COMMON POSITION (EC) No 6/1999 adopted by the Council on 21 December 1998 with a view to the adoption of Decision No . . ./1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of. . . establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education 'Socrates` (1999/C 49/04)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Articles 126 and 127 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (4),

(1) Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Community provides that the latter's action shall contribute, inter alia, to the development of quality education and training; whereas measures under this programme should promote the European dimension of education and contribute to the development of quality education with a view to encouraging life-long learning;

(2) Whereas by Decision No 819/95/EC the European Parliament and the Council established the Community action programme SOCRATES (5);

(3) Whereas the extraordinary European Council on Employment held in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 November 1997 recognised that life-long education and training can make an important contribution to the Member States' employment policies in order to enhance employability, adaptability and the culture of entrepreneurship and to promote equal opportunities;

(4) Whereas, in its communication, 'Towards a Europe of knowledge`, the Commission set out guidelines for the creation of an open and dynamic European education area capable of achieving the objective of life-long education and training;

(5) Whereas, in its White Paper 'Teaching and learning - Towards the learning society`, the Commission stated that the emergence of the learning society entails encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge and to this end providing motivation to learn at every opportunity; and whereas, in its Green Paper 'Education, training, research: the obstacles to transnational mobility`, the Commission highlighted the advantages of mobility for people and competitiveness in the European Union;

(6) Whereas the Commission's aim, in line with the European Parliament's wish, is to attain a participation rate of around 10 % of schools under the Comenius action and of around 10 % of students in the mobility activities under the Erasmus action;

(7) Whereas there is a need to promote active citizenship and to step up the fight against exclusion in all its forms, including racism and xenophobia; whereas special attention should be focused on promoting equality and furthering equal opportunities for women and men; whereas special attention should be given to persons with special needs;

(8) Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, in their Decision No . . ./1999/EC on youth (6), and the Council, in Decision No . . ./1999/EC on training (7), have established Community action programmes for the youth and training fields respectively, which contribute, together with the Socrates programme, to promoting a Europe of knowledge;

(9) Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce the added value of Community action, that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, should ensure, at all levels, a coherence and a complementarity between the actions implemented in the framework of this Decision and other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions;

(10) Whereas it is necessary to provide for the possibility of organising joint activities involving the Socrates programme and other Community programmes or actions that have an educational dimension, thus encouraging synergies and reinforcing the added value of Community action;

(11) Whereas the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) provides for greater cooperation in the field of education, training and youth between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and the countries of the European Free Trade Association participating in the European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA countries), on the other;

(12) Whereas provision should be made to open up this programme to participation on the associated central and eastern European countries (CEECS), in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils, of Cyprus under the same conditions as those applied to the EFTA/EEA countries, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that country, as well as of Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty;

(13) Whereas this programme should be regularly monitored and evaluated in cooperation between the Commission and the Member States in order to allow for readjustments, particularly in the priorities for implementing the measures; whereas the evaluation should include an external evaluation to be conducted by independent, impartial bodies;

(14) Whereas, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as defined in Article 3b of the Treaty, since the objectives of the proposed action concerning the contribution of European cooperation to quality education cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, inter alia, because of the need for multilateral partnerships, multilateral mobility and Community-wide exchanges of information, they can therefore be better achieved by the Community owing to the transnational dimension of the Community actions and measures; whereas this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives;

(15) Whereas improvement of the European credit transfer system (ECTS) is an effective means of ensuring that mobility fully attains its objectives; whereas universities participating in the programme are to be encouraged to make the best use of the ECTS;

(16) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the programme, a financial framework constituting the principal point of reference, within the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995 (8), for the budgetary authority, during the annual budgetary procedure;

(17) Whereas an agreement was reached on 20 December 1994 on a modus vivendi between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission concerning the implementing measures for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (9),

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1 Establishment of the programme

1. The Decision establishes the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education Socrates, hereinafter referred to as 'this programme`.

2. This programme shall be implemented over the period starting on 1 January 2000 and ending on 31 December 2006.

3. This programme shall contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge through the development of a European area of cooperation in the field of education and training by promoting life-long learning, based on formal and informal education, and training. It shall support the building up of the knowledge, skills and competences likely to foster active citizenship and employability.

4. This programme shall support and supplement action taken by and in the Member States, while fully respecting their responsibility for the content of education and the organisation of education and training systems, and their cultural and linguistic diversity.

Article 2 Objectives of the programme

In order to contribute to the development of quality education and encourage life-long learning, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States, the objectives of the programme shall be:

(a) to strengthen the European dimension in education at all levels and to facilitate wide transnational access to educational resources in Europe while promoting equal opportunities throughout all fields of education;

(b) to promote a quantitative and qualitative improvement of the knowledge of the languages of the European Union, in particular those languages which are less widely used and less widely taught, so as to lead to greater understanding and solidarity between the peoples of the European Union and promote the intercultural dimension of education;

(c) to promote cooperation and mobility in the field of education, in particular by:

- encouraging exchanges between educational institutions,

- promoting open and distance learning,

- encouraging improvements in the recognition of diplomas and periods of study,

- developing the exchange of information,

and to help remove the obstacles in this regard;

(d) to encourage innovation in the development of educational practices and materials including, where appropriate, the use of new technologies, and to explore matters of common policy interest in the field of education.

Article 3 Community actions

1. The objectives of this programme as set out in Article 2 shall be pursued by means of the following actions, the operational content and the application procedures of which are described in the Annex:

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2. These actions shall be implemented through the following types of measures, in the form of transnational operations which may combine several of the measures:

(a) support for the transnational mobility of people in the field of education in Europe;

(b) support for the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education;

(c) support for the development of transnational cooperation networks facilitating the exchange of experience and good practice;

(d) promotion of language skills and understanding of different cultures;

(e) support for innovatory pilot projects based on transnational partnerships designed to develop innovation and quality in education;

(f) constant improvement of Community reference material through the

- observation and analysis of national education policies,

- observation and dissemination of good practice and innovation,

- comprehensive exchange of information.

Article 4 Access to the programme

1. Under the conditions and arrangements for implementation specified in the Annex, this programme is aimed in particular at:

(a) pupils, students or other learners;

(b) staff directly involved in education;

(c) all types of educational institutions specified by each Member State;

(d) the persons and bodies responsible for education systems and policies at local, regional and national level within the Member States.

2. Public or private bodies cooperating with educational institutions may also take part in appropriate actions under this programme, in particular:

- local and regional bodies and organisations,

- associations working in the field of education, including students, pupils, teachers and parents associations,

- companies and consortia, trade organisations and chambers of commerce and industry,

- social partners,

- research centres and bodies.

Article 5 Implementation of the programme and cooperation with the Member States

1. The Commission shall:

- ensure the implementation of the Community actions covered by this programme in conformity with the Annex,

- consult the social partners and relevant associations in the field of education at European level and shall inform the Committee referred to in Article 7 of their opinions.

2. The Member States shall:

- take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of the programme at Member State level involving all the parties concerned in education in accordance with national practice,

- establish an appropriate structure for the coordinated management of the implementation of the programme's actions at Member State level (Socrates national agencies),

- endeavour to adopt such measures as they deem appropriate to remove legal and administrative obstacles to access to this programme,

- take steps to ensure that potential synergies with other Community programmes are realised at Member State level.

3. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure

- the transition between those actions carried out within the framework of the preceding programme in the field of education (Socrates, established by Decision No 819/95/EC) and those to be implemented under this programme,

- the dissemination of the results of the actions undertaken within the framework of the preceding programme in the field of education (Socrates) and of those to be implemented under this programme,

- appropriate information, publicity and follow-up with regard to actions supported by this programme.

Article 6 Joint actions

As part of the process of building up a Europe of knowledge, the measures contained in this programme may be implemented in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 7 as joint actions with related Community programmes and actions, particularly Leonardo da Vinci and Youth, as well as Community programmes in the field of research and development and new technologies.

Article 7 Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of two representatives from each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

2. The committee shall be assisted by two subcommittees in the areas of school education and higher education. They shall be composed of two representatives of each Member State. The Commission shall ensure coordination between the committee and the subcommittees. Specific questions may be referred to the subcommittees for final decision. The committee may also establish working groups for certain specific issues such as actions 3 (Grundtvig) and action 7 (Joint Actions).

3. The Commission representative shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken on:

(a) the annual plan of work, including priorities, themes for joint actions and the selection criteria and procedures;

(b) the financial support to be supplied by the Community (amounts, duration and recipients) and the general guidelines for implementing the programme;

(c) the annual budget and the breakdown of funds among the different actions of the programme;

(d) the breakdown of funds among the Member States for the actions to be managed on a decentralised basis;

(e) the arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the programme and for the dissemination and transfer of results;

(f) Commission proposals for project selection, including those under action 7 (Joint actions).

4. The committee shall deliver its opinion on this draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.

5. (a) The Commission shall adopt measures which apply immediately.

(b) However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission of the Council forthwith. In that event,

- the Commission shall defer application of the measures which it has decided for a period of two months from the date of the communication,

- the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the preceding indent.

6. The Commission shall consult the committee on other appropriate matters concerning implementation of the programme. In that event, the representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.

The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

7. The committee shall draw up its rules of procedure.

8. The committee shall establish regular and structured cooperation with the committee set up within the framework of the 'Leonardo da Vinci` action programme for the implementation of a Community vocational training policy as well as with the Committee set up within the framework of the Youth Community action programme.

9. To ensure the consistency of this programme with other measures referred to in Article 9, the Commission shall keep the committee regularly informed about Community initiatives taken in the fields of education, training and youth, including cooperation with third countries and international organisations.

Article 8 Funding

1. The financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 1 550 million.

2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

Article 9 Consistency and complementarity

1. The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member States, ensure overall consistency and complementarity with other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions, The programme shall contribute to achieving the aims of Community policy in the areas of equality, equal opportunities for woman and men and promotion of social inclusion.

The Commission shall ensure an efficient link-up between this programme and the programmes and actions in the area of education undertaken within the framework of the Community's cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations.

2. In implementing the measures of this programme, the Commission and the Member States shall have regard to the priorities set out in the employment guidelines adopted by the Council, as part of a coordinated employment strategy.

Article 10 Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated central and eastern European countries (CEECs), Cyprus, Malta and Turkey

This programme shall be open to the participation of

- the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA Agreement,

- the associated central and eastern European countries (CEECs) in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils,

- Cyprus, under the same conditions as those applied to the EFTA/EEA countries, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with procedures to be agreed with that country,

- Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

Article 11 International cooperation

Under this programme, and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7(3), (4) and (5), the Commission may cooperate with third countries and with the competent international organisations, in particular the Council of Europe.

Article 12 Monitoring and evaluation

1. The Commission shall regularly monitor this programme in cooperation with the Member States. The results of the monitoring and evaluation process should be utilised when implementing the programme.

This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and specific activities.

2. This programme shall be evaluated regularly by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States. This evaluation is intended to assess the relevance, effectiveness and impact of actions implemented with regards to the objectives referred to in Article 2. It will also look at the impact of the programme as a whole.

This evaluation will also examine the complementarity between action under this programme and that pursued under other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.

In accordance with criteria established using the procedure described in Article 7(3), (4) and (5), there will be regular independent external evaluations of this programme.

3. Member States shall submit to the Commission by 31 December 2004 and 30 June 2007, respectively, reports on the implementation and the impact of this programme.

4. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:

- an interim evaluation report on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this programme by 30 June 2005,

- a communication on the continuation of this programme by 31 December 2006,

- an ex post evaluation report by 31 December 2007.

Article 13 Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at . . .

For the European Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

(1) OJ C 314, 31.10.1998, p. 5.

(2) OJ C 410, 30.12.1998, p. 2.

(3) Opinion delivered on 19 November 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (OJ C 359, 23.11.1998). Council common position of 21 December 1998 and Decision of the European Parliament of . . . (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(5) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 10. Decision as amended by Decision No 576/98/EC (OJ L 77, 14.3.1998, p. 1).

(6) OJ . . .

(7) OJ . . .

(8) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 4.

(9) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 1.

ANNEX

I. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The objectives laid down in Article 2 are to be implemented by means of the actions set out in this Annex on the basis of the Community measures described in Article 3.

2. The provisions relating to the timetable, the conditions for the submission of applications and the eligibility and selection criteria are to be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) and published regularly by the Commission in the 'Socrates guidelines for applicants`. In addition calls for proposals will be published, specifying all deadlines for the submission of proposals.

3. In the context of activities involving the mobility of persons, adequate linguistic preparation should be provided in order to ensure that the beneficiaries possess the necessary competence in the language(s) of instruction in the host establishment. Appropriate organisational arrangements should be made at the home and host establishments in order to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from the mobility activity in question.

4. The projects coordinated by universities under the various actions of the programme should form part of the 'institutional contract` of the institutions concerned provided for in action 2.

5. Supporting measures may be taken to promote access and participation by persons with special educational needs. Where appropriate, positive actions may be taken in order to promote equal opportunities for women and men. Activities giving special emphasis to intercultural aspects or to promoting competence in other languages, in particular the less widely used and less taught languages of the Community, are to be particularly encouraged. The promotion of all types of open and distance learning, as well as the appropriate use of information and communication technology, is to be encouraged across all actions of the programme. Under all actions of the programme, particular attention will be paid to the dissemination of results.

II. COMMUNITY ACTIONS

This Annex contains two main types of actions:

- the first type, actions 1 to 3, is aimed at the three basic stages of life-long education (school, university, others),

- the second type, actions 4 to 8, concerns transversal measures in fields such as languages, information and communication technology (ICT) for educational purposes, including in particular educational multimedia and the exchange of information, as well as matters of horizontal interest such as innovation, the dissemination of results, joint actions and the evaluation of the programme.

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ACTION 1: 'COMENIUS` - SCHOOL EDUCATION

Comenius seeks to enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of school education, in particular by encouraging transnational cooperation between schools and contributing to improved professional development of staff directly involved in the school education sector, and to promote the learning of languages and intercultural awareness.

Action 1.1: School partnerships

1. The Community encourages the creation of multilateral partnerschips between schools. Such partnerschips may also involve other appropriate bodies, such as teacher training establishments, local institutions and authorities, businesses or cultural establishments as well as parents, pupils and other relevant organisations.

2. Community financial assistance may be awarded for the following:

(a) projects which focus on one or more topic of common interest to the participating schools, involving:

- the participation of pupils in project preparation and project activities, including project-related mobility where appropriate,

- the mobility of teachers to prepare and monitor a project or to teach in another Member State, including in-company placements,

- the development of teaching material and the exchange of good practice,

(b) projects aimed specifically at teaching and learning the official languages of the Community, together with Irish (one of the languages in which the Treaties establishing the European Communities are drawn up) and Lëtzeburgesch (a language spoken throughout the territory of Luxembourg). The projects may be bilateral, especially where they target a less widely used or less taught language and should include exchanges of pupils in addition to the activities referred to in point (a);

(c) projects aimed at promoting intercultural awareness and in particular those designed to help combat racism and xenophobia or to address the specific needs of the children of migrant workers, gypsies and travellers and occupational travellers;

(d) projects addressing issues related to pupils with special educational needs, with particular attention to the integration of such pupils into mainstream schooling.

3. Schools wishing to take part in this action shall submit a brief outline description of the activities which they plan to carry out during the coming school year within the framework of this programme ('Comenius plan`). The Comenius plan shall enable the Socrates national agencies to take into account the overall development of European activities of the respective school when carrying out the selection under this action.

Action 1.2: Initial and in-service training of staff involved in school education

1. The Community is to support multilateral projects undertaken by establishments and bodies active in the initial or in-service training of staff directly involved in school education. The participation of schools and other players involved in the field of education described in Article 4 of the Decision is to be encouraged, as is the involvement of supervisory bodies at regional and local level, where appropriate.

2. Community financial assistance may be awarded for the following:

Mobility actions

(a) Mobility undertaken for the purpose of initial training, including practical training periods, language assistantships and in-company placements;.

(b) mobility undertaken for the purpose of in-service training and updating the skills of school education staff;

(c) mobility of limited duration, including immersion courses, for language teachers, staff retraining as language teachers, qualified teachers intending soon to return to employment as language teachers, and teaching staff of other disciplines required or wishing to teach in a foreign language.

Multilateral cooperation projects concerning:

(d) contributions to the development of curricula, courses, modules or teaching material in the context of reinforcing the European dimension of school education;

(e) training activities and information exchange concerning school management and related services such as guidance and counselling;

(f) education and training activities and information exchange designed to enhance intercultural awareness in school education or to promote the integration and improved educational achievement of children of migrant workers, gypsies and travellers and occupational travellers;

(g) activities concerning the training and development of staff involved in the education of pupils at risk and of pupils with special educational needs.

Action 1.3: Networks related to school partnerschips and the training of staff involved in school education

The Community is to promote the networking of school partnerschips and of projects concerned with the training of staff involved in school education, supported within actions 1.1 and 1.2 respectively, to enable cooperation to take place on subjects of mutual interest, the dissemination of results and good practice and discussion of qualitative and innovatory aspects of school education. The staff training networks are to be developed, where appropriate, inclose cooperation with the university 'thematic networks` provided for in the Erasmus action.

ACTION 2: 'ERASMUS` - HIGHER EDUCATION

Erasmus seeks to enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of higher education, to encourage transnational cooperation between universities, to boost European mobility in the higher education sector and to improve transparency and academic recognition of studies and qualifications throughout the Community.

Participating universities conclude 'institutional contracts` with the Commission covering all the Erasmus activities approved. Such contracts will normally be of three years' duration and will be renewable.

Action 2.1: European inter-university cooperation

1. The Community supports inter-university cooperation activities including the development of innovative projects, carried out by universities in conjunction with partners in other Member States, with the participation, where appropriate, of other players involved in education, as described in Article 4 of the Decision.

2. Community financial assistance may be awarded for the following:

(a) the organisation of mobility of students and university teachers;

(b) joint development and implementation of curricula, modules, intensive courses or other educational activities, including multidisciplinary activities and the teaching of subjects in other languages;

(c) consolidation, extension and further development of the European credit transfer system (ECTS), which is designed to facilitate academic recognition.

Action 2.2: Mobility of students and university teachers

1. The Community supports transnational mobility activities concerning:

(a) students, in accordance with point 2;

(b) university teachers, for the purpose of carrying out teaching assignments likely to enhance the European dimension or extend the range of courses offered by the universities concerned.

2. Students who, after completing at least their first year of studies, spend 3 to 12 months in another Member State within the framework of this action, will be considered 'Erasmus students`, regardless whether they have been awarded financial support in accordance with point 3. Such periods are fully recognised under the inter-university agreements forming part of the institutional contracts and may include integrated in-company placements where appropriate. The host universities will not charge tuition fees to Erasmus students. Students with special needs will be given particular attention.

3. Community financial assistance may be awarded for:

- the mobility of students. As the Community's contribution covers only part of the cost of students' mobility, Member States are invited to help provide the necessary funds. In this connection, grants or loans available to students in the Member State of origin shall continue to be paid during the period of study in a host Member State,

- the mobility of university teachers,

- preparatory measures, in accordance with section IV (B) (4).

Action 2.3: Thematic networks

The Community promotes the developments and consolidation of thematic networks, each enabling a large grouping of universities to cooperate on topics relating to one or more disciplines or on other matters of mutual interest in order to disseminate innovation, facilitate the spread of good practice, encourage discussion of qualitative and innovative aspects of higher education, improve teaching methods and stimulate the development of joint programmes and specialised courses. The involvement of representatives of learned societies, professional associations and socio-economic circles is to be encouraged. Special attention will be paid to the dissemination of results.

ACTION 3: 'GRUNDTVIG` - ADULT EDUCATION AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS

1. As a complement to action 1 (school education) and action 2 (higher education), Grundtvig seeks to encourage the European dimension of life-long learning, to contribute - through enhanced transnational cooperation - to innovation and improved availability, accessibility and quality of other educational pathways, and to promote the learning of languages. The action is thus addressed to people who, at whatever stage of their life, seek access to knowledge and competences within the framework of formal or non-formal education or by means of autonomous learning, thereby increasing their intercultural awareness and employability and enhancing their capacity to progress in education and play a full and active role in society.

2. Community financial assistance may be awarded for transnational projects and initiatives seeking to promote:

(a) adults' individual demand for and their participation in life-long learning activities;

(b) acquisition or updating of competences for persons lacking basic education and qualifications;

(c) the development, exchange and dissemination of innovative education approaches and good practice, including the development and dissemination of modules and appropriate teaching material;

(d) the development of information and support services for adult learners and for providers of adult education, including services related to guidance and counselling;

(e) the development of tools and methods for the assessment, validation or certification of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired by adult learners, including by means of experiential or autonomous learning or through non-formal education;

(f) improved competence in other Community languages or enhanced international awareness among adult learners and those involved in the provision of adult education;

(g) the development of initial or in-service training for educational staff working in this sector;

(h) visits and exchanges, for persons including those providing adult education or the training of adult educators;

(i) projects addressing adult learners with special educational needs.

3. The Community encourages the creation of European networks to strengthen the links between the various parties involved in this area to enable them to cooperate on a more stable basis on matters of common interest, and to enhance their awareness of the European dimension of education.

ACTION 4: 'LINGUA` - TEACHING AND LEARNING OF LANGUAGES

1. The aim of the Lingua action is to support transversal measures relating to the learning of languages, with a view to helping to promote and maintain linguistic diversity within the Community, to improve the quality of language teaching and learning and to facilitate access to life-long language learning opportunities tailored to individual requirements. Particular attention is to be given to intensifying transnational contacts in the language teaching profession and among those responsible for language teaching policies throughout the Community in all educational sectors. In this way, Lingua both complements and enriches measures related to the promotion of language-learning under other actions of this programme, in particular actions 1, 2 and 3.

2. In this context, language teaching covers the teaching and learning as foreign languages of all the official languages of the Community, together with Irish (one of the languages in which the Treaties establishing the European Communities are drawn up) and Lëtzeburgesch (a language spoken throughout the territory of Luxembourg).

3. Community financial assistance may be awarded to the following transnational language-learning projects and activities:

(a) awareness-raising activities designed to draw attention to the importance of language-learning and the availability of language-learning opportunities;

(b) activities seeking to promote and/or spread innovations and good practice, such as the early learning of languages or multilingual comprehension;

(c) the development and exchange of curricula, production of new teaching material and improvement of methods and tools for the recognition of language competence;

(d) exchange of information and transnational networking of resource centres;

(e) the development of measures to promote competence in foreign languages as required in specific situations and contexts, and in so far as these are not related to specific professions;

(f) addressing issues related to the teaching and learning of languages arising from further enlargement of the Community.

ACTION 5: 'MINERVA` - OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

1. The aim of this action is to support transversal measures relating to open and distance learning (ODL) and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), including multimedia, in the field of education. In so doing, it complements and enriches the corresponding measures provided for within the other actions of this programme.

These measures serve a triple purpose:

- to promote improved understanding among teachers, learners, educational decision-makers and the public at large of the implications of ODL and, in particular ICT for education, and the critical, responsible use of tools and methods which utilise such technologies for education purposes,

- to support awareness of the need to ensure that pedagogical considerations are given proper weight in the development of ICT-based educational products, notably multimedia, and

- to promote access to improved methods and educational resources and to results achieved, in particular through transnational exchange of information, experience and good practice.

2. Community financial assistance may be awarded for the following:

(a) projects and studies aimed at helping those involved in education to understand and exploit the innovative processes under way, in particular those relating to the use of ICT in teaching and learning, the development of innovative instruments and approaches, and methods for establishing criteria for quality assessment of ICT-based educational products and services;

(b) projects to develop and test new methods, modules and resources for ODL and ICT;

(c) projects for the development and interconnection of services and systems providing information for teachers, decision-makers and other actors involved in education and educational methods and resources which utilise ODL and ICT;

(d) activities to support the exchange of ideas and experience relating to ODL and the use of ICT in education, in particular the networking of resource centres, teacher training institutions, experts, decision-makers and project coordinators on subjects of common interest.

ACTION 6: OBSERVATION AND INNOVATION

This action contributes to improving the quality and transparency of education systems and furthering the process of educational innovation in Europe through the exchange of information and experience, the identification of good practice, the comparative analysis of systems and policies in this field, and the discussion and analysis of matters of common educational policy interest to be determined by the Council.

Action 6.1: Observation of education systems, policies and innovation

1. Making optimal use of existing structures wherever possible, this action consists of the following:

(a) collection of descriptive and statistical data, and comparative analysis of educational systems and policies in the Member States;

(b) development of methods for evaluating the quality of education, including the development of appropriate criteria and indicators;

(c) development and updating of databases and other information resources on innovatory experiments;

(d) dissemination of experience resulting from relevant activities supported at Community and Member State level;

(e) facilitation of the recognition of diplomas, qualifications and periods of learning at all educational levels in other Member States.

2. To this end, Community financial assistance may be awarded for:

(a) the information network on education in Europe, 'Eurydice` comprising the European unit set up by the Commission and units set up by the Member States to enable it to make a full contribution to the implementation of this action. The network will in particular be called upon to collect and exchange information on education systems and policies, to develop data bases, to produce comparative studies and to draw up indicators. Eurydice will seek, when necessary, relevant support from external experts;

(b) the organisation of and participation in 'Arion` multilateral study visits for decision-makers and senior managers of educational institutions in any sector of education, designed to facilitate exchanges of information and experience on subjects of mutual interest to the Member States. The Commission and Member States will ensure appropriate dissemination of the results of the visits and promote their interactivity with other actions within this programme;

(c) networking of institutes and other appropriately qualified bodies engaged in analysing educational systems and policies, as well as of the bodies involved in the evaluation of educational quality;

(d) studies, analyses, pilot projects, seminars, exchanges of experts and other appropriate actions relating to matters of common educational policy interest bringing together decision-makers on the priority themes to be determined by the Council. The Commission may call upon the services of a group of experts to assist it in ensuring the reliability of the analytical work carried out within the framework of these activities. The arrangements for establishing the group will be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision;

(e) activities designed to promote the recognition of diplomas, qualifications and periods of learning, notably studies, analyses, pilot projects and the exchange of information and experience. The Community network of national academic recognition information centres (NARIC) will make a full contribution in this regard. In particular, it will collect and disseminate authenticated information which is necessary for the purpose of academic recognition, also bearing in mind synergies with the professional recognition of diplomas.

3. In implementing this action, close cooperation will be ensured in particular with the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the European Training Foundation (ETF) and appropriate international organisations, notably the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Action 6.2: Innovatory initiatives responding to emerging needs

In addition to the cooperation activities provided for in the other actions of the present programme, the Community may support transnational projects and studies aimed at helping to develop innovations in one or more specific sectors of education. The subjects to be given priority are to be determined by the Council and reviewed regularly to enable adaptation to the new requirements which emerge during the period covered by this programme.

ACTION 7: JOINT ACTIONS

1. In accordance with Article 6 of the Decision, Community support may be provided within the framework of this programme for joint actions with other Community programmes and actions promoting a Europe of knowledge, in particular the Leonardo da Vinci and Youth programmes.

2. Such joint actions may be carried out by common calls for proposals on selected themes of common interest which are not exclusively covered by any single programme concerned, to be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision and agreed with the committees of the other programmes and actions involved.

3. Appropriate steps will be taken to promote regional and local contact and interaction between the players taking part in this programme and in the Leonardo da Vinci and Youth programmes.

ACTION 8: ACCOMPANYING MEASURES

1. Community financial assistance may be awarded to the following initiatives aimed at promoting the objectives of this programme, provided that such initiatives are not eligible for assistance under other actions of the programme:

(a) awareness-raising activities to promote cooperation in the field of education, including support for appropriate competitions and other events designed to enhance the European dimension of education;

(b) transnational activities carried out by associations and other non-governmental bodies active in the field of education, as well as bodies concerned with educational guidance and counselling;

(c) conferences and symposia on innovations in the sectors targeted by the programme;

(d) activities aimed at training persons involved in the management of European cooperation projects in the field of education;

(e) measures to optimise and disseminate the results of projects and activities carried out with the support of this programme or its previous phase;

(f) activities involving cooperations with third countries and with the competent international organisations, in particular the Council of Europe, in accordance with Article 1 of the Decision.

2. Community financial assistance will be provided to support the activities of the Socrates national agencies set up by the Member States in accordance with Article 5 of this decision, and to ensure the effective monitoring and evaluation of this programme.

3. In carrying out the programme, the Commission may have recourse to experts and to technical assistance organisations, the financing of which may be provided for within the overall financial framework for the programme. Furthermore, the Commission may organise such seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts as are likely to facilitate the implementation of the programme, and undertake appropriate information, publication and dissemination actions.

III. SELECTION PROCEDURES

Procedures for the proposal and selection of the activities referred to in this Annex are as follows:

1. Decentralised actions

The following actions, under which the selection decisions are taken by the Member States, are to be considered 'decentralised`:

(a) - action 1.1 (school partnerships),

- action 1.2, point 2(a), (b), (c) (mobility actions within training partnerships for school educational staff),

- action 3, point 2(h) (visits and exchanges in adult education),

- action 6.1, point 2(b) (Arion study visits),

- preparatory visits under all actions.

Requests for financial assistance submitted under these actions are to be submitted to the Socrates national agencies designated by the Member States in accordance with Article 5 of the Decision. The Member States, with the assistance of the Socrates national agencies, will carry out the selection and allocate financial assistance to the applicants selected in accordance with general guidelines to be established under Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision;

(b) action 2.2, point 3 (mobility of students and university teachers).

The awarding of the financial assistance to students and university teachers for mobility assignments within the institutional contracts mentioned in action 2.1 and for the organisation of the mobility of students and university teachers will be carried out by Member States with the assistance of the Socrates national agencies designated pursuant to Article 5 of the Decision, taking into account the past performance of the universities concerned, in accordance with general guidelines to be established under Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision.

2. Centralised actions

The following actions, under which the selection decisions are taken by the Commission, are to be considered 'centralised`:

(a) - action 1.2, point 2(d), (e) (f), (g) (multilateral cooperation activities),

- action 3, point 2(a) to (g), point 2(i) (multilateral cooperation activities),

- action 4 (Lingua),

- action 5 (Minerva),

- action 6.2 (innovatory initiatives).

For the selection of projects under these actions, the following procedure will apply:

(i) project coordinators will submit a project proposal to the Commission and send a copy to the Socrates national agency designated by the respective Member State;

(ii) the Commission, with the assistance of independent experts will assess the project proposals. National agencies may provide the Commission with their assessment of these proposals;

(iii) in cases where the Commission's assessment is at variance with the assessment received from the national agency in the coordinating country concerning the quality or appropriateness of the project, the Commission shall consult with the Member State concerned;

(iv) the Commission will submit to the committee a proposal on the final selection (projects to be supported and amounts to be awarded) in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision;

(v) after receiving the opinion of the committee, the Commission will establish the list of selected projects and allocate the amounts to be awarded.

In certain cases, owing in particular to the scale and nature of the activities in question, a two-phase procedure may be adopted. In such cases, the procedure set out above is preceded by the submission and selection of pre-proposals. The decision in this regard and the arrangements for the pre-selection will be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision;

(b) - action 1.3 (networks related to school partnerships and the training of staff involved in school education),

- action 2.1 (European inter-university cooperation),

- action 2.3 (Erasmus thematic networks),

- action 3.3 (networks in adult education),

- action 6.1, point 2(a), (c), (d), (e) (observation),

- action 8 (accompanying measures).

Project proposals under these actions will be submitted to the Commission. The Commission, in the case of actions 1.3, 2.3, and 3.3, with the assistance of independent experts will assess the project proposals. Decisions on the project proposals will be taken by the Commission after receiving the opinion of the committee in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision.

The two-phase procedure referred to in the final paragraph of section III(2)(a) will apply to actions 1.3, 2.3 and 3.3 under the same conditions as set out in that paragraph.

3. Joint actions

Procedures for selection under action 7 of the programme (joint actions) will be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision. Where appropriate, the procedures set out above may be adapted in order to meet the special requirements of the joint actions in question. The Commission will make every effort to ensure optimal coordination between these procedures and those adopted within the other Community programmes or actions with which the joint actions in question are implemented.

4. The Commission, assisted by the Member States, will endeavour to ensure that the selection decisions are made known to applicants at the latest five months after the closing date for submission of applications under the action in question. For projects selected in accordance with the two-phase procedure provided for under point 2(a) and (b), this will only refer to the second stage of the selection (full project proposal).

5. The Commission and, in the case of decentralised actions, the Member States will seek to ensure optimal coordination between the procedures and deadlines for submitting and selecting applications for support within this programme and the Community programmes in the fields of vocational training and youth respectively.

IV. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

A. Decentralised actions

1. The Community funds intended to provide financial support under the actions identified as decentralised in Section III, point 1, are to be allocated among the Member States in accordance with the following formulas:

(a) a minimum amount to be determined in accordance with budgetary availability for the action concerned will be allocated to each Member State;

(b) the remainder will be allocated to the various Member States on the basis of:

(i) the difference in the cost of living between the Member State of origin and the host Member State;

(ii) the distance and cost of travel between the Member State of origin and the host Member State to be calculated taking into account the lowest travel price for the journey concerned;

(iii) the country's total number of:

- pupils and teachers in school education for action 1.1 (school partnerships) and action 1.2, point 2(a), (b), (c) (mobility actions within training partnerships for school education staff),

- students in higher education for action 2.2, point 3 (mobility of students). The number of graduates should be limited in its scope as a subsidiary and complementary factor to be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) to qualify, where appropriate, the allocation tot the Member States,

- university teachers for action 2.2, point 3 (mobility of university teachers).

2. The Community funds thus distributed are to be administered by the Member States with the assistance of the Socrates national agencies provided for in Article 5 of the Decision.

3. The Commission, acting in cooperation with the Member States, will take the necessary measures to encourage balanced participation at Community, national and, where appropriate, regional level, and, in the case of higher education, across the various fields of study. The proportion allocated to these measures must not exceed 5 % of the annual budget for financing each of the actions in question.

4. The arrangements for the allocation of funds to each Member State for the mobility activities provided for in action 3, point 2(h) (adult education visits and exchanges) and 6.1, point 2, second indent (Arion), for the organisation of the mobility of students and university teachers in accordance with section III(1)(b), for the support of preparatory visits and for the preparatory measures referred to in section IV(B)(4) will be decided upon by the Commission after receiving the opinion of the committee in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision.

B. Other provisions

1. Having due regard to the quality and quantity of applications for financial support, the following guidelines will be taken into account when allocating resources in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision:

(a) the resources to be committed under action 1 (Comenius) will not be less than 27 % of the total budget available for this programme;

(b) the resources to be committed under action 2 (Erasmus) will not be less than 51 % of the total budget available for this programme;

(c) the resources to be committed under action 3 (Grundtvig) will not be less than 7 % of the total budget available for this programme;

(d) the resources to be committed for financial assistance for the Socrates national agencies under action 8.2 and for technical assistance under action 8.3 will not exceed 4,5 % of the total annual budget available for this programme.

The above percentages are indicative and may be adapted in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the Decision.

2. As a general rule, Community financial assistance granted for projects under this programme is intended partially to offset the estimated cost necessary to carry out the activities concerned and may cover a maximum period of three years, subject to a periodic review of progress achieved. The Community contribution will not normally exceed 75 % of the total cost of any specific project, except in the case of accompanying measures. Assistance may be granted in advance to enable preparatory visits to take place in respect of the projects in question.

The amount to be made available in the annual budget of the programme for activities under action 8.1(f) shall not exceed EUR 250 000.

3. The specific situation of persons with special needs will be taken into account when determining the amount of Community financial assistance to be awarded.

4. With regard to activities involving the mobility of persons, Community financial assistance may be awarded to help ensure adequate preparation for the period to be spent in another Member State. Such preparatory measures may include in particular language courses, information on social and cultural aspects of the host Member State, etc.

V. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Decision:

1. 'company` means all companies in the public or private sector whatever their size, legal status or the economic sector in which they operate, and all types of economic activities, including the social economy;

2. 'decision-makers` means any category of staff with managerial, assessment, training, guidance and inspection duties in the field of education and persons responsible for this area at local, regional and national level and within ministries;

3. 'guidance and counselling` means a range of activities such as information, assessment, orientation and advice to assist learners to make choices relating to education and training programmes or employment opportunities;

4. 'life-long learning` means the education and training opportunities offered to individuals throughout their lives to enable them continually to acquire, update and adapt their knowledge, skills and competence;

5. 'open and distance learning` means any form of flexible education, whether or not involving the use of information and communication technologies;

6. 'project` means transnational cooperation activity developed jointly by a formal or informal grouping of organisations or institutions;

7. 'pupil` means persons enrolled in that capacity at a 'school` as defined in this Annex;

8. 'resource centre` means a body engaged in the production, collection or dissemination of documentation, materials or methodologies relating to a sector of activity addressed by this programme, such as languages or information and communication technologies related to education;

9. 'school` means all types of institutions providing general (nursery, primary or secondary), vocational or technical education and, exceptionally, in the case of measures to promote language learning, non-school institutions providing apprenticeship training;

10. 'social partners` means, at national level, employers' and workers' organisations in conformity with national laws and/or practices and, at Community level, employers' and workers' organisations taking part in social dialogue at Community level;

11. 'student` means persons registered in 'universities` as defined by this Annex, whatever their field of study, in order to follow higher education studies leading to a degree or diploma, up to and including the level of doctorate;

12. 'teacher/educational staff` means persons who, through their duties, are involved directly in the educational process in the Member States, in accordance with the organisation of their respective education system;

13. 'university` means any type of higher education institution, according to national legislation or practice, which offers qualifications or diplomas at that level, whatever such establishments may be called in the Member States;

14. 'university teacher` means any category of personnel employed in that capacity at a 'university` as defined in this Annex.

STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 28 August 1998 the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a decision, based on Articles 126 and 127 of the EC Treaty, establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education (Socrates).

2. The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered their opinions on 15 October 1998 and 19 November 1998 respectively.

3. The European Parliament delivered its opinion on 5 November 1998.

4. In the light of the European Parliament's opinion, the Commission submitted an amended proposal for a Decision on 3 December 1998.

5. On 21 December 1998, the Council adopted its common position in accordance with Article 189b of the EC Treaty.

II. AIM OF THE PROPOSAL

The proposal aims at contributing to a 'Europe of knowledge` through the development of a European area of cooperation in the field of education and training by promoting life-long learning, based on formal and informal education and training, as well as supporting the building up of the knowledge, skills and competences likely to foster active citizenship and employability.

1. GENERAL COMMENTS

In its common position the Council has approved the essence of the Commission proposal while making some amendments which it thought desirable.

2. SPECIFIC COMMENTS

2.1. Amendments made by the Council to the Commission proposal

2.1.1. Duration of the programme

As far as duration is concerned, the Council has opted for a seven-year programme. Not only would this coincide with the proposed timespan of the next phase of the financial perspective, but it would also allow a greater possibility of following through projects and of evaluation.

2.1.2. Funding (Article 8)

The Council was of the opinion that a financial framework of MEUR 1550 would enable the programme to reach its objectives over a seven-year period, including the expansion of activity to new sectors, while reconciling this wish with the Council's duty to contribute to a fair distribution of available resources in a context of budgetary restraint.

2.1.3. Breakdown of funds between actions (Annex, Section IV)

The Council decided that the resources to be committed under action 1 (Comenius), action 2 (Erasmus) and action 3 (Grundtvig) should not be less than 27 %, 51 % and 7 % respectively of the overall budget available for the programme, and that the resources to be committed for financial assistance to national agencies under action 8(2) and for technical assistance under action 8(3) should not be more than 4,5 % of the annual programme budget.

2.1.4. Committee procedures (Article 7)

The Council has maintained a committee procedure whereby the powers of the committee would be exercised, depending on the subject matter, under either the management or the advisory committee procedure. However, in view of the scope and complexity of many of the activities undertaken within the framework of this programme, the Council was of the view that the IIB variant was more appropriate for the management committee procedure.

Provision has also been made for the possibility of establishing working groups for certain specific issues. The draft measures to be laid before the committee under the management committee procedure have also been more clearly indicated.

It has also been specified that consideration of Commission proposals for project selection concerning joint actions is to be provided for within the management committee procedure.

2.1.5. Selection procedures (Annex, section III)

The Council has welcomed the reduction in the number of selection procedures. However, it was considered necessary to distinguish two procedural variants within the category of centralised actions, as well as to provide for the possibility of a two-phase procedure in those cases where the scale and nature of the activities in question justified it.

2.1.5. Other questions

- establishment of the programme (Article 1)

In the light of the provisions of Articles 126 and 127 of the Treaty, the term 'European area of cooperation in the field of education and training` has been preferred to 'European education area`,

- objectives of the programme (Article 2)

The Council believed that it was important to highlight mobility as an objective of the programme,

- 'Comenius plan` (action 1.1.3)

These plans apply to those schools participating in the Comenius action (initially under action 1.1.2 as a 'plan for inter-school cooperation in Europe`). The Council has sought to ensure that they are unbureaucratic, and not a burden on the schools concerned,

- action 3 (Grundtvig)

In the interest of greater clarity the original two sub-actions have been merged into one, covering all aspects of the European dimension in life-long learning,

- action 4 (Lingua), action 5 ('Minerva`: open and distance learning, information and communication technologies in the field of education), and action 6 (observation and innovation)

The scope and content of these actions have been clarified,

- 'Arion` study visits (action 6.1.2(b))

The Council considered that this action should become decentralised.

2.2. European Parliament amendments

2.2.1. Parliament amendments adopted by the Commission

The Commission adopted in full, in part or in essence 34 of the 54 Parliament amendments.

2.2.2. Parliament amendments adopted by the Council.

The Council adopted in full, in part or in essence 25 of the amendments proposed by the Parliament and adopted by the Commission. Those amendments are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 41 and 56.

2.2.3. Parliament amendments not adopted by the Council

Apart from the amendments not adopted by the Commission, on which it was not possible for the Council to reach the requisite unanimity, the Council did not accept the following amendments for the reasons stated:

- Amendment 12

Obstacles to access to the programme

The Council considered that the reference to social security and health care regarding the obstacles to mobility in Article 5 paragraph 4 did not take due account of the principle of subsidiarity and that it would be undesirable to mention these two areas explicitly, to the exclusion of others,

- Amendment 21

Transfer and dissemination of innovatory approaches and methods through the structural funds (Article 9(3))

The Council believed that it was inappropriate to enter into this degree of specificity concerning future Community instruments,

- Amendment 30

School partnerships (action 1: Comenius)

The Council did not accept the reference to the implementation of educational projects with a European dimension, this being already a general criterion in the introduction to the action, nor could it accept the reference to 'neighbouring languages` as this concept was insufficiently well defined,

- Amendment 34

Criterion of financial need of applicants (action 2.2: mobility of students and teachers)

The Council considered that the addition of this criterion in the Decision was not necessary, but noted the Commission's intention of continuing to ensure that this was taken into account in the implementation of the programme,

- Amendment 37

Grundtvig: adult education (action 3.2)

The Council found that the concept of 'participation in democratic culture` was unclear. The existing reference to enhancing the capacity of people to 'play a full and active role in society` was considered sufficient,

- Amendment 42

Minerva (action 5)

The Council believed that the 'establishment of a multilingual European school television` would not be appropriate in the context of this programme, and beyond its budgetary means,

- Amendment 44

Joint actions (action 7)

The Council has opted not to refer to the setting up of 'European knowledge centres` since this might create the impression that the creation of new structures was envisaged. Instead, the Council preferred a more general reference to the promotion of 'regional and local contact and interaction between the players involved in this programme and in the Leonardo da Vinci and Youth programmes`

- Amendment 46

Facilitation of access to projects (Annex III: selection procedures: introduction)

This addition to the introduction to section III of the Annex on selection procedures was not considered appropriate by the Council, since it was held to be self-evident,

- Amendment 58

Accompanying measures (action 8)

The amendment concerning the transfer of the Ortelius data bank from action 8 to action 6 was not accepted, since the Council considered that a specific reference to this data bank was unnecessary and inappropriate in either action.

III. CONCLUSIONS

The Council considers that its common position constitutes a balanced text, reflecting the need to develop efforts in the field of educational cooperation at Community level.

The text maintains the positive achievements of the past and, through innovative measures, opens up the way ahead for the fresh challenges of the future.