Wed. Dec 25th, 2024

Main results of the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 13-14 May 2024

May 14, 2024

Tuesday 14 May 2024

Culture/Audiovisual

Support for influencers as online content creators 

The Council approved conclusions addressing the rise of influencers as part of the EU’s media ecosystem. The conclusions highlight the impact, both positive and potentially harmful, of influencers on the online content and information that Europeans consume, and put forward a number of suggestions aimed at fostering media and digital literacy and responsible behaviour among influencers, including minors (known as ‘kidfluencers’).

Europeans are spending more time online, meaning that influencers who create content for social media have a greater impact than ever before on the way we perceive and understand the world. In order to ensure that this impact is positive, the EU must provide support to influencers, enabling them to build their media literacy and increase their awareness and appreciation of the rules that govern their actions online.

Jan Jambon, Minister-President of the Flemish Government

Data-driven audience development 

Ministers approved conclusions on ways to empower the cultural and creative sectors through data-driven audience development. In its conclusions, the Council encourages member states to consider data-driven approaches to audience development, including by:

  • fostering the necessary skills in the cultural and creative sector
  • facilitating information exchange and sharing of best practices both within and across relevant sectors
  • developing an appropriate policy framework
Future-proofing the cultural and creative sectors in the age of AI 

Ministers held a policy debate on the potential future impact of AI on the cultural and creative sectors. They shared the approaches used by their governments to support the cultural and creative sectors in the development and use of AI technologies and reflected on lessons learned. In particular, they highlighted some of the opportunities presented by AI, such as expanding access to culture and targeting new audiences, as well as preserving cultural heritage.

Nevertheless, they also drew attention to some of the risks involved in the use of AI, particularly in terms of respect for intellectual property rights, the ethical dimension, and the need to distinguish human-created work from that produced by AI. They also considered how EU policy and programmes could help these sectors grasp the potential of AI, while preserving the human dimension of culture and creativity.

Today’s discussion could not have come at a more relevant moment. Technological progress is changing the EU’s cultural and creative landscape at an astonishing rate – for better, but also potentially for worse. We need to develop both appropriate legislation and the digital capacities of our cultural and creative sectors if we are to respond swiftly and effectively to the challenges and opportunities that AI presents.

Jan Jambon, Minister-President of the Flemish Government

Other business

The following items were dealt with under other business:

  • Selection of Bourges as the European Capital of Culture 2029 (information from the French delegation)
  • Conference on the Hague Convention on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, 13-15 May 2024 (information from the Dutch delegation)
  • International Conference ‘Towards the recovery of the culture sector of Ukraine’, 6-7 June 2024 in Vilnius, Lithuania (information from the Lithuanian delegation)
  • The future of EU cultural policy (information from the German delegation)
  • Enforcement of EU sanctions on streaming and video sharing platforms – a collective responsibility (information from the Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian delegations)
  • Work programme of the incoming presidency (information from the Hungarian delegation)

 

Sport

Self-organised sport

Ministers approved conclusions on the contribution of self-organised sport to supporting active and healthy lifestyles among Europeans. The conclusions encourage member states and the Commission to implement policies that foster the practice of self-organised sport, including in areas that lack sufficient sports facilities, as well as to encourage Europeans, via awareness campaigns and the development of suitable infrastructure, to engage in self-organised sport.

The benefits of physical exercise are widely recognised, yet many EU citizens are often too busy to take part in formal sporting activities. Self-organised sport provides a more flexible way for people to maintain healthy lifestyles; as such it should be supported and encouraged by measures at both national and EU level.

Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Minister-President of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation

EU Work Plan for Sport 

Ministers approved a resolution on the EU’s Work Plan for Sport, which will apply from July 2024 until December 2027. The plan will focus on three main priorities:

  • integrity and values in sport
  • the socio-economic and sustainable dimensions of sport
  • participation in sport and health-enhancing physical activity
Role of volunteers in European sport

Ministers held a policy debate on the role of volunteers in European sport. During the discussion, they shared the measures used in their countries to encourage volunteering in the field of sport, as well as the obstacles preventing people from volunteering in sport at national and EU level. They also discussed ways to empower those groups that are statistically less likely to volunteer in sport, including older people, women and those from working-class backgrounds.

Suggestions included making use of relevant EU funding and programmes, such as Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, as well as recognising the contribution of volunteers in sport by means of awards or certificates which could valorise their skills and work. Some member states also drew attention to the need to ensure effective monitoring and high safety standards for volunteers.

Other business

The following items were dealt with under other business:

  • Consequences of Russia’s war of aggression on the Ukrainian sports sector (information from the presidency)
  • The European dimension of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (information from the French delegation)
  • European dimension of the 2024 European football championship in Germany (information from the German delegation)
  • Member states’ engagement with the world anti-doping code (information from the Dutch delegation)
  • Work programme of the incoming presidency (information from the Hungarian delegation)
Informal discussions

Prior to the start of the meeting on Monday, youth ministers took part in an informal breakfast meeting entitled Bringing Europe closer to young people: the strength of meaningful youth participation in the framework of European elections and beyond.

Over lunch on Monday, education ministers held an informal discussion, the topic of which was: Achieving the European Education Area: a forward-looking discussion on overcoming teacher shortages.

On Tuesday morning, culture and audiovisual ministers held an informal breakfast discussion entitled Sustainable investment in the European audiovisual ecosystem in light of the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

Sports ministers took part in an informal lunch on Tuesday to discuss the topic The place of women in sport.

 

Monday 13 May 2024

Youth

Inclusive societies for young people

The Council approved conclusions on inclusive societies for young people, which set out targeted measures to promote equity, inclusion and support for young people  in Europe, particularly those with fewer opportunities.

In its conclusions, the Council acknowledges the challenges that young people face and the importance of facilitating their active participation and inclusion in their communities and in democratic life. It also highlights the need to improve mental well-being and living conditions for all young people. This can be done via inclusive measures that facilitate the meaningful participation of all young people in decision-making and spaces that concern them, especially through youth work.

Policy agendas on children, youth and children’s rights

The Council approved conclusions on European and international policy agendas for children, youth and children’s rights.

The conclusions call on member states and the Commission to facilitate a seamless transition from childhood to adulthood, especially for young people in a vulnerable societal position, and to improve cooperation, coordination, information and exchange between relevant policies, policy areas and levels.

The text invites member states to consider developing or elaborating upon existing national strategies or coordinated policies for children’s rights and youth, ensuring policy coherence between children, children’s rights, and youth affairs to coordinate age-related needs.

Legacy of the European Year of Youth 2022

The Council approved conclusions on the legacy of the European Year of Youth, which ran from 1 January to 31 December 2022. The conclusions acknowledge the achievements of the European Year of Youth in anchoring a strong youth perspective and working on youth mainstreaming across all relevant EU policies. They call on the Commission to build on this momentum, including by strengthening key mechanisms such as the EU Youth Dialogue, national youth councils, and the proposed youth stakeholders’ platform.

Youth work policy in an empowering Europe

The Council approved a resolution addressing the role of youth work in supporting young people to become more autonomous within new realities. The resolution calls on member states, the Commission and relevant stakeholders to support the development and practice of quality youth work and youth work policy at EU, national and local levels, including through comprehensive youth work policies, bottom-up approaches, training of youth workers and by ensuring enabling environments and equal access to youth work for all young people.

Follow-up to the 2024 EU Youth Conference

Ministers held a policy debate on the follow-up of the outcomes of the EU Youth Conference, which took place on 2-5 March 2024 in Ghent and focused on inclusive societies. During the debate, ministers reflected on ways to enhance monitoring of and feedback on the outcomes of the EU Youth Dialogue at a political level to better cater for young people’s needs and expectations. They also discussed the implementing measures that could be used to foster inclusive societies for young people in their countries.

Other business

The following items were dealt with under other business:

  • Support for Ukrainian youth (information from the presidency)
  • Outcome of the discussion at the informal EU Youth Dialogue breakfast meeting (information from the presidency)
  • Work programme of the incoming presidency (information from the Hungarian delegation)

 

Education

Mobility opportunities in education and training

The Council adopted a recommendation entitled ‘Europe on the Move’ – learning mobility opportunities for everyone. The recommendation aims to encourage more people to take advantage of opportunities to study and learn abroad and broadens the EU’s framework for learning mobility to encompass learners of all ages, including teachers and apprentices.

Mobility has long been at the heart of the EU project. Learning abroad can provide valuable skills and a stronger sense of the EU’s common values. Today’s recommendation will help expand opportunities for everyone to take advantage of the immense benefits that come with learning, studying or training outside their country of birth.

Caroline Désir, Minister of Education, French Community of Belgium

Artificial intelligence in education and training 

Ministers held a policy debate on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and training, focusing on three key areas:

  • how national education and training systems can be prepared for the challenges brought about by AI whilst also making the most of the opportunities that AI has to offer
  • the extent to which AI is already impacting their national education and training systems
  • measures that could be taken at European level, in consultation with the member states, to make the most of AI in education and training while ensuring quality education for all

Ministers highlighted the importance of capitalising on the benefits offered by AI, which could provide a more personalised learning experience, and presented measures they had introduced at a national level. They stressed the need to develop learners’ digital skills and strengthen the role and competences of teachers.

The Council also drew attention to the potential risks presented by this new technological era and called on the Commission to set out a common, EU-wide approach to the use of AI in education and training.

Evidence-informed policy and practice in education and training

Ministers approved conclusions identifying a number of key priority areas for promoting evidence-informed policy and practice in education and training, with a view to achieving the European Education Area.

Other business

The following items were dealt with under other business:

  • A European degree (information from the Commission)
  • Promotion of a rule of law culture through education (information from the Commission)
  • Work programme of the incoming presidency (information from the Hungarian delegation)

The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items.

Preparatory documents
Outcome documents
Press releases

 

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