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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Education Council held in Brussels on 26 November; and if he will make a statement. [100829] Mr. Wills: The Council of EC Education Ministers, at which I represented the UK, adopted a resolution on "developing new working methods for European co-operation in the fields of education and vocational training". Ministers then held an open debate on the role of education and vocational training in the new millennium. The Council received information from the Presidency on the outcome of conciliation with the European Parliament on the proposal for a second phase of the Socrates education action programme. Information was received from the European Commission on: the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council to establish the European Year of Languages 2001; forthcoming proposals for European Parliament and Council Recommendations on the mobility of students, young trainees, young volunteers, teachers and trainers and on European co-operation in the evaluation of the quality of school education; the role of education and training in implementing the Stability Pact for South-East Europe; the implementation of the Council resolution of 6 May 1996 on educational multimedia in the fields of education and training; and indicators and benchmarks in the field of school quality. Ministers received a report from the European Schools High Council on the future of the European Schools and held an exchange of views. The Council also received information from the Portuguese delegation on plans for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council. A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library in due course.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

340 c226W; 100829

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Languages Schools Training EC Education Council EU educational policy Socrates programme