EU Council Ministers to Address Opportunities for Rural Youth

Brussels (Eurotoday) – Ministers from EU member nations responsible for youth and education will assemble in Brussels to consult a range of topics.

As reported by the press of the EU Council, on Monday 25 November, ministers for youth are expected to endorse conclusions on providing ‘global’ blank” rel=”noopener”>opportunities for young people residing in rural and remote areas and will examine the evolving demographic trends shaping opportunities for rural youth. Moreover, education ministers will aim to adopt a recommendation on attractive and sustainable employment in higher education and will hold a policy discussion on boosting future-proof skills and competitiveness via higher education.

What role does the council play in EU collaboration?

The policy areas covered by the Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport Council are the responsibility of member states. The EU’s function in areas of education, youth, culture and sport is therefore to deliver a framework for collaboration between member states and for the exchange of information and experience in areas of common interest.

The Council is comprised of the ministers responsible for education, culture, youth, media, communication, and sport from all EU member nations. The precise composition of the Council relies on the items discussed in a particular forum. Council meetings are also accompanied by a representative from the European Commission, usually the Commissioner for Education, culture, multilingualism and youth. The Council assembles three or four times a year; twice in its full configuration.

The Council mostly assumes incentive measures and suggestions. Nevertheless, the initiatives agreed by the Council, such as the Erasmus+ or Creative Europe programmes, can have a very direct effect on EU citizens. In some cases, where the treaties permit, the Council can also adopt legislative acts. For example, on audiovisual issues and the mutual recognition of diplomas. 

The Council is also closely engaged in monitoring the improvement of the education and youth aspects of the Europe 2020 strategy, as well as in designing the cultural sector’s contribution to a more innovative Europe and assisting in ensuring that Europe’s potential as a global centre for the production of creative digital content fully supports the Digital Agenda set out in Europe 2020.