Commissioners Navracsics, Thyssen and Oettinger to attend the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council

This morning, Commissioner Navracsics, in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, discussed with Youth Ministers ways to engage with and support young people in the EU. Ministers adopted conclusions on promoting new approaches in youth work, which has a vital role in helping young people fulfil their potential. Both sides also exchanged views on the upcoming Youth Initiative, stressing the important role of young people in building a strong Europe. The Council will also adopt conclusions on the prevention of radicalisation leading to violent extremism following the Commission’s communication on the issue. Commissioner Navracsics will express his strong support for these conclusions, which highlight the important role of education and youth policies in promoting shared values and social inclusion, as well as countering online hate speech and terrorist propaganda. Commissioner Thyssen, in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility will participate and strongly support the political agreement that is due to be reached by the Council today on the Upskilling Pathways initiative which was presented in June under the new Skills Agenda for Europe. Commissioner Oettinger, in charge of the Digital Economy and Society, will participate in the second day of the Council. Ministers will look at ongoing work on the Commission’s proposal to update the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and adopt a progress report. Culture and Sport Ministers will discuss how culture and sport respectively can help enhance Europe’s external policy. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on sport diplomacy which will focus on the better use of sport and its values in external relations.  Culture Ministers are also expected to agree on a general approach on the Commission’s proposal to make 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage. This is an important step with a view to a swift adoption of the proposal by the Council and the European Parliament.