Agenda Raad Onderwijs, Jeugdzaken en Cultuur, 15 Februari 2010 (en)

MEMO/10/36

Brussels, 12 February 2010

Education, Youth Affairs and Culture Council, 15 February 2010

This memo provides journalists with an overview of issues to be discussed at the Education, Youth Affairs and Culture Council on 15 February 2010 in Brussels. The Commission will be represented by Androulla Vassiliou, the Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. The Commissioner will take part in a press conference with Ángel Gabilondo Pujol, Minister for Education of Spain, at around 12:30. This will be followed by the signing of an agreement with the Swiss Confederation on its participation in the Commission's Youth in Action programme and action programme in the field of lifelong learning.

EDUCATION

Education and Europe 2020

The Spanish Presidency has proposed an exchange of views on the contribution of education and training to the future Europe 2020 strategy, with the aim of:

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  Creating value through knowledge;
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  Empowering people in inclusive societies; and
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  Creating a competitive, connected and greener economy.

Education and training in Europe must improve at all levels to increase productivity, and to help fight inequality and poverty. Citizens need to have the skills to contribute to and benefit from a knowledge-based economy to ensure Europe's prosperity and social development. Supply and demand of knowledge and skills need to be better matched, through mobility across and within borders and through better anticipation of future skills needs.

The 2010 joint progress report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the "Education & Training 2010" work programme highlights the importance of reform and continuous investment in education and training to address the consequences of the economic crisis and to create more growth and jobs in Europe in the long term.

Based on a detailed assessment of national reports and countries' performance against a set of indicators and benchmarks, the report focuses on the provision of key competences for all learners, the implementation of lifelong learning policies, vocational education and training reforms, as well as measures to modernise higher education.

Over lunch, Commissioner Vassiliou and the Ministers will also discuss the role of education and training in enhancing social inclusion and social responsibility.

At this Council

Ministers are expected to adopt the 2010 joint progress report and exchange views on the contribution of education and training to the future Europe 2020 strategy for sustainable economic and social development.

To know more

Europe 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/

Europe 2020 consultation document: http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/pdf/eu2020_en.pdf

Draft 2010 Joint progress report (Education and Training 2010): http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc/joint10/com640_en.pdf

OTHER BUSINESS

Jean Monnet Conference "The Role of Education and Training in the New European Economy"

On 25-26 January 2010, a Jean Monnet Conference in Madrid examined the central role of education and training in the Europe 2020 strategy. Organised by the Commission in collaboration with the Spanish Presidency, the event served as an example of productive interaction between policy-makers and academics.

Attended by the Spanish Minister of Education Ángel Gabilondo Pujol and, for the Commission, by Education and Culture Director General Odile Quintin, the conference gathered 170 professors from a variety of Member States.

The conference also highlighted the need for: effective follow-up on the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, adopted in 2009; stronger links between higher education institutions and the world of work; emphasis on learning mobility and the free circulation of people and knowledge; higher, more efficient and targeted investment in education and training at national and EU level.

At this Council

The Presidency and the Commission will inform the Council on the conclusions of the Jean Monnet Conference.

To know more

http://ec.europa.eu/education/jean-monnet/doc2078_en.htm

To find out more:

Website of Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htm