§ Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of the Education and Youth Council held in Brussels on 29 November; what the Government's position was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [20363]
§ Margaret HodgeI represented the UK at the morning (Education) session of this Council meeting; my right hon. Friend the Minister for Police, Courts and Drugs (Minister for Children and Young People) and Jane Davidson AM (Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning in Wales) represented the UK at the afternoon (Youth) session.
Education
The Council discussed the follow-up to the report on "Concrete Future Objectives of Education and Training Systems" (presented to the Stockholm European Council in March 2001) and adopted Conclusions setting out a number of principles concerning follow-up as well as a proposal timetable for taking work forward. The UK supported these principles, stressing the need for a coherent approach to work in this and other fields such as lifelong learning.
643WThe Council also discussed co-operation with third countries in the field of higher education, in the context of a Communication from the Commission on that subject.
Ministers adopted without debate a
Resolution on the promotion of linguistic diversity and language learning in the framework of the implementation of the objectives of the European Year of Languages 2001";and anOpinion concerning education and training issues in the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for member states' employment policies for 2002".The Council received information from the Commission on its Communication "Making a European Area of Lifelong Learning a Reality"; and on the proposal for a
Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the European Year of Education through Sport 2004".Youth
The Council discussed the recently adopted Commission White Paper "A New Impetus for European Youth." Given the very short time scale since its publication on 21 November 2001, Ministers offered only an initial view of its content. The UK supported the generally positive response to the proposals in the White Paper and endorsed the suggested open method of co-operation as being an appropriate way of taking the policy forward.
Ministers adopted without debate a
Resolution on the added value of voluntary activity for young people in the context of the development of Community action on youth.The Council received information from the Commission on the Evaluation Report of "Youth for Europe" and "European Voluntary Service" Community programmes for the period 1995 to 1999, and from the German delegation on the European Conference "Youth for Tolerance and Democracy" held in Berlin from 21 to 23 October 2001.
A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library in due course.