The 'Chess in European Schools' project had a very successful follow-up on Thursday in the European Parliament. Almost the full needed number of MPs signatures (369 signatures – 50%+1 from the total number of 736 MPs) was gained during the session of the Parliament which was held on February 13-16, 2012 in Strasbourg, France. Just a few signatures are left for the next session in March. The joint project between the European Chess Union and the Kasparov Chess Foundation Europe was supported by the MPs from all parties represented in the European Parliament.

To promote the many educational benefits from the implementation of the chess as an obligatory subject in the European schools, the President of the European Chess Union Silvio Danailov and the legendary former World Champion Garry Kasparov had travelled to Strasbourg. They participated in seminars devoted to the program "Chess in European Schools" and had many meetings with European MPs. Garry Kasparov played a simultaneous exhibition against children and European deputies.

We are very close to the full success. After the acceptance of the written declaration, the EU Commission will start to work on the project “Chess in schools”

commented ECU President Silvio Danailov. All activities and events connected to the project are held under the high patronage of Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, and Slavi Binev, European MP from Bulgaria, who is the main supporter of the project.

L-R Slavi Binev, Garry Kasparov and Silvio Danailov

On September 20th last year, Danailov and Kasparov presented the program ‘Chess in European Schools’ to the European Parliament. The program is designed to promote chess in schools throughout Europe by offering chess curriculums, chess materials, chess teachers and communication material to encourage and motivate children to discover and learn the game.

Here's the video we produced back then.