13.9.85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234/3 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting an action programme of the Community in education 
and training for technology — Comett (1986-1992) 
COM(85) 431 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 6 August 1985) 
(85/C 234/03) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES: 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 128 
thereof, 
Having regard to Council Decision 63/266/EEC of 2 
April 1963 laying down general principles for 
implementing a common vocational training policy (') 
and in particular the second, sixth, seventh, ninth and 
tenth principles thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia­
ment, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the fundamental objectives of the common 
vocational training policy set down in the second 
principle of Decision 63/266/EEC refer in particular to 
broadening vocational training on the basis of a general 
education to meet requirements arising from technical 
progress and relating closely the different forms of 
vocational training to the various sectors of the 
economy; 
Whereas the Council has already agreed to Community 
action in this direction through its resolution on 
vocational training and new information technologies of 
2 June 1983 (2) as well as through the Council resolution 
and Ministers of Education meeting within the Council 
on the introduction of new information technologies in 
education of 19 September 1983 (J); 
0) OJ No 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338. 
(2) OJ No C 166, 25. 6. 1983, p. 1. 
(») OJ No C 256, 24. 9. 1984, p. 1. Whereas the Council in its conclusions on technological 
change and social adjustment of 7 June 1984 (4) has 
requested the Commission to develop, and where 
necessary to initiate, work with the purpose of 
strengthening cooperation between industry and training 
institutions, in particular in advanced training institutions 
so as to improve the provision of initial training and the 
transmission of new skills to those whose employment is 
affected by technological innovations; 
Whereas the Council has adopted measures with a view 
to strengthening technological cooperation at 
Community level, notably with its Decisions 85/141/ 
EEC (*), 85/195/EEC (6), 85/196/EEC (7) and 85/197/ 
EEC (8) concerning ESPRIT, Biotechnology, Brite and 
the plan to stimulate European scientific and technical 
cooperation and interchange; 
Whereas the European Council, at its meeting in March 
1985, reiterated the importance of strengthening the 
technological base and competitiveness of industry and, 
in that context, emphasized the necessity to make better 
use of human resources, in particular by means of 
increased cooperation between higher education and 
industry ('); 
Whereas the Council (Education) at its meeting on 3 
June 1985 indicated guidelines on the principal objectives 
for joint action in this field; 
Whereas the European Parliament on 24 May 1983 
adopted a resolution on the competitiveness of 
Community Industry (10) in which it called for greater 
(4) OJ No C 184, 11. 7. 1984, p. 1. 
(») OJ No L 55, 23. 2. 1985, p. 1. 
(•) OJ No L 83, 25. 3. 1985, p. 1. 
(0 OJ No L 83, 25. 3. 1985, p. 9. 
(*) OJ No L 83, 25. 3. 1985, p. 13. 
O Bull. EC 3-1985. 
O OJ No C 135, 24. 5. 1983. 
No C 234/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 13.9.85 
efforts to be made in vocational training and training for 
managers of undertakings; whereas that resolution 
complements the resolution on vocational training and 
new information technologies (*) and other resolutions, 
notably those relating to higher education and the 
development of cooperation between higher education 
institutions (*) and on the Community research and 
development programme in the field of information 
technologies (J) and on a plan to stimulate European 
cooperation and scientific and technical interchange (4); 
Whereas the exploitation of technological developments 
throughout industry will depend on the versatility, skills 
and enterprise of the workforce; whereas, in this context, 
there is an urgent need to develop, at Community level, 
a human resources strategy as a vital complement to the 
overall Community strategy for industrial, R&D and 
innovation policies; 
Whereas cooperation between university and industry to 
improve training policies should be developed both 
within Member States, particularly at local and regional 
level and across the Community; 
Whereas the Advisory Committee for Vocational 
Training has given an opinion on this matter, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
A programme to stimulate, within the European 
Community, cooperation between universities and 
industry in advanced training, known hereafter as 
Comett (Community Programme in Education and 
Training for Technology), and as set out in the Annex, is 
hereby adopted for a seven-year period commencing on 
1 January 1986. The programme shall consist of two 
phases. The first phase will last until 31 December 1989, 
and include a mid-term review as provided for in Article 
6. The second phase will start from 1 January 1990 and 
end on 31 December 1992. 
Article 2 
In the context of this programme, 'university' is used as 
the general term covering all types of post-secondary 
education and training institutions which offer degree-
level qualifications of diplomas. 'Industry' is used to 
C) OJ No C 161, 20. 6. 1983. 
O OJ No C 104, 16! 4. 1984. 
(») OJ No C 13, 17. 1. 1983. 
(4) OJNoC315, 26. 11. 1984. embrace all types of economic activity in the private or 
public sector, particularly those which involve the use of 
new equipment and/or new production processes, 
whether in industry, agriculture or the services sector. It 
covers small and medium-sized firms and agencies, as 
well as large companies. 
Article 3 
The objectives of the Comett programme shall be as 
follows: 
(i) to promote a European dimension in cooperation 
between universities and industry in advanced level 
training relating to innovation and the development 
and application of new technologies; 
ii) to promote the exchange of experience, the pooling 
of resources and the realization of economies of 
scale through the joint development of advanced 
training programmes; 
(iii) to strengthen and diversify provision for advanced 
training at local and regional level and contribute to 
the balanced economic development of the 
Community; 
(iv) to identify progressively gaps and new priorities in 
existing training provision which could be filled by 
supplementary action both within Member States 
and at Community level. 
Article 4 
The estimate of the amounts needed to implement the 
first phase of Comett in the period 1986-1989 inclusive is 
80 million ECU. This estimated funding will include 
finance for the different incentive and complementary 
measures set out in the Annex. The financial estimates 
for the period 1990-1992 shall be assessed in the mid­
term review provided for in Article 6. 
Article 5 
The Commission shall implement Comett on the basis of 
the measures set out in the Annex to this Decision. The 
Commission shall be assisted by a high-level panel of 
experts — drawn from universities and from industry — 
as well as by consultants. The panel shall be established 
in 1986 with the task of advising the Commission on the 
implementation of the measures set out in the Annex. An 
annual report regarding the implementation of Comett 
shall be presented by the Commission to the Advisory 
13.9.85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 234/5 
Committee for Vocational Training set up under Article 6 
Decision No 63/266/EEC (') and also made widely 
available to other Community groups or committees 
active in the field of industrial innovation and research An interim reviewing the progress achieved during 
policies. The Commission shall see to it that there is ^ fim hase (1986.1989)5 together with guidelines for 
consistency and complementarity between this action ^ implementation of the second phase of the 
programme and programmed Community Research and pr0gramme (1990-1992), shall be submitted by the 
Development activities. Commission to the Council and Parliament by 31 
December 1988. 
0) OJ No 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63. 
ANNEX 
to the draft Decision on the Community Programme in Education and Training for Technology (Comett) 
1. Comett is designed as a range of incentive and complementary measures to stimulate cooperation in the 
advanced training field between universities and industry. These measures are directed at students and 
staff in universities; managers and engineers; scientific, technical and commercial staff in industry, high-
level technicians, the social partners and trainers. 
2. In the areas in which Community support will be granted, projects to receive Community assistance 
shall be chosen on the basis of their quality, the extent to which they contribute to building up a strong 
sense of European identity, their innovative aspects, and their value in terms of breaking down barriers 
between higher education and industry in relation to advanced training, and their potential scale of 
impact. 
3. During the first phase of Comett (1986-1989), the following measures shall be implemented: 
A. Support for the creation and running of a European network of University—Industry Training Part­
nerships (UITPs) which: 
(i) involve an agreement designed to meet specific needs for highly qualified human resources, 
drawing university and industry together, on a structured and coordinated basis, together with 
relevant public bodies and agencies; 
(ii) provide some or all of the cooperative measures to be carried out: work placements for students 
and academic staff in industry; secondment of industrial staff to universities; joint development 
and production of teaching materials; collaboration on the delivery of specially designed 
retraining and updating programmes for training instructors, managers and industrial staff, 
especially mid-career staff, and those in small and medium-sized firms; 
(iii) include a commitment to liaise with counterpart initiatives in other Member States, to receive 
students, academic and industrial personnel from elsewhere within the Community, to develop 
cross-national cooperative projects, and to take an active role in a Community-wide network 
providing technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation. 
B. Specific incentives to encourage the transnational exchange of students and industrial and academic 
personnel through: 
(i) a grant scheme for student placement in firms in another Member State; 
(ii) fellowships for academic staff on detachment to specialized areas of industry; 
(iii) fellowships for industrial staff on detachment to universities. 
C. Support for the design, development and testing at European level of joint training projects by high 
technology firms in liaison with relevant university departments in those areas where key skill 
shortages are identified. 
Support for advanced training courses for the rapid dissemination of results of research and 
development in high technology among university staff and students and industry. 
D. Support for multilateral initiatives on distance learning systems using new technologies with 
particular emphasis on the training of trainers and managers. 
No C 234/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 13.9.85 
E. Complementary measures carried out by the Commission to encourage university—industry 
cooperation including: 
(i) setting up of a data base; dissemination of information and exchange of experience; 
(ii) networking arrangements for University—Industry Training Partnerships; 
(iii) monitoring and analysis at Community level of the supply and demand of skilled manpower, 
and the comparative analysis of trends and issues such as the fiscal environment, obstacles to 
cooperation, the development of credit transfers; 
(iv) sponsorship of Round Tables for university and industry managers to examine ways of 
strengthening cooperation and eliminating obstacles to it. 
4. The second phase of Comett (1990-1992) shall serve to consolidate and develop measures launched 
during the first phase. It will in particular: 
A. Strengthen the European dimension of the UITPs by increasing substantially the number of 
cooperative projects carried out between UITPs in different Member States; include in the network 
new initiatives in other parts of the Community; encourage the transfer of experience gained into the 
mainstream of the different systems in each Member State. 
B. Provide for the adaptation and expansion of Comett Community exchange schemes in the light of 
experience during the first phase and the links developed with research activities at Community level, 
broadening out as appropriate to encourage the mobility of other categories of students, trainers 
academic or industrial staff within the framework of university — industry cooperation. 
C. Promote further joint training projects between European industry using prototypes and incentives 
modified, as appropriate, in the light of experience during the first phase. 
D. Extend the use of open learning systems to improve the quality and delivery of training programmes, 
and strengthen cooperation involving the training of trainers and managers. 
E. Extend arrangements for the extensive exchange of experience in this field. 
Amended proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76 on the 
common organization of the market in rice 
COM(85) 344 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 13 August 1985) 
(85/C 234/04) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 (2) 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Whereas Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 
1418/76 C), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 
1025/84 (2), makes provision for the granting of production refunds for broken rice used for the manu­
facture of starch and for brewing, with the aim of 
ensuring that industry has access to such basic products 
at lower prices than would result from applying 
Community levies and common prices; 
Whereas the present arrangements regarding production 
refunds have proved inappropriate to developments in 
the starch sector; whereas it appears advisable to restrict 
production refunds for rice starch to starch intended for 
the manufacture of products covered by import 
arrangements which do not involve agricultural products 
subject to a common organization of the market; 
whereas Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 1418/76 
should be amended accordingly; 
0) OJ No L 166, 25. 6. 1976, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 107, 19. 4. 1984, p. 13. Whereas, to minimize the problems created for those 
sectors of starch production which will not be eligible for