State Duma urges Cabinet to sign Bologna Declaration

The State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) appealed Saturday to Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov asking him to carry out the necessary measures for Russia to join the 1999 Bologna Declaration. The deputies took this decision at their plenary meeting.

Education ministries of 29 European countries signed in Bologna in 1999 a declaration on the European space for higher education, envisaging harmonisation of European education systems.

By now, a total of 33 European countries have signed the Bologna Declaration.

The deputies stress in their appeal to the premier that Russia's non-involvement in the Bologna process begins to inhibit further development of relations in the higher education sphere between the Russian Federation and the countries participating in the Bologna process and can lead to self-isolation of the Russian higher education system.

The deputies called on the premier to ensure the participation of Russia's representatives in the activity of the Bologna process working bodies and measures related to the preparation of the upcoming meeting of education ministers of the Bologna Declaration member-states.