HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 cc141-2W
Mr. Connarty

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of the Education, Youth and Culture Council held in Brussels on 11 to 12 November; what the Government's stance on the issues discussed was, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [80715]

Margaret Hodge

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport attended the culture and audiovisual session of this council, with Elaine Murray, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in the Scottish Parliament. I attended the education session on 12 November. There was no youth business.

In the culture and audiovisual session the Council adopted a resolution on European added value and mobility of persons and circulation of works in the cultural sector (document 13129/1/02); and a resolution on interactive media content in Europe (document 12911/02). The Council also adopted conclusions on the Television Without Frontiers Directives (document 12934/02).

In the education session, the Council adopted a resolution on enhanced co-operation in vocational education and training (document 13137/02).

The Council also held a discussion on the EU level education work programme, focusing in particular on the national level reforms that were linked to it, as well as the vocational education and training aspects of the work programme. I stressed the need to keep the work straightforward and to obtain concrete and practical results in terms of sharing good practice, while respecting the differences between our various education systems. I also supported the work on improving the understanding and getting better recognition of each others' qualifications. There was a high degree of consensus with many other delegations making the same points.

The Council held its first discussion of the Commission's Erasmus World proposal for a new programme to attract overseas students into the EU. I welcomed the broad aim of the proposal and stressed the need for the programme to be of high quality.

The Council received information from the Commission on the evaluation of the European Year of Languages in 2001, and on their proposed action plan to promote language learning and linguistic diversity, due to be published in 2003.

A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library in due course.