Resolution of the ministers of education, meeting within the Council, of 6 June 1974 on cooperation in the field of education

THE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, - referring to the final communiqué of the Conference of Heads of State or of Government held at The Hague on 1 and 2 December 1969, and in particular to point 4 of that communiqué in which the need to safeguard in Europe "an exceptional source of development, progress and culture" is affirmed, and to the final communiqué of the Conference of Heads of State or of Government held in Paris on 19 and 20 October 1972,

- recalling the conclusions of the discussions on 16 November 1971, and the resultant proceedings of the Working Party of Senior Officials,

- taking account of the Commission communication of 11 March 1974 on education in the European Community,

- confirming the need to institute European cooperation in the field of education and their determination to achieve that cooperation by progressive stages in matters agreed upon in accordance with a procedure to be laid down,

HEREBY ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION:

I. Cooperation in education shall be based on the following principles: - the programme of cooperation initiated in the field of education, whilst reflecting the progressive harmonization of the economic and social policies in the Community, must be adapted to the specific objectives and requirements of this field,

- on no account must education be regarded merely as a component of economic life,

- educational cooperation must make allowance for the traditions of each country and the diversity of their respective educational policies and systems.

Harmonization of these systems or policies cannot, therefore, be considered an end in itself.

II. At the present stage, this cooperation will relate mainly to the following priority spheres of action: - better facilities for the education and training of nationals and the children of nationals of other Member States of the Communities and of non-member countries,

- promotion of closer relations between educational systems in Europe,

- compilation of up-to-date documentation and statistics on education,

- increased cooperation between institutions of higher education,

- improved possibilities for academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study,

- encouragement of the freedom of movement and mobility of teachers, students and research workers, in particular by the removal of administrative and social obstacles to the free movement of such persons and by the improved teaching of foreign languages,

- achievement of equal opportunity for free access to all forms of education.

It is self-evident that any subject which it would appear necessary to study to attain the results sought in this sphere must be open to examination.

III. This cooperation must not hinder the exercise of the powers conferred on the Institutions of the European Communities.

IV. In order to foster action in the fields mentioned under point II, an Education Committee shall be set up, composed of representatives of the Member States and of the Commission. Its Chairman shall come from the country exercising the office of President of the Council of Ministers. The Committee will report to the Education Ministers meeting within the Council before 30 June 1975, in accordance with customary procedures.