Education Ministers: coordinated EU action can support national reforms and investments in education
Τhe strengthening of the role and attractiveness of the teaching profession, the upgrading of skills with an emphasis on digital and pedagogical aspects, as well as the contribution of education and training to social cohesion and the resilience of European societies, were at the heart of discussions during the two-day Informal Meeting of Ministers of Education. The meeting was held in Lefkosia under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
On 29 and 30 January 2026, EU Ministers for Education met at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Lefkosia for an informal ministerial meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Sport and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Athena Michaelidou. The meeting was also attended by the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, Ms Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen.
On the first day of the meeting, EU Ministers of Education participated in parallel working groups focusing on “Investing in Teachers: Professional Development, Attractiveness, and Retention in the Profession,” and the conclusions were presented later in a plenary session.
The discussions highlighted the importance of initial and continuous professional development, clear career pathways, as well as digital and artificial intelligence skills, within the context of enhanced European cooperation to support high-quality, future-oriented education systems.
Discussions concluded on 30 January 2026 with a broad consensus on the value of EU-level cooperation and coordination in addressing common challenges, as well as in supporting policy objectives, national reforms and investments in education and training. The importance of better integrating educational priorities into European political coordination processes with greater visibility, while fully respecting national competences, was emphasised.
This outcome followed a results-oriented ministerial roundtable on “The contribution of European cooperation in education and training to key areas of the European Semester, within the framework of the European Education Area”.
“Education, teachers, and skills are at the core of Europe’s response to the challenges of the future. The challenge ahead of us is to turn this shared reflection into coherent policies and tangible results, both at European and national level.”
Exhibition of school pupils’ artwork
An art exhibition was hosted at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in parallel with the Informal Meeting, showcasing works of art from the Fine and Applied Arts Competition organised by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth Departments of Secondary General Education and Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Works from the Children’s Logo Competition, which involved pupils from Primary Education, were also displayed. Both competitions formed part of the activities carried out within the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.
Photos and video
See photos from the Informal Council on the Cyprus Presidency's Flickr account.
Press conference following the second day of deliberations
