Onderwerpen Raad Onderwijs, Jeugdzaken en Cultuur, 16 Februari 2009 (en)

This Memo provides journalists with a brief overview, from the Commission's point of view, of the issues that will be discussed at the "Education, Youth Affairs and Culture" Council on 16 February 2009 in Brussels. Youth ministers start in the morning, with Education ministers following in the afternoon. The Commission will be represented by Ján Figel', the Commissioner responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth.

• 1. 

  Key messages to the Spring European Council in the field of education and training
• - 

  Adoption

Background

Against the backdrop of the challenges posed by the global financial crisis and the consequent economic downturn, the Education Council will contribute to the preparation of the conclusions of the Spring European Council (monitoring and guiding the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy).

The key messages highlight in particular the need for higher and more efficient investment in human capital and the particular role of education in the knowledge triangle (education – research – innovation) as a means of preparing the economic recovery. They stress the importance of anticipating skills needs and of upgrading skills for ensuring prosperity and social cohesion in the transition to a knowledge-based, low-carbon economy.

At this council

Ministers will discuss and adopt the key messages to the Spring European Council in the field of education and training.

• 2. 

  Updated Strategic Framework for the European Cooperation in education and training
• - 

  Exchange of views

Background

In a Communication adopted on 16 December, the Commission set out a new framework for cooperation in education and training.

On the basis of the progress made so far and its consultations, the Commission proposes to address four strategic challenges in the years to 2020, complementary to the Lisbon Strategy and the renewed Social Agenda:

• - 

  Make lifelong learning and learner mobility a reality.
• - 

  Improve the quality and efficiency of provision and outcomes.
• - 

  Promote equity and active citizenship.
• - 

  Enhance innovation and creativity, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training.

The Communication also outlines the most urgent priorities which merit particular attention for 2009 and 2010 and suggests improved tools to meet them. These include new education and training benchmarks for monitoring progress across Europe

At this council

Ministers will discuss for the first time the Commission's proposals for further cooperation and coordination, including the issue of possible benchmark areas for the future.

• 3. 

  Key messages to the Spring European Council on the European Youth Pact and the European Cooperation in the youth field

Background

The European Youth Pact was adopted by the European Council in March 2005 as one of the instruments for achieving the revised Lisbon objectives, promoting growth and more and better jobs. Its aim is to improve the situation of young people in the labour market, to reduce youth unemployment and to facilitate the professional and social integration of young people.

The Pact has three strands: Employment and social integration; Education, training and mobility; Reconciling work and family life. It is implemented principally at the level of national policies, following guidelines provided by the EU.

The Presidency has prepared a document which is two-fold: the first part deals with evolutions in the implementation of the Pact in 2008, the second proposes the following key messages:

(1) Member States should strengthen their efforts in favour of young people's smooth transitions from education, inactivity or unemployment to employment, while facing the specific challenges related to the economic downturn.

(2) Young people can contribute significantly to the objectives related to growth and jobs, social cohesion and competitiveness in Europe, and they should be considered an even stronger priority in the post-2010 reformed Lisbon Strategy.

At this Council

Youth Ministers are expected to adopt these key messages to the Spring European Council and to have an exchange of views on the European Youth Pact.

The main theme of this exchange of views will focus on the "Better implementation and greater visibility of the European Youth Pact", on the basis of a Presidency note distributed before Council, with background elements and two questions, relating to 1) best practices in implementing the European Youth Pact and 2) what can be done at EU level in order to help the MS in implementing the Youth Pact and to increase its visibility.