Brussels, 22/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 21 January, Greek ministers responsible for education, culture and media, informed MEPs on the European Parliament's culture and education committee of their priorities for the first six months of 2014. This is a particularly important juncture because new education, youth, culture and media programmes for the 2014-2020 period have just entered into force (Erasmus+ and Creative Europe), providing a fresh boost to all the sectors concerned.
Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos, the minister for education and religious affairs, underlined the enormously high youth unemployment levels in member states, particularly in southern Europe. He emphasised that education should concentrate member states' efforts to provide young people with the skills needed to get the job. He stated that “education is a driving force for both economic growth and social integration, as well as a powerful way of combating unemployment”. Challenges to be met relate to curriculum quality and content as well as, more generally, the organisational structure of education systems. Four priorities will guide the Greek Presidency in the education field: 1) quality assurance at all levels of education; 2) efficiency and innovation; 3) social cohesion; 4) youth, culture and entrepreneurship, including deepening the dialogue with young people. Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid MEP (EPP, France) believes that it is crucial that young people who have lost hope are motivated. This is why new support mechanisms included in the Erasmus+ should be easily accessed. This was also the wish expressed by Piotr Borys (EPP, Poland), who would like to see the Greek Presidency committing itself to an information and awareness campaign about the new programmes. He added that, in relation to youth unemployment, the emphasis had to be put on the importance of investing in skills and young people. Charalampos Angourakis (GUE/NGL, Greece) criticised the heavy cuts made by European governments in education and poor political management in employment. Georgios Papanikolaou (EPP, Greece) said that new educational resources and massive open online courses could provide a fillip and new opportunities to study for young people, particularly for those who had difficulties accessing education.
The minister for culture and sport, Panos Panagiotopoulos, underlined the ties between culture, the economy and social cohesion, and the importance of assessing the impact of culture on economic life. In the area of cinema, the Greek Presidency will focus on cinema digitalisation and new platforms for content broadcasts. The minister is planning on an ambitious programme for sport. The range of themes to be tackled over the next six months is huge. The issue of sport and society will be looked at, as well as the economic ramifications of sport, sport's integrity and the fight against match fixing, doping and violence in the sporting field, as well as sexual discrimination and protecting children. Marco Scurria (EPP, Italy) highlighted culture as an important strategic domain, particularly with regard to the EU's external relations. Piotr Borys (EPP, Poland) asked for the next decision on European the capitals of culture to maintain the objectives listed in the first decision. In the sporting field, it will be necessary to make the sharing of best practice more widespread in the fight against corruption, match fixing and doping and to include appropriate sanctions for infringements, he added. Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid (EPP, France) highlighted the new Creative Europe programme and called on Greece to facilitate cultural and creative industry actors' access to the new provisions, because they boost growth and create jobs.
Greek Secretary of State for audiovisual affairs Simos Kedikoglou presented his priorities in the media and audiovisual fields. The Presidency will examine the results of the three public consultations on: 1) the promotion and independence of the competent regulatory authorities in audiovisual affairs; 2) preparing for total convergence in the audiovisual sector (Connected TV); 3) the promotion of freedom and media pluralism. Child protection in the digital age will also be at the centre of these debates. (IL/transl.fl)