1. What is the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education, and what are its main objectives?

The European Year 2025 is a unique opportunity to highlight the value of digital citizenship education in equipping learners with the competences (skills, values, attitudes, and knowledge and critical understanding) to thrive in the digital environment.  The Year aims to raise awareness about the vital role of digital citizenship education in equipping all learners with the skills needed to engage actively and responsibly in the digital environment. It seeks to promote a better understanding of the Council of Europe’s concept of digital citizenship, encourage member states to adopt it as a long-term policy priority, and foster collaboration across public, private, and civil society sectors at local, national, and international levels. The initiative also aims to improve access to relevant resources and highlight innovative practices in the field.

2. Why was this theme selected, and what makes it relevant both within Europe and internationally?

At the Council of Europe, we believe that engaging in the digital environment should imply respecting inclusive and democratic values, human rights and the rule of law, knowledge of privacy and safety issues, awareness of opportunities and of risks associated with the digital space.  Our concept of digital citizenship education is based on the Council of Europe Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture and it identifies the key competences applicable to the digital environment. We call them the 10 digital domains under three pillars: Being online, Well-Being online and Rights online. So many benefits are associated with digital technologies: there is an empowering aspect that cannot be underestimated. At the same time, we are fully aware of the risks that users navigating in the digital environment may face: for instance, cases of cyberbullying, technology-facilitated violence, hate speech online and discrimination. Harnessing the digital transformation is relevant to both Europe and beyond because we are at this moment given the opportunity to shape the digital world we live in. We can make it more inclusive and democratic, safer and ethical, we can change the rules of the game. 

3. What kind of activities or opportunities does this initiative offer for young people, and how can they get involved?

Young people can be multipliers, helping disseminate the relevant key messages, becoming key actors of change. They can organise discussion groups around the 10 digital domains of the concept of digital citizenship education, events and activities, initiatives in their communities and universities. They can join forces with other actors and build coalitions to increase the positive impact of their actions. Our motto is “Learn, Connect, Engage, Thrive Together!”. Everyone can make a difference in this context. We ask everyone to join our efforts and help spread the word about the European Year 2025.