Brussels, 22/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 January, the Slovenian presidency presented MEPs from the culture and education committee at the European Parliament with its priorities on education, culture and the media. The minister for higher education, science and technology, Mojca Kucler Dolinar, will pay particular attention to the discussion on Erasmus Mundus II, which aims to adopt the programme this year and for it to enter into force in 2009. In the context of co-decision procedure, the minister launched an appeal to all MEPs for a constructive and pro-active dialogue, so that the programme can be adopted as soon as possible and launched in time. The presidency will also seek to deepen the Bologna process. In this connection, it will assess all efforts to introduce life-long learning into higher education and modernise the universities so as to promote European competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.
Ms Dolinar is proposing a concrete contribution that will “leave a permanent mark” in the Mediterranean. She explained that “Slovenia wished to establish a Euro-Mediterranean University with its seat in Slovenia. With joint study programmes, research projects and exchange of professors and students, this institution could link several universities from this region and contribute to the recognition of a single Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education and Research Area”.
The minister for education and sport, Milan Zver, explained that the Slovenian presidency would attempt to get the role of education and training recognised in the Lisbon Treaty. The promotion of creativity and innovation in the school modernisation process will be highlighted. The minister also underscored the importance of multilingualism and intercultural dialogue. In this context, the preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe is of vial importance for every country, particularly for Slovenia, which is one of the smallest member states, affirmed Ms Zver.
Minister Vasko Simoniti presented the programme of the Slovenian presidency on culture and audiovisual subjects. He pointed out that in order to be able to attain the objectives, close cooperation between representatives from civil society and all European institutions would be essential. Simoniti highlighted the key event for 2008, intercultural dialogue and explained that Slovenia was preparing other events: “The presidency will frame initial proposals for Council decision, to be adopted at the meeting in May, on developing the intercultural skills of citizens through cultural projects, raising awareness of our common heritage, encouraging multilingualism, and eliminating obstacles to artists' mobility”. In the context of the Slovenian presidency's contribution to drafting the Council's cultural programme for the next three years, Simoniti said that he was convinced that member states would focus particular attention on the common definition of future priorities. He also said that he hoped that cooperation between the European Commission and the Council during the adoption of the directive on audiovisual media services could also be extended to the discussion on the communications on education in the media and online content that the Commission had just published. A conference on these themes will be held in Slovenia in June, explained the minister. (I.L.)