| COMMITTEES, BOARDS, WORKING GROUPS | | 
The CDPPE Bureau met on 1-2 December. The main items for discussion were the results of the Informal Conference of Ministers under the Greek Chairmanship, the EHEA Ministerial conference, the launching of the Observatory on History Teaching, the intergovernmental History Education project, the cooperation with UNESCO, and progress in projects on the democratic and local missions of higher education.
On 3 December, a webinar for the ENIC-NARIC network addressed the recognition of refugees’ qualifications when these cannot be fully documented. Participants were informed on recent initiatives, including the training opportunities offered in the context of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership Management Board meeting 1 December 2020, online: The Council of Europe Director of Democratic Participation and the European Commission Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+, along with representatives of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ), the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) and the European Youth Forum, came together in the Partnership Management Board meeting. The partners commended the very positive results of 2020 and agreed to enhance co-operation through the youth partnership in the future.
2-4 December 2020, online: During the 44th meeting of the Programming Committee on Youth (CPJ), representatives of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), of the youth sector’s co-managed Joint Council on Youth (CMJ), decided jointly on the programme of activities and budget of the youth sector, including the study sessions to be organised in the second half of 2021 and the EYF grants for 2021.
Special session on the Faro Convention during the ICOMOS Europe Section meeting (26-27 November 2020) A session of the online meeting discussed the pertinence of the Faro Convention principles for ICOMOS’ work. The Culture and Cultural Heritage Division presented the significance of these principles for heritage at risk, and discussed with National Committee representatives their advocacy role for signing the Faro Convention among their national authorities, and the engagement of civil society in heritage preservation actions.
The Bern Convention held the 40th annual Meeting of its Standing Committee (30 November-4 December), with more than 190 participants and 45 Contracting Parties, experts and NGO representatives. They discussed the outcomes of activities implemented in 2020, including combating the illegal killing of birds; review of the Plant Conservation Strategy; Pan-European Action Plan for the Conservation of the Sturgeon; and progress in the constitution of the Emerald Network and its online tools.
The Standing Committee assessed progress on case-files linked to complaints submitted by citizens and NGOs for presumed breaches of the Convention. Further, the Committee discussed future financing of the Convention and its role in the decade to 2030.
The Secretary of the EUR-OPA Major Hazard Agreement participated in the preparatory meetings for the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (24-26 November 2021) in Matosinhos, Portugal and a meeting of the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe
The EPA on Cultural Routes held the first meeting of the Working Group (24 November) on the update of the Rules of Procedure on certification, to clarify and optimise existing rules of procedure. A further meeting is planned for 8 December. The works of the Group will be discussed for approval at the next meeting of the EPA Governing Board in April 2021;
Draft CM recommendation on protecting youth civil society and young people 24 and 25 November 2020, online: the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) drafting group met online to finalise the preliminary draft of this CM recommendation. Having been contacted by numerous youth NGOs concerned about the shrinking space for civil society, the Advisory Council on Youth urged the CMJ to explore this phenomenon, already highlighted by the PACE, the Human Rights Commissioner and the Committee of Ministers in the decisions of its 129th session in Helsinki in 2019, as it affects youth civil society. The draft text will be presented to the CMJ in March 2021.
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