The Agency’s 29 member countries cover most of the European continent, and they all have widely different policies regarding inclusive education, based on their different historical and political backgrounds. Despite their differences, I am extremely pleased that our member countries have now agreed a 'focal point' for the work of the Agency in the form of a shared ultimate vision for inclusive education systems!

The Luxembourg Recommendations from the young people are now online

On 16 October 2015 the Agency organised a Hearing in Luxembourg, where participants discussed how their schools and communities ensure an inclusive education for them. The outcomes of this event echo the outcomes of the three previous European Hearings we held in Brussels (2003 and 2011) and in Lisbon (2007). I am pleased to say that each of the outcomes reflects an increasing and visible progress in the implementation of inclusive education in European countries since 2003.

We have come a long way since November 2013, when the Maltese Minister for Education and Employment, Mr Evarist Bartolo asked the Agency to conduct an external audit of the special needs education system in Malta. This activity is a new area for the Agency and it can be seen as a confirmation of the Agency’s competences, knowledge and skills. I am very proud that we are perceived as a professional body that can undertake the complex task of an external audit of policies and practices.