§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Education Council held in Brussels on 26 November. [HL177]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)The Council of EC Education Ministers, at which my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Learning and Technology represented the UK, adopted a resolution on "developing new working methods for European co-operation in the fields of 43WA education and vocational training". Ministers then held an open debate on the role of education and vocational training in the new millennium.
The Council received information from the Presidency on the outcome of conciliation with the European Parliament on the proposal for a second phase of the Socrates education action programme. Information was received from the European Commission on: the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council to establish the European Year of Languages 2001; forthcoming proposals for European Parliament and Council Recommendations on the mobility of students, young trainees, young volunteers, teachers and trainers and on European co-operation in the evalution of the quality of school education; the role of education and training in implementing the Stability Pact for South-East Europe; the implementation of the Council resolution of 6 May 1996 on educational multimedia in the fields of education and training; and indicators and benchmarks in the field of school quality.
Ministers received a report from the European Schools High Council on the future of the European Schools and held an exchange of views. The Council also received information from the Portuguese delegation on plans for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council.
A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library in due course.