GETTY The EU has been accused of indoctrinating children in Ireland

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A Dublin think-tank has launched a furious attack on the bloc, which it claims is carrying out “insidious propaganda” on thousands of the country’s children. The Blue Star programme, supported by the European Commission representation in Ireland, taught 16,350 children in 190 schools during the 2015/2016 academic year. Keith Redmond, co-founder of the Hibernia Forum think tank, told Express.co.uk the classes were a blatant attempt by Brussels to create a generation of Europhiles.

The European Union has been engaged in propaganda, particularly with children Keith Redmond

Mr Redmond, who is also a councillor on the Fingal County Council, said “Since about the time of the Maastricht Treaty the European Union has been engaged in propaganda, particularly with children. It’s really insidious. “The Blue Star programme is an attempt by Europhiles to get to the children, who then go home to their mums and dads.

TWITTER / KEITH REDMOND Keith Redmond accused the EU of supporting "insidious" propaganda

“It is weird to see political education be reintroduced to school.” He said it was an attempt to stem any rise in Euroscepticism in Ireland and help defeat an in-out EU vote “10 or 15 years in the future.” Mr Redmond likened the class to Captain Euro, a bizarre cartoon character developed by the EU in an attempt to make the union accessible popular with children.

BLUE STAR PROGRAMME The Blue Star Programme has been blasted by an Irish think tank

He said: “Captain Europe - it’s hilarious really, it is so ridiculous.” Blue Star organisers defended the programme, explaining it helps improve “understanding and knowledge” of how the bloc works.

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A spokeswoman for European Movement Ireland said: “The Blue Star programme is an education initiative for primary school students across Ireland to foster better understanding and knowledge of the EU and how it affects the lives of Irish citizens, through classroom projects and activities. “Each participating school carries out projects and tasks on the topics of the cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe, the foundation and development of the EU, what the EU does and how its work affects the lives of citizens.”

The European Commission also defended the programme. A spokeswoman said: "The Representation has been a partner in the Blue Star programme since its launch in 2011.

GETTY The programme involved nearly 16,500 pupils during the 2015/2016 academic year