CONCLUSIONS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS FOR EDUCATION MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL of 6 October 1989 on cooperation and Community policy in the field of education in the run-up to 1993 (89/C 277/04)

THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS FOR EDUCATION MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Recalling the texts adopted within the Community on educational matters;

After discussing the Commission communication on guidelines for the medium term (1989 to 1992) in the sphere of education and training,

REACHED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: 1. In view of the fundamental role that education and training play in the economic, social and cultural development of the States of the Community and in the development of the Community itself,

in view of the consequences of the establishment of the internal market which will affect the educational policies of the Member States and mark a new stage in the Community cooperation initiated in this field by the resolution of 9 February 1976;

2. They believe that the principal objectives of the cooperation which they intend to implement in the next five years should be set, taking account of the Commission's guidelines. These objectives will make it possible to ensure greater continuity and consistency between the various cooperation activities carried out in an intergovernmental and Community framework and to assess these activities regularly in the light of the objectives. This cooperation must take account of the necessary interaction between Community policy and State policies in the field of education and training.

It must be based on two fundamental principles - respect for linguistic and cultural diversity and affirmation of the subsidiarity of Community activities - and must respect the fundamental powers of the Member States in matters of general education policy.

In view of the ever closer links between initial and continuing training, this cooperation cannot develop unless there is constant collaboration between education departments and other departments and bodies concerned in each Member State.

3. Five objectives shared by the Community Member States can be identified as a basis for future cooperation activities. They will contribute to drawing the States closer together in the field of education and training and thus to bringing about a Europe of knowledge and cultures. - A multicultural Europe based on: - strengthening young people's sense of belonging to a European community by developing the European dimension in teaching and teacher training,

- the progressive achievement of genuine multilingualism by promoting foreign-language teaching in school, university and vocationaltraining systems,

- taking the variety of cultural approaches into account in education and training systems,

- drawing educational and training establishments closer together in the interest of mutual enrichment and the enhanced integration of children of citizens of the Community Member States, in particular within the school environment, with due regard for their linguistic and cultural identity.

- A mobile Europe ensured by: - the free movement of persons and ideas, encouraged in particular by the systems for recognition of diplomas and for the equivalence of professional qualifications,

- support for the organization of youth exchanges and for training periods abroad for teachers, instructors, pupils, students and education administrators,

- the introduction of procedures providing teachers with the opportunity to teach temporarily in educational establishments of other Community Member States.

- A Europe of training for all based on: - the offer of high-quality education and training to all young people in the Community, which should, in the long term, contribute to reducing regional disparities,

- the development of appropriate teaching and training for disadvantaged children and of measures to combat failure at school,

- equality of access to high-quality education.

- A Europe of skills secured by: - constantly improving the quality of basic education,

- providing young people with a better preparation for working life and giving them training which will enable them to adapt to economic, technological, social and cultural developments,

- developing all the educational sectors which are vital for the future of Europe, in particular technical and vocational training and higher education,

- adapting the content and methods of training to technological change,

- improving the initial and continuing training of education staff.

- A Europe open to the world, which seeks to: - intensify cooperation with international organizations dealing with education and training,

- strengthen links with other States and evolve new forms of mutual support with developing countries.

The Education Committee is instructed to: - examine the proposals that the Commission will submit to the Council, in particular on the basis of its communication on medium-term guidelines and in accordance with the principles set out in paragraph 2 above,

- promote exchanges of information on the activities undertaken in the Member States to achieve the objectives adopted, in particular through the organization of regular meetings among those responsible at the political and administrative levels,

- examine other ways of improving procedures currently followed and developing future cooperation in the field of education, having regard to the need for effective management of cooperation activities and value for money, and to the need to recognize the limitations on resources.