MEMO/08/88
Brussels, 14 February 2008
Education and Youth Council, Brussels 14-15 February 2008 This Memo provides journalists with a brief overview from the Commission's point of view of the issues that will be discussed at the "Education, Youth Affairs and Culture" Council on 14 February in Brussels. Youth ministers start in the morning, with Education ministers following in the afternoon. On Friday (15 February) there will be the first-ever ministerial conference on multilingualism. The Commission will be represented on Thursday by Commissioner Ján Figel', on Friday by Commissioner Leonard Orban. EDUCATION
Proposal for adoption of a joint progress report on the "Education and Training 2010 work programme"
Background
The 2008 joint progress report on the "Education and Training 2010 work programme", was elaborated on the basis of a Commission proposal under the title "Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation". The aim of the work programme, evaluated every two years, is to achieve the Lisbon objectives in the area of education and training.
A summary of the main findings of the Report is provided as an appendix to this Memo.
The progress report presents the state of play, identifies areas where progress remains insufficient, and proposes measures to be taken. Updated tables show that such problems as low literacy levels and early school leaving are still a source of considerable concern in some countries, as well as the achievements of learners with a migrant background. Special attention is therefore given to solutions to these problems, as well as to the improvement of achievement levels of learners with a migrant background.
At this council
The document will be discussed and is expected to be adopted.
Proposal for adoption of key messages to the Spring European Council
Background
This is a regular contribution to the conclusions of the Spring European Council, which evaluates the implementation of the Lisbon strategy. The focus is on the implementation of lifelong learning strategies, knowledge triangle (education, research, innovation), intercultural dialogue and transnational mobility, all levels of education and training.
At this council
Ministers will discuss and adopt the key messages to the Spring European Council in the field of education and training.
YOUTH
Proposal for adoption of key messages to the Spring European Council
Background
This regular contribution to the conclusions of the Spring European Council evaluates the implementation of the European Pact for Youth, which is a part of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. The draft "key messages", fully supported by the Commission, underline the importance of retaining employment and social integration of young people as key objectives of economic and social strategies. They also stress the need to pay particular attention to young people with fewer opportunities, to adopt cross-sectoral approaches to youth concerns and to empower young people to contribute to policy-making.
At this council
The Youth ministers will discuss and adopt the "Key messages to the Spring European Council", which will stress the aim to reinforce the European Pact for Youth.
Exchange of views on intercultural dialogue and young people
Background
The debate should focus on the experiences of Member States regarding the involvement of young people in intercultural dialogue and solidarity, beyond the current European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
At this council
The Commission expects a lively debate; the views expressed could contribute to future Council conclusions on intercultural competences.
MULTILINGUALISM
On Friday 15 February, some of the Ministers will meet for a conference entitled "Promoting multilingualism - a shared commitment"
Background
The conference should identify those areas in the language domain where further action is needed at both European and national levels, and agree on the work to be undertaken over the next few years.
Languages are at the heart of the key debates in Europe today: they feature in matters of identity, social inclusion and intercultural dialogue; in competitiveness and skills for the Europe of knowledge; in citizens' confidence and European accountability. Already in 2002 the Heads of State and Government meeting in Barcelona recognised the importance of language skills and made a political commitment to improve them, in particular by striving to teach two foreign languages to all from an early age.
The conference programme includes the Belgian businessman and former Vice-President of the European Commission, Viscount Etienne Davignon, speaking on languages and business, the French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf on languages in the dialogue of cultures, and Dr Marko Stabej from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, on life in a multilingual country.
At this conference
The outcomes of the discussion will be recorded and will serve as a basis for the Commission's Communication to the Parliament and the Council proposing a comprehensive language policy within the European Union, to be published in the autumn of this year.
APPENDIX
Main findings of the Joint Progress Report on the "Education and Training 2010 work programme"
The data included in the Joint Report show that Europe has made some progress in most of the areas monitored. Participation in education is in general on the increase in all levels, including pre-primary, but progress is not yet fast enough to reach the ambitious goals that Europe has set for itself.
There is cause for concern, however, over the trend increase in the share of pupils with only low reading skills. The EU has set itself the goal of decreasing the share of low achievers by 20% by 2010. Unfortunately, the share has instead increased by about 13% since 2000. The figures reveal that boys perform worse than girls. While Finland is amongst the best performing countries worldwide, its experience contrasts with that of Romania and Bulgaria, where more than half of 15 year old pupils have low reading skills.
As regards participation in upper secondary education and early school leavers, Europe has made constant progress since 2000. There are one million fewer early school leavers today compared to 2000. But even faster progress is needed to reach the benchmarks. While Nordic countries and the new Member States in general perform well as regards participation at school, some Southern European Member States, notably Malta and Portugal, show relatively low participation rates and high rates of early school leaving.
As regards tertiary maths, science and technology graduates, with a growth of 26% since 2000 (or 170 000 graduates) Europe has already clearly surpassed the goal of increasing the number by 15% by 2010. However, there has been less progress in reducing the gender imbalance.
Participation in adult lifelong learning has also progressed, but not fast enough to reach the benchmark set for Europe. The Nordic countries and the UK currently show the highest participation rates (over 20% of adults participating in an adult learning activity during a four-week reference period).
Participation in pre-primary education is considered to be of great importance for later learning. This has increased continuously since 2000. Some Member States, notably France, Belgium, Italy and Spain already reach nearly 100% participation, but several EU countries, including Poland and Ireland, still have rates below 50%.
As a result of increasing participation rates in education, educational attainment rates of the adult population are tending to increase too. The number of low skilled adults is falling each year, and nearly 23% of the EU working age population currently has a higher education degree, up from about 19% in 2000.
Education needs proper funding. However, while between 2000 and 2003 public spending on education as a percentage of GDP increased considerably in EU Member States, in 2004 the upward trend in education funding stopped —and even declined slightly compared to the year before.
For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/2010/progressreport_en.html
