A meeting of the Education, Youth and Culture Council was held on 15 and 16 November. Anne Lambert, UK Deputy Permanent Representative, represented the UK for the culture agenda items taken on 16 November.

The presidency presented the joint statement that had been agreed at the first EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on 25 October. The statement offered the prospect of further cooperation between the two partners. The UK was clear, with support from many other member states, that the work of cultural institutes had to be at the heart of any follow-up to the PPC. The presidency agreed that this issue would need to be taken forward in the drafting of an EU-Russia cultural action plan to be discussed under the Slovenian presidency.

The Council adopted the resolution on the European agenda for culture in a globalising world. The introduction of the Open Method of Co-ordination for Culture was broadly welcomed on the understanding that it was voluntary, proportionate and reflected the needs of the culture sector. There was general agreement that the future cultural agenda should prioritise the contribution that culture makes to the economy (including providing better data to measure this), intercultural dialogue and cultural relations with third countries.

The UK was content with this outcome and supported the adoption of the resolution.

The Council adopted a decision on the selection of Turku (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) to host the European Capital of Culture event for 2011.