Bijeenkomst Raad van Onderwijsministers 25 november: Erasmusbeurzen en hoger onderwijs hoog op agenda (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
(OR. en)
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 499 PR CO 59
PRESS RELEASE
3275th Council meeting
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport
Brussels, 25 and 26 November 2013
Presidents Dainius PAVALKIS
Minister for Education and Science Algimanta PABEDINSKIÊ Minister for Social Security and Labour Šarünas BIRUTIS Minister for Culture
Alfonsas Dailis BARAKAUSKAS
Minister of Interior of Lithuania
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
CONTTS1
PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................5
ITEMS DEBATED
EDUCATION......................................................................................................................................8
Leadership in education.......................................................................................................................8
European higher education...................................................................................................................9
Open Educational Resources and digital learning.............................................................................10
Any other business.............................................................................................................................11
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-Cyprus data in the OECD surveys.........................................................................................................................11
Work programme of the incoming Presidency......................................................................................................12
YOUTH..............................................................................................................................................13
Young people not in employment, education or training...................................................................13
EU Work Plan for Youth...................................................................................................................13
Any other business.............................................................................................................................14
Work programme of the incoming Presidency......................................................................................................15
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
EU action against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons...................................................................16
Association of overseas countries and territories with the European Union.........................................................16
1 • Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks
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•Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)
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•Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
COMMON SECURITY AND DEFCE POLICY
Common Security and Defence Policy..................................................................................................................16
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
EU-Azerbaijan visa faciliation agreement.............................................................................................................16
TRADE POIICY
EU-Guatemala trade provisions - Provisional application.....................................................................................17
DEVEIOPMT
Contributions to the European Development Fund...............................................................................................17
TRANSPORT
VIRONMT
18th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention..................................................18
APPOINTMTS
Committee of the Regions.....................................................................................................................................18
PROVISIONAL VERSION
25 and 26 November 2013
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Mr Olivier PAASCH
Ms Fadila LAANAN Mr Philippe MUYTERS Mr Pascal SMET
Bulgaria:
Ms Mariana GEORGIEVA Mr Ivan KRUSTEV Mr Vasil VASILEV
Czech Republic:
Mr Jiří BALVÍN Mr Jindřich FRYČ
Denmark:
Ms Christine ANTORINI Ms Marianne JELVED
Germany:
Mr Helge BRAUN
Mr Guido PERUZZO
Estonia:
Mr Clyde KULL
Ireland:
Mr Ruairí QUINN Ms Frances FITZGERALD Mr Jimmy DEIHAN Mr Michael RING
Greece:
Mr Panagiotis PANAGIOTOPOULOS
Mr Symeon KEDIKOGLOU
Mr Panagiotis KANELLOPOULOS
Mr Ioannis PANAGIOTOPOULOS
Mr Andreas PAPASTAVROU
Spain:
Ms Monserrat GOMDIO KINDELAN
Mr José Pascual MARCO MARTINEZ
France:
Mr Vincent PEILLON Ms Aurélie FILIPPETTI Ms Valérie FOURNEYRON
Mr Alexis DUTERTRE
Croatia
Mr Željko JOVANOVIĆ Ms Andrea ZLATAR VIOLIĆ Mr Goran ŠTEFANIĆ
Italy:
Ms Maria Chiara CARROZZA Ms Cécile KYGE Mr Graziano DELRIO
Minister for Education, Vocational Training and
Employment
Minister for Culture, the Audiovisual Sector, Health and
Equal Opportunities
Flemish Minister for Finance, the Budget, Employment,
Town and Country Planning and Sport
Flemish Minister for Education, Youth,
Equal Opportunities and Brussels Affairs
Minister for Youth and Sport
Deputy Minister for Education and Science
Deputy Minister for Culture
Minister for Culture
First Deputy Minister for Education
Minister for Children and Education Minister for Culture
Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for
Education and Research
Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education and Skills
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism and Sport
(Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)
Minister for Culture and Sport
State Secretary for Education and Religious Affairs
Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs - General
Secretary for Youth
General Secretariat for the Media - General Secretary for
the Media
Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary for Education, Vocational Training and
Universities
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education
Minister for Culture and Communication
Minister for Sport, Youth, Community Education and the
Voluntary Sector
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Science, Education and Sport
Minister for Culture
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education, Universities and Research
Minister responsible for Integration
Minister responsible for Regional Affairs and Autonomy
5
PROVISIONAL VERSION
25 and 26 November 2013
Mr Marco PERONACI
Cyprus:
Mr. Kyriakos KEVEZOS
Latvia:
Ms Sanda LIEPIŅA
Mr Juris ŠTĀLMEISTARS
Lithuania:
Mr Dainius PAVALKIS
Ms Algimanta PABEDINSKIE
Mr Šarūnas BIRUTIS
Mr Dailis Alfonsas BARAKAUSKAS
Luxembourg:
Ms Mady DELVAUX-STEHRES M. Georges FRID
Hungary:
Ms Rózsa HOFFMANN
Mr Olivér VÁRHELYI
Malta:
Mr Evarist BARTOLO
Netherlands:
Mr Sander DEKKER Mr Wepke KINGMA
Austria:
Ms Claudia SCHMIED Mr Gerald KLUG Mr Harald GÜNTHER
Poland:
M. Grzegorz KARPIŃSKI Mr Maciej JAKUBOWSKI Ms Monika SMOLEŃ-BROMSKA
Portugal:
Mr Nuno CRATO
Mr Jorge BARRETO XAVIER
Mr Pedro LOMBA
Mr Pedro COSTA PEREIRA
Romania:
Mr Remus PRICOPIE
Mr Daniel Constantin BARBU
Mr Cristian COSMIN
Ms Carmen TOCALĂ
Slovenia:
Mr Jernej PIKALO Mr Uroš GRILC
Slovakia:
Mr Marek MAĎARIČ Mr Alexander MICOVČIN
Finland:
Ms Marianne HUUSKO-LAMPON
Sweden:
Mr Jan BJÖRKLUND
Ms Lena ADELSOHN LILJEROTH
Ms Ulrika STUART HAMILTON
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education and Culture
State Secretary, Ministry of Education and Science Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education and Science Minister for Social Security and Labour Minister for Culture Minister for the Interior
Minister for National Education and Vocational Training Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary for Education, Ministry of Human
Resources
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education and Employment
State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science Deputy Permanent Representative
Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture Federal Minister for Defence and Sport Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary, Ministry of Sport and Tourism Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of National Education Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
Minister for Education and Science
State Secretary for Culture
State Secretary attached to the Minister attached to the
Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for National Education Minister for Culture State Secretary for Youth State secretary for Sport
Minister for Education, Science and Sport Minister for Culture
Minister for Culture
Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Education
Minister for Culture and Sport
State Secretary to the Minister for Gender Equality
PROVISIONAL VERSION
25 and 26 November 2013
United Kingdom:
Mr Ed VAIZEY
Mr Ken SKATES
Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative
Industries
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology for the Welsh
Government
Commission:
Vice President Member
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
ITEMS DEBATED
EDUCATION
Before starting on the agenda items, Minister Pavalkis wished to draw attention to the state of play on two important files in the field of Education:
the declaration on the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (), a joint employment/education initiative, adopted by the Council (EPSCO)on 15 October 2013, aiming to support youth employment by promoting work based-learning;
the Erasmus i+ Programme, adopted by the European Parliament at its last week's plenary session. Following the formal adoption by the Council in the beginning of December, the new programme can start, as scheduled, on 1 January 2014. It will benefit from a significant increase in funding in real terms: over 40% more than the programmes which it replaces. The minister underlined that In times of economic difficulty, this demonstrates that expenditure on education is a vital investment for jobs and growth. It also sends a clear signal that the European Union remains committed to supporting young people, offering them other opportunities to improve their life prospects
Finally, the Presidency updated ministers on the situation concerning the financing issues related to the secondment of teachers in the European Schools, which was an information point at the last Council in May. Following several rounds of discussions, the Board of Governors of the European Schools reached agreement last week on a new set of cost-sharing principles
Leadership in education
The Council adopted conclusions on effective leadership in education (), inviting member states to make educational leadership more attractive, supporting the autonomy of educational institutions and educational leaders in pedagogical matters and the internal allocation of resources, while ensuring that they have the necessary means as well as to adapt and respond effectively to specific and changing local conditions
The conclusions also call for the development of innovative approaches to educational leadership, for instance through the Strategic Partnership actions of the Erasmus+ programme, including by encouraging educational leaders to cooperate with companies, civil society associations and different levels of educational institutions, both internationally and within the local community
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
The Presidency underlined that school leadership is considered second only to quality of teaching among the school-related factors that determine educational success. Leadership is clearly a major factor in raising aspirations, in providing support for pupils, parents and staff alike, and thus in fostering higher achievement levels
The Commission also suggested that it would be important to lighten the administrative burden on leaders so that they can devote more of their time to fundamental issues such as the quality of learning, curriculum content and staff performance. But this will also imply greater accountability
The French delegation pointed out that in its view the main factor for effective school leadership and educational success was not the administrative autonomy of schools but their pedagogical autonomy
European higher education
The Council also adopted conclusions on the global dimension of European higher education
(/13), which call in particular for comprehensive strategic approaches towards internationalisation, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, covering three main areas: student and staff mobility; the internationalisation of curricula and digital learning; and strategic cooperation, partnerships and capacity-building
The main purpose of internationalisation is to improve the quality of higher education and to better prepare learners in Europe to live in a global world and work in a global economy. The modernisation and internationalisation of higher education are also seen as key elements in enhancing the EU's drive for growth and jobs through innovation and research1
The Presidency underlined that the strength of Europe's higher education systems lies in the provision of high quality education and research, in the diversity of its institutions, and in its support for cooperation in areas where this provides added value, such as joint and double degree programmes, doctoral schools and studies, and international partnerships
The Commission recalled the major role of the new Erasmus+ programme in the field of student and teacher mobility but underlined that this is a very complex process and that in this field "one size does NOT fit all". It also underlined that not only students but also university teachers will benefit from the possibilities offered by the new programme
1 See also
Commission communication "European higher education in the world" () Council conclusions on the modernisation of higher education ()
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
Open Educational Resources1 and digital learning
Ministers were invited to outline during the debate the overall approach being adopted at national level concerning digital learning, in particular massive on-line open courses (MOOCs), and to share their views on how issues such as quality assessment and the recognition of skills and competences acquired by such means might be addressed. They could also indicate how action at EU level might provide added value in this process
The debate was launched by one of the guest speakers: Ms Uschi SCHREIBER, from Ernst and Young. Ms Schreiber stressed that digital learning is not an option, it’s already happening, in particular in countries like China and in Southeast Asia), where for instance in South Korea already at primary level schools are fully equipped with modern technologies and learning is already entirely digital
She underlined that employers will increasingly require staff who is not just “digitally adapted” but who is “digitally natural.” Therefore, the EU should review its education system, in particular regarding higher education. She considered that it’s the user that defines quality and the EU is already lagging behind other regions of the world in this sector
Professor AZZONE, rector at the "Politecnico di Milano", described his institution - which is a pioneer in distance learning in Italy - as a “traditional university between “Moocs” and globalization”. He argued that European universities should not try to replicate american massive investment in on-line courses, but rather capitalize on European specific features and added value
He explained that developing a single on-line course is very expensive (around EUR 100.000) and very time-consuming, since many European public universities have a high staff/student ratio and furthermore students fees are limited by law. He believes that in any case MOOCs cannot replace “traditional” education and gave a concrete example from Milano Politecnico: the completion rate of “in class” course is 70% and “on-line” 12%!
MOOCs should be used to support a new educational model, focused not only on technical/scientific contents, but also on developping cross-cultural, cross disciplinary and innovation skills
The Commission agreed that digital revolution is already happening in schools, but we are perhaps not yet ready to take in these new modes of learning, new solutions are required and the new Easmus + can support this adaption
1 Teaching, learning, and research tools in the public domain that can be freely used
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
Every European classroom should be digital by 2020, but Commisioner Vassiliou also recalled that less than 30% of children are being educated by digitally experienced teachers and 50% of them have not had any contact with digital learning, which means that if the EU member states don't act soon one million ICT jobs will come up and there won’t be a skilled workforce to take them on
Most member states have already developed initiatives in this field. In general, ministers acknowledged that digital distance learning tools offered considerable opportunities: broadening access to education thus benefiting isolated communities and less favoured students and increasing cost-efficiency, as well as by their very nature, fostering innovation in education. However, most ministers were also of the view these developments raise important issues at both national and European level
Several ministers recalled that the required Infrastructure is not available everywhere and access to open resources is not always free . There are also relevant copyright issues
A number of ministers also stressed that open on-line courses cannot be just a trade experience, digital learning should not be the only approach to education, digital and more traditional learning are not mutually exclusive. Teachers training was deemed crucial by many, as well as the development of critical spirit among students and graduates
Some ministers considered that we don’t have enough data yet on the outcomes from MOOC”s so it's perhaps too early too decide on a European strategy. Many of them underlined the utility of sharing good practices at European level and make the best use of Erasmus + , as well as of Horizon 2020 programmes
Any other business
Cyprus data in the OECD surveys
The Council took note of information from the Cyprus delegation on the difficulties it encounters to become a member of OCDE (). It requested the support of its EU partners in order to ensure equal treatment in OECD activities in the field of education and that in the future, data contributed by Cyprus is handled in the same way as all other EU member states
The French, Greek and Romanian delegations supported CYPRUS. The Commission, expressed its solidarity with CY, and informed ministers that it had sent a letter to OCDE’s general-secretary on this issue, asking him to find a solution to the problem
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
Work programme of the incoming Presidency
The Council took note of information from the Greek delegation on the work programme of the future Presidency, which will include the following priorities:
Innovative education and training in the context of social cohesion
Fight against early school leaving
Foreign languages skills
Promotion of vocational training
Pre-school education
Fight against early-school leavers
Recognition of formal and non-formal learning
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
YOUTH
Young people not in employment, education or training
The Council adopted conclusions on enhancing the social inclusion of young people not in employment, education or training ("NEETS") (), which seek to address the problem of NEETs in a more systematic way, by including a series of policy measures covering prevention, education, training and non-formal learning, voluntary activities, the transition from education to employment, and employment itself
Ministers acknowledged that this is a major priority for the EU since the exclusion of unemployed young people from social security rights is also becoming an increasingly serious social issue
The Commission recalled that the EU had already put into place several important schemes and initiatives to deal with youth unemployment. The Commissioner underlined that NEET’s are not an homogeneous group, so measures to tackle the problem must be adapted accordingly
Several ministers also recalled that youth work - although not replacing paid employment -can contribute to reduce social exclusion and increase employability
EU Work Plan for Youth
Most ministers acknowledged during the debate that the economic and financial crisis that has dramatically shaken the youth sector since 2008 has changed the whole environment in which youth policy operates. The EU and its member states therefore need to address urgently the high youth unemployment rates1.and the consequences of the current crisis on young people, in particular since it is likely that youth unemployment will remain high in the coming years
Ministers agreed in general that there was a clear need to develop a medium-term structured plan, with a limited number of key initiatives in specific youth policy areas to be achieved within realistic timetables to enable years. This plan should be capable of responding quickly to developments affecting youth and focus on social inclusion. It should also adapt the aims of youth policy to the targets of the EU 2020 Strategy2
1 More than 5.7 million young people (23.6 %) in the EU were without a job in January 2013 and 30 % of unemployed people under the age of 25 in the Union have been unemployed for more than twelve months. The economic cost of this situation - in terms of benefits paid out, lost tax revenue and earnings foregone - was estimated by the EU Agency Eurofound at 153 billion per year, or 1.2 % of EU GDP
2 See also: Council conclusions on maximising the potential of youth policy in addressing the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy ().
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
Many ministers considered that cross-sectoral cooperation should be strengthened and implemented on all levels, in particular regarding education and training and employment policy areas
A number of ministers also called for a positive youth policy vision: young people should be at the heart of European construction, should be involved in democratic life of their countries
Several ministers recalled the challenges relating to immigration
One of the priorities for the work plan should be developing useful skills for youth, therefore traineeships and apprenticeships should also be increased, as well as recognition of formal and non formal learning
A number of ministers underlined the importance of investing on vocational training and several others ministers considered that health and well-being issues should also be addressed. Youth entrepreneurship should also be promoted
It was suggested by many that the EU Work Plan for Youth should be un instrument to speed up the practical implementation of current initiatives, such as the Youth guarantee scheme and the Youth Employment package
Any other business
EU Youth Conference
The Council was briefed by the Presidency on the outcome of the EU Youth Conference (), which was held from 9 to 12 September in Vilnius, under the general theme of social inclusion of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs)
The EU Youth Conference is an element of the "structured dialogue" process, which brings together young people and policy makers across the European Union to jointly discuss and inform the development of youth policy at national and European level
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
Work programme of the incoming Presidency
The Council took note of information from the Greek delegation on the work programme of the future Presidency, which will include the following priorities:
Social inclusion (in particular, through culture and entrepreneurship)
Promote access to new technologies, in particular in remote areas
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
EU action against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons
The Council agreed to support a global reporting mechanism on illicit small arms, light and other illicit conventional weapons and ammunition to reduce the risk of their illicit trade. The project is intended to create user-friendly global information management system on diverted or trafficked weapons ("iTrace") and to conduct in-field research into weapons and ammunition circulating in conflict-affected areas. € 2.32 million have been allocated from the EU budget
Association of overseas countries and territories with the European Union
The Council revised the decision that is the basis for the association between the EU and overseas countries and territories (OCTs), which constitutes a partnership to support the OCTs' sustainable development as well as to promote the values and standards of the Union in the wider world
COMMON SECURITY AND DEFCE POLICY
Common Security and Defence Policy
The Council adopted conclusions on the Common Security and Defence Policy, with a view to the December European Council. The text is set out here.
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
EU-Azerbaijan visa faciliation agreement
The Council adopted a decision () approving the signing of an agreement with Azerbaijan on the facilitation of the issuance of visas, subject to its formal conclusion at a later stage ().
The agreement will allow the issuance of visas for an intended stay in the EU territory of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days to the citizens of Azerbaijan
In accordance with the EU provisions, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom do not take part in the adoption of the decision and therefore are not bound to the application of the agreement
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
TRADE POLICY
EU-Guatemala trade provisions - Provisional application
The Council decided to notify Guatemala of provisional application, as of 1 December, of part IV concerning trade matters of the EU-Central America1 association agreement, following notification by Guatemala in June of the completion of its own internal procedures
The Council authorised in June 2012, on behalf of the EU, the signature of the agreement and, pending its ratification, provisional application of part IV on trade matters. The agreement was signed in Tegucigalpa on 29 June 2012
DEVELOPMT
Contributions to the European Development Fund
The Council set out financial contributions to be paid by member states to finance the European Development Fund (EDF), including the annual amount of the contributions for 2014, the first instalment for 2014 and the ceiling for the annual amount of member states contributions for 2015
TRANSPORT
Galileo - cooperation with Ukraine
The Council approved the conclusion of an agreement between the EU and Ukraine, signed in December 2005, aimed at encouraging cooperation on a civil global navigation satellite system (GNSS) (decision on conclusion: ; text of agreement: ).
The sectors of cooperation are: radio spectrum, scientific research and training, industrial cooperation, trade and market development, standards, certification and regulatory measures, development of a global and regional GNSS ground augmentation systems, security, liability and cost recovery
1 Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
PROVISIONAL VERSION 25 and 26 November 2013
VIRONMT
18th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention
The Council adopted a decision establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the EU at the Eighteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, as regards the proposal for amending Annexes II and III to the Protocol concerning Special Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean and as regards the proposal for adoption of a Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter
The meeting will take place from 3 to 6 December 2013 in Istanbul (Turkey). For more information see the following website
APPOINTMTS
Committee of the Regions
The Council appointed Mr Jānis VĪTOLIŅŠ (Latvia) as a member of the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2015 ().