Brussels, 04/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Europe of knowledge, European benchmarks for education and training and the eLearning 2004-2006 programme will be at the centre of work by the EU Education Council on 6 February in Brussels under the chairmanship of Greek Minister for National Education and Worship, Petros Efthymiou. The Commission will be represented by Viviane Reding. During lunch, ministers will discuss reinforced investment, both private and public, in education and vocational training. The Council will make an active contribution to the work of the European Council on 21 March in Brussels and the Education Council of 5-6 May this year, which will be essentially devoted to European benchmarks in this field.
1. Europe of Knowledge. On the basis of a document by the Presidency, the ministers will hold a policy debate on the importance of education and training in the knowledge society/economy in order to implement the aims set out in Lisbon, to make Europe the most competitive knowledge economy in the world. The Presidency's paper focuses on this issue, while insisting on the importance of strengthening social cohesion and promoting tolerance and respect of human rights. It refers to two Commission communications entitled "investing efficiently in education and training: an imperative for Europe" and "the role of universities within the knowledge society". The second communication to be adopted by the Commission on 5 February will simply be the subject of discussion, Greek diplomat Dimitrios Rallis stressed. Ms Reding will present these two communications to the ministers. Ministers will also reply to two questions raised by the Presidency: one on the consequences of evolution towards sustainable employability in education and training, and the other on the growing need for greater strategic coherence at European level between the education and training policy and the other policies (mainly European employment strategy and the strategy for combating social exclusion).
The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the importance of education and training in a Europe of knowledge, insisting above all on the notions of employability, social cohesion, citizenship and linguistic diversity. The aim is to integrate the text of these conclusions in the final conclusions of the European Summit of 21 March in Brussels. France considers the text of the conclusions should insist on language-learning in Europe, although the draft conclusions already comprise a reference to linguistic diversity.
2. European benchmarks for education and training. The Council will hold a policy debate on European benchmarks in this field on the basis of a Presidency document. The debate will be a major step towards possible adoption of conclusions at the Education Council on 5-6 May. The Presidency document mainly calls on Member States to examine a first list of European benchmarks in five fields: 1) early school leavers; 2) graduates in mathematics, science and technology; 3) population having completed upper secondary education; 4) key competencies (reading, maths, science); and 5) lifelong learning. The Presidency document refers to the Commission's document entitled "European benchmarks in education and training: follow-up to the Lisbon European Council", that Ms Reding is to present to ministers. "On Thursday, there will only be discussion on the subject as legal problems are raised at procedural level", Dimitrios Rallis commented, adding that the adoption of European benchmarks in education and vocational training results from application of the open method of coordination. Some delegations (Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom) are wondering about the legal and political consequences of Council adoption, by consensus, of benchmarks in these fields, and are concerned by respect for subsidiarity.
3. e-Learning 2004-2006 programme. Ms Reding will present this multiannual programme whose aim is to promote effective integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education and training systems in Europe. The proposal asks for a budget of EUR 36 million. Several Member States challenge this sum of money that they find too high, given the funding already foreseen for Erasmus World. This will, however, run counter to what was decided at the Barcelona Summit, which had called for more investment in human resources.
4. Other business. The Portuguese delegation will provide information on the 3rd meeting "EUREKA [meets] ASIA - Eco Enterprises for Sustainable Development", which will be held from 26 to 30 May in Macao.