Outcomes of the Council of the EU meetings
Earlier this month, European education ministers attending the Council of the EU adopted a series of conclusions on investing in education and training, in response to the recent European Commission communication on 'Rethinking Education'. Meanwhile, research ministers meeting at the Competitiveness Council discussed the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs, and open access to scientific information of public-funded research projects.
Council of the EU (Education, Youth, Culture and Sport - EYCS) meeting
Education ministers at the Council of the EU (EYCS) meeting (15 February) adopted a series of conclusions on investing in education and training, in response to the recent Commission communication 'Rethinking Education'. The conclusions seek to highlight priority areas for education and training reform with particular emphasis on improving overall skills and competence levels in order to boost employability and reduce youth unemployment. Moreover, the Council said that they aim at strengthening the link between Europe 2020 goals and the open method of coordination (OMC) in the education field, seeking to promote closer collaboration with other relevant policy committees such as the Economic Policy Committee and the Employment Committee. The full conclusions can be viewed here.
The Council noted that some member states wished that the EYCS Council examine – in detail and on a regular basis – both overall and individual member states' progress in responding to country-specific recommendations (CSRs), while other member states preferred a less prescriptive procedure, contending that education's role in the European semester is already prominent enough and that education is an area of national competence. The Council also held a policy debate on ‘Education and Skills for Jobs, Stability and Growth’, in the context of the European Semester and in particular the education aspects of the 2013 Annual Growth Survey. In November 2012 the European Commission adopted the 2013 Annual Growth Survey (AGS), setting out the five priorities designed to guide member states through the crisis to renewed growth. More details on this debate and the other issues covered at Council are available here. Read more...


