Rådsmøde nr. 3388 (uddannelse, ungdom, kultur og sport) den 18.-19. maj 2015

Europaudvalget 2015-16
Rådsmøde 3388 - uddannelse m.v. Bilag 3
Offentligt

Council of the

European Union

8965/15

(OR. en)

PRESSE 33

PR CO 25

OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING

3388th Council meeting

Education, Youth, Culture and Sport

Brussels, 18 and 19 May 2015

Presidents

Mārīte Seile

Minister for Education and Science

Dace Melbārde

Minister for Culture

PRESS

Rue de la Loi 175 B – 1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 8026

[email protected] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/press

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CONTENTS

ITEMS DEBATED

EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................................... 4

ET 2020 mid-term stocktaking ............................................................................................................ 4

The role of early childhood education and primary education ............................................................ 5

Other business ...................................................................................................................................... 6

–

Paris declaration: Promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-

discrimination through education ............................................................................................................................ 6

Work programme of the incoming presidency ........................................................................................................ 7

YOUTH ................................................................................................................................................ 7

Structured dialogue .............................................................................................................................. 7

Cross-sectorial policy cooperation ....................................................................................................... 7

Youth work .......................................................................................................................................... 8

Political participation of young people ................................................................................................ 9

Other business .................................................................................................................................... 10

–

European declaration on youth work in the context of the Second European Youth Work Convention ............... 10

Work programme of the incoming presidency ...................................................................................................... 10

CULTURE and AUDIOVISUAL ...................................................................................................... 10

European audiovisual policy .............................................................................................................. 10

Cultural and creative cross-overs ....................................................................................................... 12

European Capitals of Culture in 2019 ................................................................................................ 12

Other business .................................................................................................................................... 13

–

Destruction of cultural sites perpetrated by ISIL/Da'esh ....................................................................................... 13



Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated

in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks.

 

Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site

(http://www.consilium.europa.eu).

 

Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by

an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press

Office.

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–

Financing of small-scale cultural infrastructure projects ....................................................................................... 14

Council conclusions on cultural governance ......................................................................................................... 14

Work programme of the incoming presidency ...................................................................................................... 14

SPORT ............................................................................................................................................... 14

Role of grassroots sport...................................................................................................................... 14

Other business .................................................................................................................................... 16

–

Council of Europe Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions ......................................................... 16

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) meetings ................................................................................................... 17

Work programme of the incoming presidency ...................................................................................................... 17

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

GENERAL AFFAIRS

–

Inland waterway transport in Europe - Report of the European Court of Auditors ............................................... 18

TRANSPORT

–

Fishing vessel personnel ........................................................................................................................................ 18

Port state control* .................................................................................................................................................. 18

ENVIRONMENT

–

List of restricted substances ................................................................................................................................... 19

TRANSPARENCY

–

Public access to documents ................................................................................................................................... 19

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ITEMS DEBATED

EDUCATION

ET 2020 mid-term stocktaking

Ministers expressed their views on the achievements of

European cooperation in education and

training

to date and how it should develop, and in which direction. The debate took place in the

context of the mid-term stocktaking and the 2015 Joint Report, which is due for publication this

summer.

ET 2020 is the key European-level framework that helps member states to modernise their

education and training systems, thus contributing to the overall political priorities set under the

Europe 2020 strategy. The ET 2020 strategic framework was adopted in May 2009 (OJ

C 119,

28.5.2009)

and established four broad long-term objectives which European cooperation in

education and training should seek to achieve by the end of this decade.

The Commission thinks that the ET 2020 framework needs to become more operational and

focused. One of its main priorities should be to improve basic skills and competences, as well as

digital literacy, in a lifelong learning perspective.

The main outcomes of the ministerial debate were the following:

–

ET 2020 strategic objectives remain relevant but the current priority areas should be

streamlined, focusing on a few headline priorities with clear European added value, while

also increasing the efficiency of working methods;

The ET 2020 work cycle should be extended from three to five years, thus enabling better

synchronisation between the objectives of ET 2020 and the broader EU 2020 strategy for

jobs and growth and reducing the reporting burden on member states:

in the follow-up to the back-to-back meeting of EPSCO and Education ministers in

December 2014, cooperation and closer synergy between the education and training sector

and the employment policy sector should be pursued and strengthened, thereby

acknowledging the role of quality education in promoting employability and

competitiveness;

–

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–

more efficient use should be made of available EU financial instruments, such as Erasmus+

and the Youth Guarantee, as well as the recently proposed Investment Plan for Europe,

which emphasises the need to swiftly increase the volume of investments in certain key

policy areas, including education and training, by attracting private capital to strategic

projects;

vocational education and training must be developed in parallel with formal education, as

is already the case in some member states, and the exchange of best practices should be

conducted on a regular basis:

though important, education cannot only be limited to finding a job. It should also promote

personal development, critical thinking and active citizenship, focusing on European

common values. In this context, ministers stressed the importance of ensuring a concrete

follow-up to the declaration they adopted at their informal meeting in Paris in March on

education for citizenship and ways of countering radicalisation.

–

The Commission concluded that main priorities to be developed in the post-2015 ET 2020 should

be promoting inclusive education and active citizenship, increasing youth employability, and

encouraging the exchange of best practices,

The role of early childhood education and primary education

The Council adopted conclusions on the

role of early childhood education and primary

education in fostering creativity, innovation and digital competence

(8397/15).

The conclusions examine ways and means of ensuring that today's young people are equipped with

the skills needed to meet the challenges of an increasingly digital economy and society.

They also emphasise the part which creativity, innovation and digital resources can play in the

learning process itself, as well as the importance of ensuring that teachers are suitably trained and

schools adequately prepared for this task.

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Other business

–

Paris declaration: Promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and

non-discrimination through education

The Council took note of information from the Presidency, the French delegation and the

Commission on the follow-up to the informal meeting of EU education ministers on 17 March 2015

in Paris (8496/15).

The meeting was organised by the French delegation - supported by the Latvian Presidency and the

Commission - in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris in January this year. It brought together all

the member states - 26 at ministerial level - and adopted a declaration calling for the education

sector to play its part in preventing radicalisation by promoting citizenship and fostering social

inclusion, and common European values such as tolerance and mutual respect.

The French minister stressed again that employability must be promoted in parallel with citizenship

education. She also suggested that the Horizon 2020 programme could support research into the

reasons that lead to radicalisation among young people and called for the regular exchange of best

practices on this topic.

The Commission stated that preventing radicalisation was a strong priority, which is why the

recently published European Agenda on Security (8293/15) gives such a large place to the role of

education. Furthermore, EU instruments such as ET 2020 and Erasmus + can also be used in this

field.

The Commission considered that any measures taken should reach down to grassroots level and

signalled that a number of projects were already being implemented. It announced that the

Commission would present a specific initiative in this area in the context of the 2016 Erasmus +

work programme.

Member states briefly indicated some of the programmes and measures under way at national level

to promote inclusion and fight radicalisation. Ministers also underlined that concrete actions at both

national and European level should seek to involve sports clubs, NGOs, youth associations, parents

and families, as well as develop specific teacher training programmes aimed at preventing

radicalisation.

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–

Work programme of the incoming presidency

The Council took note of information from the Luxembourg delegation concerning its main

priorities in the education field for the coming six months:

–

develop linguistic diversity at both formal and non-formal level

improve early childhood facilities

increase access to tertiary education

promote inclusive education

YOUTH

Structured dialogue

Before starting with the formal items on the agenda, the Presidency briefly outlined the main

outcome of the informal meeting between government representatives and the representatives from

youth organisations which had taken place in the morning before the Council meeting.

The youth representatives stressed the need to develop a positive youth policy where young people

could be seen as assets rather than problems, and highlighted the importance of enhancing

participation and social inclusion.

They acknowledged in particular the value of the “structured dialogue” and of a cross-sectoral

approach, called for an effective implementation of the rights of young people, the recognition of

the value of youth work, further measures to combat youth unemployment, in particular through

increased implementation of the Youth Guarantee.

Cross-sectorial policy cooperation

The Council adopted conclusions on enhancing

cross-sectorial policy cooperation to effectively

address the socio-economic challenges facing young people

(7863/15).

Cross-sectorial policy

cooperation is also one of the three main priorities set out in the recently adopted EU Work Plan for

Youth 2014-2015

(OJ

C 183/02,14.6.2014).

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Although significant steps have been taken to improve the situation of young people in Europe,

youth unemployment rates remain high with increasing numbers of long term unemployed and

demotivated young workers who have a higher risk of social exclusion. There is still a skills gap

between education and the world of work and the transition from school to work is often difficult.

The conclusions consider strategies to strengthen the cross-sectorial approach to youth issues so that

policy-makers can react more effectively and promptly to problems, making the best use of all

available EU funding and programmes in this field, such as the Youth Guarantee and Erasmus+.

They also underline that certain core elements of the youth sector (youth work, non-formal

learning) could be integrated into other sectors (education, employment, social policy and health)

and could play a crucial role in addressing the main socio-economic problems of young people in

the EU.

The Commission said that the forthcoming Youth Report (scheduled for early Autumn) will be an

important tool to assess youth policy to date and will also show that the cross-sectoral approach is

already bringing results. The report will also include a list of member states' best practices in this

regard.

Youth work

The Council adopted conclusions on

reinforcing youth work to ensure cohesive societies

(8407/15),

which highlight the contribution of youth work to personal development, social

inclusion, cultural diversity and active citizenship.

The conclusions also underline that these values are at the core of European democracies and

should also be promoted and supported outside the formal education structures.

There are estimated to be around 3 million youth workers (both voluntary and paid) in the EU, often

neither recognised nor regulated by any kind of framework.

A number of member states were in favour of the Commission presenting a proposal for a Council

recommendation, which would strengthen the recognition of youth work, addressing the persistently

high level of youth unemployment and its negative consequences in terms of social exclusion,

marginalisation, extremism and, potentially, radicalisation.

Many ministers underlined that youth work plays an important role in reaching out to all young

people of different backgrounds, including marginalised young people and those not in

employment, education or training (NEETs).

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The Commission is examining this issue at several levels and is preparing a study on quality youth

work. This study could form the basis for a possible Council recommendation

Political participation of young people

Ministers discussed how to improve

young people’s political participation in the democratic life

of Europe.

This is one of the overall thematic priorities of the trio presidencies in the framework of

the "structured dialogue" and was also the subject of the last EU Youth Conference that took place

in Riga on 23 to 26 March,'

Member states stressed that young people are interested in political participation, but are

participating in new and less conventional ways, such as through social media and internet

campaigns. Consequently, member states are already implementing a large number of measures to

enhance political participation of young people, focusing in particular on election turn-outs.

In general ministers agreed that the focus should be on the following measures:

–

strengthen civic and political education and increasing support from families and schools

in order to combat extremism and radicalisation

make the best use of social media, the

European Youth Portal

and user-friendly tools for

political participation

develop tailored projects mainly at local level aiming to intensify the dialogue with and

between young people

continue to exchange best practices

–

The Commission announced that it was preparing a set of measures in this field to be presented at

the end of the year.

Joint recommendations

(8095/15, p.8).

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Other business

–

European declaration on youth work in the context of the Second European Youth Work

Convention

The Council was briefed by the Belgian delegation on the

outcome Second European Youth Work

Convention

which took place from 27 to 30 April 2015 in Brussels, in the framework of the Belgian

Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

(8491/1/15

REV 1).

–

Work programme of the incoming presidency

The Council took note of information from the Luxembourg delegation concerning its main

priorities in the youth sector for the coming six months.

–

adoption of a recommendation on the political participation of young people

adoption of the 2015 Joint Report

adoption of new Youth Work Plan

CULTURE and AUDIOVISUAL

European audiovisual policy

Ministers had a first exchange of views on the audiovisual policy aspects of the recent

Commission

communication on the Digital Single Market Strategy

presented by Commissioner Oettinger.

The Commission underlined that the aim of the strategy is to allow Europe to re-establish its digital

supremacy, catching up on digital innovation in order to compete in equal terms with other global

players, such as the United States, China and South Korea who have already a digital strategy for

quite some time now.

The European Union market is fragmented with different rules and regulations in many sectors,

which do not allow the EU to compete as successfully as others. To be able to do so, the EU must

further harmonise its copyright legislation and address issues such as e-commerce, the role of

digital platforms, taxation, net neutrality and geo-blocking.

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Commissioner emphasised that if third countries want to do business in Europe, they will have to

respect EU law.

The Commission and ministers also stressed that the digital single market strategy is not solely

about technological issues: it also focuses on boosting creativity, ensuring cultural diversity and

promoting cultural heritage. Together all this is what makes European culture attractive for export.

The main outcomes of the ministerial debate were the following:

regarding the

digital single market strategy,

ministers supported the cross-border

portability of content, the fight against illegal content and the need to find the right balance

on copyright;

they also stressed that the territoriality principle is important for content creation and geo-

blocking might sometimes be justified in particular as far as small markets are concerned.

concerning the

audiovisual media services

(AVMS) directive

(OJ L 95, 15.4.2010)

remains valid in many domains but should be adapted to technological changes brought

about by the digital shift, regarding in particular the current regulatory distinction between

on-demand and linear audiovisual media services

the review of the directive should aim to guarantee media freedom and pluralism,

promotion of cultural diversity, as well as ensuring a high level protection of minors

the country of origin principle (each provider of audiovisual media services comes under

the jurisdiction of one and only one EU member state) is still a cornerstone of European

audiovisual policy but some exceptions could be foreseen, for instance when fundamental

values, freedoms and democracy are seriously threatened

however, the procedure to be followed by member states when they are the target of

unacceptable content coming from another member state should be streamlined and

accelerated, in particular in certain cases of services of non-EU origin licensed in one

member state yet targeting the audience of another member state. Effective cooperation

among audiovisual regulatory authorities is crucial in this respect.

the freedoms guaranteed by the AVMS directive must not be misused to disseminate hate

speech, propaganda or disinformation in order to ensure public interest objectives of

security and stability

–

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The Commission indicated that its REFIT exercise on the AVMS directive should be completed by

the end of 2015 with a view to adopting a legislative proposal in the course of 2016.

The Presidency said that it would prepare a summary of the outcome of today’s Council debate and

of the forthcoming Competitiveness and Telecommunications Councils' debates on the subject. The

text will be forwarded to the June European Council.

Cultural and creative cross-overs

The Council adopted conclusions on

cultural and creative cross-overs to stimulate innovation,

economic sustainability and social inclusion

(8346/15),

which highlight how culture and artistic

creativity can trigger innovation and enhance competitiveness in industry and business, as well as in

education, health care and the environment.

The cultural and creative sectors (CCS) cover a broad range of sectors from the arts, crafts,

architecture, heritage, libraries and publishing to film, television, games, music, advertising and

design.

Despite numerous studies undertaken in recent years at both national and EU levels that have

demonstrated the significant contribution of these sectors to GDP, job creation and exports, the

synergies with other sectors have not yet been fully explored.

The conclusions call on member states to create favourable conditions to promote cultural and

creative entrepreneurship, including by using innovative financial instruments.

They also recommend that education should encourage the development of transversal skills such as

critical thinking, creativity, entrepreneurship and initiative taking, which are vital in today's labour

market.

The Commission is invited to develop a comprehensive industrial strategy that would strengthen

competiveness and further growth of the cultural and creative industries.

European Capitals of Culture in 2019

The Council adopted a decision designating

Plovdiv

(Bulgaria) and

Matera

(Italy) as European

Capitals of Culture in 2019

(8103/15),

following a recommendation from the Commission which is

based on the reports of the selection panel and the positive opinion of the European Parliament.

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The European Capitals of Culture initiative was launched in 1985 and over 40 cities have been

designated since then. It has become one of the better-known European initiatives. Its aim is to

promote greater mutual understanding between European citizens and strengthen a feeling of

European citizenship, simultaneously highlighting the richness of European cultures and both their

diversity and their shared features.

The initiative had proved to have a positive impact in terms of media response, local development,

tourism and the recognition by inhabitants of the importance of their selected city.

The Bulgarian and Italian ministers welcomed the designation and outlined briefly some of the

features of their respective cities.

Other business

–

Destruction of cultural sites perpetrated by ISIL/Da'esh

The Council was updated by the Commission on culture and cultural heritage related aspects of the

Joint communication on elements for an EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the

Da'esh threat

Da'esh is destroying cultural sites in occupied territories for ideological reasons and at the same

time it trades cultural and archaeological objects in order to finance its terrorist activities.

The Commission included in its European Agenda on Security (8293/15) a reference to illicit

trafficking of cultural objects as an area where additional measures might be needed to prevent

terrorist financing. Europol has also set-up a specific task force to deal with the trafficking of

cultural objects.

Member states and the Commission unanimously condemned these barbaric acts against a cultural

heritage that belongs to all humanity and signalled that they are committed to doing all they can to

stop these acts of criminal violence, also in cooperation with other international organisations such

as the UNESCO.

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–

Financing of small-scale cultural infrastructure projects

The Council took note of concerns of the Polish delegation - supported by a large number of

member states - regarding the maximum threshold that the Commission has decided to apply to

small-scale cultural infrastructure financed from the European Regional Development Fund 2014-

2020, and its calculation method (8561/15).

The Commission recalled that only small- scale cultural and tourism infrastructure can be supported

under the ERDF since these projects proved having a greater impact in local economy than isolated

larger projects.

The Commission defended the threshold as being reasonable to meet the criterion of "small scale".

However, it also pointed out the flexibility that member states have in financing projects under the

ERDF regulation

–

Council conclusions on cultural governance

The Council took note of information from the Presidency (8489/15) on the main outcomes of the

stocktaking exercise relating to the Council conclusions on cultural governance, adopted in

November 2012

(15849/12+

COR 1)

–

Work programme of the incoming presidency

The Council took note of information from the Luxembourg delegation concerning its main

priorities in the field of culture for the coming six months:

–

cross-sectoral cooperation on cultural issues

culture in European Union external relations, in particular concerning development

cooperation

SPORT

Role of grassroots sport

The Council adopted conclusions on

maximising the role of grassroots sport in developing

transversal skills, especially among young people

(7875/15),

highlighting how voluntary

activities in sport as a method of non-formal and informal learning can help young people acquire

skills and transversal competences that complement formal education and enhance their

employability.

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Non-formal and informal learning are important elements in the learning process and are effective

instruments for making learning attractive, developing readiness for lifelong learning and promoting

the social integration of young people.

Sport is the largest non-governmental movement in Europe. Voluntary activities in the sports sector

mainly take place at grassroots level, with people taking parteither as participants, facilitators or

organisers.

Physical activity as part of quality education

Ministers held a debate on

physical activity as an essential element of quality education at all

levels.

The promotion of physical activity is a priority of EU policy-making in the field of sport, and has

been regularly addressed, in particular through the Council recommendation on health-enhancing

physical activity across sectors

(15575/13),

a specific chapter for sport under the Erasmus+

programme and the upcoming first edition of the European Week of Sport in September

(http://ec.europa.eu/sport/week/index_en.).

Most member states are already developing many programmes and strategies to promote physical

activity, since they are all aware of its benefits and of the dangerous consequences of sedentarity

and of the rising trend of obesity in particular among young people. Many member states already

work in close cooperation with local sport associations.

The main recommendations from the debate were the following:

–

propose a greater range of activities in schools and increase their attractiveness

encourage young people to engage in extracurricular sport and physical activity beyond the

school day, organise school competitions

extend the use of community facilities, ensuring that sport facilities are available, meet the

necessary technical and safety standards and are managed efficiently, in partnership with

local sports organisations and clubs

universities and further education institutions should also develop sporting opportunities,

since it's generally during their teenage years that children tend to give up sport

support the progress of young athletes aspiring to a career in elite sports, by adapting

school curricula and schedules

–

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–

develop programmes ensuring an inclusive approach, adjusting the activities to children

with disabilities or special education needs

The ministerial debate also benefited from the very relevant input from the sport movement's

representatives who participated in the working lunch, in the framework of the “structured

dialogue":

–

EOC (European Olympic Committee);

EUPEA (European Physical Education Association),

EUSA (European University Sports Association),

CEV (European Volleyball Confederation),

FIBA (Europe International Basketball Federation)

LEN (European Swimming League), and IFF (International Floorball Federation).

The discussion addressed the

cooperation between the sports movement and the education

systems in member states:

Other business

–

Council of Europe Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions

The Council was briefed by the Presidency on the state of play regarding the signing of the Council

of Europe Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions. To date 18 countries (of which 9

EU member states) have signed the Convention but so far only Norway has ratified it.

The Convention will come into force following ratification by at least five signatories (three of

which must be members of the Council of Europe), which is expected by 2016.

The Commission presented the proposals for the EU signature of the Convention in March 2015

and they are currently under examination in the competent Council bodies. The Council Legal

Service is expected to provide an opinion on some of the pending issues .

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–

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) meetings

The Council was briefed by the EU representatives on the outcome of the WADA meetings which

took place in Montreal on 12 and 13 May 2015. The meeting mainly addressed issues relating to the

budget, data protection and the Anti-Doping Code.

The EU is represented on the WADA Foundation Board by Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta. The

Foundation Board is WADA’s supreme decision-making body and it is composed of 38 members,

with an equal proportion of representatives from the Olympic Movement and from governments.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), set up in 1999, is a private law body whose mission is

to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all its forms

(https://www.wada-ama.org/.

) Its key tasks include scientific research, education, the development

of anti-doping capacities and monitoring of the World Anti Doping Code.

–

Work programme of the incoming presidency

The Council took note of information from the Luxembourg delegation concerning its main

priorities in the field of sport for the coming six months:

–

promotion of physical activity in schools

double careers in sport

EU representation and coordination at WADA

adoption of Council of Europe Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions

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OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

GENERAL AFFAIRS

Inland waterway transport in Europe - Report of the European Court of Auditors

The Council adopted conclusions on the European Court of Auditors' special report entitled "Inland

Waterway Transport in Europe: No significant improvements in modal share and navigability

conditions since 2001", as set out in

8331/15.

TRANSPORT

Fishing vessel personnel

The Council decided to authorise member states to become parties to the International Convention

on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F).

The European Parliament gave its consent to the decision in April 2015, after agreement by the

Council in December 2014.

The STCW-F is an International Maritime Organisation convention aimed at making safety

standards for crews of fishing vessels mandatory worldwide.

For more information, see

Transport Council press release from December 2014

Council decision authorising member states to become parties to the International Convention on

Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel

Port state control*

The Council adopted a decision that contains the position to be adopted by the member states in the

Port State Control Committee (PSCC) of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State

Control (Paris MOU). The decision covers the 48th session of the PSCC, which will be held in the

Netherlands from 18 to 22 May 2015. During that session, the PSCC is expected to decide on

certain issues which have direct legal effect on the EU directive on port state control.

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Port state control means monitoring the compliance of ships with the international standards for

safety, pollution prevention and on-board living and working conditions. While the primary

responsibility for compliance rests with the flag state, inspections by port states play an important

role as a second line of defence against substandard shipping.

Statement on the adoption of the decision concerning Paris MOU PSCC

ENVIRONMENT

List of restricted substances

The Council did not to raise objections to a Commission delegated act amending Annex II to

Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and

electronic equipment as regards the list of restricted substances

(8108/15+ ADD 1)

.The

Commission and the European Parliament will be informed.

This means that, unless the European Parliament objects, the delegated act will be published and

enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the

European Union.

TRANSPARENCY

Public access to documents

On 18 May 2015, the Council approved:

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the reply to confirmatory application No 07/c/01/15 (7861/15).

8965/15