Cyprus was represented by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Prodromos Prodromou.
The Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet and the Minister of Youth Vadym Huttsait were invited to the meeting for an informal exchange of views. Prodromou suggested the creation of a permanent European coordination mechanism, which would be responsible for the formulation of guidelines for crisis management in the field of education.
According to a statement, the initiatives at European level to address the challenges of the pandemic "have been successful due to the support of the Member States by the institutions and the coordinated actions of the partners."
"We hope that the experience, strong structures and existing mechanisms will also be a catalyst for supporting Ukrainian pupils, students and teachers," Mr. Prodromos stressed, adding that the initiatives at European level to address the challenges of the pandemic "have been successful due to the support of the Member States by the institutions and the coordinated actions of the partners."
"We hope that the experience, strong structures and existing mechanisms will be a catalyst for supporting Ukrainian pupils, students and teachers," he said. During a working lunch, the Ministers of Education exchanged views on investments in European Universities and the possibilities for their long-term and more sustainable financial funding. During his intervention, Prodromou referred to the one-off support provided by the government to the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology, as the two state universities participating in the European University Network, noting that with this action the government wishes to encourage other universities in Cyprus to participate in university alliances.
He also supported the continuation of financial support for European Universities both through the Erasmus+ and Horizon Programmes, but also through other EU funding programmes.
The meeting concluded in the afternoon with a discussion on youth issues, focusing on the mobility of volunteers and the ways in which synergies between national volunteering activities and European solidarity programmes can be enhanced. They also discussed possible measures to enhance the involvement of young European volunteers in actions promoting the values of peace, solidarity and democracy.
In his intervention, the Minister of Education briefed his counterparts on the promotion of national actions for the Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps programmes by the Cyprus Youth Organisation.
He added that in the National Strategy for Youth, the issues of participation, mobility and volunteering of young people are approached in an integrated way, and that organisations implementing volunteering actions will be further supported with information and networking campaigns, especially in the context of this year's European Year of Youth.
Mr. Prodromou also stressed the importance of ensuring the participation of young people from remote geographical areas, such as Cyprus, in European programmes.
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