The European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education hosted a Hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The event provided young people from across Europe with the opportunity to express their views on inclusive education. 

On the day prior to the Hearing, the young delegates took part in seven working groups in order to present and discuss their views. This was followed by a gala dinner in the evening for all participants. On 7 November the young delegates presented the working group results at the European Parliament. Per Ch Gunnvall, Chair of the European Agency, opened the session together with Jerzy Barski, Spokesperson for Polish Presidency of the EU, Milan Zver, MEP in the Education and Culture Committee and Harald Hartung, European Commission, Unit Jean Monnet; Equity in Education and Training. 

The presentation sessions were moderated by Cor J. W. Meijer, Director of the European Agency, accompanied by Kari Brustad, European Agency and Ana Magraner, European Commission. The delegates' posters and audio recordings were exhibited in front of the conference room throughout the Hearing. Following the presentations, the Chair invited closing comments from Emilia Wojdyła, Polish Presidency of the EU, as well as Aleksandra Posarac, World Bank, Ana Magraner and Angelos Agalianos, European Commission and Bénédicte van den Berg, European Parliament. 

The final Hearing press release is available here.

Further information regarding the Hearing can also be found on the European Hearing 2011 web area.

Initial results of the Young Views on Inclusive Education
The active and animated participation of all delegates provided insightful and valuable messages, many of which they presented in the European Parliament to representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, Polish Presidency of the EU and key European and International organisations. The young delegates’ presentation can be found on the European Hearing 2011 web area.

Quote of Dagur Johannson, one of the young viewers: "We are all different colours and together we can make a rainbow and make the world brighter".

All of the young delegates' statements will be included in the final results of the Hearing, which the European Agency looks forward to publishing in the near future.