A Written Declaration on establishing a European Day against Bullying and School Violence was adopted today in Strasbourg on the initiative of Georgios Koumoutsakos MEP. The text was co-signed by the EP Vice-Presidents Roberta Angelilli and Alexander Alvaro and MEPs Maria Badia i Cutchet and Keith Taylor and was met with the support of 384 Members of the European Parliament. 

After the adoption of the Written Declaration, Mr Koumoutsakos stated: "I believe that the adoption of this proposal by the European Parliament will act as a catalyst for further awareness of teachers, parents and students. The positive outcome of this effort is just the beginning of a number of actions from the European Commission and Member States for the establishment of a European Day against Bullying and School Violence."

"The key word is 'prevention'. The message is that no child should live under the threat of bullying."

"The consequences of this morbid problem are devastating; students may even be led to suicide, as recently happened in two cases in Italy and in many other European countries in the past. Sadly, the broadness and anonymity of the internet are putting new and more concerning aspects of this phenomenon at the forefront."

The European Commissioners for Digital Agenda and for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, expressed their strong support for this European Day against Bullying at a meeting with Mr Koumoutsakos in Strasbourg.

Following the adoption of the text, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda stated: "Bullying and violence are problems that require eternal vigilance. No-one has the right to bully you online or offline, and you can always speak to teachers, parents and friends if you are being bullied. This is the message all young people need to hear and I am proud to spread this message by supporting the European Day against Bullying and School Violence."

The European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth added: "All children are entitled to a school environment that is free of bullying and all forms of violence - be it physical or mental - which may put their personal and social development at risk. Such phenomena cannot be tolerated and every effort should be made to rid classrooms of this scourge. It is for this reason that I welcome the European Parliament's efforts in adopting a Written Declaration against bullying and school violence."

For further information:
Georgios Koumoutsakos MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845212
Theo Georgitsopoulos, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-475-750566

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 270 Members and 3 Croatian Observer Members.