ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(77)404
Vol.1977/0133

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(77)404final.
BrasBE1B,29July1977
ProposalforaDirective
/
ontheprotectionofparticipants
inhomestudycourses
(submittedtotheCouncil "bytheCommission)
C0M(77)404final

Explanatory Memorandum
I. Introduction and General Comments cntheDirective
Home study courses areatype ofinstruction which ,inaparticular way ,
meets theneeds ofpersons wishing toundertake acourse ofinstruction
orvocational training .
This type ofeducation isnotconfined toaparticular place ;furthermore ,
the student canorganize hisstudies tosuit hiscircumstances andhis
individual capabilities ,andusethetime athisdisposal asprofitably
aspossible#
The student oradult whowishes tofollow acorrespondence course
offered byaprivate organizer isgenerally inneed ofspecial protection ,
since thedistance between student andteacher makes itextremely diffioult
tocheck theteaching material andtheprofessional andteaching
qualifications oftheteaching staff .
Because teaching material isusually sent tothestudents ininstalments ,
thestudent isunable tomake anoverall appraisal ofthecourse ;hence
hecannot assess hischances ofsuccessfully completing thecourse
before concluding thecontract .Inmany cases thestudent ispersuaded
byadvertising ,byoral statements ,bythesupply ofseme teaching
material orbyother means toconclude acontract foracorrespondence
course which does notmatch hislevel ofknowledge orhiscapabilities .
Asaresult thestudent wastes histime ,money andenergies which may
discourage himfrom taking acourse orfrom undertaking aform of
training . • .
Thelarge number ofpeople whohave expressed reservations about
correspondence courses would beless critical ofthem iforganizers of
home study courses were approved byapublic authority ,andthecontracts
drafted insuch away astoensure adequate protection forstudents .
These twoconditions areparticularly important when theorganizer ofa
correspondence course andtheparticipant live indifferent Member States .

ThePreliminary programmeoftheEuropeanEconomicCommunityfora
consumerprotectionandinformationpolicyadopted "bytheCouncilof
Ministerson14April1975providesformeasurestoinformandeducate
\
consumersandtoproteottheirlegalandeconomicinterests.Inits
Resolutionof17February1975ParliamentrequestedthataDirective "be
drawnuponhonestudycoursesonthe"basisofthefollowingprinciples:
1*6fficialinspectionofallcourseswhichmustreceiveaState
certificate ofquality;
2.appropriatetrainingandqualifications forteaohingstaff;
3.prohibitionoftheuseofsalesrepresentatives ;
4*protectionofstudents(especiallyasregardscontractualconditions).
II.Legislation intheMemberStatesandthelegalbasisoftheDirective
HomestudycoursesaresubjeottospeciallawsinfiveMemberStates.
Theaimoftheselawsistoensurethathomestudycoursesareso
organizedastoensurethatthecoursesofferedareofahighquality
andtodeterminethefeaturesofthecontractualrelationship between
organizerandparticipant toensureadequateprotectionforthelatter.
Itishopedinthiswaytopreventabusesandtoencouragepeopleto
takepartinhomestudycourseswithouthavingtofearthatthe
organizersmightnotbegenuineorqualifiedormightevenbedishonest.
Allcorrespondence coursesaremonitoredinFrance(declarations have
tobemadebyprivateorganizations -wishingtoprovidehomestudy
coursesandtheteachingcontentofcoursesarechecked);inthe
FederalRepublicofGermany(coursesmustboapproved).
Honestudycoursesprovidedbyprivateorganizersareofsomeeconomic
significance intheMemberStates.Differingnationallawsandin
particularthevariousmethodsusedtocheckorganizersofhomestudy

coursesmayimpedefreecompetitionbetweenthovariousorganizersof
homestudycourses.
ThedegreeofconsumerprotectionalsodiffersfromoneMemberState
toanother.Thesedifferencesare"becomingevenmoremarkedasan
increasingnumberofparticipants incorrespondence coursescomefrom
MemberStatesdifferent ^frcanthoseinwhichtheorganizersarebased.
Thedifferentlawshencehaveadirecteffectonthefunctioning ofthe
commonmarketandshouldbeharmonizedpursuanttoArticle100ofthe
Treaty.
SincethisDirectivewouldinvolvetheamendmentoflegislationin
severalMemberStates,ParliamentandtheEconomicandSocialCommittee
mustbeconsulted(secondparagraphofArticle100oftheTreaty).
III.CommentsontheArticles
Article1definesthescopeoftheDirective.Thefirstparagraph
statesthatonlyhomestudycoursesforwhichalegalcontracthas
beenconcludedarecoveredbytheDirective.Thereisnoreasonto
excludefromthescopeoftheDirectiveinstructionprovidedbythe
Stateorregionalorlocalauthoritiesifsuchinstructionisgivenon
thebasisofacontractconcludedbetweentheorganizerandstudent.
However,onlyhomestudycoursesagainstpaymentareenvisagedhere.
Astudentfollowingacorrespondence courseforwhichhehasnotpaid
mayofcoursewastehistimeandenergiesifthequalityofthecourse
doesnotmatchhisrequirements.Itwasnot,however,considered
necessarytoinclude"free"coursesinthescopeofthisDirective.
TheMemberStatesmay,pursuanttoArticle16,makethesecourses
subjecttotheprovisionsoftheDirectiveiftheysowish.
Thedefinitionsgiveninthesecondparagraphhavebeenmadeextremely
broadinanattempttocoveralltypesofhomestudycourseasfar
aspossible. :

Article2introducestheprincipleofasystemofaccreditation fororga­
nizersofcorrespondence courses*Asystemofpriorapprovalwouldappear
inprinciplenecessaryifaneffectivecheckistobemade*ontheorganizers
However,inordertotakeintoaccountthelegalsituationinsomeMember
States,whichforbidsanyrestrictionoffreedomineducation,MemberStates
shallretainthepossibility ofintroducing onlyanoptionalsystemof
accreditation *Toavoidanorganizer,whohasnotbeenaccredited,offer­
inghomestudycoursesinacountrywithacompulsorysystemofaccredi­
tation,Article3(2)allowsIfemberStatestoforbidor*torestrictwithin
theirterritoiyanyactivityofanon-accredited organizer *
Theconditionsforaccreditation wi?lbedecidedbytheMemberStates#
Theinformation whichmustbeprovidedisintendedtoenabletheresponsible
bodiestomakeacheckontheorganizerandhisstaffandtoassessthe
qualityofthecourses#
Articles3and4containprovisionsconcerningthegrantingandwithdrawal
ofaccreditation# Sinceaccreditation mustberenewedafterthreeyears,
theresponsible bodyisautomatically obligedtocheckwhetherthecondi­
tionsofaccreditation arestillbeingfulfilled.
Articles5and6sireconcernedwithprotectingstudentsagainstvarious
commercialpracticeswhich,inthepast,haveoftenledtoabuse.
Visitstothehomoofstudentshavenotbeentotallyforbiddenbecauseit
isextremelydifficulttomakeadistinction betweenavisitbyaneduca­
tionaladviserandbyasalesman®However,theArticledoesimposeatotal
banonanyunsolicitedvisits,statingthatawrittenrequestmustbemade
bythestudentforsuchavisit#
Thepenaltiesfornon-compliance withtheprovisionsofthisArticleare
setforthinArticle8(4)# ;
Article6isintendedtoputastoptocertainpracticesofpromising
financialrewardsforadvertising purposes#
Article7containsprovisions on.advertising# Sincecontactsbetween
studentandorganizeraremainlyby'correspondence ,itisvitalthat
thestudentshouldreceivedetailedinformation abouttheorganizer
andabouttheoourseswhichareproposedtohim#Thisiswhyitis
laiddownthatadvertisingmaterialmustcontainthespecificinformation
listed*
Incidentally ,theCommissionintendstopresentshortlytotheCouncil
aproposalforaDirectiveonmisleadingadvertising#

Article 8lays down theprinciple that thecontract "between the
organizer andstudent must bedrawn upinwriting .This isjustified
inview ofthefact that thecontract isoften the only written
document committing theorganizer tothecontract andreturned tothe
student ;hecanfind details ofhisrights andobligations vis-a-vis
theorganizer inthis document (advertising does nothave tobesent
tothestudent ).Thewritten contract must therefore fixthemain
features oftherelationship between student andorganizer .
Article 8(4)describes theconsequences ofconcluding acontract
without observing theprovisions ofArticle 5»without drawing itupin
writing orsigning it.Theconsequences ofnon-compliance with these
provisions must besevere toprevent anyattempt togetround them .
Themost effective way ofensuring that these obligations arefulfilled
will betorender thecontract invalid ifthey arenotmet .
Theprovision prohibiting prior payment ofthetotal contractual price
contained inArticle 9isintended toprevent thestudent being faced
with afait accompli when hewishes ,forinstance ,toexercise his
right toterminate thecontract tsince itisoften extremely difficult
toobtain reimbursement .
Article 10gives thestudent theright toterminate thecontract within
seven days from thedate ofreceipt ofthefirst teaching materials .
Itisonly when thestudent hasreceived some useful information that
hecanobjectively decide whether thecorrespondence course matches his
level ofknowledge orhiscapabilities .TheMember States may ,pursuant
toArticle 16,extend this period ifthey wish *
Article 11contains rules governing thetermination ofthecontract .It
seems essential togrant tha student the right' to ,terminate the 'contract
inspecial circumstances inaddition tosimilar rights which thestudent
may enjoy under national legislation .Proper reasons must beadduced as
proof ofsuch circumstances toprevent anyabuse .
However ,nonotice need beserved inorder toterminate theoontract .

Article12isconcerned ,withremovingcertaincontractualclauses
whichmightheparticularlyunfairtothestudent,especiallythose
requiringhimtopayanyamounttotheorganizerasdamages.
Article13isintendedtosafeguardtherightsofthestudentwherea
thirdpartyrequireshimtopayoutstandingdebteunderthecontracthe
ooncludedwiththeorganizer#
Artjole14isintendedtolimitthefreedomofcontractofthoparties
inrespectoftheprovisionsofthisDirective.Studentswillonly
"beaffordedeffectiveprotectioniftheprovisionsoftheDirective
areofamandatorynature.
TheaimofArticle15istoexcludecontrastsforhomestudycourses
fromthescopeoftheprovisionsoftheDirectiveoncontracts
negotiated awayfrom"businesspremises.
ThetwomainobjectivesofthislatterDirective(contracttobein
writingandgrantingofaperiodofreflectiontotheconsumer)are
containedinArticles8and10ofthisDirective.
Legislation onconsumercredit,however,oftencontainsmoredetailed
articlestoprotectthoconsumer.Itisthereforeessentialthat
theseprovisionsarenotaffeotedbythoseadoptedpursuanttothis
Directive.
Article16statesthattheMemberStatesmayadoptormaintainother
provisionswhichaffordgreaterprotectiontostudents.

COMMISSION
OPTHE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Directive
ontheprotectionofparticipants
inhomestudycourses
\

THECOUNCIL OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to -theTreaty establishing theEuropean Eoonomio Community ,
andinparticular Article 100thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ,
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEuropean Parliament ,
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ,
Whereas home study courses areawidely used method ofinstruction inthe
Member States andarealready the subject ofnational legislation ;
Whereas this method ofinstruction isrequired toplay animportant role
ininstruction andvocational training ;whereas itisaparticularly
suitable form ofcontact between instructors and students located in
different Member States 5
Whereas anydisparity between thelegislation inthedifferent Member
States mayhave adirect effect onthefunctioning ofthecommon market ;
whereas itistherefore necessary toharmonize legislation inthis field ;
.Whereas thePreliminary programme oftheEuropean Economio Community for
1aconsumer protection andinformation policy provides formeasures to
promote theeducation andinformation ofconsumers andtoprotect their
legal and economic interests ;
Whereas theprime aimofthis Directive istoafford thestudent adequate
protection inhisdealings with theperson offering home study courses ;
Whereas effective protection' ofstudents naybe •facilitated byasystem of
coapulBory accreditation ofpersons wishing "tooffer hone study courses ;
whereas Member States must however retain thepossibility ofproviding for
asystem ofoptional accreditation ;
10JNoC92,25.4.1975 .

Whereasitisessential ^fchatcertaincommercialpracticessuchas
unsolicited canvassing ,thepromotionofcoursesandadvertising should
besubjecttospecificrules;
Whereasstudentsareaffordedgreaterprotectionifcontractsinrespect
ofparticipation inahomestudycoursearedrawnupinwritingandcontain
certainessentialprovisions ;
Whereasthestudentshouldhavetherighttowithdrawfromhiscommitmentto
followacoursewithinsevendaysfromthe'dateofreceiptofthefifretteaohing
materials ;whereasthestudentshouldbegivenotheropportunities to
terminateacontractintowhichhehasentered;
Whereasitappearsnecessarytointroduceotherprovisionssuchasthose
prohibitingcertainclausesincontractsorderogationfromtheprovisions
adoptedunderthisDirective;'
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE :'

-3-
Article 1
1.ThisDirectiveshallapplytohomestudycoursesagainstpaymentfor
whichacontracthas"beenconcluded.
2.ForthepurposesofthisDirective:
(a)"homestudycourses"meansaformofinstructionortrainingwherethe
organizerandstudentareusuallylocatedinseparateplacesandwhere
thecontracts "betweenstudentsandorganizersareentirelyorprimarily
maintainedthrougharegularexchangeofprinted,written,audio,visual
oraudiovisual materialorothermeansofcommunication ;
(b)"course"meanshomestudycoursepursued "bycorrespondence andconsisting
-ofaseriesoflessonspresentedcollectively ,includinglessons
consistingofseveralpartswhicharecoordinated ,arrangedorpackaged
^toformacurriculumorprogrammeofinstructionortrainingandwhich
may"beissuedseparately ;
(c)"organizer"meansanestablishment ornaturalorlegalpersonoffering
instruction ortrainingintheformofhomestudycourses;
(d)"student"meansanypersonwhofollowsorwishestofollowacourse.
Article2
1.EachMemberStateshallensurethatanorganizerwho.wishestoofferhome
j..studycourses:a)riuistbeaccreditedforthispurposeor
b)hastheoptionofbeingaccreditedforthispurpose^
£uEacihMemberState •.shalldesignateabodytograntsuch
accreditation andshalllaydowntheconditionsforaccreditation .
Applications fc>raccreditation shallincludethefollowinginformation .-:
(a)thename,address,financialstandingandlegalpositionofthe
'applicant: ;

(b)theentryrequirements ,curriculum,oontentandpurposeofthe
courses;
(c)fulldetailsoftheprofessional andteachingqualifications ofthe
directorofstudies,thecoursedirectors,theotherteachingstaff,
thecoursewritersandtheteachingmethodsusedorto"beused.
Article3
1*EachMemberStateshalltakestepstoensurethat:
(a)theresponsiblebodyreferredtoinArticle2(2$grantsaccreditation
toanyapplicantwhofulfilstheconditionslaiddown;
(b)accreditationisgrantedforaperiodofthreeyearsandshallbe
renewable ;
(o)eachaccreditedorganizershallreceivefromtheresponsiblebody
referredtoArticle2(2),adistinctivemarkorasymbolcertifying
theaccreditation ofwhichhemaymakementioninhiscorrespondence ,
publications andadvertising#
2#MemberStatesmayforbidorrestrict,withintheirterritory,any
activityofanorganizerwhohasnotreceivedtheaccreditation under
Article2*
Article4
1#EachMemberStateshallempowertheresponsible bodyreferredtoin
Article2(2)towithdrawtheaccreditation whentheconditionslaid
downforaccreditation areeitherno-t;fulfilledoraresonolonger#
2.Theorganizershallhorequiredtoinformtheresponsible bodyofany
•changeinthedetailslistedinArticle2(2)duringtheperiodofvali­
dityoftheaccreditation whichmightinfluencethedecisioninrespect
ofaccreditation#
Article5
TheMemberStatesshalladoptprovisionsforbiddinganyvisitthepurpose
ofwhichistoadvertise,giveadviceorevenconcludeacontractin,respect
ofparticipation inacourse,unlessthepersonvisitedhaspreviouslybeen
sentpublicityonhomestudycoursesofferedbytheorganizer,hasreceived
teachingmaterialrelatingtoacourseoranactualcourse,orhasrequest­
edsuchavisitinwriting#

-5-
Article6
1.TheMembei*Statesshallforbidorganizerstoofferorpromise
financialrewardsasaninducementtorecruitment toacourse.
2.Afreedemonstration lessonshallnotbeconsideredasafinancial
rewardwithinthemeaningoftheprecedingparagraph.
3.Theorganizermayawardascholarship orspecialprizeinrecognition
ofameritorious performance byastudentinanorganizedexamination.
Article7
TheMemberStatesshalltaketherequisitemeasurestoensurethat
1.theadvertisements ,noticesandpublicitymaterialrelatingtothe
activitiesoftheorganizerorthecoursesdonotcontainanymisleading
information orstatements ;
2.thepublicitymaterialcontainsfulldetailsof:
(a)theenrolmentsystem,theinitialstandardrequired,thenatureand
averagelengthofthecoursesandtheprincipalopeningstowhichthey
lead;
(b)anyaccreditation awardedbythebodyreferredtoinArticle2(2);
(c)thecourse(s)proposed .withinformationonthemostrecentupdating;
(d)thenatureofthediplomasorcertificatesofinstructionortraining
awardedandtherecognitiontheymayhavereceived;
(e)thesizeandlocationoftheestablishment andthenumberandteaching
*qualifications ofitsstaff. '"• '

Article8
1.TheMemberStatesshalltakestepstoensurethatcontractsinrespect
ofparticipation inacourseconcludedbetweentheorganizerandstudent
aredrawnupinwriting.
I
2.Thecontractshallcontainsuchtermsasareessentia],tothe
agreement,includingthefollowingspecificinformation :
(a)thenamesandaddressesofthecontractingparties;
r
(b)thename,purposeanddescriptionofthecourse;
(c)thenormallengthofthecourse;
(d)thetotalcostofthecourse,thecostsofbooks,equipmentormaterial
.beingshownseparately.
Wherethecontractualpriceispaidininstalments ,byamethodof
paymentchosenbytheorganizerorarrangedbyhim,thetotalcostof
thecoursemustbeshown,togetherwithallinterestandincidental
costs;
(e)astatementspecifyingwhethertheteachingmaterialsenttothe
studentbecomeshispropertyorismerelyloanedtohim;■V
(f)thesubstanceoftheprovisionsofArticles10and11ofthis
Directive;
(g)theinformationlistedinparagraphs(b),(c)and(d)ofArticle7(2).
3.Eachcontractingpartyshalldateandsignthecontractandshall,
receiveacopysignedanddatedbytheotherparty.
4»TheMemberStatesshalltakestepstoensurethatacontractinrespect
ofparticipation inacoursewhichhas.beenconcludedwithoutobserving
theprovisionsofArticle5and8{l)orwhichhasnotbeensignedbythe
contractingpartiesshallbeinvalid. ,
■Article9
Theorganizermaynotrequirethestudenttopayinadvanceasumgreater
thanthefeescorresponding tothreemonthsofthecourse,whichsumshall,
however,notexceed2jfoofthetotalcostofthecourse.
A

Article10
1.TheMemberStatesshallintroducerulesprovidingthatthestudenti3
-entitledtoterminatethecontractwithinsevendaysfromthedateof
receiptofthefirstteachingmaterialsafterthecontracthasbeensigned
andreturned.
2.Incaseofdisputeaboutthereceiptanddateofthefirstmaterials
sentthe"burdenofproofshallliewiththeorganizer.
3.Ifthestudentterminatesthecontractbeforetheexpiryofthedate
laiddowninthefirstparagraph,heshallbeobligedtoreturnthe
materialsreceived.Theorganizermustreimburseallpaymentsmade.
Article11
1.TheMemberStatesshalltakestepstoensurethatthestudentmay
terminatethecontract-providedthathesuppliesproof-ifspecial
circumstances ,suchasseriousillnessorunemployment ,preventhimfrom
participating inthecourse.Insuchacr.senopaymentshallberequired
beyondthosewhichhadalreadyfallendue.
2.Aftertheexpirationofsixmonthsthestudentmay.terminatethe1
contractatanytime,withoutgivinganyreason,providedthatnoticeis
given.TheperiodofnoticeshallbelaiddownbytheMemberStatesand
shallnotexceedthreemonths.Themutualrightsandobligationsderiving
fromthecontractshallceaseontheexpiryoftheperiod-ofnotice.The
sumspaidbythestudentforanyperiodfollowingthetermination ofthe
contractshallbereimbursed.
•*
3.Thestudentshallnotbe-recjuiredtoprovidesecurityortocoverhis
obligations bytalcingoutabankloan,insurancepolicyoranysimilar
contract.
Article12
TheMemberStatesshallforbidthefollowingclausesinacontractin...
respectofparticipation inacourses
(a)penaltyclauses:

(b)thepaymentoflump-sumdamages;
(o)exclusionorlimitationofclaimsfordamages.
Article13
TheMemberStatesshalltakestepstoensurethatwheretheorganizer
assignsallorsomeofhisrightstoathirdperson,thestudent .shall
havethesamerightsandremediesagainstthisthirdpartyashehad
againsttheorganizer'.
Article14 ■.
« s . .
» ,
TheMemberStatesshallforbidanyderogationbymutualagreementbetween
studentandorganizerfromtheprovisionsadoptedinimplementation of
thisDirective.
\
,Article15
1.TheprovisionsoftheCouncilDirectiveoftoprotectthe
consumerinrespectofcontractswhichhavebeennegotiated awayfrom
businesspremisesshallnotapplytocontractsconcludedbetweenthe
organizerandstudent.
2.TheprovisionsofthisDirectiveshallnotprecludetheapplication
ofprovisionsconcerninghirepurchaseorconsumercredit.
Article16
The,MemberStatesmayadoptmorefavourableprovisionsthanthose .--
providedinthinDirectivetoensurebetterprotectionofstudents,inr
particularbyemendingtheperiodlaiddowninArticle10.
Article17
1.TheMemberStatesshalltakethemeasuresnecessarytocomplywiththis
Directivewithinaperiodofeighteenmonthsfromthedateofits
notification andshallforthwithinform -theCommissionthereof.
2.TheMemberStatesshallsendtotheCommissionthetextofthemain
provisionsofnationallawwhichtheyadoptinthefieldcoveredbythis
Directive.

Article 18
This Directive isaddressed tothe Member States .