No C 347/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 12. 87 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on a Community action in the field of 
learning technology DELTA (Developing European learning through technological advance) 
— Pilotphase 
(87/C 347/05) 
On 7 September 1987 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, 
under Article 130 letter q of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on 
the abovementioned proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mrs Williams rapporteur-general 
to prepare the work on the matter. 
At its 249th plenary session (meeting of 21 October 1987) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously: 
1. General comments 
1.1. DELTA sets out to promote research and devel­
opment into advanced techniques to support learning, 
to make it easier and more accessible, and to raise 
general levels of education in the Community. It will 
play a significant role as we move towards an internal 
market in 1992 where productivity will become more 
important, with education and training at all levels 
being an integral part of progress. Economies of scale 
produced by cooperation and coordination are vital, 
and moves towards necessary standardization in new 
technology must be speeded up, in both equipment and 
communications. 
1.2. The Committee therefore endorses the need for 
the urgent implementation of the pilot phase of the 
DELTA programme, with its five action lines drawn 
up after a number of important initial studies, and the 
establishment of a data-base of relevant individuals and 
organizations. It also emphasizes the need for attention 
to be brought to bear on the following points: 
1.2.1. In the early stages of drawing up the pro­
gramme, consultation by the Commission was largely 
confined to academic users and the principal electronic 
companies. Regret must be registered that employees 
and trainees, who are equally concerned, were not 
adequately consulted. In the future stages, a full range 
of relevant economic and social interest groups ought 
to be consulted, also giving them opportunities for 
input to the DELTA (advisory) Committee. 
1.2.2. There is a need for an ongoing dialogue 
between those who provide and those who apply and 
use the technology of learning. The Commission's 
insistence on joint projects between education and 
industry in different Member States should have swift 
and practical results. Any spin-off possibilities will need 
to be fully developed. 1.2.3. DELTA ought to be relevant to training of all 
kinds, including vocational training, given that people 
can expect to change jobs four times in a working 
life. Indeed, the rate of change in both information 
technologies and international division of labour means 
that there is an unprecedented and life-long need to 
focus on training and retraining, on the updating of 
skills and making a consequent contribution to the 
reduction of unemployment caused by lack of relevant 
skills. In this connection, there is a particular role 
for Cedefop, and it is hoped that, when projects are 
considered, there will be an emphasis on those dealing 
with vocational training. 
1.2.4. As information technology develops in its vari­
ous phases over the next decade, it is noted that access 
is likely to become easier to all those involved at any 
stage of the learning process, whatever their specific 
needs. The Committee endorses the need for new tech­
nology to be designed with people and not technicians 
in mind, that it must be more user friendly so that 
learners of all ages and abilities do not have to come 
to terms with elaborate procedures. It points also to 
the special needs of people in remote or fragmented 
areas, to the benefits of the DELTA programme, par­
ticularly as direct broadcasting by satellite (DBS) 
becomes more widely available. 
1.2.5. Attention is drawn to the continuing need for 
the monitoring, evaluation, and publicizing projects. 
1.2.6. Likewise, a wide range of projects is essential 
in the pilot phase, coming from a variety of social and 
economic interest groups. Accordingly, it is not enough 
to invite proposals for funding through the Official 
Journal. Other, more popular means must be sought of 
drawing attention to the availability of funding, and of 
indicating that a data bank is in existence to help with 
the collaboration that is a key factor in the programme. 
22. 12. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 347/15 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 paragraph 2 
The use of the word 'incremental' ought to be clarified 
and explained in simple terms. 
Add: (last line) 'all forms of training'. 
2.2. Article 2 
The text should be changed at the end of the first 
sentence from 'learning technology' to 'the technology 
of learning'. 
The text should also refer to social and cultural objec­
tives and implications of the programme, especially as 
regards the action lines proposed and projects to be 
assessed. The Workplan of the Commission should 
likewise draw attention to social and cultural criteria. 
2.3. Article 3 paragraph 2 
The text is not clear and should be amended to read 
'The evaluation of proposals for projects ...'. 
Article 3 paragraph 3 - first sentence 
This paragraph needs re-wording as follows so that the 
sense is more broadly-based: 
' ... by the Commission with industrial enterprises 
of all sizes, publishing houses and other groups 
which produce educational material, institutes of 
higher education as well as those concerned with 
Done at Brussels, 21 October 1987. further education and vocational training, 
research institutes, and other relevant organiz­
ations.' 
Article 3 paragraph 3 - second sentence 
It is pointed out that the last sentence differs from 
the earlier 'Summary' in the preamble to the draft 
Regulation (page 4). Reference should be made to the 
fact that non-profit making participants who do not 
get support from any other source, may ask for funding 
up to 100%. 
2.4. Article 6 
With regard to the role and composition of the DELTA 
(advisory) Committee, it is necessary to ensure adequate 
consultation and representation of social and economic 
interest groups in relation to all issues that concern 
them in learning, education and training. If such consul­
tation is not provided by the members nominated by 
the Member States and the experts they call upon, 
then the Commission should seek practical means of 
enabling a widespread input of views to be made. 
2.5. Article 8 
The Committee ought to be included, along with the 
Council and the European Parliament, when the Com­
mission submits the results of the review under con­
sideration. 
It is also hoped that, when the Commission puts for­
ward its proposals for the multi-annual DELTA pro­
gramme, adequate time for consideration will be given. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alfons MARGOT