§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Youth Council held in Brussels on 23 November; and if he will make a statement. [99846]
§ Mr. WillsThe European Commission presented its future approach to youth affairs on which there was an exchange of views. The Commission also summarised progress on its proposal for Recommendations concerning the application of Community law in the field of mobility of students, trainees, young volunteers, teachers and instructors.
The Presidency gave a progress report on the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Community action programme for youth. Following discussion, the Presidency concluded that conciliation would take place during the Portuguese Presidency. All the European Parliament's second reading amendments, including the budget for the programme, would be carefully considered.
The Council agreed the text of its Resolution on the non-formal education dimension of sporting activities in the European Community Youth programmes. The Resolution is a mixed Resolution of the Council and Ministers of the member states meeting in the Council1, and will be adopted at a future Council of Ministers. The Commission's view that this should only be a Council Resolution would be noted.
The draft conclusions on the implementation of measures to combat child sex tourism were presented by the Presidency which also summarised youth activities which it had organised during its Presidency.
1The Resolution acknowledges that sport is one of way of working with young people. However, whilst the Community has competence for co-ordination in the field of youth, sports policy remains the competence of member states. The mixed Resolution therefore reflects this difference in competence.