Brussels, 02/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - Entrepreneurship is too faint-hearted in Europe: Europeans should take more risks and lead from the front to become more competitive, for which they need adequate, good-quality training. This was the message Commissioner Jan Figel, whose portfolio includes education and culture, sent out to members of the European Parliament's Committee on Education and Culture as he outlined his programme to them. He announced that he was preparing a communication together with Commissioner Verheugen on entrepreneurship in order to pinpoint the problem more specifically. In the spring, the Commission will present various initiatives on the role of universities and “post graduate” degrees, which are still relatively uncommon in Europe, he noted, stating that education and youth policies should be given greater visibility as they are not “residual” policies but are central to Europe's success. “If you want a European area of education, a European area of research, we need investments or we will fall behind”, he warned, stressing the three objectives of the Barroso Commission: prosperity, solidarity and security. Referring to the cultural diversity which characterises the enlarged Union, Jan Figel stressed the importance of multilingualism, and announced that he is to propose a “European Year of Inter-Cultural Dialogue”, in 2008 if possible. On youth, the Commissioner reminded his audience of the initiative taken by France, Germany, Sweden and Spain at the European Summit of December 2004 to create a “European Youth Pact”, adding that “the inter-services consultation is underway to give birth to this initiative ahead the next European Council”. This initiative, he added, will be at the heart of the forthcoming Education Council on 21 February. As for sport, the Commission is currently assessing the impact of the “European Year of Education through Sport” 2004 (EYES) with a view to creating new initiatives.
Answering a question from Manolis Mavrommatis (EPP-ED, Greece) on how things had changed in Europe in recent years, Jan Figel voiced his satisfaction: “Europe is a 'soft' power which is improving the living conditions of its citizens and which offers a great deal of hope to the neighbouring countries”, he stressed, referring to the European aspirations of Ukraine. Austrian Social Democrat Christa Prets criticised the demise of the Institute of minority languages, and the Commission told her that a feasibility study had been commissioned on the possibility of replacing the institute. On the Convention on the protection of cultural diversity under discussion at Unesco (which Jan Figel will attend on behalf of the EU), the Commissioner said that he would not be a “lone horseman” but that he was discussing a common position with the Member States. German Green Michael Cramer raised the problem of Europe's “collective memory” of the need to find Europe's roots and historical past, without distinguishing between East and West. This question was put by British Conservative Christopher Beazley as well: “Is Europe united by a common heritage?” he asked. Jan Figel acknowledged that efforts must be multiplied to convey the Europeans' common historical heritage, especially in the teaching of history in schools: “we need a living memory”, without forgetting history's darker times, he added. Finnish Liberal Hannu Takkula stressed the dialogue between the Member States on best practice in education: “the Commission must think about methods of coordination”, he said, referring to the “Pisa study” on education results in the countries of the EU and the major pedagogical differences between the Member States. “Some Member States are real sources of inspiration”, said Mr Figel, who announced that the Commission was to open a debate on a strategy, on the basis of the results of the Pisa study. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (EPP-ED, Luxembourg) raised the problem of mobility of artists: “will the Commission look into this?”, she asked. “Next year, we want a year of mobility”, said Jan Figel, who pointed out that the Union was trying to take initiatives on mobility, but still called on the Member States to get involved in this issue.