I chaired the European Union Council formation on education, youth and culture on 27 May 2004. At that meeting there was an exchange of views on the relevant elements of a communication from the Commission, Making Citizenship Work: fostering European culture and diversity through programmes for youth, culture, audiovisual and civic participation.
Since then, the Commission has presented a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a new programme of support for the European audiovisual sector for 2007 to 2013. The audiovisual working group, which operates under the auspices of the Council of Ministers of Education, Youth and Culture, including the audiovisual area, has been discussing this proposal. Under the Dutch Presidency since July this year, five meetings of this group have been held. This proposal will be discussed at the forthcoming ministerial Council of 16 November.