No C 181/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 7. 91 
Amendment to the proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 87/569/EEC concerning 
an action programme for the vocational training of young people and their preparation for adult 
and working life (Petra) (') 
(91/C 181/04) 
COM(91) 206 final 
(Submitted by the Commission, in accordance with Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 24 June 
1991) 
O OJ No C 322, 21. 12. 1990, p. 21. 
ORIGINAL TEXT AMENDED TEXT 
Twelfth recital Twelfth recital 
Whereas there is a need to respond to new challenges 
facing initial vocational education and training, in 
particular by raising its status, adapting its content, 
increasing its coherence and flexibility, stimulating 
cooperation between its providers, strengthening appren­
ticeship and work-based training, improving vocational 
guidance and attracting more girls and young women 
into technical and scientific fields; 
Article 1 
Point 1 
Paragraph 1 of amended Article 1 
1. A programme is hereby adopted for a three-year 
period from 1 January 1992 to support and supplement, 
through measures at Community level, the policies and 
activities of the Member States in doing their utmost to 
ensure that all young people in the Community who so 
wish receive two or more years' vocational training 
leading to recognized vocational qualifications, in 
addition to their full-time compulsory education. Whereas there is a need to respond to new challenges 
facing initial vocational education and training, in 
particular by raising its status, adapting its content, 
increasing its coherence and flexibility, stimulating 
cooperation between its providers, encouraging involve­
ment and financial support by industry, strengthening 
apprenticeship and work-based training, improving vo­
cational guidance and attracting more girls and young 
women into technical and scientific fields; 
New recital 
Whereas the Petra programme may contribute to the 
development of vocational training for young people 
particularly in the less-developed regions of the 
Community; 
Article 1 
Point 1 
Paragraph 1 of amended Article 1 
1. A programme is hereby adopted for a three-year 
period from 1 January 1992 to support and supplement, 
through measures at Community level, the policies and 
activities of the Member States in doing their utmost to 
ensure that all young people in the Community who so 
wish receive two or more years' vocational training 
leading to vocational qualifications recognized by the 
competent authorities of the Member State in which they 
are obtained, in addition to their full-time compulsory 
education. 
12.7.91 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 181/17 
ORIGINAL TEXT 
Paragraph 2 of amended Article 1 
Point (c) 
(c) stimulate and support practical cooperation and the 
development of training partnerships, both trans-
nationally and within each Member State, between 
training providers, industry and other promoters of 
local and regional development, so as to achieve a 
more effective use of training resources, improve the 
transfer of experience and increase awareness of the 
European aspects to be taken into account in the 
development of initial vocational training; 
Point (d) 
(d) develop opportunities for young people in technical 
and vocational education or other forms of initial 
training, and for young workers, to benefit from 
periods of training or work experience in other 
Member States, so as to add a European dimension 
to their training and to increase their mobility at 
Community level; 
Point 2 
Point 1 of amended Article 3 
1. support for transnational cooperation between 
initiatives of the kind set out in Article 2, including 
specific assistance to those involving young people in 
their planning, organization and implementation, 
which encourage the personal and vocational devel­
opment of young people in vocational and technical 
education or other forms of initial training, and of 
young workers, who have left the education and 
training system, through cooperative or integrated 
vocational education, training and guidance measures. 
Such cooperation shall in particular promote within 
the Community: 
— vocational training or work experience placements 
abroad for young people in initial training and 
young workers, 
— joint training of trainers, and 
— joint development of European training modules, 
and of qualifications and certificates related to 
them; AMENDED TEXT 
Paragraph 2 of amended Article 1 
Point (c) 
(c) stimulate and support practical cooperation and the 
development of training partnerships, both trans-
natiohally and within each Member State, between 
training providers, industry and other promoters of 
local and regional development, so as to achieve a 
more effective use of training resources, improve the 
transfer of experience, particularly for the benefit of 
the less-developed regions, and increase awareness of 
the European aspects to be taken into account in the 
development of initial vocational training; 
Point (d) 
(d) opportunities for young people in technical and 
vocational education or other forms of initial 
training, and for young workers, young job seekers, 
and the young unemployed, to benefit from periods 
of training or work experience in other Member 
States, so as to add a European dimension to their 
training or work experience, and to increase their 
mobility at Community level; 
Point 2 
Point 1 of amended Article 3 
1. support for transnational cooperation between 
initiatives of the kind set out in Article 2, including 
specific assistance to those involving young people in 
their planning, organization and implementation, 
which encourage the personal and vocational devel­
opment of young people in vocational and technical 
education or other forms of initial training, and of 
young workers, young job seekers and the young 
unemployed, who have left the education and training 
system, through cooperative or integrated vocational 
education, training and guidance measures. Such 
cooperation shall in particular promote within the 
Community: 
— vocational training or work experience placements 
abroad for young people in initial training and 
young workers, 
— joint training of trainers, and 
— joint development of European training modules, 
and of qualifications and certificates related to 
them; 
NoC 181/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 7. 91 
ORIGINAL TEXT AMENDED TEXT 
Amended Article 3 
Article 3a 
(new) 
In implementing the programme, the vocational training 
placements in another Member State should be duly 
attested. 
Amended Article 4 
Paragraph 2 
Second subparagraph 
(new) 
The report shall state in detail the extent to which the 
objectives set out in Article 1 on the two or more years 
of vocational training have been achieved and, if the 
objectives have not been achieved, what difficulties were 
encountered by the Member State. 
ANNEX 
ACTION A 
Point 1.1.2 
Point (d) 
(d) develop opportunities for young people in technical and voca­
tional education or other forms of initial training, and for 
young workers, to benefit from periods of training or work 
experience in other Member States, so as to add a European 
dimension to their training and to increase their mobility at 
Community level; ANNEX 
ACTION A 
Point 1.1.2 
Point (d) 
(d) develop opportunities for young people in technical and 
vocational education or others forms of initial training, and 
for young workers, young job seekers, and the young 
unemployed, to benefit from periods of training or work 
experience in other Member States, so as to add a European 
dimension to their training and to increase their mobility at 
Community level; 
Point (e) (a) 
(new) 
(e) (a) reduce social and economic imbalances between young 
people in the Community. 
Point 1.1.3 
Point (a) 
(a) all forms of vocational training, below university level, 
following the completion of the period of full-time 
compulsory education, or general education at (upper) 
secondary level, and providing a structured training 
programme, part of a programme or complementary elements 
to it, in order to enable young people to gain a recognized 
vocational qualification; Point 1.1.3 
Point (a) 
(a) all forms of vocational training, below university level, 
following the completion of the period of full-time 
compulsory education, or general education at (upper) 
secondary level, and providing a structured training 
programme, part of a programme or complementary 
elements to it, in order to enable young people to gain a 
vocational qualification recognized by the competent auth­
orities of the Member State in which it is obtained; 
12.7.91 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 181/19 
ORIGINAL TEXT AMENDED TEXT 
Point 1.1.5 
Second indent 
young workers up to the age of 25, i.e. young people who are 
already in employment and who wish to complement their 
initial training with a period of work experience abroad. Point 1.1.5 
Second indent 
young workers, young job seekers and the young unem­
ployed up to the age of 28 who want to develop their vo­
cational knowledge and enrich their practical experience 
through an exchange activity which provides a work 
experience abroad. 
Last subparagraph 
The programme does not concern young job seekers and young 
unemployed as they represent major target groups for actions 
implemented within the framework of the Community's structural 
policies and, in particular, the European initiative. Last subparagraph (English version) 
The programme does not concern young job seekers and young 
unemployed as they represent major target groups for actions 
implemented within the framework of the Community's 
structural policies and, in particular, the Euroform initiative. 
Point 1.2.6 
First indent 
training or work experience placements abroad for young 
people in initial training and their trainers, and for young 
workers, Point 1.2.6 
First indent 
training or work experience placements abroad for young 
people in initial training and their trainers, and for young 
workers, young job seekers and the young unemployed, 
Point 1.2.7 
First subparagraph 
7. In the case of young workers, the implementation of 
training and work experience placements in another Member 
State shall build on the experience of the third joint programme 
for exchange of young workers. In particular, these placements 
shall provide new vocational or training experience for the 
participants which will: 
— develop their vocational knowledge and enrich their practical 
experience, 
— promote their awareness of the problems of the working 
world, and 
— bring them into contact with the working environment of the 
host country. Point 1.2.7 
First subparagraph 
7. In the case of young workers, young job seekers and the 
young unemployed, the implementation of training and work 
experience placements in another Member State shall build on 
the experience of the third joint programme for exchange of 
young workers. In particular these placements shall provide new 
experience, of vocational training or work experience, for the 
participants which will: 
— develop their vocational knowledge and enrich their 
practical experience, 
— promote their awareness of the problems of the working 
world, and 
— bring them into contact with the working environment of 
the host country. 
Last subparagraph 
The duration of such placements shall normally be three months, 
but they may last up to one year where, by the nature of the work 
experience and its training objectives, a longer period is required. Last subparagraph 
The duration of such placements is normally three months. The 
placements could be shorter or could be extended until one year 
if the nature of the working experience or the objectives of the 
training justify it. 
Point 1.2.1.9 
Second and third subparagraphs 
(new) 
Special attention shall be paid to enterprises, including small 
and medium-sized enterprises which should be given greater 
opportunity to engage in mutual exchange programmes. 
Moreover, they shall take appropriate measures to ensure that 
every effort is made so that the opportunities offered by the 
programme are as widely known as possible. 
NoC 181/20 Official Journal of the European Communities 12.7.91 
ORIGINAL TEXT 
Point 1.3.12 
Third indent 
— the costs of preparatory language training, 
Point 1.3.13 
13. In calculating the aid to each Member State, quantitative 
objectives will be assigned in relation to the number of young 
people from 15 to 25 years in its population. Inspired by models 
applied in the Erasmus and Comett programmes and taking into 
consideration the need to ensure a balanced flow of exchanges in 
the Community, the calculation will also take account of: 
— the gross domestic product of each Member State, 
— the geographical distance between Member States. AMENDED TEXT 
Point 1.3.12 
Third indent 
— the costs of preparatory language training, which shall be 
sufficient to ensure that initial lack of language skills shall 
not be a barrier to any potential participant, 
Point 1.3.13 
13. In calculating the global financial aid to each Member 
State, and taking into consideration the necessity to ensure an 
equilibrium in the flow of exchanges in the Community, quanti­
tative objectives will be assigned in relation to the number of 
young people from 15 to 28 years old in its population. 
The method of calculation shall also take into consideration: 
— the GDP of each Member State, 
— the geographical distance between Member States, and 
— the average travel costs.