• Posted 19-May-2021

Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 17-18 May 2021

Main Results

Culture, Audiovisual and Sport, 18 May 

Recovery, resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors

Culture plays a crucial role for the European identity and has an important social and economic impact. The Council has approved conclusions which restate that the cultural and creative sectors are among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and that there is a need to take decisive policy actions in their support, both as an immediate response and as a more ambitious and far-sighted approach, as the current crisis has exposed some structural challenges and pre-existing vulnerabilities of the cultural and creative sectors. In order to promote the recovery, resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors, the conclusions identify six priorities, namely: improving access to available funding; enhancing the resilience of professionals in the cultural and creative sectors; further strengthening mobility and cooperation; expediting the digital and green transitions; improving knowledge and preparedness for future challenges; and taking cultural scenes and local communities into account. The Council conclusions also aim to promote fairness and equality for all, giving special attention to the situation of female artists and cultural professionals. The Council calls on member states and the Commission to exchange views on best practices and to take stock of these conclusions in 2023.

Council conclusions on the recovery, resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors.

Europe’s Media in the Digital Decade

The Council has approved conclusions to support the recovery and transformation of the European news media and audiovisual sectors. As both sectors have incurred massive losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, member states are invited to take advantage of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which is the EU’s post-crisis financial instrument, and to invest in the acceleration of the digital transformation and green transition of these sectors.

• Council conclusions on ʻEurope’s Media in the Digital Decade: An Action Plan to Support Recovery and Transformation’
• Council conclusions: Recovery and transformation of Europe’s media (press release, 18 May 2021)

Diversification of funding sources and mechanisms for the safeguarding and protection of European cultural heritage

Europe’s cultural heritage is a public good with an important social and economic value. However, its protection is under threat due to budgetary pressure, and this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. Ministers discussed how best to financially support the European cultural heritage, where to find new sources of funding and what the best steps would be in the long term.

Sport innovation

The Council has approved conclusions on sport innovation. The Council invites member states to promote and support research and development initiatives and projects in the field of sport innovation, create and disseminate knowledge, and provide tools for better policy development and sport innovation benchmarking.

• Conclusions of the Council and of the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on Sport Innovation

Sport diplomacy

Sport diplomacy is a relatively new concept at EU level. At the same time, sport has always been used to convey political messages and is part of the diplomatic toolkit of the EU’s global counterparts. EU ministers discussed whether the EU’s cultural and educational diplomacy offers a blueprint for the development of an EU sport diplomacy strategy and what the next steps should be in this regard.

Other business

• The presidency reported on the current impact of COVID-19 on sport
• The upcoming Slovenian presidency presented its work programmes for culture/audiovisual affairs and sport
• The presidency reported on the presidency conferences on culture and the media
• The EU member state representative of the incumbent trio presidency on the WADA Foundation Board informed ministers about the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board meeting
• The Spanish delegation addressed the impact of video-on-demand (VOD) platforms on the EU’s audiovisual market, in particular on the relationship between the various actors in the value chain
• The German delegation provided information on the culture policy perspective in the negotiations amending the VAT Directive, especially considering taxation of the art trade
• The Slovenian delegation reported on the designation of the European Capital of Culture for 2025
• The Commission provided information on the HealthyLifestyle4All initiative which is planned to be launched in September 2021

Education and Youth, 17 May

Equity, inclusion and success in education and training for all

Equity in access, inclusion and success for all are basic principles of education and training. However, equity and inclusion are still a challenge for our educational systems, with significant differences within and between member states. As the socio-economic background remains an important factor influencing educational outcomes in the European Union, the Council approved conclusions on this topic. The number of underachievers and early school leavers is still high in the EU. 20.3% of those with disabilities leave education early. Students with fewer opportunities have lower expectations of completing tertiary education (43.4%) than their peers (82.3%). The conclusions call on member states and the Commission to work together on policies to reduce low-achievement, raise competence levels and prevent unemployment.

• Council Conclusions on equity and inclusion in education and training in order to promote educational success for all

European Universities initiative

Ministers approved conclusions on the European Universities initiative. The European Universities initiative is a fundamental pillar of the European Education Area to be built by 2025. The Council invites member states to use all available funding mechanisms to support the initiative and recommends more cooperation between education authorities, higher education institutions and stakeholders in order to remove obstacles to cooperation at European level, bearing in mind that the European Universities can be instrumental in building important bridges with their research and challenge-based learning and teaching approaches, creating stronger synergies between the higher education dimension of the European Education Area, the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area.

• Council conclusions on the European Universities initiative - Bridging higher education, research, innovation and society: Paving the way for a new dimension in European higher education
• European Universities initiative: Council conclusions pave the way for new dimension in European higher education (press release, 17 May 2021)
• European Education Area policy page

Evolving scenarios for the transformation of EU higher education

Following up on the Council conclusions on the European Universities initiative, ministers held a public policy debate to hear opinions and exchange ideas on the future of higher education and, in particular, on the role of higher education institutions as drivers of change towards the digital and green transitions. The debate was framed by three questions: whether European Universities’ alliances should be ‘testbeds’ for interoperability and cooperation between member states regarding European research and teaching career development; what specific measures member states are prepared to take to promote a European approach to quality assurance for joint degrees; and whether they are considering adopting national legislation allowing for micro-credentials in higher education.

Participation of young people in decision-making processes

Even though young people are very active in democratic life, they often have fewer opportunities to participate and are underrepresented in decision-making. As they are affected by the whole political agenda, their engagement and involvement in finding responses to today’s challenges are essential.

Today the Council approved conclusions on strengthening multi-level governance when promoting the participation of young people in decision-making processes. The aim of these conclusions is to ensure that all young people have equal opportunities for participation, involvement and empowerment in relevant decision-making processes.

• Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on Strengthening the multilevel governance when promoting the participation of young people in decision-making processes

A rights-based approach to youth policies: The drive for commitment in the future?

In their transition to adulthood, young people face specific challenges which place them in a position of vulnerability. This results in a need to improve young people’s access to rights and should be reflected in a human rights-based youth policy. Ministers held a public debate about how authorities, at all levels, can engage, connect and empower young people.

Other business

• The presidency reported on the current impact of COVID-19 on education and training and on youth.
• The incoming Slovenian presidency presented its work programme.

Source: European Council of the European Union (https://bit.ly/2S9KA0J)