreditation and registration
Participants
Concept Note — Empowering Educators for a Democratic Europe in the Digital Age
Practical information