The youth and education parts of the meeting focused on how to enhance awareness and critical thinking among youngsters, how to promote European and democratic values among them and how to prevent their radicalisation. Ministers acknowledged the crucial role of teachers in the transmission of democratic values and in the development of students’ attitude, however they also emphasised that teachers need to be supported with adequate pedagogical, methodological tools and continuous professional development. Cooperation among different sectors, and on local level between different institutions - such as schools, youth organisations, social and cultural institutions - is inevitable for the efficient fight against radicalisation.
Youth ministers discussed about the role of youth policy and the youth sector in an integrated approach to support youth in their identity development. The Netherlands Presidency asked for sharing best national practices during the debate. Minister of State László Palkovics presented the network of Christian boarding schools for Roma, in which 235 student take part in 9 different locations. He informed about the programme of community places, where youngsters can be better reached, their abilities and skills can be strengthened, and beneficial free time activities are provided. He emphasized the importance of the National Talent Programme as well. The NTP reaches 300-350 thousand young person annually, providing them perspectives and helping them realizing their goals.
Education ministers also discussed about the revision of the European agenda for the modernization of higher education, for which the European Commission plans to put forward its proposal later this year. The discussion focused mainly on the labour market relevance of higher education, on the role of higher education in preparing socially engaged citizens, and the changing role of higher educational teaching staff. Ministers agreed that enhanced efforts are needed in order to achieve that graduates acquire those skills and competences during their studies that enable them to be successful in the labour market. During the debate László Palkovics acknowledged that enhancing the labour-market relevance of higher education is one of the main principles of the Hungarian higher education policy. The Hungarian Graduate Tracking System introduced in 2005 gives adequate information about how far higher education graduates use their diplomas during their carrier. Dual higher education courses introduced in Hungary in 2015 contribute significantly to the acquisition of those practical knowledge, skills and competences that can be well used in the labour market, directly after graduation.
In the framework of cultural/audiovisual topics the Council adopted conclusions on the role of Europeana for the digital access, visibility and use of European cultural heritage. Europeana can be accessed via the following link: http://www.europeana.eu/portal/
Participants exchanged views about the Commission’s Proposal on the revision of the audiovisual media services directive adopted on 25 May 2016 and about the promotion of European audiovisual contents. Members States set forth several proposals regarding the promotion of European contents and cultural values such as the financial support for European film industry and co-productions, aiding the production of quality films and the cross-border distribution of audiovisual works, while emphasising the importance of the international cooperation of the actors of the audiovisual sector. Tibor Stelbaczky Deputy Permanent Representative underlined that Hungary highly welcomes that the elimination of geographically based content restrictions (geo-blocking) is one of the priorities of the Digital Single Market Strategy. The cross-border restriction of broadcasting rights of sports events, which is a special subcategory of geo-blocking, constitutes a major problem at EU level. We think that the revision of the Directive on audiovisual media services and of the Satellite and cable Directive offers the possibility to eliminate geo-blocking regarding the broadcasting of sports events. The elimination of geographically based restrictions could, in particular, provide access to cross-border broadcasts of sports events for those who live outside the territory of a given Member State.
During the sport session the Council adopted conclusions on enhancing integrity, transparency and good governance in major sport events. Participants exchanged views about how national governments can contribute to the encouragement of good governance and integrity principles in sport, especially with regard to major sport events. After the meeting of the Council the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union invited EU sport ministers, Commissioner Tibor Navracsics and the high representatives of IOC, EOC, FIFA and UEFA to a structured dialogue, where a joint declaration of interest was adopted on enhancing regular dialogue with the sport movement on topics related to major sport events where shared responsibilities of international sport organisations and the Olympic movement and governments of EU Member States and the European Union are involved.
