DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

Top news European Commission hosts the first ever European Education Summit The first European Education summit, hosted by Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, brought together on the 25th of January, in Brussels, 20 education ministers and 600 education experts, professionals and stakeholders from all over Europe to reflect on how to build a European Education Area where young people receive the best education and training, can study and train across the continent, and which promotes Europe’s common values and cultural diversity. Drawing inspiration from the summit discussions, the European Commission will be presenting new initiatives this spring and will be hosting the second Education Summit in 2019. Check out photo highlights on the event web page. Read more... New education initiatives for more inclusive, cohesive and competitive European societies Taking forward the vision on Strengthening European identity through education and culture it outlined at the meeting of European Leaders in Gothenburg in November 2017, the European Commission put forward three key initiatives on the 17th of January 2018:a proposal for a Council Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning, an Action Plan for digital education and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on common values, inclusive education and the European dimension of teaching. Read more...

DG Education,Youth,Sport and Culture..

DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

Newsletter - January 2018 Top news News Upcoming events Past events   Studies and publications Success stories of the month Calls

Top news The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 kicked off at the European Culture Forum in Milan Commissioner Navracsics officially launched the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 at the Culture Forum in the creative neighborhood of Tortona, in Milan, on 8 December. "This year of celebrations will be a wonderful opportunity to encourage people, especially young people, to explore Europe's rich cultural diversity and to reflect on the place that cultural heritage occupies in all our lives. It allows us to understand the past and to build our future," he said. Visit the campaign website for the latest on the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Read more...

News Erasmus+ Generation Declaration: 30 proposals on the future of Erasmus+ Reflecting on 30 years of mobility under Erasmus+, the Erasmus+ Generation has put forward 30 concrete proposals on the future of the Erasmus+ programme beyond 2020. Read more... Broadening horizons for vocational learners: New opportunities abroad with ErasmusPro Did you know that vocational learners can spend time learning abroad thanks to the Erasmus+ programme ? The 2018 Erasmus+ call for proposals unlocks even more opportunities. Read more... €60 million top-up for the Cultural and Creative Sector Guarantee Facility The European Commission has allocated an additional €60 million to the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility of the Creative Europe Programme, bringing the available funding to €181 million. The initiative aims to stimulate financing for projects in the cultural and creative sectors. Read more... Nine European historical sites up for the European Heritage Label Nine sites celebrating and symbolising European ideals, values, history and integration have been recommended for inclusion on the European Heritage Label list by an independent panel. Read more...

Upcoming events 25 January 2018 First European Education Summit to have special focus on inequality in education EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics will be hosting the First European Education Summit in Brussels, on 25 January 2018. The event will bring together decision makers, education practitioners, stakeholders and business leaders for a day of discussions on creating a European Education Area where innovative, inclusive and values-based education will be the norm. Read more...

Past events 27 - 28 November 2017 2017 Biennial Jean Monnet Conference The Jean Monnet Biennial Conference (BiCo) took place on 27 - 28 November 2017, back to back with a kick-off meeting for beneficiaries of Jean Monnet Activities. This year's edition was devoted to the future of European integration. Video highlights, photos and speakers' contributions are now available on the Education and Training website. Read more... 11 December 2017 Innovative Training Networks Info Day The fourth Horizon 2020 Innovative Training Networks (ITN) Info Day took place in Brussels on 11 December 2017. The meeting provided the coordinators of the H2020 ITN projects with information on specific implementation matters. Presentations are available on the MSCA website. Read more... 14 December 2017 European Researchers' Night Information Day The European Commission organised on 14 December 2017 an information day for those interested in participating in the European Researchers’ Night (NIGHT) action, which aims to raise interest in research and in research careers, especially among young people.Check out the presentations shown at the event on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions website. Read more...

Studies and publications Leading the way: The very best of Erasmus+ and the Lifelong Learning Programme Five newly published sets of selected Erasmus+ projects showcase programme results and highlight successful project designs. Explore the collection to discover the best practices in education with regard to digital competence, basic skills, citizenship, language learning and tackling early school living. Read more... The Youth Wiki is Europe's first online encyclopaedia of youth policies On 8 December the European Commission and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency launched the Youth Wiki, a comprehensive database of national structures, policies and actions supporting young people in Europe. The tool encourages cooperation in the field of youth and facilitates evidence-based decision making. Read more...

Success stories of the month Performing arts and video games at the cutting edge of online media In the framework of the EU funded Live Transmission project, three European organisations and a Canadian university are creating innovative performing arts concepts and online game plays. Read more... Building knowledge to improve fire safety engineering An international Master in Fire Safety Engineering offers top-level education as a result of collaboration, enabled by the Erasmus+ programme, between Ghent University (Belgium), Lund University (Sweden) and the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom). Explore the Erasmus + Project Results Platform to discover this project and other success stories. Read more...

Calls Deadline: 4 October 2018 Erasmus+ Programme: Call for proposals 2018 Application deadlines vary, depending on the specific opportunity you are applying for, with some deadlines approaching! With a total budget of EUR 2 490.9 million, this call covers a broad range of actions in the fields of education, training, youth and sport. Go to related site Deadline: 17 January 2018 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Innovative Training Networks 2018 Go to related site Deadline: 31 January 2018 Open micro-business models for innovation in european family-owned heritage houses Go to related site Deadline: 5 February 2018 Policy project 'Cultural and Creative Spaces and Cities' Go to related site Deadline: 14 February 2018 European Researchers' Night Go to related site Deadline: 6 March 2018 Support to international co-production funds Go to related site Deadline: 8 March 2018 Support for development of European video games 2018 Go to related site Deadline: 21 March 2018 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Go to related site Deadline: 11 May 2018 Framework Partnership Agreement with a European policy network on teachers and school leaders Go to related site Deadline: 11 May 2018 Framework Partnership Agreement with a European policy network in the field of the key competences Go to related site Deadline: 17 May 2018 2018 Erasmus+ Vocational Education and Training Mobility Charter Go to related site Deadline: 10 October 2018 Call for submission of applications for the Union action 'European capitals of culture' for the year 2024 Go to related site

EUROPEAN COMMISSION latest news

Completing the Banking Union and developments in Spain



European citizens and businesses will benefit from the Commission's plans to accelerate the completion of all parts of the Banking Union

Completing the Banking Union

As indicated by President Juncker in his State of the Union addresson 13 September 2017, the Banking Union must be completed if it is to deliver its full potential as part of a strong Economic and Monetary Union and complementary to the Capital Markets Union. The Letter of Intent that followed President Juncker’s State of the Union Address calls for the completion of all aspects of the Banking Union by 2018.

Building on the significant progress already achieved, the Commission set out today an ambitious yet realistic path to ensure agreement on all the outstanding elements of the Banking Union, with risk reduction and risk sharing measures going hand in hand. This comes ahead of the December Euro Summit where completion of the Banking Union will be part of discussions on further deepening the Economic and Monetary Union.

After the financial crisis, the EU institutions agreed to establish a Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and a Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) for banks. While these two pillars are already in place and fully operational, the agreed common backstop to the SRM and a common system for deposit protection have not yet been established. In parallel, there needs to be further progress on risk reduction. The Commission put forward a proposal for a European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) in November 2015 and a banking package with further risk reduction measures in November 2016.

EDIS is essential for the completion of the Banking Union as it would provide stronger and more uniform insurance cover for all retail depositors in the Banking Union, regardless of their geographical location. However, negotiations on these proposals are still ongoing and they have not yet been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission has set out some suggestions to facilitate progress.

On the risk reduction side, the Commission now urges the European Parliament and the Member States to quickly move forward with the comprehensive risk-reduction package of 2016. While recognising the current trend of declining levels of non-performing loans, the Commission also suggested new measures to reduce non-performing loans and to help banks diversify their investments in sovereign bonds.

Finally, the Commission also mapped out rapid steps towards a last resort common fiscal backstop, committed to by Member States already in 2013, ensuring the solidity of the system and making sure that the Single Resolution Fund has sufficient resources even in case of several simultaneous major bank resolutions.



State aid case

The Commission today also approved, under EU State aid rules, the Portuguese restructuring plan and support for the sale of Novo Banco. The measures will allow the new private owner to launch its ambitious restructuring plan aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of the bank, while limiting distortions to competition. The sale of Novo Banco, concerned by today's decision, completes the 2014 resolution of Banco Espírito Santo.



Developments in Spain

The College briefly discussed the situation in Spain and reiterated its earlier call for the full respect of the Spanish Constitutional order.

Commission report highlights the importance of EU Cohesion policyThe European Commission published today the 7th Cohesion report

The European Commission published today the 7th Cohesion report, taking the pulse of EU regions, drawing lessons from cohesion spending during the crisis years and setting the scene for Cohesion Policy after 2020.

Analysing the current state of the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion, the Cohesion report shows that Europe's economy is bouncing back but disparities persist between and within our Member States.

Without pre-empting the final proposal of the Commission on Cohesion policy after 2020 , the report suggests that Cohesion Policy should keep on investing in all EU regions and focus on three main purposes:

• Harnessing globalisation, by supporting economic transformation in regions, innovation, industrial modernisation, and technology uptake;
• Leaving no one behind, by tackling unemployment, investing in skills and business development while fighting social exclusion and discrimination;
• Supporting structural reforms, as improving public administration boosts competitiveness, growth and maximise the impact of investments.

In addition, the report sets out options for the future implementation mechanism of the policy. There is consensus that more flexibility within a stable framework and simplified rules are needed.

A public consultation on the future Cohesion Policy will be launched in early 2018. In May 2018, the Commission's proposal for the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) will be presented, followed by the proposals for Cohesion Policy after 2020.

President Juncker at the EU-India Summit






EU-India Summit reviews progress in many areas of the bilateral relationship and agrees to timely relaunch talks


European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker attended the 14th Summit between the European Union and India in New Delhi, marking 55 years of diplomatic relations between the world's two largest democracies.

The Summit provided an opportunity for leaders to take stock of EU-India cooperation across the full spectrum of cooperation, including tackling global challenges, the economic relationship, and sectoral cooperation.

A number of substantial, concrete deliverables were agreed by the leaders at the Summit, and are detailed in a Joint Summit Statement. Joint statements on combatting terrorism; on clean energy and climate change; and on smart and sustainable urbanisation were also adopted.

President Juncker said after the Summit: "We agreed that we should take our trading relationship to the next level. It is high time for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU. Once the circumstances are right – and only once the circumstances are right – we will resume. Today's Summit is an important step in the right direction and after hearing Prime Minister Modi I am confident we can move forward. Our chief negotiators will next sit down in November to chart a way forward."

On Trade and investment, leaders expressed their shared commitment to strengthening the economic partnership between the EU and India and to achieving the full potential of this aspect of our relationship. There are efforts on both sides to re-engage actively towards a timely relaunch of the negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually-beneficial Free Trade Agreement. The leaders also reaffirmed the centrality of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the importance of enhancing free, fair and open trade for achieving sustainable growth and development. Summit leaders welcomed the recent launch of the Investment Facilitation Mechanism for EU investments in India, which will facilitate and encourage EU investments by providing concrete on-the-spot support to EU companies intending to invest there, in particular by providing procedural guidance.

On Energy and Climate Change, leaders demonstrated their shared responsibility and determination to take the lead in global efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Both sides confirmed their commitments under the Paris Agreement and agreed to step up cooperation in the implementation of climate action commitments, green cooling, solar pumping, energy storage, electric mobility and renewables, in order to enhance implementation of the Agreement.

The Joint Declaration on a Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation adopted at the Summit sets out the priorities and objectives for enhanced cooperation between both sides in urban development over the years ahead. The Partnership will create new opportunities for cooperation between our respective local and regional authorities. It will build on the experience of the Urban Agenda for the EU and India's flagship Smart Cities Mission programme.

The Joint Statement on combatting terrorism marks another step up in the common fight against terrorism. Considerable progress has been made in recent months, including through the regular counter-terrorism dialogue, and the joint statement aims to enhance cooperation in the prevention and countering of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation, the disruption of the recruitment of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, sources of terrorist financing, and the supply of arms to terrorists.

Leaders also expressed their shared commitment to strengthen cooperation on migration and refugees, including under the United Nations process towards adopting Global Compacts for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and on Refugees. Both sides agreed to further enhance joint efforts towards the implementation of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility.

After the Summit, President Juncker delivered the keynote speech at the EU-India Business Forum. President Juncker said: "I am more convinced than ever that India and the European Union, beacons of democracy and tolerance, must shape the world together.[…] We are ready to help India achieve its ambitions, and we are counting on India that India will reach its ambitions. The benefits will be mutual. The opportunity should be seized."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION:DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

Top news European Week of Sport set to kick off in Estonia On 23 September, a festival of sport and physical activity in Tartu, Estonia, will mark the start of the European Week of Sport across Europe. The week will span 32 countries and will encourage millions of Europeans to lead active and healthy lives. Read more... “Heritage and Nature: a landscape of possibilities”: the theme for the 2017 European Heritage Days Launched in 1985, the European Heritage Days have been organised since 1999 as a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe. In 2017, over 30 countries will participate in the programme, celebrating “Heritage and Nature: a landscape of possibilities.” Read more...

Success stories of the month Urban youth cultures and sustainability 'What's the deal?' creates art and other imaginative projects in urban areas to promote a sustainable lifestyle. Read more... Traditional sports and games address a modern social challenge Project Recall aimed to reintroduce traditional sports and games into the daily lives of young people, in the hope of tackling one of today’s big social challenges: physical inactivity. Read more...

News Join the Erasmus+ Generation online meeting point Read more...