Full report of Education, Youth and Culture Council, 18-19 May (link)

Brussels, 19 May 2006

29th Council Meeting - Education, Youth and Culture. Brussels, 18-19 May 2006
Provisional version

Main Results of the Council

The Council adopted a common position imposing restrictive measures against certain officials of Belarus.

The Council reached political agreement on the Media 2007, Culture 2007 and "Citizens for Europe" programmes and on a recommendation on the protection of minors in relation to audiovisual and online services.

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The Council was briefed on the following items:

- Inclusion in the list of "European Heritage" (9165/06)

- Information from the French and Spanish delegations
- Changing the name of the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau

- Information from the Polish delegation

- Communication of the Commission: Carrying out the necessary reforms needed to modernise European higher education (follow-up to Hampton Court Summit) (9166/06).
- Information from the Commission

- Consultation on the future European credit accumulation and transfer system for vocational education and training (ECVET) (9167/06)
- Information from the Commission

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Council conclusions on European indicator of language competence

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Key competences for lifelong learning

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Lifelong learning programme

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Council resolution on values of non-formal and informal learning

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European Quality Charter for mobility

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Media 2007 programme
Following the agreement on the financial framework for 2007-2013, the Council reached a full political agreement on a decision establishing a programme of support for the European audiovisual sector (Media 2007) (8955/06 +COR 1). [...]

Culture 2007 programme
Following the agreement on the financial framework for 2007-2013, the Council has now reached a political agreement on the entire draft decision establishing the Culture 2007 programme, aimed at providing financial support for the European cultural sector for the 2007-2013 period (8950/06).
It is recalled that the new programme, which succeeds the Culture 2000 programme, will give priority support to three objectives:
- promoting transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector in the EU;
- encouraging transnational circulation of works of art and cultural products;
- encouraging intercultural dialogue.
The draft programme provides for three strands of intervention:
- direct financial support for cultural actions;
- support for bodies active at European level in the field of culture;
- support for analyses, for the collection and dissemination of information and for other activities improving the impact of projects in the field of European cultural cooperation. [...]

European year of intercultural dialogue 2008
Pending the first reading opinion of the European Parliament, the Council reached a general approach on a draft decision designating 2008 as the European year of intercultural dialogue (8951/06). [...]

UNESCO convention on cultural diversity
The Council adopted a decision on the conclusion by the European Community of the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions (8953/06 + 8661/1/06). [...]

European capitals of culture
The Council took note of the names of the leading figures proposed by Austria and Finland to be nominated as members of the selection panel responsible for the designation of the 2011 "European capitals of culture". The two members will officially be appointed by the Council in the second half of this year. [...]

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Public access to documents
The Council adopted:
- the reply to the letter sent to the Council by the European Ombudsman concerning the follow-up to complaint 2172/2005/MHZ (8773/06);
- the reply to confirmatory application 22/c/01/06 (8729/06).

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Relations with Monaco
The Council agreed on the position to be taken by the Community in the EC-Monaco Joint Committee concerning its rules of procedure.

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ACP-EU council of ministers in Papua New Guinea, 1-2 June
The Council approved a draft provisional agenda for the 31st session of the ACP-EU council of ministers, which will take place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 1 and 2 June.
The ministerial session will address issues of common interest such as economic partnership agreements, trade and development cooperation, migration and EU strategies for ACP regions.
The Council also approved a draft joint ACP-EU declaration on climate change and development, to be issued at the meeting.