Call for common history text as EU education ministers meet

European Union education ministers have met this week in Heidelberg and discussed the creation of a common European history book. Germany has promoted the idea, but Poland and The Netherlands are skeptical.

At the meeting in Heidelberg, German Minister of Education and Research Annette Schavan said"education is one of Europe's most important resources for power and prosperity."

She also said that education is essential for shaping identity and for social cohesion in Europe. The minister called on her colleagues in EU nations and neighboring countries to stress the shared values and cultural perspectives among Europeans.

One way of highlighting common European culture would be the creation of a pan-European history book for pupils.

A Franco-German school history book was already launched last year -- a project which Schavan said had been a success and could be a model for a European version.

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