MEP Engel demands Karabakh inclusion in EU educational programs

PanARMENIAN.Net - Frank Engel has sent an appeal to the European Commission, drawing the latter’s attention to the exclusion of Karabakh students and teachers from EU-sponsored educational programs.

Students from the Nagorno Karabakh cannot take part in exchange programs that are available for the youth of neighboring countries, including the eastern Partnership area. MEP Engel wants to know the exact reason behind Karabakh's exclusion.

The European Commission is also a full member of the Bologna Process which has given rise to the European Higher Education Area, with 47 countries cooperating in the sector of education. The European Higher Education Area has also played an important role in facilitating mobility of students and education staff between member countries. During the last ministerial conference of the Bologna Process, all members, including the European Commission, committed themselves to facilitating staff and student exchange programs from conflict zones.

Engel, who is the president of the Nagorno Karabakh friendship group in the European Parliament, asked when the European Commission is planning to implement those commitments and include Karabakh people in its educational exchange programs. Universities in Nagorno Karabakh are still left out from these pan-European programs.

“Exchange programs have been a success both for the EU and Eastern Partnership countries,” says Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa, director of European Friends of Armenia. “It really plays a positive role in forming a European identity. I am sure constructive initiatives such as Mr Engel’s will help change this unfair approach.”