The EU ministers responsible for education and youth will gather on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 September in Zaragoza for an informal meeting.
Under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council and in the presence of the European Commission Vice-President responsible for promoting the European Way of Life, Margarítis Schinás, they will discuss “how to engage Europe with its youth” during three working sessions.
Focus on youth
On Monday afternoon, the ministers will discuss how to encourage young people to participate in the EU’s decision-making processes. According to Madrid, this will involve looking at ways of making this participation more structured, transparent and accessible.
They will also address the issues of young people’s well-being, their rights and the possibility of integrating a youth perspective into the design and evaluation of public policies.
An inclusive university
The following morning, the ministers will hold a second working session devoted to universities and graduation. Spain notes that vulnerable groups remain under-represented in higher education.
They will therefore discuss how to encourage institutional changes with a view to creating a higher education system that promotes diversity while meeting the needs of local communities.
Education and citizenship
To conclude, on Tuesday afternoon, the ministers will look at how education can promote European values. In concrete terms, they will discuss the practical ways in which schools can help prepare students to become aware citizens, able to exercise their rights.
The discussions at the informal meeting will feed into conclusions on promoting shared values through education, teacher training and educational development, and the Erasmus+ programme. They will be discussed at the EU ‘Education and Youth’ Council on 23 November. (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)