1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B REGULATION (EEC) No 337/75 OF THE COUNCIL
of 10 February 1975
establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
(OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Regulation (EEC) No 1946/93 of 30 June 1993 L 181 11 23.7.1993
►M2 Council Regulation (EC) No 1131/94 of 16 May 1994 L 127 1 19.5.1994
►M3 Council Regulation (EC) No 251/95 of 6 February 1995 L 30 1 9.2.1995
►M4 Council Regulation (EC) No 354/95 of 20 February 1995 L 41 1 23.2.1995
►M5 Council Regulation (EC) No 1655/2003 of 18 June 2003 L 245 41 29.9.2003
Amended by:
►A1 Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
►A2 Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal L 302 23 15.11.1985
►A3 Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia,the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic ofMalta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the SlovakRepublic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European
Union is foundedL 236 33 23.9.2003
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REGULATION (EEC) No 337/75 OF THE COUNCIL
of 10 February 1975
establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational
Training
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European EconomicCommunity, and in particular Article 235 thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;Havin regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (
1);
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2);
Whereas on the basis of Article 128 of the Treaty, the Council, in its
Decision of 2 April 1963 (3), laid down general principles for imple-
menting a common vocational training policy;
Whereas under Article 118 of the Treaty the Commission has the task
of promoting close cooperation between Member States in the social
field, particularly in matters relating to basic and advanced vocationaltraining;
Whereas the Council, in its resolution of 21 January 1974 (
4)
concerning a social action programme, made one of the objectives ofthat programme the implementation of a common vocational trainingpolicy with a view to attaining progressively the principal objectives
thereof, especially approximation of training standards, in particular
by setting up a European Vocational Training Centre; whereas, further-more, the Council decided that this objective should be given priority;
Whereas the implementation of a common vocational training policy
gives rise to ever more complex problems, and whereas the solutionof those problems requires a large degree of involvement on the partof those concerned, and more especially on the part of both sides of
industry;
Whereas the setting up of a European Centre for the Development of
Vocational Training — a body independent of the departments of theCommission, but which must cooperate with them to the full — isnecessary for the effective implementation of that common policy,and whereas the Treaty has not provided the specific powers necessaryfor setting up such a centre (SIC! Centre);
Whereas the centre (SIC! Centre) will be set up within the framework
of the European Communities and will function in accordance with
Community law; whereas the conditions under which certain generalprovisions will apply should be defined,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
A European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, here-
inafter called ‘the centre’, (SIC! Centre',) is hereby set up.
In each of the Member States, the centre (SIC! Centre) shall enjoy the
most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons.
The Centre shall be non-profit making. It shall have its seat in Thessa-
loniki.1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 127, 18. 10. 1974, p. 20.
(2) OJ No C 125, 16. 10. 1974, p. 41.
(3) OJ No 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63.
(4) OJ No C 13, 12. 2. 1974, p. 1.▼M2
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Article 2
1. The aim of the centre (SIC! Centre) shall be to assist the
Commission in encouraging, at Community level, the promotion and
development of vocational training and of in-service training.
To that end, within the framework of the guidelines laid down by the
Community, it shall contribute, through its scientific and technicalactivities, to the implementation of a common vocational trainingpolicy.
It shall, in particular, encourage the exchange of information and the
comparison of experience.
2. The main tasks of the centre (SIC! Centre) shall be:
— to compile selected documentation relating in particular to the
present situation, the latest developments and research in the rele-vant fields, and to matters of vocational training structure;
— to contribute to the development and coordination of research in the
above fields;
— to disseminate all useful documentation and information;— to encourage and support any initiative likely to facilitate a
concerted approach to vocational training problems. The centre's(SIC! Centre's) activity in this respect shall deal in particular withthe problem of the approximation of standards of vocationaltraining with a view to the mutual recognition of certificates and
other documents attesting completion of vocational training;
— to provide a forum for all those concerned.
3. In its activities the centre (SIC! Centre) shall take into account
the links which exist between vocational training and the other
branches of education.
Article 3
1. The centre (SIC! Centre) shall take the measures necessary for the
attainment of its objectives. It may in particular:
— organize courses and seminars;
— conclude study contracts and commission or, where necessary, carry
out pilot projects or individual projects to assist the implementationof the centre's (SIC! Centre's) work programme;
— publish and distribute useful documentation, including a Commu-
nity vocational training bulletin.
2. In carrying out its tasks, the centre (SIC! Centre) shall establish
appropriate contacts, particularly with specialized bodies, whether
public or private, national or international, with public authorities andeducational institutions and with workers' and employers' organizations.
Article 4
1. The Centre shall be administered by a Management Board
comprising ►
A3 78 members ◄of whom:
(a)►A3 twenty-five members ◄shall represent the Governments of
the Member States;
(b)►A3 twenty-five members ◄ shall represent the employers'
professional organizations;
(c)►A3 twenty-five members ◄shall represent the employees' trade
union organizations;
(d) three members shall represent the Commission.
The members referred to in (a), (b) and (c) shall be appointed by the
Council on the basis of one member per Member State for each ofthose groups.
The Commission shall appoint the members who are to represent it.1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 3
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2. The term of office of members shall be three years. It shall be
renewable. Upon the expiry of their term of office or in the event oftheir resignation, members shall remain in office until their appoint-
ments are renewed or until they are replaced.
3. The Management Board shall elect its Chairman and three Vice-
Chairmen from among its members, to serve for a period of one year.
4. The Chairman shall convene the Management Board at least
twice a year or at the request of at least one-third of its members.
5. Decisions by the Management Board shall be taken by an abso-
lute majority of its members.
Article 5
The Management Board shall adopt its rules of procedure, which shall
enter into force when approved by the Council, acting on the Opinionof the Commission.
It shall decide whether to set up ad hoc working parties on the basis of
the requirements of the annual work programme. It shall regularlyinform the Commission of the activities of the centre (SIC! Centre).
Article 6
1. The director of the centre (SIC! Centre) shall be appointed by the
Commission from a list of candidates submitted by the ManagementBoard.
2. The term of office of the director shall be renewable every five
years.
Article 7
1. The director shall carry out the decisions of the Management
Board and shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of
the centre (SIC! Centre). He shall be the legal representative of the
centre (SIC! Centre).
2. He shall prepare and organize the work of the Management Board
and provide the Secretariat for their meetings.
3. He shall coordinate the activities of the working parties.4. He shall be responsible for all staff matters and for engaging and
dismissing staff.
5. He shall be accountable to the Management Board for his activ-
ities.
Article 8
1. On the basis of a draft submitted by the director, the Management
Board shall adopt the annual work programme in agreement with theCommission. The programme shall take into account the priority needsindicated by the Community institutions.
2. The centre (SIC! Centre) shall take into account the activities of
other bodies working in the field of vocational training when planningits own work.
Article 10
1. Estimates of all the revenue and expenditure of the Centre shall
be prepared for each financial year, corresponding to the calendaryear, and shall be shown in the budget of the Centre, which shall
include an establishment plan.
2. The revenue and expenditure shown in the budget shall be in
balance.1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 4
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Article 11
1. Each year the Management Board, on the basis of a draft drawn
up by the Director, shall produce an estimate of revenue and expendi-ture for the Centre for the following financial year. This estimate,which shall include a draft establishment plan, shall be forwarded by
the Management Board to the Commission by 31 March at the latest.
2. The estimate shall be forwarded by the Commission to the
European Parliament and the Council (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
budgetary authority’) together with the preliminary draft general budget
of the European Union.
3. On the basis of the estimate, the Commission shall enter in the
preliminary draft general budget of the European Union the estimates
it deems necessary for the establishment plan and the amount of thesubsidy to be charged to the general budget, which it shall place beforethe budgetary authority in accordance with Article 272 of the Treaty.
4. The budgetary authority shall authorise the appropriations for the
subsidy to the Centre.
The budgetary authority shall adopt the establishment plan for the
Centre.
5. The budget of the Centre shall be adopted by the Management
Board. It shall become final following final adoption of the generalbudget of the European Union. Where appropriate, it shall be adjustedaccordingly.
6. The Management Board shall, as soon as possible, notify the
budgetary authority of its intention to implement any project whichmay have significant financial implications for the funding of thebudget, in particular any projects relating to property such as the rentalor purchase of buildings. It shall inform the Commission thereof.
Where a branch of the budgetary authority has notified its intention to
deliver an opinion, it shall forward its opinion to the ManagementBoard within a period of six weeks from the date of notification of
the project.
Article 12
1. The financial rules applicable to the Centre shall be adopted by
the Management Board after the Commission has been consulted.They may not depart from Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No2343/2002 of 19 November 2002 on the framework Financial Regula-
tion for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation
(EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicableto the general budget of the European Communities (
1) unless specifi-
cally required for the Centre's operation and with the Commission'sprior consent.
Article 12a
1. The Director shall implement the budget of the Centre.
2. By 1 March at the latest following each financial year, the
Centre's accounting officer shall communicate the provisional accounts
to the Commission's accounting officer together with a report on the
budgetary and financial management for that financial year. TheCommission's accounting officer shall consolidate the provisionalaccounts of the institutions and decentralised bodies in accordancewith Article 128 of the general Financial Regulation.
3. By 31 March at the latest following each financial year, the
Commission's accounting officer shall forward the Centre's provisionalaccounts to the Court of Auditors, together with a report on thebudgetary and financial management for that financial year. The report1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 5
(1) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 72 with Corrigendum in OJ L 2, 7.1.2003, p. 39.
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on the budgetary and financial management for that financial year shall
also be forwarded to the European Parliament and to the Council.
4. On receipt of the Court of Auditors' observations on the Centre's
provisional accounts, pursuant to Article 129 of the general Financial
Regulation, the Director shall draw up the Centre's final accounts underhis own responsibility and submit them to the Management Board foran opinion.
5. The Management Board shall deliver an opinion on the Centre's
final accounts.
6. The Director shall, by 1 July at the latest following each financial
year, forward the final accounts to the European Parliament, the
Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, together with the
Management Board's opinion.
7. The final accounts shall be published.8. The Director shall send the Court of Auditors a reply to its obser-
vations by 30 September at the latest. He shall also send this reply tothe Management Board.
9. The Director shall submit to the European Parliament, at the
latter's request, any information required for the smooth application of
the discharge procedure for the financial year in question, as laid down
in Article 146(3) of the general Financial Regulation.
10. The European Parliament, on a recommendation from the
Council acting by a qualified majority, shall, before 30 April of yearN + 2, give a discharge to the Director in respect of the implementationof the budget for year N.
Article 12b
1. The Management Board shall adopt the annual report on the
Centre's activities and prospects, and forward it by 15 June at the latest
to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the
Economic and Social Committee and to the Court of Auditors.
2. The Centre shall forward annually to the budgetary authority any
information relevant to the outcome of the evaluation procedures.
Article 13
The staff of the Centre shall be subject to the regulations and rules
applicable to the officials and other servants of the European Commu-nities.
The Centre shall exercise, in respect of its staff, the powers devolved to
the appointing authority.
The Management Board shall, in agreement with the Commission,
adopt the appropriate implementing rules.
Article 14
Members of the Management Board, the Director, the staff and all
other persons participating in the activities of the centre (SIC! Centre)shall be required, even after their duties have ceased, not to discloseinformation of the kind covered by the obligation of professionalsecrecy.1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 6
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Article 14a
1. Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and
of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to EuropeanParliament, Council and Commission documents (
1) shall apply to
documents held by the Centre.
2. The Management Board shall adopt the practical arrangements for
implementing Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 within six months ofentry into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1655/2003 of 18 June2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 337/75 establishing a EuropeanCentre for the Development of Vocational Training and repealingRegulation (EEC) No 1416/76 (
2).
3. Decisions taken by the Centre pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation
(EC) No 1049/2001 may give rise to the lodging of a complaint to theOmbudsman or form the subject of an action before the Court ofJustice of the European Communities, under Articles 195 and 230 of
the Treaty respectively.
Article 15
The rules governing the languages of the European Communities shall
apply to the centre (SIC! Centre).
Article 16
The Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European
Communities shall apply to the centre (SIC! Centre).
Article 17
1. The contractual liability of the centre (SIC! Centre) shall be
governed by the law applicable to the contract in question. The Court
of Justice of the European Communities shall have jurisdiction to givejudgment pursuant to any arbitration clause contained in a contractconcluded by the centre (SIC! Centre).
2. In the case of non-contractual liability, the centre (SIC! Centre)
shall, in accordance with the general principles common to the lawsof the Member States, make good any damage caused by the centre(SIC! Centre) or its servants in the performance of their duties.
The Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction in disputes relating to
compensation for any such damage.
3. The personal liability of servants towards the centre (SIC! Centre)
shall be governed by the relevant provisions applying to the staff of the
centre (SIC! Centre).
Article 18
Member States, members of the Management Board and third parties
directly and personally involved may refer to the Commission any act
of the centre (SIC! Centre), whether express or implied, for the
Commission to examine the legality of that act.
Referral shall be made to the Commission within 15 days of the day on
which the party concerned first became aware of the act in question.
The Commission shall take a Decision (SIC! decision) within one
month. If no Decision (SIC! decision) has been taken within thisperiod, the case shall he deemed to have been dismissed.
Article 19
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 7
(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43.
(2) OJ L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 41.▼B
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This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States.1975R0337 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 005.001 — 8