COUNCIL DECISION of 14 December 1989 amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community action scheme for the mobility of university students (Erasmus) (89/663/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 128 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas the fundamental objectives of the common vocational training policy set down in the second principle of Decision 63/266/EEC (3) aim in particular at enabling every person to reach the highest possible level of vocational training which is necessary for his professional activity, and refer also to broadening vocational training to meet requirements arising from technical progress, linking the different forms of vocational training to social and economic developments;
Whereas on the basis of the sixth principle of that Decision it is the Commission's responsibility to encourage direct exchanges of vocational training specialists in order to enable them to acquaint themselves with and study the achievements and new developments in the other countries of the Community;
Whereas by its Decision 87/327/EEC (4) the Council established the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Erasmus) and whereas Article 7 thereof provides for the possibility of adapting the Erasmus programme;
Whereas the Council has adopted measures with a view to strengthening technological cooperation at Community level and providing the necessary human resources for this purpose, notably through its Decision 89/27/EEC adopting the second phase of the programme on cooperation between universities and industry regarding training in the field of technology (Comett II) (1990 to 1994) (5);
Whereas the Council has adopted measures to stimulate cooperation and interchange between European research scientists, notably through Decision 88/419/EEC (6)
establishing the Science programme and Decision 89/118/EEC (7) establishing the SPES programme; whereas it is therefore not appropriate that such activities should also be covered by the Erasmus programme;
Whereas, in the light of the Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Communities of 30 May 1989, the situation should be clarified by laying down that the Erasmus programme, henceforth, falls exclusively within the scope of the common vocational training policy as provided for in Article 128 of the Treaty;
Whereas as a follow-up to the 'People's Europe' report approved by the European Council (28 to 29 June 1985), which called for exchanges by a significant section of the student population, the Commission's aim, in line with the European Parliament's wish (8), is that by 1992 around 10 % of all students in the Community will be following a university course organized by universities in more than one Member State;
Whereas the Council on 28 July 1989 adopted Decision 89/489/EEC (9) establishing the Lingua programme to promote training in foreign languages as well as the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the European Community;
Whereas the Council on 21 December 1988 adopted Directive 89/48/EEC on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years' duration (10);
Whereas the annual reports on the application of the Erasmus programme in 1987 and 1988, as well as the report on the experience acquired in the implementation of the programme in the years 1987 to 1989, have shown that the programme is an appropriate means of increasing student mobility via effective inter-university cooperation within the Community;
Whereas the commitment entered into at Community level as regards the stimulation of student mobility also involves the participation of the Member States, which are called upon to make their contribution to the effort which is necessary for the objectives of Erasmus to be attained,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Council Decision 87/327/EEC is hereby amended as follows:
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1. In Article 1, the following is added to paragraph 2:
'Students registered in those establishments, regardless of the field of study, are eligible for support within the Erasmus programme, up to and including doctorate level, provided that the period of study carried out at the host university, which is compatible with the curriculum at the student's home university, forms part of his or her vocational training.
The Erasmus programme does not cover research and technological development activities.'
2. In Article 2:
(a) Paragraph (ii) is replaced by the following text:
'(ii) to promote broad and intensive cooperation in vocational training between universities in all Member States;';
(b) in paragraph (iii), the words 'education and' are deleted.
3. Article 4 shall be replaced by the following:
'Article 4
The funds estimated as necessary to execute the Erasmus programme in the first three years of a five-year period amount to ECU 192 million.
As from the 1990 budgetary year the appropriations necessary to finance the Community contribution to the actions provided for in the annex, including measures to ensure the technical assistance at Community level, continuing monitoring and evaluation of the programme, will be authorized in the annual budgetary procedure, taking into account the results of the programme as well as any new needs which may emerge during its operation.
The appropriations necessary for the first three years of the programme will form part of future budgets within
the framework of the present financial forecasts 1988 to 1992 agreed jointly in the Interinstitutional Agreement (11) by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 29 June 1988 and their development.
The objective shall be to ensure that, in the framework of Actions 1 and 2, the highest possible proportion of the funds is allocated to student mobility.
(12) OJ No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 33.'
4. In Article 5, the phrase 'the other actions already scheduled at Community level' shall be replaced by 'other actions at Community level'.
5. In Article 7, the date of 31 December 1989 shall be replaced by 31 December 1993 and the date of 30 June 1990 shall be replaced by 30 June 1994.
6. The Annex shall be replaced by the Annex appearing in this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall take effect on 1 January 1991, except in the case of Action 2 (2) which will take effect on 1 July 1990.
Done at Brussels, 14 December 1989.