Ministers from the Member States of the European Union will meet in Brussels on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 November for an Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. Among the priorities on the agenda are the demographic challenges in rural areas, developing skills for the future in higher education, consolidating a European Sport Model and the key role of libraries in media literacy.
Youth. On Monday morning, the youth ministers are due to adopt conclusions entitled “Providing glocal opportunities for young people living in rural and remote areas”. These conclusions aim to respond to a series of worrying trends: demographic decline, the exodus of young people and a growing labour shortage in rural areas.
These regions, faced with a lack of economic opportunities, are in a “talent development trap” that is holding back their prosperity.
The ministers will discuss ways of revitalising these areas through targeted initiatives: appropriate infrastructure, job diversification and greater access to education.
Intergenerational cooperation will also be at the heart of the discussions, in order to foster an environment where young people and seniors contribute together to social and territorial cohesion.
Education. On Monday afternoon, the ministers will discuss ways of boosting strategic skills that are essential for strengthening the EU’s competitiveness.
They are set to adopt a recommendation to make careers in higher education more attractive and sustainable. In addition, the idea of a European diploma - for which the European Commission launched a set of proposals last spring (see EUROPE 13380/3) - will be discussed.
The aim of this diploma is to symbolise a shared European identity and academic values, and to encourage recruitment by employers; the joint study paths would be aligned with the needs of the labour market in key sectors such as digital and green technologies.
In this sense, the ‘Draghi’ report (see EUROPE 13478/1) on European competitiveness is an important reference.
Furthermore, developing alliances between universities and companies is becoming a major challenge to align training courses with the needs of industry.
The ministers will also examine how initiatives such as Erasmus+ and the ‘Pact for Skills’ (see EUROPE 13376/26) can strengthen student mobility and large-scale collaboration.
Sport. On Tuesday morning, discussions will focus on promoting a lasting legacy from major sporting events, before addressing the fundamentals of the European Sport Model.
This model is based on principles such as solidarity between amateur and professional sport, the integrity of competitions and inclusion. The ministers will examine actions to preserve these values in the face of the sector’s increasing commercialisation, based on the EU Work Plan for Sport (2024-2027).
Culture. Finally, the afternoon will be devoted to culture, with a debate on the role of libraries in developing media literacy.
These institutions, considered pillars in the fight against disinformation, play an essential role in lifelong learning and democratic participation.
The ministers will discuss ways of modernising libraries through partnerships with technology companies and universities, while strengthening the skills of librarians to meet citizens’ growing needs in the digital age.
See the agenda: https://aeur.eu/f/eg2 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)