Brussels, 14/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The next session of the Education, Youth and Culture Council will be held in Brussels on 15-16 November, chaired by Ms Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues, Portuguese Education Minister, Mr José Mariano Gago, Portuguese Science, Technology and Higher Education Minister, Ms Isabel Pires de Lima, Portuguese Culture Minister and Mr Pedro Silva Pereira, the minister responsible for the Portuguese presidency of the Council. The strong points of this Council will be dealt with during the session on Thursday, which will be devoted to education. This will include the adoption of a political agreement on the draft European Commission recommendation establishing a European qualification framework (EQF) for lifelong learning, and a general orientation on a draft decision on a European Erasmus Mundus programme.
On the EQF, the Council had released a general orientation at the session of November 2006 while awaiting the European Parliament's opinion. The latter subsequently gave a favourable opinion with the first reading adoption of the Mantovani report in the plenary of 24 October. The ministers should confirm their agreement on the amendments proposed by the Parliament, on extending recognition to all levels of teaching including vocational training, and transposition into national law up to 2010. On Erasmus Mundus, the Council will release a general orientation on the second edition of this programme (2009-2013) designed to improve the quality of higher education and promote intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries, while awaiting the Parliament's first reading opinion. The text on the Council's table has been the subject of consensus among the delegations. The ministers should also reach an agreement on questions linked to the issues of selection procedures for candidates, and in particular possible recourse to a consultation committee. The new features as compared to the current programme are: the inclusion of studies at doctorate level; the inclusion of partnerships with institutions from third countries funded by the budget of other Community development programmes; and simplification of administrative procedures. The Council will also adopt another resolution on education and training as a driving power of the Lisbon strategy, a resolution entitled “New skills for new jobs” and conclusions on improving the quality of teacher education and training. There will also be debates on: a draft resolution concerning the modernisation of universities with a view to promoting competitiveness in Europe, a more multi-lingual Europe and the social dimension of Erasmus in order to promote student mobility, particularly of those from less favoured socio-economic backgrounds.
The culture and youth aspects on the agenda of Friday's session will each contain three points. On culture, the presidency and the Commission will inform the ministers of the results of the first meeting of the permanent partnership council on culture between the EU and Russia which was held in Lisbon on 25 October. The ministers will also hold a public debate with a view to the adoption of a resolution on the European culture agenda. This resolution echoes the Commission communication adopted on 10 May, the three main objectives of which it takes up: promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; promotion of culture as a catalyst of creativity within the Lisbon strategy; and promotion of culture as a vital element in the EU's international relations. The Council will then officially designate the cities of Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) “European capitals of culture 2011”. The afternoon's work will be devoted to youth issues. The ministers will adopt a draft resolution concerning the implementation of common objectives for youth volunteer activities. This resolution adapts and strengthens the objectives for youth volunteer activities contained in a previous resolution adopted in November 2004, that is creating, encouraging and recognising these activities as a means of personal, social and professional development. The 2007 resolution will elevate volunteering to the level of a key element of active European citizenship. The Council will also adopt conclusions for the adoption of a cross-cutting approach to youth policy with a view to enabling young people to fully express their potential and participate actively in society. These conclusions link to the Commission communication of 5 September, and contain a range of key messages targeting the European institutions and member states to make them take account of the interests of young people in the implementation of the Lisbon strategy, following on from the adoption of the European Youth Pact by the European Council of March 2005. (I.L.)