Conference on the Future of Europe: Education, Culture, Youth and Sport

Written by Innovation & Strategy

The Conference on the Future of Europe’s aim is to debate how the EU should develop in the future and to give European citizens a voice in the process, announced Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her inaugural address.

People’s ideas will be collected on the Digital Platform, in European Citizens’ Panels and de-centralised conference events all over Europe. The Conference Plenary – comprised of representatives of the Citizens’ Panels, the Parliament, the Council, the Commission, national parliaments, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, social partners and the European Youth Forum – will then discuss the ideas put forward. Launched in April 2021, the conference is expected to reach conclusions and provide guidance for the European institutions to follow up, by spring 2022.

The conference topics are divided into nine areas, with one additional ‘open’ area, reserved for out-of-the-box ideas. The topics are: ‘Climate change and the environment‘, ‘Health‘, ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs‘, ‘European Union in the world‘, ‘Values and rights, rule of law, security‘, ‘Digital transformation‘, ‘European democracy‘, ‘Migration‘, ‘Education, culture, youth and sport‘, and ‘Other ideas‘.

Discussion in this category will cover questions such as: How can we ensure quality education, lifelong learning and more opportunities for everyone in the EU? How can we safeguard our cultural heritage, promote cultural diversity and support the cultural and creative sectors? How can we ensure that young people have more opportunities and participate fully in all areas of society? How can we bring together communities and promote healthier living through sport? 

To support the proceedings of the conference, our EPRS policy analysts have prepared research material, available here in reverse chronological order. The following list will continually be updated as the conference unfolds:

Animated infographic: Lifelong Learning
last updated: January 2021

European Heritage Days – Women’s contribution
‘At a glance’ note by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, September 2021, 1 page.

Erasmus 2021-2027: The Union programme for education, training, youth and sport
Briefing by Denise Chircop, July 2021, 11 pages.

Erasmus+ 2021-2027
‘At a glance’ note by Denise Chircop, May 2021, 1 page.

Lowering hurdles to sport for persons with disabilities
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, May 2021, 1 page.

European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027
‘At a glance’ note by Denise Chircop, May 2021, 1 page.

Creative Europe programme 2021-2027
‘At a glance’ note by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, May 2021, 2 pages.

Getting to know the EU’s cultural heritage sites
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, April 2021, 1 page.

Digital cultural diversity
Briefing by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, April 2021, 12 pages.

Books and book lovers in the EU
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, April 2021, 1 page.

Early leavers from education and training
Briefing by Denise Chircop and Eulalia Claros, March 2021, 4 pages.

Women in arts and culture − Artists, not muses
‘At a glance’ note by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, March 2021, 2 pages.

EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award: A tribute to Bauhaus
‘At a glance’ note by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, February 2021, 2 pages.

LUX Prize 2.0: Pan-European Audience Film Award
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, November 2020, 2 pages.

The future of tertiary education in Europe
In-Depth Analysis by Costica Dumbrava, Cemal Karakas, Monika Kiss, and Marcin Szczepański, September 2020, 36 pages.

A European week of sport… like no other
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, September 2020, 2 pages.

European Day of Languages: Digital survival of lesser-used languages
Briefing by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, September 2020, 9 pages.

Education in isolation in the pandemic, following the path of Isaac Newton
Briefing by Denise Chircop, June 2020, 12 pages.

Digital culture − Access issues
Briefing by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, June 2020, 12 pages.

Performing arts: Emerging from confinement
‘At a glance’ note by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, June 2020, 2 pages.

Women in films: Still fighting the celluloid ceiling
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, March 2020, 2 pages.

Gender equality in sports: (slowly) changing the game
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, March 2020, 2 pages.

European education area
‘At a glance’ note by Denise Chircop, March 2020, 2 pages.

Education and the New European Bauhaus
‘At a glance’ note by Denise Chircop, March 2020, 2 pages.

Teaching: A woman’s world
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, February 2020, 2 pages.

Lifelong Learning
March 2021

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