Audiovisual, Culture and Sport

Concerning audiovisual and culture issues, the Council is expected to reach, in public deliberation, a partial general approach on two proposals for regulations:

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  establishing the "Creative Europe" Programme, which brings together the three current, self-standing programmes: Culture, MEDIA and MEDIA Mundus. The programme’s goal is to provide EU support to the cultural, audiovisual and creative sectors with a two-fold objective of promoting cultural diversity and enhancing the competitiveness of these sectors;
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  establishing the programme “Europe for Citizens" for 2014-2020, which aims at increasing citizens’ awareness and understanding of the European Union. Two thematic strands are proposed: “Remembrance and European citizenship” and “Democratic engagement and civic participation”.

The Council will also designate the European Capitals of Culture for the year 2016.

Furthermore, the Council is due to adopt conclusions on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, which underlines that investing in digitisation contributes to job creation and smart growth, based on creativity and innovation.

In the field of sport, ministers will discuss, in public deliberation, the future challenges in the fight against doping, including in recreational sport. The Council is also due to adopt conclusions on combating doping in recreational sport.

Brussels, at 10.00 (audiovisual and cultural affairs). The afternoon session will start at 15.00 with sport items, and will be preceded by a lunch between representatives of the sports movement and sport ministers from member states of the expanded troika (PL, DK, CY, IE).

The presidency will hold a briefing in the Council press room on Monday 7 May at 13.00.

A press conference will take place at the end of the meeting.

Education

In its education session, the Council is expected to adopt, in public deliberation, a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing "ERASMUS FOR ALL": the new Union programme in the area of education, training, youth and sport for 2014-2020, presented by the Commission in December 2011. With the overall aim of increasing efficiency and reducing duplication, the proposal brings together in a single programme activities previously covered by a number of separate programmes (such as the Lifelong Learning Programme and Youth in Action), and instruments in the area of development and external relations (such as Erasmus Mundus and Tempus), together with preparatory actions in the new field of European competence, sport.

The Council is also due to adopt conclusions on the employability of graduates from education and training (8603/12), which aim to establish a European benchmark focusing on the transition from education to employment, in order to enable education and training policies that stimulate employability to be more easily identified.

Concerning youth related matters, ministers will hold a public debate on the theme: "Engaging with young people to release their potential".

The Council is also due to adopt conclusions on fostering the creative and innovative potential of young people, establishing an expert group which will identify competences and skills acquired through non-formal and informal learning relevant for youth employability.

The Education session will start at 10.00. At lunchtime, an informal meeting will take place between the president of the "Youth Council" and the ministers from the incoming presidencies with representatives from European youth organisations. At 15.00, the Council will proceed with youth related matters.

The presidency will hold a briefing in the Council press room on Tuesday 8 May at 14.00.

A press conference will take place at lunchtime.