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Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 28-29 November 2022
Main results
Culture, audiovisual and sport - 29 November
Culture in times of crisis
Against the backdrop of the deliberate destruction of Ukrainian monuments and museums and the massive looting of Ukrainian artworks and cultural heritage by the Russian army, the EU ministers of culture held a policy debate on support and solidarity with Ukrainian culture, including cultural heritage. Ministers exchanged views on the possibilities for specific assistance in relation to Ukraine’s needs in the field of culture, and on strengthening cooperation between European Capitals of Culture and Ukrainian cities.
In this context the Council strengthened the external action dimension of culture and added a specific action on Ukraine in the EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 which member states also adopted today.
We cannot be indifferent to the destruction and looting of Ukrainian museums and cultural heritage. In the light of Russia’s aggression EU ministers of culture stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian cultural sector.Martin Baxa, Czech minister of CultureCouncil resolution on the EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026, 29 November 2022
The Czech presidency presented a progress report about the state of play of the ongoing work on the legislative proposal for a European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The EMFA aims at establishing common rules for the functioning of the internal market for media services. Its focus is to protect media freedom, pluralism and independence in the EU.Regulation establishing the European Media Freedom Act ‒ Progress report
Sport: Turning crises into opportunities
Since early 2020 the European sport sector has faced multiple unprecedented crises: COVID-19 measures limited opportunities for sport activity and led to cancellation of sports competitions. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis is also impacting the sector.
In this context ministers shared good practices of how these crises can be turned into opportunities. The use of digital tools (for instance to participate in sports from home) is an illustration of how external constraints have led to positive change. The energy crisis for its part might lead to a transition of sports infrastructure towards sustainable and energy-efficient sources of energies. The UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and former Czech basketball player with NBA experience Jiří Welsch also joined the debate.
The transition to more sustainable sport infrastructure – in the broadest social, economic and environmental sense – was also addressed by Council conclusions on sustainable and accessible sports infrastructure that ministers approved.
Recent years have undeniably been very difficult for everyone involved in sport in Europe – from clubs to professionals and amateurs. The sport sector has shown great strength in finding answers to the challenges of the pandemic and ongoing energy crisis and this will contribute to the long term goal to make the sport infrastructure more sustainable.Vladimír Balaš, Czech minister of Education, Youth and SportsCouncil conclusions on sustainable sports infrastructure, 29 November 2022
Other business
Germany raised the challenges of cultural institutions in the energy crisis and Latvia informed about the selection of the European capital of culture. The Commission briefed ministers on the EIT Culture and Creativity Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) and on the European Union as Guest of Honour at the Guadalajara International Book Fair.
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland highlighted the issue of transmission of Russian propaganda channels by EU satellite service providers.
The Dutch delegation addressed the topic of respecting human rights when assigning major sport events and Sweden reported back from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board meeting.
Sweden presented its work programmes for culture and sport as upcoming presidency.
Education and youth - 28 November
Pathways to school success and well-being in digital education
The Council adopted a recommendation on pathways to school success. As the share of early leavers from education and training stood at 9.7% in 2021 and the underachievement rate in reading, mathematics and science of 15-year olds is – according to the Education and Training Monitor 2021 – still above 15%, the recommendation calls on member states to develop strategies towards school success and to minimise the effects of socio-economic status on education and training outcomes.
Ministers also approved conclusions on supporting well-being in digital education. The use of digital tools and methods are on the rise in classrooms throughout Europe, especially after the switch to online learning and teaching during the pandemic. This ongoing development and the need to ensure learners' and educators' well-being in this digital reality should be reflected when member states design their digital education strategies.
We must continue to develop a school environment in which students and teachers feel well, safe, secure and are able to recognise the risks associated with the use of digital means.Vladimír Balaš, Czech minister of Education, Youth and SportsCouncil takes action to boost school success of children across the EU (press release, 28 November 2022)
EU highlights the importance of well-being in digital education (press release, 28 November 2022)
Ministers also discussed how the European Education Area (EEA) can react more quickly and efficiently to crises such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or the COVID-19 pandemic. Many ministers highlighted ongoing efforts related to the integration of Ukrainian children in their education systems and the EEA’s role as a tool to coordinate actions in times of crisis.
European Year of Youth
2022 is the European Year of Youth. It honours the European youth who endured much hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic – being completely prevented from social life and interaction. Ministers assessed the implementation of this European Year and discussed how to ensure its legacy beyond 2022. A special focus of the exchange was on how to make the youth dimension an integral part of all the EU’s policies and policy making.
The Council also approved conclusions on promoting the intergenerational dimension in the youth field to foster dialogue and social cohesion.
The pandemic – with lock-downs, the cancellation of festivals and closure of youth centers – has been especially hard on our youth. This European Year of Youth was a good opportunity to lift the young people from their social deprivation and boost their involvement in public matters. In order to uphold the spirit of this year we need to get better in involving and listening to young people when we as politicians take decisions.Vladimír Balaš, Czech minister of Education, Youth and SportsCouncil conclusions on intergenerational dimension, 28 November 2022
Other business
The Commission provided information on the European Education Area Progress Report together with the launch of Learning Labs on investing in quality education and training, ethical guidelines on the use of AI and data in teaching and learning, guidelines on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy as well as a pledge of the “Deep Tech Talent initiative”.
The minister of Cyprus informed delegations about the 9th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference and the outcomes of the high-level meeting of Education Ministers on Education for Sustainable Development.
The Czech presidency shared the outcome of the discussion at the informal EU Youth Dialogue breakfast meeting which took place before the start of the Council meeting.
The upcoming Swedish presidency presented its work programmes for education and youth.
Other items on the agenda
As items without discussion, the Council adopted several other legislative acts:the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) which will strengthen the IT security of financial entities such as banks, insurance companies and investment firms
a new directive on security of network and information systems (NIS 2) for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, to further improve the resilience and incident response capacities of both the public and private sector and the EU as a whole
the foreign subsidies regulation which tackles distortive foreign subsidies on the internal market and aims to restore fair competition between all companies operating in the internal market – both European and non-European
the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD). Companies will soon be required to publish detailed information on sustainability matters. This will increase a company’s accountability, prevent divergent sustainability standards, and ease the transition to a sustainable economy
Meeting information
Meeting n°3913
Brussels
28 November 2022
10:00
Preparatory documentsProvisional agenda
List of A items, non-legislative activities
List of A items, legislative deliberations
Background brief
Outcome documentsList of participants
List of participants
Meeting voting results
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45th ACP-EU Council of Ministers, 29 November 2022
Infographic - EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countriesSee full infographic
Main results
In its first meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic, the 45th African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) - EU Council of Ministers took place on 29 November to exchange views on the many issues of importance for the Partnership.
Ministers discussed the current geopolitical context, including the food and energy crises, which hit especially hard vulnerable countries, many of them OACPS members. The EU side used this opportunity to share its perspective on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and strongly condemn the attacks, which caused infrastructure devastation and losses of civilian lives. The EU and its Member States also expressed a commitment to work with OACPS partners to overcome the global consequences of this war of aggression by continuous support to affected OACPS countries.
Ministers also talked about the new EU-OACPS Partnership Agreement (post-Cotonou) to prepare for its signature.
Under the topic of the implementation of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, they also focussed on trade, economic and financial cooperation, as well as on non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes and fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
In the current geopolitical context, cooperation between the EU and the ACP states is vital. We need to share objective information in the light of Russian propaganda and misery the war brings to many African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Today’s discussions demonstrated the ongoing solidarity between our regions and our willingness to work together towards a sustainable global future.Jiří Kozák, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia
Ministers also exchanged views on the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, its relevance for the OACPS and the implementation of NDICI-Global Europe.
Under the item on EU-OACPS cooperation in international fora, Ministers set a follow-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) and agreed on continuing collaboration during the upcoming United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15).
The meeting was co-chaired on the EU side by Mr. Jiří Kozák, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Czechia, and on the OACPS side by H. E. Dr Amery Browne, Minister for Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, as current OACPS Chair.COP15: the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States call for an ambitious global agreement (press release, 29 November 2022)
Meeting information
Brussels
29 November 2022
Preparatory documentsAnnotated agenda
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Press release
29 November 202222:50
EU ministers: sport must adapt to the current situation
© EU
A meeting of the Sports Council chaired by Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Vladimír Balaš took place in Brussels today. The ministers discussed opportunities in the field of sport in the light of the consequences of the pandemic, Russian aggression against Ukraine and increased energy prices. In addition, sports ministers adopted Council Conclusions on Sustainable and Accessible Sports Infrastructure.
At the beginning of the meeting, the ministers adopted the Council Conclusions on Sustainable and Accessible Sports Infrastructure. Their basic principle is to ensure that new and existing sports infrastructure is sustainable, energy-efficient and does not pollute the natural environment. The second is to ensure that sport infrastructure is accessible to everyone, everywhere, regardless of their social status or disability.
"I would like us to look to the future and reflect on how we have learnt from the current crises and how these challenges can shape our future policies and activities - this would strengthen the resilience of the sports sector. We should consider new forms of cooperation, immediate and structural reforms, or even consider the current crises as a new beginning that will lead to better support for the sports sector," said Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Vladimír Balaš.
EU ministers then discussed whether the covid-19 pandemic, Russian aggression against Ukraine and high energy prices could be not merely a negative phenomenon but also an opportunity for the further development of sport. They discussed not only the importance of cooperation between the state and the sports movement in dealing with crises in sport, but also how we can learn from our experiences with the pandemic, Russian aggression and high energy costs to ensure that sport is available to all.
The Ministers present also agreed that sport, like other sectors, must adapt to the current situation, not only in the light of the covid-19 pandemic and Russian aggression against Ukraine, but also in the light of the green and digital transition. Supporting innovation in sport is therefore crucial. The promotion of values such as fair play and healthy lifestyles, which are closely linked to the sports movement, should also continue to be a priority.
Prior to the afternoon session, an informal lunch discussion was held at the invitation of Minister Vladimír Balaš, which focused on the lack of qualified PE teachers and other sports professionals in school education. The discussion revealed that the shortage of qualified professionals is a problem that is shared by most Member States across Europe. Promoting their participation in children's education should be a priority in the future and contribute to improving the quality of sports education as well as the early identification of talent in sport.
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