COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 3 December 1992 on transparency of qualifications

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Whereas, pursuant to Article 3 (c) of the Treaty the abolition, as between Member States, of obstacles to freedom of movement for individual workers who arc Community nationals constitutes one of the objectives of the Community; whereas, for nationals of the Member States, this means in particular the possibility of pursuing a profession or occupation, whether in a self-employed or employed capacity, in a Member State other than that in which they acquired their professional or vocational qualifications or experience;

Whereas the Council resolution of 18 December 1990 on the comparability of vocational training qualifications invited Member States(1) , to submit reports on the implementation of Council Decision 85/368/EEC of 16 July 1985, on the comparability of vocational training qualifications between the Member States of the European Community and the results obtained(2) ; whereas Member States' reports have now been produced and show that there are doubts about whether the work on comparability provides the kind of clear information about qualifications necessary to promote free movement of labour; whereas this means there is a need to consider new directions for work on transparency of qualifications;

Whereas, by their joint opinion of 3 July 1992 on vocational qualifications and certification, both sides of industry, in the framework of the Social Dialogue, emphasized that the freedom to move from one country to another is in the interests of workers and enterprises and that developing a concerted approach to establish reciprocal information concerned with vocational qualifications and certification in order to give transparency at European level is a high priority; whereas they advocate an evolutionary approach rather than a single solution imposed from above; whereas they are concerned that means must be found for taking into account the relevant skills and knowledge of workers who have acquired these without formal study and certification;

Whereas there is a very substantial degree of diversity in qualification systems in the Community; whereas most job seekers hold qualifications isssued by these diverse systems; whereas this can make it difficult for an employer in one Member State to asses the skills and knowledge of an applicant with qualifications from and work experience in another Member State and can place such applicants at a disadvantage;

Whereas future Community work on transparency of qualifications should avoid conflict with national systems and improve the practical effect of Community action to date, should take account of the practical needs expressed by individuals and employers, and should first identify what specific information is needed at the Community level, and provide a focus for the Community's efforts,

HEREBY ADOPTS THIS REGULATION:

THE COUNCIL:

1. RECALLS that the Council resolution of 18 December 1990 on the comparability of vocational qualifications invites the Commission to submit proposals which would enable genuine free movement for workers within the Community to be fulfilled.

2. IS AGREED on the objectives of:

(a) enabling individuals who so wish to present their occupational qualifications, education and work experience clearly and effectively to potential employers throughout the Community;

(b) helping employers to have easy access to clear descriptions of qualifications and relevant professional experience, in order to establish the relevance of the skills of job applicants from other Member States to jobs on offer;

3. IS AGREED that:

(a) in order to meet the practical objectives set out in paragraph 2, it is necessary to define the need for information at Community level as well as the means of its communication;

(b) a step by step approach is required, beginning with the identification of the specific information needed at a Community level followed by the design of any infrastructure required to provide it.

The improvement of mutual understanding of, and confidence in, the diverse qualifications systems of Member States and the qualifications themselves could make a contribution to the successful attainment of these objectives.

4. Considers that, in the light of the national assessment reports and the responses by Member States to the Commission's preparatory document on training in the European Community, proposals to further these objectives should;

(a) respect the diversity of Member States' own systems of training and qualifications;

(b) take full account of and complement existing Community legislation and action;

(c) take full account of the development of the Eures system in the context of supporting the mobility of individuals;

(d) add value to the efforts of individuals, their representatives and employers, be cost-effective and minimize additional administrative burdens and costs both within Member States and at the Community level;

(e) begin by focusing on the needs of individuals who wish to be mobile within the Community, and the occupations for which those individuals are qualified, while being capable of extension to all occupations;

(f) take into account all the relevant skills and knowledge of workers, acquired through qualifications or experience;

(g) take into account the need to protect data about individuals in accordance with national practices and Community legislation;

(h) be subject to voluntary participation by individuals and employers;

(i) work through existing bodies and authorities in Member States with responsibility for qualifications and their accreditation wherever possible and encourage direct communication between the relevant bodies;

(j) respect national practice, including arrangements agreed between the social partners, individuals and employers;

(k) be limited to the exchange of relevant information, rather than its verification.

5. CALLS ON the Commission to formulate its proposals, taking into account the contents of this Resolution, according to the following priorities:

(a) the identification, in cooperation with Member States and the social partners, of any information about qualifications and experience needed at the Community level to meet the objectives set out in paragraph 2.

Such steps could explore ways of clarifying the differrent terminology used about qualifications in Member States to assist effective communication;

(b) the evaluation, in cooperation with Member States and the social partners, of possible means of helping individuals and employers to communicate the information needed.

In particular, to consider the acceptability, feasibility and added value of making available to individuals, on request, a summary of individual achievement (which might be called an 'individual portfolio'), giving a brief account of achievements and experience gained in the course of education, training and throughout working life.

Without prejudice to the outcome of further evaluation of these ideas, feasibility studies should cover both the sources of information and the means of conveying it at Community level, for example:

(i) a common format of headings for that information. This could be provided as appropriate by the individual and by competent bodies nominated by Member States;

(ii) the nomination by Member States of bodies competent to:

(a) support the provision of such a summary and provide any necessary information on the qualifications of their respective countries;

(b) communicate with equivalent bodies in other Member States to exchange such information in acordance with individual and employer needs;

(c) encouragement for initiatives undertaken by Member States to exchange relevant information and expertise about qualification systems and the qualifications themselves to contribute to the objectives set out in paragraph 2.

6. The proposals should also review and define the particular contribution the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training could make to the objectives set out in paragraph 2, in the light of its expertise.

(1) OJ No C 109, 24. 4. 1991, p. 1.

(2) OJ No L 199, 31. 7. 1985, p. 56