So that students have the opportunity to hear a full range of views on the EU, and to engage in genuine debate about its nature, Civitas offers a nationwide network of speakers for schools.

Our speakers come from across the political spectrum, and include parliamentarians from Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP, as well as top business people, journalists and political activists.

We can arrange talks by a range of speakers, some of whom promote further EU integration, while others are broadly sympathetic to the EU but call for its reform from within, and some who are more critical and believe the UK should withdraw from the union altogether. Whichever opinion you feel your students may benefit most from we can provide a speaker, or several to ensure balance.

Civitas, in conjunction with TEAM and Europe Direct (at The London Press Club), also organises debates on the EU in schools between pro-EU and EU-sceptic advocates to enable your students to become involved first-hand in the arguments surrounding membership of the EU.

To request an EU talk or a debate on the EU please contact our Europe Project Manager, Pete Quentin, at pete.quentin@civitas.org.uk or on 020 7799 6677. Alternatively you can download one of the following request forms and e-mail it to the same address. (NB. for debates please e-mail cc. europedirect@londonpressclub.co.uk)

EU Talk Request Form
EU Debate Request Form

All talks and debates can be focused on the various A-Level curricula that cover the EU (including General Studies and Citizenship) and areas that your students may have a particular interest in, such as the EU Constitution, enlargement or the euro. We can also provide speakers who specialise in economic and business issues.

It is not necessary for students to have any significant prior knowledge of the EU, but we do encourage teachers to do some preparation with students in order that they get the most out of the event and maximise opportunities for interaction. To assist you, Civitas has prepared EU Facts, a comprehensive easy-to-use series of online factsheets on the EU for students.