COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(94) 502 final 
Brussels, 11.11.1994 
94/0001 (COD) 
OPINION OF THE COMMISSJON 
pursuant to Article 189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the 
proposal for a 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 
establishing the Community action programme 
"SOCRATES" 
AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article 189 a (2) of the EC Treaty 
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
According to Article 189 B paragraph 2, sub-paragraph d) of the EC Treaty, the 
Commission expresses its opinion on the amendments from the second reading of the 
European Parliament. 
In this document the Commission explains its opinion on the 22 amendments 
proposed by the European Parliament, and attaches, in accordance with Article 189 
A, paragraph 2 of the EC Treaty, a modified proposal incorporating the 18 
amendments of the European Parliament which have been accepted by the 
Commission. 
1 Historic background 
a) On 3 March 1994, the Commission forwarded to the Council and to the 
European Parliament its proposal for a decision on the SOCRATES programme 
(COM(93) 708 final - 94/0001 (COD)) 
b) On 27 April 1994, the Economic and Social Committee gave a favourable 
opinion 
c) On 18 May 1994, the Committee of the Regions gave a favourable opinion 
d) On 22 April 1994, the European Parliament adopted, at its first reading, a 
favourable resolution including 104 amendments to the Commission's proposal 
e) On 16 May 1994, the Commission adopted, on the basis of Article 189 A, 
paragraph 2 of the EC Treaty, a modified proposal which integrated either 
wholly or in part 48 of these amendments (COM(94) 180 final - 94/0001 (COD)) 
f) On 18 July 1994, the Council adopted a common position 
g) On 15 July 1994, the Commission took note of this, and informed the European 
Parliament of the Commission's position on the common position (SEC(94) 
1217 final - 94/0001 (COD)) 
h) On 26 October 1994, the European Parliament adopted on its second reading 
a favourable resolution which included 22 amendments to the common position. 
2 Purpose of the Decision 
The proposal for a Decision is intended to encourage cooperation at Community level 
for all levels of education, as a significant contribution from the Community towards 
improving the quality of education. The "SOCRATES" programme arises from 
experience gained from the implementation of such Community programmes as 
ERASMUS and LINGUA, as well as from pilot projects developed by the Commission 
for other educational levels. 
The programme shall run from 1995-1999, and it is divided into 3 chapters: 
higher education (interuniversity cooperation and student mobility) 
school education (school partnerships, schooling for children of migrant 
workers, and for gipsies, and updating of teachers' skills) 
horizontal measures (promotion of language learning, of open and distance 
education, and of information and exchange of experience). 
OPINION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENTS OF THE 
EP 
After considering the proposed amendments of the European Parliament's second 
reading, the Commission can support those: 
1) which are in line with its own original proposal, or 
2) which are in line with its position on the amendments of the European 
Parliament presented from its first reading, or 
3) which bring useful clarifications to the text. 
A. Amendments accepted by the Commission 
1. The Commission accepts all amendments which had been already incorporated 
in its modified proposal of May 1994. It therefore now inserts them in the new 
modified proposal so that they can be reconsidered by the Council. 
More precisely, these amendments fall into three categories: 
a) Target groups 
Amendments 2, 4 and 21, which refer to the accessibility of the programme's 
activities and structures, particularly for disadvantaged groups 
b) Mobility 
Amendments 3 and 16, which aim to assist mobility through reinforcing the 
social infrastructures, and Amendment 9, which aims to include in the Decision 
text the objective to have 10% mobility of students in higher education 
c) Cultural aspects 
Amendments 5, 8,18 and 19, which aim to emphasise the need to promote an 
intercultural dimension to teaching, especially through language learning. 
2. New amendments accepted bv the Commission 
a) Programme budget 
Amendment 13, which removes mention of the sum deemed necessary for 
running the programme 
b) Languages used in teaching 
Amendment 1, which extends the linguistic activities of the programme, 
mentioning particularly those in higher education, to languages having a 
national status which are used in a substantial manner as teaching languages 
c) Two amendments referring to the overall content have been accepted 
by the Commission but, for legal reasons, the wording has been altered: 
Amendment 7, referring to the entry into force of the programme 
Amendment 14, which intends to open the programme to the countries 
of Central and Eastern Europe, Malta and Cyprus 
d) Amendments bringing clarification 
Amendments 11, 12, 15 and 17, which bring useful clarification to the text. 
B. Amendments rejected bv the Commission 
Amendments 6, 10, 20 and 22 are rejected by the Commission: 
Amendment 10 refers to the Programme Committee. It introduces the 
obligation for the Commission to submit the planned measures for programme 
execution to Parliament and to take into account priorities adopted by the 
Parliamentary Committee, in order, where necessary, to modify its decisions. 
The Commission supports the form of Advisory Committee that it set out in its 
original proposal and does not accept any other form. An Advisory Committee 
is appropriate for the implementation of a programme such as "SOCRATES", 
given the non-normative nature of the measures to be taken in executing the 
Decision. 
Moreover, the procedure of submitting to Parliament the planned measures for 
execution is inflexible and not practical for efficient implementation of the 
programme. 
Amendment 6, which envisages cooperation with OECD and UNESCO, is not 
necessary, given that the "competent international organisations" mentioned in 
Whereas 23 of the common position would include OECD and UNESCO. 
Amendment 20, referring to national languages for teaching, repeats the text 
already accepted under Amendment 1, and is not necessary. 
Amendment 22, which envisages information centres at all levels, is rejected. 
The Commission is of the view that the national authorities designated by the 
Member States in the framework of the programme would be able to undertake 
this task at the national level. 
Conclusion 
In conclusion, the Commission considers that the amendments incorporated in the 
modified proposal reinforce the text with particular regard to the groups targetted by 
the programme, and that they are fully compatible with the objectives of the proposal 
for a Decision. 
The Commission wishes to confirm its willingness to contribute to the preparation of 
a satisfactory global agreement between the three institutions involved in the decision­
making process. 
Modified Proposal for a 
DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARUAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 
establishing the CommunMy Action Programme 
SOCRATES 
(presented by the Commission in accordance with 
Article 189 A, paragraph 2 of the EC Treaty) 
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
Article 189 B, paragraph 2, sub-paragraph d) of the EC Treaty provides that the 
Commission should deliver an opinion on the amendments that the European 
Parliament intends to bring to the common position of the Council. 
The Commission hereby presents, in accordance with Article 189 A, paragraph 2 of 
the EC Treaty, a modified proposal incorporating the eighteen amendments of the EP 
to the common position of the Council that it has accepted. 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
the following five new Whereas clauses should 
be added: 
10 a. Whereas certain languages, havinc a 
national statute without being official 
languages of the European Union, are 
used in a substantial manner as 
teaching languages in universities: 
whereas teaching in these languages 
should offer possibilities for access to 
parts of the programme concerning 
higher education: 
15 a. Whereas, in order to increase the 
efficiency of Community action so that 
it mav perform a multiplier function, it 
must also be ensured that the assisted 
structures are open to a wider group of 
people than solely direct beneficiaries, 
which means that the structures must 
be organised in such a way as to allow 
non-assisted students to derive 
maximum benefit from the Community 
value added. 
15 b. Whereas the success of mobility 
depends to a great extent on the social 
infrastructure provided bv the Member 
States and the host establishments. 
17 a. Whereas the Community and the 
Member States should promote access 
to education, particularly for the less-
privileged, actively combating social 
exclusion, especially with regard to 
participation in mobility initiatives 
organised in the framework of the 
programme. 
19 a. Whereas it is necessary to promote an 
intercultural dimension to teaching for 
all pupils in the European Union so as 
to prepare them to live in a society 
which is increasingly characterised bv 
cultural and linguistic diversity: whereas 
measures need to be taken to improve 
the quality of education for the children 
of migrant workers, of gypsies and of 
occupational travellers, and to combat 
racism and xenophobia. 
Common Position of the Council 
Article 1 Modified Text 
Establishment of the Community Action 
Programme "SOCRATES" 
1. This Decision establishes the Action 
Programme "SOCRATES", hereinafter referred 
to as "this programme", for the period 1 
January 1995 to 31 December 1999. 
This programme is intended to contribute to the 
development of quality education and training 
and the creation of an open European area for 
co-operation in education. 
2. This programme shall comprise the following 
three areas of action which are set out in the 
Annex: 
Chapter I - Higher education (ERASMUS) 
Chapter II - School education (COMENIUS) 
Chapter III - Horizontal activities in the areas 
of: 
- language skills in the 
Community (LINGUA); 
- open and distance education; 
- promotion of the exchange of 
information and experience 
(including EURYDICE and 
ARION). 1. This Decision establishes the Action 
Programme "SOCRATES", hereinafter referred 
to as "this programme", to be applicable for 5 
years from 1 January 1995 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
Article 3 
Objectives 
This programme shall encourage co-operation 
between Member States in the field of 
education; it shall support and supplement their 
action while fully respecting their responsibility 
for the content of teaching and the organisation 
of educational systems, and their cultural and 
linguistic diversity. 
In accordance with that aim, and to help to 
improve the quality of education, the specific 
objectives of the programme shall be: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) to develop the European dimension in 
education at all levels so as to 
strengthen the spirit of European 
citizenship, drawing on the cultural 
heritage of each Member State; 
to promote a quantitative and qualitative 
improvement of the knowledge of the 
languages of the European Union, and in 
particular those which are least widely 
used and least taught, leading to greater 
understanding and solidarity between the 
peoples of the European Union; 
to promote wide-ranging and intensive 
co-operation between institutions in the 
Member States at all levels of education, 
enhancing their intellectual and teaching 
potential; 
to encourage the mobility of teachers, so 
as to promote a European dimension in 
studies and to contribute to the 
qualitative improvement of their skills; 
to encourage mobility for students, 
enabling them to complete part of their 
studies in another Member State, so as 
to contribute to the consolidation of the 
European dimension in education; ffiU 
e) to develop knowledge of the languages 
of the Community and promote the 
intercultural dimension to teaching so 
that the citizens who live in the 
Community mav take advantage of 
opportunities arising from the 
establishment of the European Union, as 
well as leading to greater understanding 
and interaction: 
to encourage mobility for students, 
enabling them to complete part of their 
studies in another Member State, so as 
to contribute to the consolidation of the 
European dimension in education and to 
reach the objective of 10% of all 
students of the European Union: 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
(f) to encourage contacts among pupils in 
the European Union, and to promote the 
European dimension in their education; 
(g) to encourage the academic recognition of 
diplomas, periods of study and other 
qualifications, with the aim of facifitating 
the development of an open European 
area for co-operation in education; 
(h) to encourage open and distance 
education in the context of the activities of 
this programme; 
0) to foster exchanges of information and 
experience so that the diversity and 
specificity of the educational systems in 
the Member States become a source of 
enrichment and of mutual stimulation. 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
Article 5 
Implementation and selection procedure 
1. The Commission shall ensure the 
implementation of the programme in 
accordance with the arrangements set out in 
the Annex. It shall consult the social partners 
and the competent associations in the field of 
education at European level and shall inform 
the Committee of their opinions. It shall also 
ensure that the European Parliament is fully 
informed on the operation of the programme. 
2. It shall take measures to ensure appropriate 
transition between those actions already 
developed in the framework of the ERASMUS 
and LINGUA programmes and other current 
actions and those to be implemented under this 
programme. 
3. The Member States shall take the 
necessary steps to co-ordinate and organize 
the implementation of this programme at 
national level, in particular, by providing for the 
appropriate structures and mechanisms at 
national level. 
4. The methods for proposing and selecting 
the projects referred to in the Annex are as 
follows: 
(a) Requests for financial assistance for 
projects under Chapter I, Action 1 of the 
Annex shall be sent to the Commission. 
The Commission shall inform the 
structures designated by the Member 
States of these requests. Before taking a 
final decision, the Commission shall 
submit the proposal based on the results 
of the selection to the Committee referred 
to in Article 4 for its opinion. 
The national agencies provided for in 
Chapter I, Action 2 shall award the 
mobility grants provided for in Action 2 to 
students participating in the projects 
accepted in the context of Action 1. 
(b) Requests for financial assistance for 
projects mentioned in actions considered 
to be decentralised in Chapters II and Hi 
(Chapter II, Action 1 and Action 3; 
Chapter III, Action 1.2(b), (c), (e) and 
Action 3.3) shall be submitted to the 
structures designated by the Member b) Requests for financial assistance for 
projects mentioned in actions considered 
to be decentralised in Chapters II and III 
(Chapter II, Action 1 and Action 3.2: 
Chapter III, Action 1.2(b), (c), (e) and 
Action 3.3) shall be submitted to the 
structures designated by the Member 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
States, These structures shall select and 
give Community financial assistance to the 
selected projects in accordance with the 
genera! guidelines established in 
accordance with Article 4. States. These structures shall select and 
give Community financial assistance to the 
selected projects in accordance with the 
general guidelines established in 
accordance with Article 4. 
(c) Requests for financial assistance for 
projects in actions considered to be 
centralized in Chapter II (Action 2) shall be 
submitted by the project co-ordinators to 
the structures designated by Member 
States, Those structures shall forward the 
approved requests to the Commission for 
a final decision, to be taken after receiving 
the opinion of the Committee. 
(d) Requests for financial assistance for 
projects in actions considered to be 
centralised in Chapter III, (Action 1.2(a) 
and (d), Action 2 and Action 3 except 
point 3) shall be submitted by the project 
co-ordinators to the Commission and the 
structures designated by the Member 
States. Those structures shall inform the 
Commission of their opinion. Decisions on 
financial assistance for projects shall be 
taken by the Commission after consulting 
the Member States concerned and 
receiving the opinion of the Committee. c) Requests for financial assistance for 
projects in actions considered to be 
centralized in Chapter II (Action 2 and 
Action 3.1) shall be submitted by the 
project co-ordinators to the structures 
designated by Member States. Those 
structures shall forward the approved 
requests to the Commission for a final 
decision, to be taken after receiving the 
opinion of the Committee. 
/1M 
Common Position of the Council 
Article 7 
Budget Modified Text 
1. The funds estimated as necessary for the 
execution of this programme during the period 
referred to in Article 1 amount to 
ECU 760 million. 
2. The annual appropriations necessary to 
cover the Community contribution to the 
measures provided for in this programme shall 
be established in the annual budgetary 
procedure in accordance with the current 
financial perspective. First paragraph deleted. 
Article 7 a (new) 
The "SOCRATES" programme can be open, as 
appropriate (according to the elements desired), 
to participation from those countries of Central 
and Eastern Europe having signed association 
agreements with the Community, as well as to 
Cyprus and Malta, as far as appropriate 
additional financial resources are made 
available to this end. 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
ANNEX 
The purpose of the SOCRATES programme is 
to support the transnational actions planned in 
the different chapters of the programme. 
CHAPTER I 
HIGHER EDUCATION (ERASMUS) 
This chapter contains the two following actions 
aimed at: 
- Action 1: promoting the European 
dimension in universities; 
- Action 2: encouragement of student 
mobility and the financing of 
ERASMUS grants; 
The resources to be committed under 
ERASMUS shall not be less than 55% of the 
overall budget available for the SOCRATES 
action programme. 
The selection procedure for projects referred to 
in this Chapter is carried out in accordance with 
the procedure laid down in Article 5 of this 
Decision. 
ACTION 1 
The promotion of the European dimension in 
universities 
Drawing on experience gained from the 
ERASMUS and LINGUA programmes, the 
Community will encourage transnational 
co-operation between universities, especially 
through the development of inter-university 
co-operation programmes (ICPs), with the aim 
of gradually reinforcing the European dimension 
in higher education. 
A. Inter-university co-operation 
The Community may grant financial 
assistance for measures for the following 
activities: 
- under ICPs: 
(a) student mobility providing students of a 
university with an opportunity to 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
undertake a period of study in another 
Member State, accompanied by practical 
experience where appropriate, such 
periods being fully recognized as an 
integral part of their diploma or academic 
qualification; 
(b) promotion of the ECTS system 
(European credit transfer system) without 
calling into question the existence of any 
other similar systems; 
(c) joint development of initial or advanced 
curricula geared to facilitating academic 
recognition and contributing, through 
exchanges of experience, to the process 
of innovation and improvement of the 
quality of education at Community level; 
(d) mobility of teaching staff for the purpose 
of providing instruction forming an 
integral part of the curriculum in another 
Member State; 
(e) intensive short-term education courses 
aimed at students coming from several 
Member States, and particularly in fields 
of study which do not lend themselves to 
long stays abroad. e) intensive short-term education courses 
rsummer universities") aimed at 
students coming from several Member 
States, and particularly in fields of study 
which do not lend themselves to long 
stays abroad. 
- outside ICPs: 
(f) study visits to pave the way for co­
operation may be carried out by: 
- teachers; 
- administrative staff of universities, 
as well as by, if appropriate: 
- students associated with the 
preparation of co-operation projects. 
4* 
Common Position of the Council 
ACTION 2 Modified Text 
Encouragement of student mobility 
and financing of ERASMUS grants 
1. The following conditions must be fulfilled in 
order to ensure that periods of study spent 
abroad are of maximum benefit to students: 
(a) studies abroad will be carried out on a full-
time basis and for a significant period of 
time (a minimum of three months or one 
term, and a maximum of one academic 
year); 
(b) studies undertaken in other Member 
States will be fully recognized by the 
university of origin; 
(c) students must have a satisfactory 
knowledge of the language in which 
courses are given by the host university; 
c) a. Host universities should endeavour 
to resolve students' practical problems 
(particularly with respect to reasonably-priced 
accommodation): 
(d) host universities will not charge tuition 
fees to students participating in mobilty 
schemes. They wiH take steps to fatifitate 
the reception of students; 
(e) students in the first year of their studies 
will not be eigible for mobilty grants. 
A« 
Common Position of the Council 
CHAPTER II Modified Text 
SCHOOL EDUCATION: (COMENIUS) 
1. This chapter contains the three following 
actions intended to encourage: 
- Action 1: Partnerships between schools; 
Action 2: Education of the children of 
migrant workers.as well as the 
children of occupational 
travellers, Travellers and 
Gypsies; intercultural 
education; 
- Action 3: Updating and improving of 
skills of educational staff; 
These activities are based on the experience 
gained through the LINGUA programme as well 
as the texts adopted by the Council and the 
Ministers of Education, meeting within 
the Council, on Community co-operation in 
education, including pilot projects undertaken in 
the areas of primary and secondary education, 
schooling for the children of migrant workers 
and Gypsies and the exchange of teachers. 
The resources to be committed in the 
framework of school education shall not be less 
than 10% of the overall budget available for the 
SOCRATES programme. 
2. The Community funds aimed at promoting 
Actions 1 and 3 will be shared between the 
Member States according to the following 
formula: 
(a) subject to budget availability, a minimum 
of ECU 200 000 will be allocated to each 
Member State; 
(b) the remainder will be allocated to various 
Member States depending on: 2. The Community funds aimed at promoting 
Actions 1 and 3^2 will be shared between the 
Member States according to the following 
formula: 
0) the total number of pupils 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
attending school, 
Cii) the number of schools, 
(iii) the number of teaching staff, 
Civ) the gross domestic product by 
inhabitant, 
(v) the average cost of travel between 
the country of origin and the host 
country. 
*b 
Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
Annex, Chapter II 
ACTION 1 
Partnerships between schools 
1. The Community will encourage the creation 
of multilateral partnerships between schools 
which are built around a European Education 
Project (EEP). 
A multilateral partnership is a group of at least 
three schools, from three Member States; one 
of the schools, or an associated educational 
body, will act as the co-ordinator. The 
partnership might be bilateral if the aim is 
mainly to promote knowledge of languages of 
the European Union, particularly those which 
are least widely used and least taught. 
An EEP aims to develop one or more subjects 
of European interest through a set of 
educational activities and measures integrated 
into the regular activities of the schools. 
These activities and measures may include the 
following: 
the participation of pupils in projects of, if 
possible, a multidisciplinary nature; 
- learning and improvement of the 
languages of the European Union; 
the mobility of pupils, particularly for those 
participating in partnerships where the aim 
is to improve knowledge of languages. 
Nursery pupils are excluded from this type 
of project; 
- exchange of teaching materials and 
exchange of information and experience 
on innovatory teaching methods; new paragraph: 
Consideration shall be given to cooperation 
projects in the area of intercultural and 
language teaching involving European schools 
and schools within national educational systems 
which are geared towards disseminating the 
educational experiences of the European 
schools. 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
- the use of information and communication 
technologies, including the opportunities 
offered through open and distance 
education, in particular so that 
achievements and experiences of 
partnerships may be widely disseminated, 
benefiting schools not directly participating 
in the projects. 
2. Financial aid may be allocated for financing 
new EEPs for a limited period. It will be 
granted for a maximum period of three years 
initially, subject to periodic review of the 
projects carried out. 
In granting Community aid, priority will be given 
to projects having the following subjects of 
European interest: 
- the European dimension in general, as 
well as other themes concerned with 
cultural heritage, protection of the 
environment, artistic education, and the 
promotion of science and technology; 
- elements promoting equality of opportunity 
in education between boys and girls; 
- elements aiming to improve the level of 
achievement of all pupils; 
- elements aiming to meet the needs of 
children with specific educational needs 
and capacities. 
If several projects satisfy the same conditions 
for selection, preference will be given to 
projects including schools which have not yet 
taken part in Community activities. 
3. Financial aid may be allocated for visits to 
prepare partnerships, for a maximum period of 
one week, and for exchanges of staff between 
schools to support partnerships and to develop 
European Education Projects, up to a maximum 
period of four weeks. 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
3) a. the Community wIM organise 
competitions fer pupils in subjects 
relating to the common cultural 
héritage, such as modern and 
classical tanouaoes. history, art and 
music, in close cooperation with the 
Council of Europe, in agreement with 
the Member States andin^coofleration 
with the networks, with the aim of 
§^a^«^^d^idtta^iapac^rJg 
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Common Position of the Council Modified Text 
Annex, Chapter III, Action 1 
3. As far as point 2(a) - (d) above are 
concerned, priority will be given to projects and 
activities: 
- relating to the teaching of languages of the 
European Union which are least widely 
used and least taught; 
- including the use of new educational 
technologies, and/or distance education. 
which are aimed at those who are less 
advantaged and therefore less likely to 
have the opportunity to team foreign 
languages. 
As far as point 2(e) above is concerned, priority 
will be given to projects in vocational or 
technical education which: 
- develop innovation in the field of 
educational exchanges for foreign 
language learning; 
- emphasize the European dimension in 
education; 
- support the teaching of the least widely 
used and least taught languages of the 
European Union. 
Sb 
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Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-528-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-82173-6 
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