On Tuesday 14 July 2014, Minister for Culture, Maggy Nagel, and Minister for National Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch presented at the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency in the fields of culture, education and youth.
Maggy Nagel began proceedings by stressing that culture is a fundamental aspect of living together and an essential element for the development of the European Union. She however highlighted that the role and transversal contribution of culture in other political sectors, and in the EU's external relations, remains a challenge which the Luxembourg Presidency intends to focus on during the next six months. By emphasising culture in development cooperation, the aim is to achieve a more strategic and coherent approach to culture as a vital element in EU external relations.
Claude Meisch further affirmed his commitment to academic success and the political participation of young people in Luxembourg. The European deputies called on ministers to emphasise the domain of culture, education and youth in decisions on the future financial aspects of these areas in the Erasmus Plus and Creative Europe programmes.
Minister Meisch assured MEPs thatthe time had come to highlighr the inclusion of all young people in quality education and in the democratic life of European societies, explaining "It is also through the encouraging of multilinguism that we allow young people to become responsible citizens who can better integrate different cultures within a societ."
To implement a participatory cultural diplomacy, the Culture and Education Commission proposed the idea of a fund for cultural intervention, which Minister Nagel reportedly took on board, stating that a more strategic approach would be of interest.
Photo by SIP (L-R: Silvia Costa, President of the Culture and Education Commission of the European Parliament ; Maggy Nagel, Minister of Culture ;Claude Meisch, Minister for National Education)
