Brussels, 07/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Education Ministers, which met on 6 February in Brussels, allowed progress to be made with a view to creating the Europe of Knowledge, as required according to the strategy decided in Lisbon (see EUROPE of 5 February, p.10). Ministers adopted conclusions which will be forwarded to the Spring Summit in March on the role of education and training in the knowledge society. They held a policy debate on the question of European benchmarks for education and training (see EUROPE of 21 November 2002), a debate which represents an important stage toward the adoption of conclusions during the next Education Council on 5 and 6 May. The Council also finalised the multiannual programme (2004-2006) for the integration of information and communication technologies into Europe's education and training systems (eLearning) and called upon all Member States to work hard to make the 21st March the "First Day of Spring in Europe".
"Tomorrow's Europe is a Europe of Citizens", Council President Petros Efthymiou said after the work. "Education is a lever that will allow us to get things moving in the context of the Lisbon process. Today, on the basis of our shared values, there is a Europe of Education", the Greek Minister stressed. The meeting was "indispensable so that, during the Spring Summit in March, those who are responsible for knowledge questions in everyday life may express and make proposals" to achieve this aim, Commissioner Viviane Reding said for her part. She recalled that, on Wednesday, President Prodi will be speaking in Strasbourg (see EUROPE of 5 February, p.10), as well as today (see p.15) of the "political importance of education and training". "This will be the first time", Ms Reding continued, insisting on the importance of quality in primary and secondary education and on the initiatives to be taken so that young people are better equipped for entering professional life.
The work also covered:
1. European education and training benchmarks: Petros Efthymiou clarified this notion saying: "the concept of benchmarks does not rule out a critical comparison between the various systems, but under no circumstances must this result in classification between these systems. The text which is on the Council table does not comprise a comparative and critical evaluation. The reference criteria allow us to make our education systems converge while keeping the specific features of each. There was no substantive divergence with Germany". Viviane Reding added on this: "Germany, with its Länder for education policy, does not wish to be excluded from international comparisons. But the Länder believe there is a problem when comparisons entail decisions (…). What Germany fears here is EU interference with regards education". Ms Reding said they were able to reassure the Germans on this point.
2. eLearning Programme: Ms Reding presented her programme which proposes the setting in place of twinning between schools via the Internet and support to virtual campuses, and which aims to bridge the digital gap (see EUROPE of 3 January 2003, p;4). The issue will be discussed during the Council on 5 and 6 May, and a decision should be taken under Italian Presidency, like Erasmus World. This programme "is a plus for Europe and, in addition to diplomas, it offers an apprenticeship of European cultural diversity. We do not wish levelling down (…) What we need is quality. We shall create major study grants. We must also attract the best minds of the rest of the world, not only among students but also among teachers", Ms Reding added.
3. Europe's Spring Day aims to involve all schools throughout Europe on the same day, 21 March, in discussions at the European Convention. "The aim is for all young people to be made more aware of the values that are the cement of Europe", Mr Efthymiou stressed, recalling that 1855 schools throughout the EU had already signed up to take part.
Ministers were also informed of the "Eureka-Asia meeting: Eco Enterprises for sustainable development", the aim of which is to promote scientific and technological cooperation between these two regions of the world, as well as results of the informal Troika with the European social partners (see p.12).