EDUCATION AND YOUTH COUNCIL, FEBRUARY
2007
Letter from Bill Rammell MP, Minister
of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education,
Department for Education and Skills to the Chairman
I am writing to confirm the items for discussion
at the Education and Youth Council on 16 February. Anne Lambert,
Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, will attend both Councils.
The agenda for the meeting is particularly light.
During Education Council, Ministers will be asked to agree the
contribution of the Education Council to the Spring European Council,
and the text is expected to be adopted without discussion. The
UK is content with the text.
There will be an exchange of views on "Looking
beyond 2010—developing the `Education and Training 2010'
work programme". Here, the UK will intervene in order to
highlight common priorities for the period after 2010, focussing
on improving the basic and intermediate skills levels of the European
workforce. We will stress the need for Education Ministers to
position themselves firmly within the Lisbon process, and take
greater ownership over the skills debate within Europe. Finally,
we shall call for the Commission to review the priorities and
working practices of Education Council.
During Youth Council, Ministers will be asked
to agree the contribution of the Council (in the field of youth
policy) to the Spring European Council on the implementation of
the European Pact for Youth. Again, this text is expected to be
adopted without discussion. The UK is content with the document.
Finally, there will be an exchange of views
on a reflection paper on the future perspectives for European
Youth policy. Here, the UK will intervene to state that youth
policy is best taken forward within the current Lisbon process
and Open Method of Coordination, and will oppose suggestions to
set up separate parallel arrangements to deal with youth matters.
12 February 2007
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