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Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (EYCS) develops and promotes EU initiatives to enhance education and training, engage youth, support culture and creativity, and encourage sport.

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council promotes cooperation between member states to improve education and training systems, enhance youth engagement, strengthen the cultural, creative, audiovisual and media sectors, and advance participation in sport and physical activity.

The policy areas covered by the EYCS Council are largely the responsibility of the member states.

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Areas of work of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council

The Council works to enhance education and training systems across the EU based on jointly agreed priorities such as making lifelong learning and mobility a reality for all.

The Council supports a vibrant cultural sector and works to guarantee media freedom as well as to preserve cultural diversity.

The Council supports policies that promote sport and physical activity, emphasising inclusion and good governance in organised sport.

The Council fosters youth empowerment by promoting youth participation in democratic processes, advancing social inclusion, and supporting the mobility of young people.

How the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council works

Depending on the agenda, the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council brings together ministers responsible for education, youth, culture, audiovisual policy, media and sport from all EU member states. It meets in four compositions.  

Education

The work of the EYCS Council (Education) at EU level is guided by jointly agreed strategic priorities, such as making lifelong learning and mobility a reality for all. Achieving the European Education Area is its key goal. Erasmus+ is the Union's flagship programme supporting learning mobility.

Youth

The EYCS Council (Youth) addresses youth-related issues, such as youth empowerment, inclusion, mobility, participation and dialogue.

Culture, Audiovisual and Media

The EYCS Council (Culture, Audiovisual and Media) focuses on policies promoting cultural diversity and media freedom at EU level. Its work involves supporting the cultural, audiovisual and media sectors, especially through the Creative Europe programme.

Sport

The EYCS Council (Sport) works on sport policies and initiatives. It focuses on promoting physical activity, good governance in organised sport, and addressing challenges such as doping and violence in sports.

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council meets at least twice a year, generally in May and November, in a two-day Council session.

The work of the EYCS Council is prepared by Coreper I and five specialised working parties.

Work programme during the Irish presidency

The Irish presidency promotes lifelong education and training to safeguard EU values, enhance competitiveness and equip citizens with the skills needed for the AI era.

It prioritises youth engagement through better access to information and constructive dialogue, while supporting investment in cultural initiatives and emphasising Europe’s cultural and sporting heritage.

The presidency also focuses on improving children's online safety by promoting protective measures and ensuring that children’s voices are reflected in the development of these policies.

Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council meetings

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Press contacts

  • Emma O'Driscoll Press officer

    Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs; Education, Youth, Culture and Sport

  • +32 475 88 48 33
  • +32 2 281 48 10
  • @eo_press

If you are not a journalist, please send your request to the public information service.

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Last review: 3 July 2026