Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697803761300.pdf (Ireland)
Report of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Under Section 2 (5) of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002 for the period from July to December 2021 January 2021 www.gov.ie Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3 Part 1 – Developments in the EU during the Slovenian Presidency (July to December 2021).................................................................................................................................... 3 1.
Education and Skills ............................................................................................. 3 Meetings of the EYCS (Education) Council.............................................................................. 3 Meetings of the EPSCO Council ................................................................................................ 4 2.
Research and Innovation ...................................................................................... 4 Meetings of the Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) ................................ 5 3.
Other developments under the remit of the Department ....................................... 7 3.1 European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) .................................................................................... 7 3.2 European Globalisation Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) .......................................... 7 3.3 Other engagements in education and training .................................................................. 8 Part 2 – A look ahead to the French Presidency (January to June 2022) ..................... 9 1.
Schedule of Council Meetings during the French Presidency .............................. 9 Meetings of EYCS (Education) Council .................................................................................... 9 Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) ............................................................. 9 2.
Overview of key issues likely to arise during the French Presidency ................... 9 Education and Training ................................................................................................................ 9 Research and Innovation .......................................................................................................... 10 2 Introduction Under the terms of the European Union (Scrutiny Act) 2002, Ministers submit Reports to the Oireachtas every six months on developments at European Union level in their area of responsibility.
This Report has two parts.

The first part summarises the key legislative and policy developments within the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (D/FHERIS) that arose during the period July to December 2021 when Slovenia held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Part two provides an overview of the French Presidency, which runs for the first half of 2021.
Part 1 – Developments in the EU during the Slovenian Presidency (July to December 2021) The policy areas that fall within the responsibility of D/FHERIS are dealt with in the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council in its Education formation; and in the Competitiveness Council in its Research formation.

Some aspects of skill and training policy are progressed through the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO).
In addition, the Department has responsibility for the administration of the European Social Fund (ESF+) and the European Globalisation Fund (EGF).

The COVID-19 pandemic continued to have an effect on both the format and content of meetings during the Slovenian Presidency.

1.

Education and Skills Under the EU Treaties, education, training and skill policy is a national competence.
The EU plays a role in promoting co-operation and through initiatives and funding streams that can strengthen and stimulate domestic education, training and skill policy, including the role that they play in economic outlook and development.
Current key strategic priorities in the area of education and training are the establishment of a European Education Area by 2025, the implementation of European Skills Agenda, and the implementation of the education and training aspects of the Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Meetings of the EYCS (Education) Council The EYCS Council is normally held over two days, with Day 1 dedicated to Education and Youth and Day 2 dedicated to Culture and Sport items.
The Youth, Culture and Sport items fall within the responsibility of other departments.

Preparation for the Education and Training items for the EYCS Council takes place through the Education Committee.

3 Ministers with responsibility for Education and Training met on just one occasion during the period from July to December 2021.

The meeting took place on Monday 29 November.

1.1 EYCS (Education) Council - 29 November 2021 This meeting proceeded in physical format in Brussels.
It occurred as the Omicron wave of the Covid- 19 Pandemic was emerging, and as a result, some Ministers were unable to travel, due to the uncertainty of the situation.

The Irish delegation was led by Ambassador Barbara Cullinane, the Irish Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union.

Dr. Simona Kustec, the Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport, chaired the meeting and Ms Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, represented the Commission.
The Council adopted a recommendation on blended learning approaches to achieve the goal of high quality and inclusive primary and secondary education.

Ministers also approved Council resolutions on a new European agenda for adult learning 2021-2030, and on the governance structure of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, and the achievement of the European Education Area.

The policy debate at the Council focused on digital education and digital skills.
This was one of the first actions in the Structured Dialogue on Digital Education and Skills, which was launched by the European Commission in October 2021.

In the course of the debate, Ministers emphasised the importance of digital skills for all citizens of all ages.

They stressed the importance of ensuring that the acquisition of digital skills is clearly promoted, and that there is a need to develop learners’ digital skills from an early point.
They highlighted the economic importance of having large cohorts of citizens with highly developed and sophisticated digital skill-sets, and discussed the importance of critical skills, particularly in the light of misinformation and disinformation.

They also emphasised the need for digital education to continue to evolve and become embedded as an integral part of the process of teaching and learning in all settings, schools, HEIs, and other places of learning.
Meetings of the EPSCO Council During the Slovenian Presidency there were no significant developments to report regarding education and training through this Council formation.

2.

Research and Innovation Under the EU Treaties, research and innovation policy is a shared competence between the Union and Member States while education is a national competence.
The European Research Area (ERA), which was launched in 2000 and has been enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty since 2009, aims to achieve a single European research area in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely.

A new framework for European research and innovation policy was adopted by the Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) in November 2021.
It comprises of: 4   the Pact for Research and Innovation – which is the overarching, long-term strategy and includes common values and principles, jointly agreed priority areas and the tools required to drive implementation at EU and national level; the ERA Policy Agenda – which sets out the specific actions to be progressed during the period 2022-2024; and  New governance structures – to ensure the effective implementation of the ERA priorities.
During 2022, the focus will be on implementing the new ERA policy framework.

In the first semester of 2022, Member States will be required to identify which of the agreed ERA priority actions they will participate in and prepare a national implementation plan.
Meetings of the Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) Research and Innovation Ministers met on three occasions during the period July to December 2022:  Informal Meeting of Research Ministers – 19 July 2021 – Ljubljana  Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) – 28 September 2021 – Brussels  Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) – 21 November 2021 – Brussels 2.1 Informal Meeting of Research Ministers – 19 July 2021 Ireland was represented at this Council meeting by Mr Joseph Moore, Principal Officer at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The meeting was chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport, Ms Simona Kustec.

The Commission was represented by Ms Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Educations and Youth.

Ministers exchanged views on what needs to be done at national level to implement the new European research and innovation policy framework and maximise the economic and social impact of investment in research and innovation.
There was broad consensus that while the new European research and innovation policy needs to be ambitious, it also needs to be realistic.

Member States need to have discretion on how to implement the new policy at national level, particularly in relation to setting new national targets.

The meeting provided an opportunity for Ministers to discuss the recently published Commission communication on the global approach to international research and innovation collaboration.
The debate informed the preparation of Council Conclusions by the Slovenian Presidency on Europe’s future approach to international research and innovation collaboration.

Ministers agreed on the importance of maintain an open approach to collaboration with other countries while protecting Europe’s interests.

2.2 Competitiveness Council – Brussels, 28 September 2021 Ireland was represented at this Council meeting by Ciarán Delargy of the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU.
The meeting was chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport, 5 Ms Simona Kustec.

The Commission was represented by Ms Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Educations and Youth.

The Council adopted the Council Conclusions on the EU’s new global approach to research and innovation cooperation.
These conclusions stress that the EU needs to develop a multilateral dialogue on research and innovation at an international level, while ensuring EU values and strategic interests are respected.

It was agreed that Europe should be “as open as possible, but as closed as necessary” when collaborating with other countries.
Ministers also exchanged views on the proposed governance structures and implementation plans for the new European research and innovation policy framework, and reaffirmed the role of the Council as the main decision making body in the development and implementation of the new policy framework.

They also agreed on the importance of stakeholder involvement to effectively implement the new framework.
The Commission updated Ministers on the negotiations with third party countries regarding association to the new EU Framework Programme for investment in research and innovation, Horizon Europe.

2.3 Competitiveness Council – Brussels, 21 November 2021 Ireland was represented at this Council meeting by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Mr Simon Harris.

The meeting was chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport, Ms Simona Kustec.
The Commission was represented by Ms Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Educations and Youth.

The Council adopted the new European policy framework for research and innovation which included a Council Recommendation on a Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe and Council Conclusions on the Future Governance of the European Research Area (ERA).
The Pact is the overarching, long- term strategy and sets out the principles, priority areas and implementation mechanisms to deliver on the new research and innovation agenda.

The Council Conclusions outline the new governance structures to support the effective implementation of the new framework and the 20 actions that will be prioritised over the period 2022-2024.
Ministers exchanged views on how research and innovation can play a role in achieving wider policy objectives that reach across many different Departments, disciplines and sectors.

Ministers highlighted the importance of good governance structures to coordinate the national response to cross-sectoral issues (such as climate and health) and maximise the economic and societal impact of investment in research and innovation.
6 The Slovenian Presidency also provided an overview of the achievements of its Presidency, which included the endorsement of the Ljubljana Declaration on gender equality in research and innovation by Member States, the Commission and other non-EU countries.

3.
3.

Other developments under the remit of the Department The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science also has lead responsibility for policy and administration of Ireland’s engagement with the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and the Erasmus+ Programme.
3.1 European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 establishing the ESF+ for 2021-27 and the associated Common Provisions Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 were published in the Official Journal on 30th June 2021.

The ESF+ is the EU’s main instrument for investing in people and to help Member States achieve the targets set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.

Ireland’s allocation under the ESF+ is €508m.


Preparations at national level for the 2021-27 round are continuing to be overseen by the Partnership Process Steering Group.

Drafts of the Partnership Agreement and the ESF+ Operational Programme are currently under development, having regard to the independent Needs Analysis conducted and the results of the public consultation process undertaken in Summer 2020.
Discussions are ongoing with various Government Departments and Agencies regarding potential schemes for inclusion in the programme and with the European Commission.

It is expected that a draft ESF+ programme will be available for submission to the European Commission by mid 2022.

REACT EU is a €47.5bn initiative under the European Recovery Instrument Next Generation EU to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and to prepare a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy.
Ireland’s REACT EU allocation for 2021 of €88.3m (current prices) has been programmed under the current ESF Programme for Employment, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 to support:   the continuation of safe and inclusive education and training in a COVID-19 context; and the provision of laptops to disadvantaged students in further and higher education to address the digital divide.
3.2 European Globalisation Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) The EGF continues to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased.

7 Currently, there are no EGF programmes in operation in Ireland.

D/FHERIS continues to monitor collective redundancy notifications to determine whether sustainable cases can be made for EGF support, having regard to the relevant EGF regulatory requirements.
7 EGF applications were received by the European Commission under the new Regulation for the period July to December 2021.

Proposals have yet to be published for two of the applications - Cataluña Automotive EGF/2021/006 and Selecta - EGF/2021/007 Proposals were published for the following applications.
EGF application reference COM (2021) final Balance at 30/06/21 EGF/2021/001 EGF/2021/002 EGF/2021/003 EGF/2021/004 EGF/2021/005 COM 2021 618 COM 2021 936 COM 2021/935 COM 2021/Draft COM 2021/698 EGF Case EGF co- funding proposed Reducing bal €193,743,912 Council Decision Ref No Council Decision Date País Vasco Metal €1,214,607 €192,529,305 Air Italy €3,874,640 €188,654,665 Porto Canale €1,493,407 €187,161,258 Aragón Automotive €1,404,863 €185,756,395 Airbus €3,745,264 €182,011,131 2021/2159 Not available Not available Not available Not available 25/11/21 3.3 Other engagements in education and training In addition to engagement at ministerial level, officials from the D/FHERIS participated in a range of education and training related events during the Slovenian Presidency.
These include:  An online meeting of the Directors’ General for vocational education and training  An online meeting of the Directors’ General for Higher Education  An online meeting of the Bologna Follow-up Group The mandates for working groups to further co-operation in Education and Training, as part of the European Education Area were finalised by the Presidency.
D/FHERIS has nominated officials to the following groups:  A cross-sectoral working group on Digital Education: Learning, Training and Assessment (DELTA)  A cross-sectoral working group on Equality and Values in Education and Training  A working group on Higher Education  A working group on Adult Learning 8 Part 2 – A look ahead to the French Presidency (January to June 2022) France assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2022.
The programme theme for the Presidency is ‘Recovery, Strength, Sense of Belonging.’ The French Presidency has set our three ambitions:  A more sovereign Europe  A new European growth model  A human Europe 1.
Schedule of Council Meetings during the French Presidency Meetings of EYCS (Education) Council  Informal EYCS (Education) Council – 27 January – Strasbourg  EYCS (Education) Council – 4 April 2022 – Luxembourg Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation)  Informal Meeting of Research and Innovation Ministers and Higher Education Ministers – 25 January – Paris  Ministerial Council on international cooperation in research and innovation – 8-9 March – Marseille  Competitiveness Council (Research and Innovation) – 10 June – Luxembourg 2.
Overview of key issues likely to arise during the French Presidency The French Presidency has set an extremely ambitious programme of work for the first half of 2022.

Education and Training  Investment in Education o The Presidency intends to agree a joint declaration on investment in education by Ministers for Education from all member states.

o A conference on investment in education will be held in Paris in February.
o Ministers for Education and Finance will attend a joint breakfast meeting in advance of the EYCS (Education) Council on April 4 in Luxembourg.

 Mobility o Council conclusions on “Enhancing teachers' European mobility as part of their initial and in-service training”.

o A conference on mobility for young people is planned for Paris in January.

 Green and Environmental Learning 9 o A Council Recommendation on Education for Environmental sustainability.
o The informal EYCS Council in Strasbourg on January 27 will focus on sustainability and the role of education and training and the engagement of young people.

 Higher Education o A Council Recommendation on “Building bridges for effective European Higher Education Cooperation“.

o Council conclusions on the European Strategy for Universities.

o A Forum on the Universities for the Future of Europe will take in Paris in January.
 Lifelong Learning o A Council Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability.

o A Council Recommendation on individual learning accounts.

(This will be progressed through the EPSCO Council, but will have particular relevance for the area of Education and Training.)

 Paving the way to a European teacher pathway o A conference called “Towards a European pathway for teachers” will be held in Poitiers in March.
 Progression of other files: o Discussion on teacher academies under the Erasmus+ programme.
Research and Innovation The French Presidency will prepare three sets of Council Conclusions in the first half of 2022:  International cooperation – these will build on the Council Conclusions adopted in September 2021 on the new global approach to research and innovation collaboration;  Horizon Europe missions – one of the new features of the EU Framework Programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, are the missions.
The missions are commitments to solve some of the greatest challenges facing our world, such as cancer and climate change; and  Report from the European Court of Auditors on Horizon Europe widening instruments – widening instruments are designed to help newer Member States to improve their research and innovation performance and narrow the gap between Member States.

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