Debate: The impact of COVID- closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities on children and young people in the EU
Date: MONDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2022
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

This report will be instrumental in helping us direct efforts to support learning institutions across Europe. I would like to assure you that the Commission has been closely monitoring the situation and working with the Member States in this regard. We have already taken several steps towards alleviating the negative impact that COVID-19 closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities had on children and young people in the EU. As a result, three recently—published reference documents help Member States to address those challenges. First, in November last year, the Commission proposal for a Council recommendation on blended learning for high quality and inclusive primary and secondary education was adopted by the Council. The recommendation recognises that the physical, mental and emotional well—being of students was compromised during school closures.  Secondly, a detailed framework for the social and personal key competences – LifeComp – outlines the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed by young people to take care of their physical, social and mental well—being. Third, on 30 June this year, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council recommendation on pathways to school success.  The goal of all these initiatives is to address our major concerns – the post—COVID recovery, sustainability and under—achievement. This effort is part of our work on achieving the European Education Area by 2025. In fact, the new working group on schools under the European Education Area Strategic Framework for Cooperation started its work already last year. In particular, pathways will be complemented by an expert group on school well—being to be set up in the coming months.  When it comes to the budget, about 13% of the total RRF envelope, amounting to more than EUR 63 billion, will be devoted to measures supporting education and skills. Investment in digital education and skills will be around EUR 28 billion.  I would also like to stress that our Erasmus+ programme has provided invaluable during the crisis. For instance, in 2020, the Erasmus+ programme published two calls for proposals in the area of partnerships for digital education readiness and partnerships for creativity. Each provided EUR 100 million to respond to the educational challenges resulting from the COVID—19 pandemic. With an overall indicative financial envelope of about EUR 28 billion for 2021—2027, the programme is with nearly doubled funding compared to its predecessor, which opens additional opportunities. The programme also supports European online platforms for virtual cooperation and digital education, e-twinning and the school education gateway, which played a key role during the pandemic. In the field of sport and youth we also launched a number of initiatives like ‘Be active at home’, the European Week of Sport, HealthyLifestyle4All and the European Year of Youth 2022. As for culture, a sector that also suffered so much, the Commission published the Communication ‘Coronavirus: a common path to Europe’s safe re—opening’. Particularly useful in this context was the setting—up of Creatives Unite, a platform for and by the cultural and creative sectors.  We made additional financial resources available through the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which can also be used for the cultural and creative sectors, REACT—EU and the future cohesion policy.  The Creative Europe programme has an unprecedented budget of EUR 2.4 billion up to 2027, and this is an increase of 60% compared with the previous programme.  Finally, we have worked a lot to encourage Member States to consider culture as a strategic investment. As a result, at EU level, more than 2% of the total budget of the recovery and resilience plan will be dedicated to the cultural and creative sectors.  Mr President, honourable Members, again I would like to applaud the efforts of the CULT Committee of the European Parliament and particularly the work of the rapporteur, Mr Heide. Our joint work is fundamental to help our young overcome the negative consequences of those two years. With your excellent collaboration I am sure we can continue doing more.