I will attend the education section of the above Council on 25 May. The UK permanent representative will attend the Youth Council. The agenda items are as follows:

Education

Ministers will be asked to adopt conclusions on a framework of indicators and benchmarks for monitoring progress towards the Lisbon objectives in education and training. The conclusions will mandate the Commission to start work on developing some of the proposed indicators. The Commission will also present information on the proposed European survey on language competences.

There will be an exchange of views on evidence-based policy-making in the field of education. Ministers will address what action should be taken to further develop and use educational research, and how such action can be supported at EU level.

Youth

Ministers will be asked to adopt a resolution on creating equal opportunities for all young people. The resolution concerns ensuring that all young people have access to services and opportunities on an equal basis, without suffering discrimination.

Ministers will exchange views and be asked to adopt a conclusion on future European co-operation in the field of youth policy. The conclusions outline how future co-operation may go forward after the present round ends in 2009. They envisage further development of European co-operation in youth policy and improved mainstreaming of youth issues with related policy fields.