The Council of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport of 22-23 May adopted a revised recommendation on key competences (among others on literacy competence, multilingual competence and digital competence) for lifelong learning, that all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employability, social inclusion, sustainable lifestyle, successful life in peaceful societies, health-conscious life management and active citizenship.
The Council also adopted a recommendation on promoting common values, inclusive education, and the European dimension of teaching, as well as conclusions on moving towards a European Education Area.
Participants discussed the potential of universities in promoting regional growth and entrepreneurial and innovative skills, focusing in particular on what measures and incentives can develop the potential of higher education institutions, and on the role of smart specialisation strategies.
The Council adopted conclusions on the role of youth in building a secure, cohesive and harmonious society, as well as conclusions on the role of youth in addressing the demographic challenges.
The Council also held a policy debate on the future priorities of the EU youth policy in the presence of Mr. Hassan Al Hilou, Community Leader of the YouthTalks Foundation. The discussion was intended to facilitate the debate on the revised European Youth Strategy.
The second day the Council had an exchange of views on a long term vision for the contribution of culture to the EU after 2020, focusing in particular on what actions need to be undertaken at EU level to raise the level of ambition in the cultural field, so that culture becomes a real driver of change in the future.
The Council also adopted conclusions on bringing cultural heritage to the fore across policies in the EU, taking into consideration the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018.
After an informal lunch meeting of sports ministers with the President of UEFA, Mr Aleksander Čeferin, to discuss the future of club and national team competitions, the Council adopted conclusions on promoting the common values of the EU through sports.
The Council also held a policy debate on the commercialisation of elite sports and the sustainability of the European model of sport, also in the presence of Mr Čeferin.
