Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council

Hugh Robertson Excerpts

Monday 28th November 2011 Written Statements

[The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh Robertson)]

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council will be held on 28 and 29 November in Brussels. Culture, audiovisual and sport issues will be taken on 29 November. The Deputy UK Permanent Representative, Andy Lebrecht, will be representing the UK for the culture and audiovisual sections of the Council. Shona Robison, Scottish Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, will represent the UK for the sport section of the Council.

Audiovisual

The first item on the agenda will be the agreement on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the signing of the European convention on the legal protection of services based on, or consisting of, conditional access. Agreement to this decision would enable the EU Council to sign the European convention so as to widen the scope of the provisions of the EU Directive, 98/84/EC on the legal protection of services based on, or consisting of, conditional access, to apply to the Members of the Council of Europe who are not also Members of the European Union. A number of UK TV rights holders support this move so that piracy can be tackled in more countries. It is expected that a formal agreement on the proposal will be reached at the Council meeting.

The Council will be invited to adopt conclusions on the protection of children in the digital world. These conclusions highlight the challenges raised in relation to electronic media and the protection of minors, in particular those linked to the uptake and growing importance of online services. The UK will support the adoption of these conclusions.

Culture

The Council is expected to adopt Council conclusions on cultural and creative competences and their role in building the intellectual capital of Europe. These conclusions invite member states to consider raising awareness of the role that the development of cultural and creative competences can have in areas such as education, youth, training, employability, growth, innovation, research and lifelong learning. The UK will support the adoption of these conclusions.

There will be a discussion of a presidency paper on the contribution of the cultural sector to economic recovery and growth, job creation and social development and enhancing the evidence base. The paper asks member states questions on the collection and use of statistics in the cultural sector at national level and the possible role or support at EU-level in this respect. The UK is seen as a leader in the EU in policy and statistical support for the cultural and creative industries and the Deputy Permanent Representative will intervene to outline UK practice in this area and how this work can best be taken forward at EU-level.

Sport

Under the sport section of the meeting, the Council will be invited to adopt a resolution on the representation of the EU member states in the foundation board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WAD A) and the co-ordination of the EU and its member states’ positions prior to WADA meetings. The resolution sets out the system for representation at meetings of the WADA foundation board and the approval process for the agreement of an overall position of the EU and its member states in advance of these meetings. Previous concerns with the text around the co-ordination process and the presentation of the EU position on anti-doping matters have been addressed during negotiations and the UK intends to support its adoption.

The Council will be asked to adopt conclusions on the role of voluntary activities in sport in promoting active citizenship. The conclusions highlight and promote the invaluable role volunteers and voluntary activities play in sport. The UK supports the adoption of these conclusions.

Council conclusions on combating match-fixing will be presented to the Council for adoption. These conclusions invite member states to raise awareness of the detrimental effect of match-fixing on the integrity of sport and encourage co-operation and information sharing between stakeholders in the combat against the practice. The UK will support the adoption of this text.

A policy debate will follow on good governance in sport. The presidency has asked member states to consider questions on the definition of good governance in sport and best practice at both national and international level. The UK will provide examples of best practice within the UK and outline support for action at EU-level only where there is clear added value for our sports bodies.

Under any other business the presidency will report on key events held under the Polish presidency of the EU. The Danish delegation will inform the Council on the priorities for their forthcoming presidency. The Commission will provide information on the state of play of the audiovisual sector in the digital age and present its recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation. I do not foresee a need to intervene on either of these.

Also under any other business, the UK delegation will present a short film on the London Olympics in 2012.