11 Balearic schools join EU ambassador programme
Eleven Balearic schools have been chosen for the EU Ambassador Schools programme for the 2026-2027 school year. Their teachers are meeting from Wednesday to Friday in Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid, to prepare for the work ahead. Across Spain, 260 schools have been selected.
The European Parliament is running the training for the programme, known as EPAS. Teachers take part in workshops, discussion sessions, an exchange of successful school projects and meetings with Members of the European Parliament. The aim is to help them bring the European Union closer to young people during the school year.
From fake news to voting
The sessions also cover the situation in Ceuta, false information and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal on minors’ use of social media.
Bárbara Quílez, who works on education and youth relations at the European Parliament Office in Madrid, said the event connects specialists and MEPs with teachers working with future voters. She also recognised that taking on the ambassador-school role can add to teachers’ workload.
MEPs Rosa Serrano, Javier Zarzalejos and Elena Sancho told teachers to encourage pupils to stay informed and vote. They warned about polarisation and called for bridges to be built.
Of the 260 schools selected, 103 are new to the scheme and 157 are renewing their place. Another 75 schools, each with more than three years in the programme, will act as mentor schools for other ambassador schools in their region.
The programme runs in every European Union country and in the United Kingdom. In Spain, it reaches around 6,500 pupils from the fourth year of ESO onwards and about 1,000 teachers each year. Since 2015-2016, more than 400 schools and 49,000 pupils have taken part.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com