New EC initiatives to boost role of youth, education and culture policies

The European Commission is advancing work to build a European Education Area by 2025, reinforce the cultural dimension of the European Union and bolster youth participation, with a new set of measures, including a new Youth Strategy and a new Agenda for Culture. The new initiatives presented on 22 May, 2018, aim to enhance learning mobility and educational opportunities in the EU, empower young people, in particular by encouraging them to participate in civic and democratic life, and harness the potential of culture for social progress and economic growth in Europe.

More in detail, the initiatives include:

• an overarching Communication on 'Building a Stronger Europe: the role of youth, education and culture policies' which outlines how the Commission is taking forward the Gothenburg agenda and the European Council's mandate;
• a Youth Strategy for the period 2019–2027 to empower Europe’s youth and give them a stronger voice in EU policymaking, reflecting the importance the Commission attaches to investing in young people and their future;
• proposals for Council Recommendations on High Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems to lay the foundations for later success in life; on the Automatic Mutual Recognition of Diplomas and Learning Periods Abroad to facilitate learning mobility in Europe; and on improving the Teaching and Learning of Languages to ensure that more young people become proficient in foreign languages;
• a New Agenda for Culture to raise awareness of Europe’s shared, diverse heritage. It aims to use the full potential of culture in building a more inclusive and fairer Union, supporting innovation, creativity, sustainable jobs and growth and in reinforcing the external relations of the EU.

The full press release, Q&As and factsheets are available here.