The Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council met in Brussels on 22 and 23 May 2019. The Council discussed youth and education issues on 22 May, and culture and sport on 23 May. In the field of youth and education, the Council adopted five main documents:

• Council conclusions on Young People and the Future of Work

The aim of the conclusions is to deal with problems such as insecurity and precarious working conditions by including provisions such as: implementing adaptable and responsive education and training systems; promoting lifelong learning and smooth school-to-work and work-to-work transitions; and providing equal access to quality jobs for all young people in the future.

• Council Recommendation on a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of languages 

The recommendation aims at finding ways to support all young people to gain competences in two other languages in addition to their first language.

• Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Member States meeting within the Council establishing guidelines on the governance of the EU Youth Dialogue

The resolution sets out guidelines on the governance of the EU Youth Dialogue and the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy by engaging young people in the decision-making process and by promoting equal participation of young women and men, among others.

• Council Recommendation on High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems
• Council conclusions on the implementation of the Council Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults

Source: Council of the European Union

Ministers also held two policy debates titled Young people as agents of democracy in the EU and Building the future of Europe: the contribution of education and training to strengthening social cohesion. The latter, in particular, explored ways to strengthening social cohesion in the development of the European Education Area by 2025.

Finally, the Commission informed the Council that the second European Education Summit will take place on 26 September 2019 in Brussels.

Education, Youth, Culture and Sports (EYCS) Council