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Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Education), 20 February 2020
Main results
Education
Education ministers adopted a resolution on education and training in the European Semester: ensuring informed debates on reforms and investments. The resolution calls for appropriate involvement of education ministers in the European semester process when education and training related issues are being discussed. The resolution is also the contribution from the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council to the process. Moreover, it reflects member states’ commitment to further improve the quality of education and training, as well as highlights the need to ensure informed debates on reforms and investment in education and training.
Blaženka Divjak (left), Croatian minister of science and education and Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth
Brain circulation
Based on a steering note prepared by the presidency (discussion paper), ministers held a public debate on how to achieve a balanced brain circulation in the EU, as a driving force for the European Education Area. In this respect, they discussed how to ensure synergies between various related policies and use different investment opportunities to create favourable conditions to attract and retain more talent. In the debate, ministers also exchanged examples and ideas on what can be done at national and European level to support balanced brain circulation by different measures and initiatives, such as European Universities.
Talents are evenly distributed, but opportunities are not. Let's work together on policies and initiatives that enable equal opportunities for EU citizens!
Blaženka Divjak, minister for Science and Education of Croatia.
Green education and sustainability
During the ministerial lunch, ministers held an informal debate on the topic 'Green education and training for a sustainable Europe'. They reflected on the European Green Deal and possible education and training policies at national and EU level, as well as synergies with other relevant policy areas, in order to contribute to sustainable development.
Any other business
The presidency informed ministers about the state of play of the post-2020 strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training.
Ministers highlighted the value of the current ET2020 framework for member states. They also called for a holistic approach, involving all education and training sectors and levels, as well as all contexts of learning, to the further development of the cooperation framework and the preparation of the proposal for the European Education Area.
Talents are evenly distributed, but opportunities are not. Let's work together on policies and initiatives that enable equal opportunities for EU citizens!
