COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 02.12.1998 
COM(1998) 719 final 
98/0195 (COD) 
Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
establishing the second phase of the Community education action programme SOCRATES 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
In the light of the opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998, the Commission, in 
accordance with Article 189 A §2 of the EC. Treaty, is submitting an amended proposal for a 
decision. The Commission accepts in full or in part 34 of the 54 amendments proposed by the 
Parliament. 
The amended proposal largely retains the same structure and the same objectives as the initial 
proposal but goes into certain aspects in greater detail: 
one set of amendments improves and strengthens the initial proposal by incorporating 
features designed to make access to the programme easier for target publics who may have 
difficulties in taking part. Other amendments are designed to strengthen the emphasis placed on 
certain key features of the proposal, e.g. the dissemination of results and the academic recognition 
of studies pursued in other Member States via the ECTS (European course credit transfer system); 
in relation to the initial proposal, a second set of amendments provides useful additional 
information and clarification on specific aspects of cooperation policy in the field of education. 
The Commission was unable to take on board certain amendments which concerned institutional 
aspects such as rules on committee procedures and budgetary matters. 
The Commission is most appreciative of the increase in funding proposed by the European 
Parliament, but has opted to abide by its initial proposal on this. 
The Commission was also unable to accept amendments designed to group together Action 6 
(Observation and innovation), Action 7 (Joint actions) and Action 8 (Support measures) into a 
single action to be called 'Horizontal measures'. This is not felt to be useful inasmuch as grouping 
together three actions would detract from the political visibility of Actions 6 and 7 to which the 
Commission wishes to give priority in the context of creating a Europe of knowledge. 
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Amended proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
establishing the second phase of the Community education action programme SOCRATES 
D 0^ 
COMMISSION'S INITIAL PROPOSAL I PROPOSAL MODIFIED FOLLOWING 
THE OPININION OF THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AT THE FIRST 
READING ON 5 NOVEMBER 1998 
PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL 
DECISION 
Establishing the second phase of the 
Community action programme in the field of 
education "Socrates" 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE 
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Community and in particular Articles 
126 and 127 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission1, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of 
the Regions3, 
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid 
down in Article 189b of the Treaty4, 
1. Whereas the Treaty establishing the European 
Community stipulates that the tatter's action 
shall inter alia contribute to the development 
of quality education and training; whereas this 
was resolutely reiterated by the Amsterdam 
Treaty signed on 2 October 1997, which states 
that the Community's objective is also to 
promote the highest possible level of the 
knowledge for its peoples through wide access 
to education and through the continuous 
updating of knowledge; ' 
2. Whereas Decision No 819/95/EC of the 
European "Parliament and of the Council5, as 
amended by Decision No 576/98/EC *, 
establishes the Community action programme \ 
Socrates; 
3. „ Whereas the extraordinary European Council 
COM (1998) 329 final, 27 May 1998 
ESC 1307/98 (98/0195 COD) 
OJL 87 20.4.1995, p. 10. 
OJL77 14.3.1998, p. 1. 
on Employment held in Luxembourg on 20 
and 21 November 1997 adopted a coordinated 
employment strategy in which lifelong 
education and training have a fundamental 
role to play in implementing guidelines7 for 
the Member States' employment policies in 
order to enhance employability, adaptability, 
and the culture of entrepreneurship8 and to 
promote equal opportunities; 
4. Whereas the Commission in its 4. Whereas the Commission in its communication 
communication "Towards a Europe of "Towards a Europe of Knowledge"10 set out 
Knowledge'* set out guidelines of the gradual guidelines of the gradual creation of an open and 
creation of an open and dynamic European dynamic European Education area capable of 
Education area capable of achieving the objective achieving the objective of lifelong education and 
of lifelong education and training, defining six training, defining six types of measures to be 
types of measures to be developed at Community developed at Community level, focusing on 
level, focusing on transnational cooperation and transnational cooperation and designed to bring 
designed to bring added value to the action taken added value to the action taken by the Member 
by the Member States, in full respect of the States, in full respect of the principle of 
principle of subsidiarity, and in a context of subsidiarity [...]; and whereas in order to make it 
simplified procedures; easier for all the target groups to have access to 
the programme, it has decided to simplify the 
application and selection procedures; 
5. Whereas the White Paper Teaching and 5. Whereas the White Paper Teaching and 
learning - Towards the learning society states learning - Towards the learning society states that 
that the emergence of the learning society the emergence of the learning society entails 
entails encouraging the acquisition of new encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge 
knowledge and to this end providing and to this end providing motivation to learn at 
motivation to learn at every opportunity, and every opportunity, and whereas the Green Paper 
whereas the Green Paper " "Education, "Education, training, research: the obstacles to 
training, research: the obstacles to transnational mobility highlighted the advantages 
transnational mobility12 highlighted the mobility brings to people and competitiveness in 
advantages mobility brings to people and the Union; and whereas the objective should be to 
competitiveness in the Union; achieve a participation rate of at least 10% of 
schools in Comenius and 10% of students in 
mobility actions under Erasmus; 
6. Whereas there is a need to promote active 6. Whereas there is a need to promote active 
citizenship, to strengthen the links between citizenship, to strengthen the links between 
measures pursued under this programme, and measures pursued under this programme, and to 
to step up the fight against exclusion in all its step up the fight against exclusion in all its forms, 
forms, including racism and xenophobia; including racism and xenophobia; whereas special 
whereas special attention should be focused attention should be focused on removing all forms 
on removing all forms of inequality and on of discrimination and inequality and on 
promoting equal opportunities for women and promoting equal opportunities for women and 
men; men; 
OJ C 30 28.1.1998, p. 1. 
Communication from the Commission to the European Council "Fostering entrepreneurship in Europe: priorities for the future" (COM (1998) 
222 final/2 of 21.4.1998). 
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions-Towards a Europe of knowledge, COM(97) 563 final, 12 November 1997. . -
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions - Towards a Europe of knowledge, COM(97) 563 final, 12 November 1997. 
Commission's White Paper : "Education and training-.Teaching and learning- Towards the learning society", Office for Official Publications 
of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 1996. 
Commission's Green Paper: Education, training, research: the obstacles to transnational mobility, COM(96) 462 final, 2 October 1996. 
A-
Whereas the Parliament and the Council in 
their Decision No XXX/99/EC [Youth]13 and 
the Council in its Decision No XXX/99/EC 
[Training]14, have established Community 
action programmes for the youth and training 
fields respectively, which contribute together 
with the Socrates programme to implementing 
a knowledge policy; 7. Whereas the Parliament and the Council in 
their Decision No XXX/99/EC [Youth]'5 and the 
Council in its Decision No XXX/99/EC 
[Training]16, have established Community action 
programmes for the youth and training fields 
respectively, which contribute together with the 
Socrates programme to the promotion of a Europe 
of knowledge; 
8. Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce 
the added value of Community action to 
ensure, at all levels, a coherence and a 
complementarity between the actions 
implemented in the framework of this 
Decision and the Community interventions, in 
particular in the domains of culture17, audio­
visual media, the completion of the single 
market, the environment, consumer 
protection, the information society, SMEs, 
social policies, employment and public health; 8. Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce 
the added value of Community action, for the 
Commission, in conjunction with the Member 
States, to ensure a coherence and a 
complementarity at all levels between the actions 
implemented in the framework of this Decision 
and the Community interventions, in particular in 
the domains of culture("), research and 
development, audio-visual media, the completion 
of the single market, the environment, consumer 
protection, the information society, SMEs, social 
policies, employment and public health; 
8a Whereas provision should be made for joint 
activities between the Socrates programme and 
other Community programmes and actions which 
have a bearing on education, including those in 
the area of international cooperation, fostering 
synergy and enhancing the added value of 
Community action; . 
9. Whereas the Commission's proposals for 
reforming the Structural Funds1*, particularly 
the European Social Fund, and the 
Community initiatives stemming therefrom, 
are based and objectives designed to support 
the adaptation and modernisation of policies 
and systems relating to education, training and 
employment; 
10. Whereas provision should be made to open up 
this programme to participation by the 
associated Central and Eastern European 
countries in accordance with the conditions 
established in the relevant association 
agreements, notably the association 
agreements and the additional protocols to 
these agreements to Cyprus on the same terms 
as those applied to the EFTA/EEA countries 
as well as to Turkey and Malta according to 
procedures to be agreed with those countries; 
Proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation 
(Programme Culture 2000), OJ C 211,7.7.1998, p. 18. 
Agenda 2000 Reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds - Pre-accession structural assistance - Pursuing the cohesion effort - A new reform 
of the Structural Funds, COM(1998) 131 final, 18.3.1998 
11. Whereas this programme should be monitored 11. Whereas this programme should be monitored 
and continuously evaluated in cooperation and continuously evaluated in cooperation 
between the Commission and the Member between the Commission and the Member States 
States in order to allow for readjustments, in order to allow for readjustments, particularly in 
particularly in the priorities for implementing the priorities for implementing the measure; 
the measure; whereas this assessment should include an 
external evaluation and be carried out by 
independent organisations; 
12. Whereas, in accordance with the principles 12. Whereas, in accordance with the principles 
and proportionality as defined in Article 3b of and proportionality as defined in Article 3b of the 
the Treaty, the objectives of the proposed Treaty, the objectives of the proposed action 
action concerning the contribution of concerning the contribution of European 
European cooperation to quality education cooperation to quality education cannot be 
cannot be sufficiently achieved by the sufficiently achieved by the Member States 
Member States because inter alia of the need because inter alia of the need for multilateral 
for multilateral partnerships, multilateral partnerships, multilateral mobility of people and 
mobility of people and Community-wide Community-wide exchange of information, and 
exchange of information, and can therefore be can therefore be better achieved by the 
better achieved by the Community thanks to Community thanks to the transnational dimension 
the transnational dimension of Community of Community actions and measures; whereas this 
actions and measures; whereas this Decision Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to 
does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve these objectives; whereas it is for the 
achieve these objectives; Member States to develop and strengthen 
arrangements in favour of the programme's target 
groups in order to make European Community 
action more effective; 
12a: whereas it is essential to improve the ECTS 
system in order to ensure that mobility fully 
achieves its aims; whereas the higher education 
establishments taking part in the programme are 
invited to implement the ECTS system as widely 
as possible; 
13. Whereas this Decision establishes, for the 
entire duration of the programme, a financial 
framework offering the budgetary authority 
the principal point of reference, within the 
meaning of point 1 of the Declaration by the 
European Parliament, the Council and the 
Commission of 6 March 199519, during the 
annual budgetary procedure; 
14. Whereas an agreement on a modus Vivendi 
between the European Parliament, the Council 
and the Commission concerning the 
implementing measures for acts adopted in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 189b of the EC Treaty was reached on 
20 December 199420, 
OJC 102,4.4.1996, p. 4. 
OJC 102,4.4.1996, p. 1. 
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HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: "1 
Articlel 
Establishment of the programme 
1. This Decision establishes the second phase of 
the Community action programme in the field 
of education "Socrates", hereinafter referred to 
as "this programme". 
2. This programme shall be implemented in the 
period starting on 1 January 2000 and ending 
on 31 December 2004. 
3. This programme shall contribute to the 3. This programme shall contribute to the 
Community's knowledge policy through the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by 
implementation of a European education area developing a European education area by 
fostering and development of lifelong fostering cooperation of the field of lifelong 
education and training. It shall permit the education and training. It shall permit the 
development of the knowledge and skills development of the knowledge and skills 
conducive to the full exercise of citizenship. conducive to active citizenship and employability. 
4. This programme shall support and supplement 4. This programme shall support and supplement 
action taken by and in the .Member States, action taken by and in the Member States, while 
while fully respecting their responsibility for fully respecting their responsibility for the content 
the content of the education and the of education and the organisation of education 
organisation of education systems, and their and training systems, and their cultural and 
cultural and linguistic diversity. linguistic diversity. 
_ Article 2 Article 2 
Aims of the programme Aims of the programme 
1. In order to contribute to the development of 1. In order to contribute to the development of 
quality education, while fully respecting the quality education and to stimulate lifelong 
responsibility of the Member States, the aims education and training, while fully respecting the 
of the programme shall be: responsibility of the Member States, the aims of 
the programme shall be: 
a) to strengthen the European dimension in 
education at all levels, in particular by a) to strengthen the European dimension in 
granting wider access to European education at all levels, in particular by granting 
educational resources and through the wider access to European educational resources 
teaching and dissemination of languages, and through the teaching and dissemination of 
while promoting a better gender balance languages, while promoting equal opportunities 
throughout all fields of education; throughout all fields of education; 
b) to promote cooperation in the field of 
education, in particular by encouraging b) to promote cooperation in the field of 
exchanges between educational education and remove obstacles to this 
institutions and by promoting open and cooperation, notably by encouraging: 
distance education; - teacher and student mobility, 
- cooperation between education establishments, 
c) to help remove the obstacles to such - better recognition of diplomas and periods of 
cooperation, in particular by encouraging education, 
improvement in the recognition of - better exchange of information; 
diplomas and periods of study, and by 
developing the exchange of information; 
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c) to encourage innovation in the development of 
educational practices and materials, including d) to encourage innovation, in particular 
where such innovation is associated with 
new technologies. through the use of new technologies. 
In implementing these objectives, the 
Commission and the Member States shall 
ensure that action under the programme is 
consistent with the Community's other actions 
and policies, particularly with regard to 
employment, to the removal of inequalities, to 
equal opportunities for women and men, and 
to social policy. 2. In implementing these objectives* the 
Commission and the Member States shall ensure 
that action under this programme is consistent 
with the Community's other actions and policies, 
particularly with regard to employment, to the 
removal of all forms of social discrimination and 
inequality, to equal opportunities for women and 
men, particularly by integrating this dimension 
into all initiatives through positive action, and to 
social policy. 
Article 3 
Community actions 
The aims of this programme shall be pursued 
through the following actions, the operational 
content and the application procedures of 
which are described in the Annex: 
a) School education (Comenius); 
b) Higher education (Erasmus); 
c) Other educational pathways (Grundtvig); 
d) Teaching and learning of languages 
(Lingua); 
e) Education and multimedia (Atlas); 
f) Observation and innovation; 
g) Joint actions; 
h) Accompanying measures. e) Education and multimedia (Minerva) 
2. The actions shall be implemented through the 
following types of measure, in the form of 
operations which may use several of them in 
combination: 
a) support for the mobility of people in the 
field of education in Europe; 
b) promotion of virtual mobility in the 
context of education, particularly by 
promoting access to educational b) promotion of the use of and access to 
information and communication technologies in 
the field of education; 
multimedia; 
c) support for the development of 
European-level cooperation networks 
permitting the mutual exchange of good 
practice; 
d) promotion of language skills and 
understanding of different cultures; 
e) support for innovatory pilot projects 
based on transnational partnerships 
designed to develop innovation and 
quality in education in order to create 
educational products, instruments of 
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skills accreditation or in order to test out 
any new approach; 
f) the constant improvement of the 
Community terms of reference through 
support for the dissemination of good 
practice and through the observation and 
dissemination of innovation. f) the constant improvement of the 
Community terms of references through: 
- the observation and analysis of national 
education policies; 
- the observation and dissemination of good 
practice and innovation; 
- extensive exchanges of information. 
Particular attention shall be given to projects 
combining two or more different measures. Any 
project relating to the measures mentioned under 
a), b) c) and e) above must in principle include 
measures listed under d) as preparatory or follow-
up action. 
Article 4 
Access to the programme 
1. Under the conditions and in accordance with 
the definitions and arrangements for 
implementation specified in the Annex, this 
programme is aimed in particular at: 
a) all pupils, students or other learners; 
b) all categories of staff involved in 
education; 
c) all types of educational institutions; 
d) the people and bodies responsible for 
education systems and policies at local, 
regional and national level within 
Member States. 
2. Public or private bodies cooperating with 
educational institutions may also take part or 
be actively involved in several actions under 
this programme, in particular: 
a) local and regional bodies and 
organisations; 
b) associations working the field of 
education, including parents' 
associations; 
c). companies and consortia, trade 
organisations and Chambers of 
Commerce and Industry; 
d) organisations of both sides of industry at 
all levels; Article 4 
Access to the programme 
1. Under the conditions and in accordance with 
the definitions and arrangements for 
implementation specified in the Annex, this 
programme is aimed at: 
a) all pupils, students or other learners; 
b) all categories of staff involved in 
education; 
c) all types of educational institutions; 
d) the people and bodies responsible for 
education systems and policies at local, 
regional and national level within 
Member States^ 
e) local and regional bodies and 
' organisations; 
fj associations working the field of education, 
including parents', teachers' and 
students' associations,; 
g) companies .and consortia, trade 
organisations and Chambers . of 
Commerce and Industry; 
h) organisations of both sides of industry at 
all levels; 
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e) research centres and bodies. i} research centres and bodies. 
3. Every Member State shall draw up a list of 2. Every Member State shall draw up a list of 
universities, types of schools and other universities, types of schools and other 
educational institutions eligible to participate educational institutions eligible to participate in 
in the programme. the programme. 
Article 5 
Implementation of the programme and 
cooperation with the Member States 
1. The Commission shall ensure the 
implementation of the Community actions 
covered by this programme in accordance 
with the Annex. 
It shall consult both sides of industry and the 
competent associations in the field of 
education at European level and shall inform 
the Committee referred to in Article 7 of their 
opinions. 
2. In conjunction with the Member States, the 
Commission shall take the steps described in 
the Annex to make the best use of what has 
been achieved through the action undertaken 
under the first phase of the Socrates 
programme. 
3. The Member States shall take appropriate 3. The Member States shall take appropriate 
action to secure, nationally, the coordination, action to secure, nationally, the coordination, 
organisation and the follow-up needed for the organisation, follow-up and evaluation needed 
attainment of the objectives of this for the attainment of the objectives of this 
programme, involving all the parties programme. They shall involve all the parties 
concerned by education in accordance with concerned by education and shall take the steps 
national practice. necessary to optimise potential synergy with other 
Community programmes 
To this end, they shall set up an integrated To this end, they shall set up an integrated 
management structure for the operational management structure for the operational 
implementation of the programme's actions implementation of the programme's actions. They 
and shall ensure that appropriate information shall also ensure that appropriate information and 
and publicity is provided on actions co- publicity is provided on actions co-financed by 
financed by the programme. the programme. 
4. Each Member State shall endeavour to take 4. Each Member State shall endeavour to take the 
the necessary steps to ensure the efficient necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of 
running of this programme and to take this programme and to take appropriate measures 
appropriate measures to remove any obstacles to remove any obstacles to access to it, 
to access to it. particularly for less favoured people. 
5. The Commission, in conjunction with the 
Member States, shall ensure the transition 
between these actions developed within the 
framework of the preceding "Socrates" 
programme in the field of education and those 
to be implemented under this programme. 
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Article 6 
Joint actions 
As part of the process of building up a Europe of 
knowledge, the measures of this programme may 
be implemented as joint actions with other 
Community actions forming part of the 
knowledge policy, particularly Community 
programmes in the area of vocational training and 
youth-related matters. Article 6 
Joint auctions 
As part of the process of building up a Europe of 
knowledge, and in conformity with the 
procedures set out in Art. 7 of the Decision, the 
measures of this programme may be implemented 
as joint actions with other Community 
programmes and actions, notably in the area of 
vocational training, youth, research and 
development, and new technologies. 
Article 7 
Committee 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a 
committee composed of the representatives of 
the Member States and chaired by the 
representative of the Commission. 
2. The committee shall be assisted by two 
subcommittees in the areas of school 
education and higher education. They shall be 
composed of representatives of the Member 
States. The Commission shall ensure 
coordination between the committee and the 
subcommittees. Specific questions may be 
referred to the subcommittees for final 
decision. 
3. The representatives of the Commission shall 
submit to the committee a draft of the 
measures to be taken as regards: 
a) the arrangements for implementing this 
programme, including where appropriate 
the annual plan of work for the 
implementation of the programme's 
actions; 
b) the criteria applicable for establishing the 
indicative breakdown of funds among 
the Member States for the purpose of the 
actions to be managed on a decentralised 
basis; 
c) the arrangements for evaluating the 
programme. 
4. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the 
draft within a time-limit which the Chairman 
may lay down according to the urgency of the 
matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the 
majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the 
Treaty in the case of decisions which the 
Council is required to adopt on a proposal 
from the Commission. The votes of the 
representatives of the Member States within 
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the Committee shall be weighted in the 
manner set out in the Article. The Chairman 
shall not vote. 
5. The Commission shall adopt measures which 
shall apply immediately. However, if these 
measures are not in accordance with the 
opinion of the committee, they shall be 
communicated by the Commission to the 
Council forthwith. 
In that event: 
the Commission may defer application of 
the measures which it had decided for a 
period of up to one month from the date 
of such communication; 
the Council, acting by a qualified 
majority, may take a different decision 
within the time-limit referred to in the 
first indent. 
6. The Commission may consult the Committee 
on any other matter concerning 
implementation of the programme. 
In that event, the Commission representative 
shall submit to the Committee a draft of the 
measures to be taken. The Committee shall 
deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time-
limit which the Chairman may lay down 
according to the urgency of the matter, if 
necessary by taking a vote. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; 
in addition, each Member State shall have the 
right to ask to have its position recorded in the 
minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost account 
of the opinion delivered by the Committee. It 
shall inform the Committee of the manner in 
which its opinion has been taken into account. 
Funding 
1. The financial resources for the implementation 
of this programme for the period specified in 
Article 1 shall be set at ECU 1 400 million. 
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised 
by the budgetary authority, within the limits of 
the financial perspectives. 
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Article 9 
Consistency and complementarity 
1. The Commission shall, in conjunction with the 
Member States, ensure overall consistency 
with other Community policies and actions. 
There shall be coordination between the 
activities of this prograntaie and the other 
Community actions, in particular those 
covered by the knowledge policy. Article 9 
Consistency and complementarity 
1. The Commission shall, in cooperation with the 
Member States, and in full respect of the intrinsic 
and specific nature of each programme, ensure 
overall consistency and coordination between the 
programme activities and the other Community 
policies and actions, particularly those 
contributing to a Europe of knowledge in the area 
of education, training, youth, research and 
development, and innovation. 
The Commission shall, in conjunction with the 
Member States, ensure consistency between 
implementation of this programme and the other 
Community actions relating to education in the 
area of culture and the audiovisual sector, the 
completion of the internal market, the information 
society, environment, consumer protection, 
SMEs, social policies, employment, and public 
health. The Commission shall ensure in cooperation with 
the Member States consistency and synergy 
between the implementation of this programme 
and the other Community actions relating to 
youth in the area of culture, research and 
development, and the audiovisual sector, the 
completion of the internal market, the information 
society, environment, consumer protection, 
SMEs, social policies, employment, and public 
health. 
The Commission shall ensure an efficient 
link-up between this programme and the 
programmes and actions in the area of 
education undertaken as part of the 
Community's external relations. 
The Commission and the Member States shall 
ensure that the measures of this programme 
are, as part of the implementation of the 
coordinated employment strategy, consistent 
with the orientations established annually for 
the employment guidelines and in conjunction 
with the other actions contributing to the 
implementation of the action plans. 2. The Commission and the Member States shall 
ensure mat the measures of this programme will, 
as part of the implementation of the coordinated 
employment strategy, contribute to the attainment 
of the objectives set in the European employment 
guidelines and to the drafting of national action 
plans. 
The Commission and the Member States shall 
ensure consistency and complementarity 
between action undertaken under this 
programme and Community action under the 
Structural Funds. 3. The Commission and the Member States shall 
ensure consistency and complementarity between 
action undertaken under this programme and 
Community action under the Structural Funds. 
They shall in particular facilitate the transfer and 
dissemination on a greater scale, through the 
Community Structural Funds, of innovatory 
approaches and methods developed under this 
programme. 
Article 10 
Participation of the associated Central and 
Eastern European countries, Cyprus, Turkey 
and Malta 
1. This programme shall ;be open to the 
participation of the associated Central and 
Eastern European countries (CEEC) in Article 10 
Participation of the associated Central and 
Eastern European countries, EFT A countries 
members of the EEA, Cyprus, Turkey and 
Malta, 
1. This programme shall be open to the 
participation of the associated Central and 
Eastern European countries (CEEC) in 
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accordance with the conditions laid down in accordance with the conditions fixed in the 
the Europe agreements or in existing or Europe agreements or in existing or 
anticipated additional protocols governing the anticipated additional protocols governing the 
participation of these countries in Community participation of these countries in Community 
programmes. This programme shall also be programmes. This programme shall. also be 
open to the participation, funded by additional open to the participation of the countries of 
appropriations, of Cyprus under the same the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 
rules as those applied to the countries of the which belong to the European Economic Area 
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (EEA). This programme shall also be open to 
which belong to the European Economic Area the participation, funded by additional 
(EEA) according to the procedures to be appropriations, of Cyprus [...] according to 
agreed with this country. This programme the procedures to be agreed with this country, 
shall also be open to participation by Turkey This programme is also open to participation 
according to the procedures to be established by Turkey according to the procedures to be 
with that country-. established with that country. 
2. This programme shall also be open to 2. This programme shall also be open to 
participation by Malta according to the participation by Malta according to the 
procedures to be agreed with that country. procedures to be agreed with that country. 
_____ Article 11 
International cooperation International cooperation 
The Commission shall strengthen its cooperation Under this programme, the Commission shall 
with non-Community countries and with the strengthen its cooperation with non-Community 
relevant international organisations, particularly countries and the relevant international 
the Council of Europe. organisations, particularly the Council of Europe. 
The activities covered by this article and the 
relevant funding arrangements will be decided in 
accordance with the procedures set out in Article 
7 of the Decision. 
_______ 
Monitoring and evaluation 
1. The Commission shall continually monitor 
this programme in cooperation with the 
Member States. 
This monitoring shall be effected through the 
reports referred to in paragraph 3 and through 
specific activities. 
2. The Commission shall evaluate this 2. The Commission shall evaluate this programme 
programme periodically, in conjunction with periodically in cooperation with the Member 
the Member States. The evaluation shall seek States. The evaluation shall seek to appraise the 
to appraise the effectiveness of the actions relevance, effectiveness and impact of the actions 
implemented, by reference to the objectives implemented, by reference to the objectives set 
set out in Article 2. out in Article 2. 
The evaluation will also examine the 
complementarity between actions under this 
programme and those pursued under other 
Community programmes, particularly those 
supported by the European Social Fund. 
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In accordance with criteria established using 
the procedure described in Article 7 (3), there 
shall be periodical external evaluations of the 
results of the Community actions. 
3. Member States shall submit to the 
Commission by 31 December 2002 and 30 
June 2005 respectively reports on the 
implementation and the impact of this 
programme. 3. Member States shall submit to the Commission 
by 31 December 2002 and 30 June 2005 
respectively reports on the implementation, the 
effectiveness and the impact of this programme, 
by reference to the objectives set out in Article 2, 
also with regard to the education systems and 
arrangements which exist in the Member States. 
Specific mention shall be made of the measures 
taken to combat all forms of discrimination and to 
promote equality of opportunity between men and 
women, and their impact in terms of participation 
The Commission shall submit to the European 
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions: 
- an interim evaluation report on the 
implementation of this programme no later 
than 30 June 2003; 
- the final report on the implementation of 
this programme, no later than 31 
December 2005. in the programme. 
4. The Commission shall submit to the European 
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions: 
- an interim report, no later than 30 June 2003, on 
the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the 
implementation of this programme, 
-the final report on the implementation of this 
programme, no later than 31 December 2005. 
Article 13. 
Entry into force 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of 
its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the European Parliament 
The President For the Council 
The President 
•15-
ANNEX 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The actions proposed in this Annex 
contribute to the achievement of the 
objectives laid down in Article 2 of the 
Decision and implemented through the 
Community measures provided for in 
Article 3. 
2. Provisions relating to the timetable, the 
conditions for the submission of 
applications and the eligibility criteria are 
published regularly by the Commission, 
following consultation of the programme 
committee, in the "Socrates Guidelines for 
Applications". 
3. In the context of activities involving the 
mobility of persons, there should be some 
linguistic preparation so that the 
beneficiaries possess the necessary 
competence in the language(s) of the 
instruction in the host establishment. 
4. As a general rule, Community financial 
assistance granted to the projects selected 
under this programme is intended to 
partially compensate for the estimated cost 
necessary to carry out projects and may 
cover a maximum period of three years, 
subject to an annual review of the results. 
Assistance may be granted in advance to 
enable preparatory visits to the projects in 
question. 
5. The projects coordinated by universities 
under the various actions of the 
programme may form part of the 
"institutional contract" of the institutions 
concerned, provided for in Article 2. 
6. In accordance with Article 2 paragraph 2 
of the Decision, the projects selected must 
respect the principle 6f equal opportunities 
and avoid any type of exclusion. Positive 
actions may be introduced in some areas 
where such action is required. Projects 
giving special emphasis to multicultural 
aspects will be a priority, and the specific 
needs of disabled people should also be 
taken into account when establishing the 
amount of financial assistance. 6. In accordance with Article 2 paragraph 2 of 
the Decision, the projects selected must respect 
the principle of equal opportunities and avoid any 
type of exclusion. Positive actions may be 
introduced in some areas where such action is 
required. Projects giving special emphasis to 
multicultural aspects will be a priority, and the 
specific needs of disabled people should also be 
taken into account when establishing the amount 
of financial assistance. Special attention must be 
paid in all the actions of the programme to the 
dissemination of results. 
16-
II. COMMUNITY ACTIONS 
This Annex contains two main types of 
actions: 
the first, Actions 1-3, are aimed at the 
three basic stages of lifelong education 
(school, university, others); 
the second, Actions 4-8, concern 
transversal measures such as languages, 
multimedia and the exchange of 
information, as well as matters of 
horizontal interest such as innovation, the 
dissemination of results, joint actions. 
ACTION 1 "COMENIUS" - SCHOOL 
EDUCATION 
Action 1.1 School partnerships 
Action 1.2 Staff involved in school education 
ACTION 2 "ERASMUS"-HIGHER 
EDUCATION 
Action 2.1 European inter-university 
cooperation 
Action 2.2 Mobility of students and teachers 
ACTION 3 "GRUNDTVIG" - OTHER 
EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS 
Action 3.1 New educational approaches 
Action 3.2 Adult education 
ACTION 4 "LINGUA" - TEACHING AND 
LEARNING OF LANGUAGES 
ACTION 5 "ATLAS" - EDUCATION AND 
MULTIMEDIA 
ACTION 6 OBSERVATION AND 
INNOVATION 
Action 6.1 Observation of education systems 
and policies 
Action 6.2 New innovatory initiatives 
ACTION 7 JOINT ACTIONS 
ACTION 8 ACCOMPANYING MEASURES ACTION 5 « MINERVA » - EDUCATION 
AND MULTIMEDIA 
•17-
ACTION 1 - "COMENIUS": SCHOOL 
EDUCATION 
Comenius seeks to reinforce the European 
dimension of school education, to encourage 
transnational cooperation and to promote the 
learning of languages. ACTION 1 - "COMENIUS": SCHOOL 
EDUCATION 
Comenius seeks to reinforce the European 
dimension of school education, to encourage 
transnational cooperation, to promote the learning 
of languages and to support intercultural 
understanding. 
Comenius also promotes the creation of 
school partnership networks and partnership 
networks for the training of school education 
staff to enable cooperation on subjects of 
mutual interest, the dissemination of good 
practice and discussion of qualitative and 
innovatory aspects of school education. The 
staff training network is to be developed in 
close cooperation with the university 
"thematic networks" provided for in the 
Erasmus action. 
Action 1.1: School partnerships 
1. The Community encourages the creation of 
multilateral partnerships between schools by 
making use of the facilities offered by 
multimedia and by encouraging in particular 
those which also involve teacher training 
establishments, local authorities and 
businesses, as well as parents. 
Schools taking part in one or more of the 
activities contained in this Action shall 
submit a "Plan for inter-school cooperation 
in Europe" covering all the activities 
proposed. The plans shall be examined by 
the national structures set up in accordance 
with Article 5, paragraph 3, of the Decision, 
involving with due respect for national 
systems, the supervisory bodies at regional 
and local level, on the basis of the guidelines 
established by the Commission in 
consultation with the programme committee. 
3. Activities eligible for Community assistance 
may include the following: 
a) partnerships involving: 
the mobility of teachers to prepare 
and monitor partnerships to teach 
abroad, including in-company 
placements; 
- the development of teaching 3. School partnerships may obtain Community 
financial support to carry out educational projects 
with a European dimension, particularly those 
involving: , 
a) the following activities: 
-the mobility of teachers to prepare and monitor 
partnerships to teach abroad, including in-
company placements; 
the involvement of pupils in partnership 
-18-
material and the exchange of good 
practice; 
- the involvement of pupils in 
partnership activities, including 
mobility for a limited number of 
them; 
b) partnerships aimed specifically at 
promoting the Community's official 
languages. The partnerships may in 
exceptional circumstances be bilateral 
if they target the less widely used 
languages and may also include 
exchanges of pupils in addition to the 
activities referred to in point (a); 
c) cooperation projects meeting the specific 
needs of the children of migrant workers, gypsies 
and travellers and itinerant workers. activities, as well as mobility for a limited number 
of them; 
- the development of teaching material and the 
exchange of good practice; 
b) activities aimed specifically at promoting the 
teaching and learning of the Community's official 
languages, including Irish and Luxembourgish. 
These partnerships may in exceptional 
circumstances be bilateral if they target the less 
widely used languages or languages of 
neighbouring countries which are less widely 
used and taught in the partner countries, and may 
also include exchanges of pupils in addition to the 
activities referred to in point (a); 
c) cooperation projects meeting the specific needs 
of the children of migrant workers, gypsies and 
travellers and itinerant workers. 
Action 1.2: Staff involved in school 
education 
1. This action seeks to contribute to the career 
development of staff working in the school 
education sector, by reinforcing the 
European dimension in initial and 
continuing training. 
2. The Community supports multilateral 
projects from establishments and bodies 
involved in the training of educational staff, 
also by making use of the facilities offered 
by multimedia. The participation of schools 
and other players involved in the field of 
. education - such as parents' representatives -
and socio-economic affairs is encouraged, as 
is the involvement of supervisory-bodies at 
regional and local level, where appropriate. 
Activities eligible for Community assistance 
in the context of the partnerships referred to 
above may include the following 
a) the development and/or adaptation of 
curricula, teaching material or 
European modules; 
b) aspects of school management; 
c) the mobility of school staff - future or 
already in service - for the purpose of 
initial or continuing teacher training, 
including practical training periods and 
language assistantships in schools or 
adult education centres; 3. Activities eligible for Community assistance in 
the context of the partnerships referred to above 
may include the following 
a) the development and/or adaptation of curricula, 
teaching material or European modules; 
b) exchanges of information on aspects of school 
management; 
c) the mobility of school staff- future-or already 
in service - for the purpose of initial or continuing 
teacher training, including practical training 
periods and language assistantships in schools or 
adult education centres; 
-19-
d) aspects of specific training relating to 
the integration of the children of 
migrant workers, gypsies and travellers 
and itinerant workers. d) aspects of specific training relating to the 
integration of the children of migrant workers, 
gypsies and travellers and itinerant workers; 
d(aXnew): aspects concerning specific training 
designed to ensure intercultural and multicultural 
education; 
d(b)(new): aspects concerning specific training 
aimed at social integration, equality of 
opportunity and the education of children at risk. 
ACTION 2 - "ERASMUS" : HIGHER 
EDUCATION 
Erasmus seeks to reinforce the European 
dimension of higher education at all levels and 
to encourage transnational cooperation between 
universities. 
Participating universities conclude "institutional 
contracts" with the Commission covering all the 
activities approved. 
Erasmus also promotes the development and 
consolidation of thematic networks enabling 
universities to cooperate on topics relating to 
one or more disciplines or on matters of mutual 
interest in order to facilitate the spread of good 
practice, encourage discussion of qualitative and 
innovative aspects of higher education, improve 
teaching methods and stimulate the 
development of joint programmes and 
specialised courses. The involvement of 
representatives of learned societies, professional 
and socio-economic circles is encouraged. Erasmus also promotes the development and 
consolidation of thematic networks enabling 
universities to cooperate on topics relating to one 
or more disciplines or on matters of mutual 
interest in order to facilitate the spread of good 
practice, encourage discussion of qualitative and 
innovative aspects of higher education, improve 
teaching methods and stimulate the development 
of joint programmes and specialised courses. The 
involvement of representatives of learned 
societies, professional and socio-economic circles 
is encouraged. The dissemination of the results 
obtained by thematic networks will be especially 
encouraged. 
Action 2.1: 
cooperation European inter-university 
1. The Community supports inter-university 
cooperation activities carried out by 
universities in conjunction with partners in 
other Member States, with the participation, 
where appropriate, of other players involved 
in education and the socio-economic world. 
2. The following inter-university cooperation 
activities, which should, wherever possible, 
make use of the facilities offered by 
multimedia, are eligible for Community 
assistance under the "institutional contract" 
referred to above: 
a) the organisation of mobility of 
students, teachers and other members 
of university staff involved in 
-20-
European cooperation; 
b) joint development and implementation 
of curricula, modules, intensive courses 
or other curricula activities, in. 
particular multidisciplinary activities, 
including the teaching of subjects in 
other languages; 
c) consolidation of the European Credit 
Transfer System (ECTS), designed to 
facilitate academic recognition. 
Action 2.2: Mobility of students and 
university teachers 
1. The Community encourages the mobility of 
students and teachers between the Member 
States, organised in the framework of 
"institutional contracts". 
2. Students benefiting from mobility and 
spending periods of study in another 
Member State, such periods being fully 
recognised under the inter-university 
agreements.forming part of the institutional 
contracts, will be considered as Erasmus 
students, regardless of whether or not an 
"Erasmus grant" has been allocated in 
accordance with point 3 below. The host 
universities will not charge tuition fees to 
Erasmus students and any loans or grants 
which they might receive will continue to, be 
paid during their stay abroad. 
The Community encourages the mobility of 
students and teachers by providing financial 
support under Erasmus. 3. The Community encourages the mobility of 
students and teachers by providing financial 
support under Erasmus. As regards student 
selection, due account must be taken not only of 
applicants' competencies but also of their 
financial circumstances, in accordance with the 
relevant definition of these circumstances in the 
national provisions on support. 
ACTION 3 - "GRUNDTVIG": 
OTHER EDUCATIONAL 
PATHWAYS 
The Grundtvig Action seeks to encourage 
lifelong learning, in particular by offering - as a 
complement to Actions 1 (school education) and 
2 (higher education) - other educational 
pathways for all citizens desirous of acquiring 
new knowledge. The Action is targeted in 
particular at young people who have left the 
school system with insufficient basic training, 
those who wish to begin or resume formal 
studies after a break from the education system 
and adults wishing to acquire or improve their ACTION 3 - "GRUNDTVIG": 
OTHER EDUCATIONAL 
PATHWAYS 
The Grundtvig Action seeks to encourage lifelong 
learning, in particular by offering - as a 
complement to Actions 1 (school education) and 
2 (higher education) - other educational pathways 
for all citizens desirous of acquiring new 
knowledge and skills. The Action is targeted both 
at young people who have left the school system 
with insufficient basic training, at those who wish 
to begin or resume formal studies after a break 
from the education system and at adults wishing 
to acquire or improve their knowledge and skills. 
-21-
knowledge for personal reasons. The action targets people taking part in the 
development of a democratic society who wish to 
acquire intercultural skills with this in mind. 
Grundtvig thus encourages the creation of 
European networks to strengthen the links 
between the various parties involved in this area 
to enable them to cooperate on a more stable 
basis on matters of mutual interest. 
Action 3.1: New educational approaches 
1. This action seeks to encourage initiatives 
aimed at developing more flexible, less 
formal educational methods which are more 
suited to the specific needs of each 
individual wishing to acquire recognised 
skills or qualifications.. 
2. Community financial assistance may be 2. Community financial assistance may be 
granted to particular for projects seeking to granted to particular for projects seeking to 
promote: promote: 
a) the development of new educational a) the development of new educational 
approaches, making use in particular of approaches, such as the design of modules and the 
multimedia; use of multimedia; 
b) the development of appropriate teaching b) the development of appropriate teaching 
material; material; 
c) the dissemination of innovatory c) the dissemination of innovatory approaches 
approaches and good practice; and good practice; 
d) the development of accreditation, d) the development of accreditation, validation or 
validation or certification schemes for certification schemes for skills acquired in this 
skills acquired in this manner; manner; 
e) the training of educational staff working 
in this sector. e) the initial and in-service training of educational 
- - staff working in this sector. 
Action 3.2 : Adult education Action 3.2 : Adult education 
1. The aim of this action is to improve the 1. The aim of this action is to improve the quality 
quality of education available to adult of education available to adult learners, in 
learners, in particular by reinforcing particular \>y reinforcing cooperation between the 
cooperation between the various bodies various bodies working in this field, and to 
working in this field, and to strengthen the strengthen the ' European dimension of adult 
European dimension of adult education by education, including participation in the 
highlighting the richness of the linguistic development of a democratic society, by 
and cultural diversity of nations, thus highlighting the richness of the linguistic and 
developing a sense of belonging to a cultural diversity of nations, thus developing a 
European citizenship. sense of belonging to a European citizenship. 
2. The Community supports projects developed 2. The Community supports projects developed 
by multilateral partnerships whose purpose by multilateral partnerships whose purpose 
is in particular to: is in particular to: 
-22-
a) stimulate adults' individual demand for 
learning, so that they continue to remain 
active participants in a society 
undergoing rapid change; a) stimulate adults' demand for and participation 
in learning, so that they continue to remain active 
participants in a society undergoing rapid change; 
b) develop support services for adult 
learners and the providers of such 
education; 
c) develop teaching material which may 
be adapted to multimedia methods of 
learning and to exchange good 
practice; ' 
d) develop accreditation, validation or 
certification schemes for the skills 
acquired; 
e) support the training of educational staff 
working in this sector. b) develop support services for adult learners and 
the providers of such education, and provide 
information and guidance; 
c) develop and exchange teaching material 
which may be adapted to multimedia methods 
of learning and to exchange good practice; 
d) develop accreditation, validation or 
certification schemes for the skills acquired; 
e) improve the initial and in-service training of 
educational staff working in this sector. 
ACTION 4 - "LINGUA": TEACHING 
AND LEARNING OF LANGUAGES 
1. The aim of this action is to enable the 
Commission, in partnership with the 
Member States, to ensure the coordination 
and consolidation of measures relating to the 
learning of languages, with a view to 
promoting and maintaining linguistic 
diversity within the Community, helping to 
improve the quality of language teaching 
and learning and promoting easy access to 
lifelong language learning opportunities 
tailored to individual requirements. 
2. In this context, language teaching covers the 
teaching and learning as foreign languages 
of all the official languages of the 
Community, including Irish and 
Luxembourgish. Special attention will 
usually be given throughout the whole 
programme to the teaching of the -least 
widely used and taught languages of the 
Community. 
3. Community financial assistance may be 
allocated in the context of this action to 
general transnational language-learning 
projects and activities, such as in particular: 
- awareness-raising activities, 
- activities seeking to promote and/or spread 
innovations such as the early learning of 
languages or multilingual comprehension, 
- the development and exchange of 
curricula, innovatory teaching material and 
methods and instruments for the recognition 
of language proficiency, 
- the networking of national, regional or 
local resource centres. 
-23-
ACTION 5 - "MINERVA": I ACTION 5 "MINERVA" : 
EDUCATION AND MULTIMEDIA EDUCATION AND MULTIMEDIA 
1. The aim of this action is to ensure the 
coordination and consolidation of measures 
relating to open and distance education and 
the use of new information and multimedia 
communication technologies in the field of 
education. All these measures serve a dual 
purpose: to promote better understanding 
and the critical, responsible use of tools and 
methods which apply new technologies, and, 
at European level, to promote the access to 
and enhance the availability of improved 
educational resources. 
2. Community financial assistance may be 
granted under this action to general 
transnational projects for the use of new 
technologies and/or the development of open 
and distance education, in particular in the 
context of three types of measure: 
projects and studies dealing with 
understanding , the innovatory processes 
under way and the development of quality 
criteria, in particular with regard to 
. educational multimedia products, 
- projects to develop pilot modules, 
methodologies and multimedia resources, 
- projects to develop information services and - projects to develop information services and 
systems on educational multimedia systems on educational multimedia resources, and 
resources, and communication systems to communication systems to support the exchange 
support the exchange of ideas and of ideas and experience, including the creation of 
experience, including the networking of multi-lingual European school television, the 
resource centres, experts, decision-makers networking of resource centres, experts, decision-
and project coordinators on subjects of makers and project coordinators on subjects of 
mutual interest. mutual interest. 
ACTIQN6; OBSERVATION "~~ " 
"TLND INNOVATION 
Action 6.1. Observation of education 
systems and policies 
1. The present action contributes to the 
transparency of education systems in Europe 
through the exchange of information and 
experience and turns the specificity of 
national systems into a source of quality 
European education. It is based on 
arrangements involving a variety of 
activities to be linked together and supported 
by the Community: 
- creation of Community terms of reference, 
- development of indicators and evaluation of 
the quality of education, in particular 
through the networking of the bodies 
involved and pilot projects, 
-24-
- development, and upkeep of databases of - development and upkeep of databases of 
innovatory experiments, innovatory experiments, e.g. the Ortelius 
- linking up the organisations engaged in information system; 
analysing educational systems and policies, 
- studies and pilot projects on the recognition . 
of diplomas, qualifications and periods of 
learning at all educational levels in other 
Member States. 
2. Community support is also granted to: 
- the European education information network 
Eurydice, comprising the European unit and 
national units, set up by the Commission and 
the Member States respectively, to enable it to 
make a full contribution to the implementation 
of this action, 
- the organisation of and participation in 
ARION multilateral study visits, 
- the Community network of national academic 
recognition information centres NARIC, in 
order to enable the intensive exchange of 
information between the various parts of the 
network and the launch of pilot projects on 
matters of mutual interest designed to " 
facilitate recognition. 
3. Close cooperation with the Statistical Office 
of the European Communities (Eurostat) is 
ensured in the implementation of the action. 
Action 6.2 New innovatory initiatives 
In addition to the cooperation activities 
provided for in the various actions of the present 
programme, the Community also supports 
transnational projects aimed at 
developing innovations in one or more specific 
sectors of education. The subjects given priority 
are reviewed regularly to enable adaptation to 
the new requirements 
which will emerge during the period covered by 
this programme. 
" ACTION 7: JOINT ACTIONS ACTION 7: JOINT ACTIONS 
1. For the joint actions described in Article 6 1. For the joint actions described in Article 6 of 
of this Decision, Community support may this Decision, Community support may be 
be provided for joint actions with other provided for joint - actions with other 
actions under the knowledge policy, in Community programmes and actions which 
particular Community vocational training contribute to a Europe of knowledge, in 
and youth programmes designed to widen particular Community vocational training and 
access to knowledge. youth programmes designed to widen access to 
knowledge. 
2. Coordination between the three 
programmes can be achieved by common 
calls for proposals. The Commission 
intends in particular to develop a joint 
information and observation arrangement 
with regard to good practice in the field of 
knowledge, and joint actions on education . 
-25-
and training multimedia. These projects 
may encompass a range of measures 
covering several sectors, including 
education. They may be supported in a 
complementary manner by various 
Community programmes. 
3. Appropriate steps, a significant one being 
the setting up of European knowledge 
centres, will be taken to ensure regional 
and local contact and interaction between 
the players taking part in this, programme 
and in vocational training and youth-
related progVammes. This will contribute 
to the implementation of a policy of 
lifelong learning in the regions and local 
districts concerned. 3. Appropriate steps, e.g. the setting up of 
European knowledge centres, will be taken to 
ensure regional and local contact and interaction 
between the players taking part in this programme 
and other Community programmes, particularly 
those relating to vocational training and youth-
related programmes. This will contribute to the 
implementation of a policy of lifelong learning in 
the regions and local districts concerned 
ACTIONS: ACCOMPANYING 
MEASURES 
Financial assistance may be granted to 
initiatives aimed at promoting the objectives 
of this programme, provided that such 
initiatives are not eligible for assistance 
under other actions of the programme. 
Community assistance may be given to the 
following: 
awareness-raising activities to promote 
cooperation in the field of education, 
including support for the organisation of the 
'Europe in the school' competition in 
cooperation with the Council of Europe, 
activities aimed at training the persons 
involved in the management of European 
cooperation projects in the field of 
education, 
transnational activities carried out by 
associations and other non-governmental 
bodies active in the "field of education, 
conferences and symposia on innovations in 
the sectors targeted by the programme, 
measures to optimise and disseminate the 
results of projects and activities carried out 
with the support of this programme or its 
previous phase, including by means of 
instruments such as the Ortelius information 
system - measures to optimise and disseminate the results 
of projects and activities carried out with the 
support of this programme or its previous phase 
L_J-
Community assistance may be provided to 
carry out the information activities necessary 
to implement the programme, support the 
activities of the integrated management 
structures set up by the Member. States in 
accordance with Article 5 of the Decision, 
and to ensure an effective monitoring and 
evaluation system of the actions contained in 
this Annex. 
-26-
3. In carrying out the programme the 
Commission can have recourse to technical 
assistance organisations the financing of 
which may be provided for within the 
overall envelope for the programme. It can, 
under the same conditions, have recourse to 
experts. Furthermore, the Commission will 
be able to organise seminars, colloquia or 
other meetings of experts, likely to facilitate 
the implementation of the programme. The 
Commission can also take forward 
information, publication and dissemination ' 
actions. 
__ pROCEDURES FOR THE - -
SUBMISSION AND SELECTION 
OF PROJECTS 
Procedures for the proposal and selection of the 
projects referred to in mis Annex are as follows: 
1. Requests for financial assistance for projects 
submitted under actions 1.1 and 1.2 point 
3(c), which are considered decentralised, as 
well as for preparatory visits under all 
actions except action 2, shall be submitted to 
the integrated management structures 
designated by the Member States in 
accordance with Article 5(3) of the 
Decision. These structures shall select the 
projects and allocate financial assistance to 
the selected projects in accordance with the 
general guidelines established under Article 
7(3) of the Decision 
2. The awarding of the financial assistance 
provided for in action 2.2 point 3 to students 
and academic teachers carrying out mobility 
assignments within the institutional contracts 
mentioned in action 2.1, shall be carried out 
by the integrated management structures 
designated by the Member States in 
accordance with Article 5(3) of the 
Decision, in accordance with the general 
guidelines established under Article 7(3) of 
the Decision. 
3. Requests for financial assistance for projects 
mentioned in other parts of the programme, 
considered to be centralised, shall be 
submitted to the Commission which will 
forward them to the integrated management 
structures. Decisions on financial assistance 
for projects shall be taken by the 
Commission after receiving the opinion of 
the Committee in accordance with Article 
7(6) of the Decision. 
-27-
IV. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 
1. The Community funds intended to provide 
financial support under actions 1.1, 1.2 point 
3(c) and 2.2 point 3, will be shared out 
between the Member States according to the 
formulas contained in point 5. 
2. The Community funds thus distributed shall 
be administered by the national structures 
provided for in Article 5(3) of the Decision. 
These structures shall also ensure 
coordination with the financial resources 
available in the Member States aimed at 
encouraging participation in European 
cooperation activities. 
3. The Commission, acting in cooperation with 
the Member States, shall take the necessary 
measures to - -encourage balanced 
participation at Community, national and 
regional level, and, in the case of higher 
education, in the various fields of study. The 
proportion allocated to these measures must 
not exceed 10 % of the annual budget for 
financing each of the actions in question. 
4. In order to ensure as wide a distribution as 
possible in each Member State, and the 
efficient monitoring and exchange of 
experience between the projects and the 
activities supported, national structures shall 
be encouraged to work in close cooperation 
with the appropriate authorities at regional 
and local level in their respective countries. 
They may, in cooperation with the 
Commission, take initiatives aimed at 
promoting an equitable participation of the 
various establishments at national or 
regional level, in particular through the 
dissemination of information and awareness-
raising activities. 
5. Distribution formula for: 
action 1.1 
action 1.2 point 3(c) 
action 2.2 point 3 
(a) a minimum amount to be determined in 
accordance with budgetary availability will 
be allocated to each Member State; 
(b) the remainder will be allocated to the 
' various Member States on the basis of: 
(i) the country's per capita gross domestic 
product; 
(ii) the distance between the Member State of 
origin and the host Member State; 
(iii) the country's total number of: 
- pupils and teachers in school education for 
action 1.1 and action 1.2 point 3(c), 
-students in higher education for action 2.2 
-28-
point 3 (students). The number of graduates 
could also be taken into account, 
- teachers in higher education for 
action 2.2 point 3 (teachers). 
6. The arrangements for the allocation of funds 
to each Member State for the support of 
preparatory visits shall be decided on by the 
Commission, after receiving the opinion of 
the Committee in accordance with Article 
7(6) of the Decision. ~ 
V. DEFINITIONS 
For the purposes of this programme: 
- lifelong learning means the education and 
training opportunities offered to 
individuals throughout their lives to enable 
them continually to update their 
knowledge and skills, 
- decision-makers , includes staff with 
managerial, assessment, training, guidance 
and inspection duties in the field of 
education, persons responsible for this area 
at local, regional and national level and 
within the ministries, 
- open and distance education means any 
type of education involving the use of 
traditional or advanced information and 
communication technologies and services, 
backed up by individualised counselling 
and tutoring, 
- pupil means persons enrolled in that 
capacity at a school, 
- teacher/educational staff means persons 
who through their duties are involved 
directly in the educational process in the 
Member States, in accordance with the 
organisation of their respective education 
system, 
- company means all companies in the 
public or private sector whatever their size, 
legal status or the economic sector in 
which they operate, and all types of 
economic activities, including the social 
economy, 
- school means all types of institutions 
providing school education, whether 
providing general (nursery, primary or 
secondary), vocational or technical 
education, 
- student means persons registered in 
universities, whatever their field of study, 
in order to follow higher education studies 
leading to a degree or diploma, up to and 
including the level of doctorate, 
- "virtual mobility" means all the 
resources, methods, services and 
simulations which make it possible, [...] 
-29-
through the use of information 
technologies and telecommunications 
networks, to gain access to information 
available in other places, exchange ideas 
and cooperate with geographically distant 
partners; 
both sides of industry at national level 
means employers' and workers' 
organisations in conformity with national 
laws and/or practices; at Community level 
means employers' and workers' 
organisations taking part in the social 
dialogue at Community level, 
European knowledge centre is the term 
used to denote a grouping together at 
regional or local level of actors 
participating in the present programme and 
the Community programmes in the fields 
of vocational training and youth, for the 
purpose of supporting regional or local 
lifelong learning policies in particular by 
means of disseminating information and 
results and promoting active interaction 
across the three programmes, 
Community terms of reference means all 
the analyses, studies, surveys and 
identification of good practice which make 
it possible to locate, at Community level, 
the relative position of the various Member 
States and the progress made on a given 
subject or in a given area, 
university means any type of higher 
education institution which offers 
qualifications or diplomas at that level, 
whatever such establishments may be called 
in the Member States. 
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ISSN 0254-1475 
C0M(98) 719 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 16 04 15 01 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-713-EN-C 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
M