Brussels, 15/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The enthusiasm was contagious when the Belgian ministers for culture, audiovisual, education, youth and sport presented their work programme to the education and culture committee of the European Parliament, on Tuesday 13 July.
Fadila Laanan, Minister for the French Community of Belgium responsible for culture, audiovisual, health and equal opportunities, commented on her objectives over the next six months. On cultural matters, she will endeavour to: (1) set out the priorities for the development of the cultural and creative industries from the economic and social perspective, with special attention paid to the self-employed, micro-businesses and SMEs; (2) strengthen the role that culture plays in combating poverty and social exclusion; (3) assess the 2008-2010 work plan and adopt a new plan for after 2010, in the context of the strategic aims defined in the European Culture Agency; and (4) continue discussion on the proposal for a decision on the European Heritage Label by tackling the small amount of persisting “technical” discord (on the subject of third country participation, transitional procedures, multiplication of sites, and rate of selection in particular). By way of conclusion, Laanan underlined that the Belgian EU Presidency will grant special attention to the cultural dimension of external relations. On audiovisual matters, the general aim will be to decompartmentalise the sector - which, as she said, cannot continue to operate in isolation - in order to connect it with telecommunications matters and to discuss, with this in view, audiovisual aspects of the Digital Agenda. To be more specific, the Belgian Presidency hopes to begin reflection on mechanisms for support of the European film industry (a seminar was held on this in early July - EUROPE 10178), the digitalisation of European heritage and the continuity of Europeana. Maria Badia i Cutchet (S&D, Spain) showed great interest in closer links with third countries on cultural matters. Jean-Marie Cavada (EPP, France) underlined the need to give more support to the European film industry and to grant greater importance to cultural content in the digital industry. Petra Kammerevert (S&D, Germany) was delighted at the Belgian resolve to integrate culture into the Digital Agenda. She also spoke of the problems that could arise for broadcasters during the breakdown of radio spectrum frequencies in favour of the telecoms industry. This problem was also raised by the chairperson of the parliamentary committee, Doris Pack (EPP, Germany). Lothar Bisky (GUE/NGL, Germany) spoke of the aesthetic quality of images which, in his view, should not be jeopardised by content quality.
The Flemish minister for education, youth and equal opportunities and Brussels affairs, Pascal Smet, continued dialogue with an exposé of his priorities on education and youth. The Belgian Presidency plans to carry out an assessment of the Copenhagen process regarding vocational training in a difficult economic and social context, where there is a demand for ever higher qualifications. Many job seekers remain under-qualified. Pascal Smet will also work on the Commission's initiative “Youth on the Move”, setting out guidelines for a future recommendation on the subject. The minister also plans to tackle education of the young in sustainable development and plans to have conclusions on this subject adopted. Mobility, school drop outs, the modernisation of universities and voluntary work - these are also priorities that the Belgian Presidency will seek to cover. Ivo Belet (EPP, Belgium) denounced a cut in the budgets for lifelong learning. Piotr Borys (EPP, Poland) said “it is necessary to act so that other bodies, such as the European Social Fund, may be used during the next financial perspectives in order to improve vocational training”. Georgios Papanikolaou (EPP, Greece) made the same comment regarding initiatives in favour of youth, on which severe budgetary cuts are being made. Santiago Fisas Ayxela (EPP, Spain) spoke of the mobility of teachers in the Bologna Process and the (lack of) suitability between the Youth on the Move programme and the lifelong learning programme.
The Flemish minister for finance, budget, employment, spatial planning and sport, Philippe Muyters, closed the session with a presentation of his priorities for sport. Two major priorities are on the agenda - the setting in place of a European political framework for sport on the basis of the future European Commission proposal and the social role of sport. Other major aspects will also be tackled such as fair play, education/training and sport, the fight against doping, and the physical and moral integrity of athletes. Morten Lokkegaard (ALDE, Denmark) and Piotr Borys pointed a finger at the lack of funding for this new Community competence. Santiago Fisas Ayxela (EPP, Spain) spoke for his part of mutual recognition of sports training between member states. (I.L./transl.jl)