Innovation and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton - both of whom were heard by the European Parliament's Culture and Education Committee (CULT) on Monday 4 May - were called on to give these sectors support to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
On culture, first of all, several MEPs called for specific support, following the example of Greens/EFA coordinator Salima Yenbou, who said the Commission could not afford "to abandon the sector to the sole responsibility of the Member States by only putting in place general measures".
Ms Gabriel had in fact indicated, in her introduction, that culture should be integrated into the support measures adopted for other sectors, "for example tourism, given that 40% of tourism in Europe is linked to cultural tourism".
Mr Breton also considered that it was up to states to take specific measures, but stressed that the Commission was assessing "all possible responses".
CULT Committee Chair Sabine Verheyen (EPP, Germany) also drew the attention of both Commissioners to the need to fully integrate culture into the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and regretted that it was not mentioned more in their speeches.
In addition, several MEPs called on the Commission to take action to ensure that pupils in all Member States have computers and Internet access at home.
Ms Gabriel responded by providing reassurances that the Digital Education Plan would address these questions and that its adoption was still expected by early July at the latest.
The issue of Erasmus+ was also briefly addressed. Mariya Gabriel pointed out that around 60% of long-term mobility and 70% of short-term mobility had been cancelled and guaranteed that the Commission would "continue its weekly virtual meetings with the national agencies". (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)