A4-0032/98

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the second time Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90 establishing a European Training Foundation (COM(97)0177 - C4-0261/97 - 97/0126(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 6a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Foundation¨s knowledge and direct experience of the specific requirements and circumstances of the eligible countries in the field of vocational training and human resources development can usefully contribute to the definition of the Community's aid policy for the reform of their vocational training systems;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 6b (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Foundation should therefore be assisting the Commission in promoting, developing and modernizing vocational training systems in the eligible countries with a view to facilitating their transition to a market economy and strengthening their democratic institutions, the social dimension, respect for human rights and equal opportunities;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 6c (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the implementation of vocational training programmes should provide the Foundation with the opportunity to test innovatory schemes, promote a common approach to vocational training issues and transfer best practices;

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 2 (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

Following general policy guidelines set by the Commission, the Foundation shall work in the training field, covering initial and continuing vocational training as well as retraining for young people and adults, including in particular management training.

>Text following EP vote>

Following general policy guidelines set by the Commission

and on the basis of a mission statement jointly defined by the Commission and the governing board, the Foundation shall work in the training field, covering initial and continuing vocational training as well as retraining for young people and adults, including in particular management training.

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1(3)

Article 3, introduction (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

For the purposes of achieving the objectives set out in Article 1, the Foundation shall, following general policy guidelines set by the Commission:

>Text following EP vote>

For the purposes of achieving the objectives set out in Article 1, the Foundation shall:

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(3a) (new)

Article 3(a) (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3a. Point (a) of Article 3 shall be replaced by the following:

'(a) provide assistance to the eligible countries and the Commission in the definition of training needs and priorities by providing, as appropriate, information about and analyses of the specific needs and latest vocational training developments in the eligible countries, technical assistance in the training field, and cooperating with the appropriate designated bodies in the eligible countries;'

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1(3b) (new)

Article 3(c), 3rd indent (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3b. Point (c), third indent of Article 3 shall be replaced by the following:

'- implement, at the request of the Commission or of the eligible countries in cooperation with the governing board, vocational training programmes agreed on by the Commission and one or more of the eligible countries as part of the Community policy of assistance to these countries, using multi-disciplinary teams of specialists in close collaboration with the competent authorities in the countries involved and drawing actively on the experience of Community vocational training programmes; in the selection of projects to be managed by the Foundation priority will be given to projects of an innovatory value and - for the countries eligible to join the European Union - which relate more directly to the Union's policy priorities in the field of vocational training;'

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1(3c) (new)

Article 3, 2nd paragraph (new) (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3c. The following paragraph is added to Article 3:

'The Foundation shall particularly assist the countries eligible to join the European Union in their efforts to bring their vocational training systems into line with the acquis communautaire.'

(Amendment 9)

ARTICLE 1(5a) (new)

Article 4(2) (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

5a. Article 4(2) shall be replaced by the following:

'2. Representatives of the social partners at European and national level and international organizations active in the training field may be associated with the work of the Foundation, notably as provided for in Articles 5(8) and 6(1) and (2).'

(Amendment 10)

ARTICLE 1(8)

Article 5(7) (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

On the basis of a draft submitted by the director of the Foundation, the governing board, in consultation with the Commission, shall adopt the annual work programme for the Foundation at the beginning of each year, within the framework of a three-year rolling perspective. The programme may be adapted during the year using the same procedure.

>Text following EP vote>

On the basis of a draft submitted by the director of the Foundation,

and within the framework of a three-year rolling programme agreed with the Commission, the governing board shall adopt the annual work programme for the Foundation at the beginning of each year. The programme may be adapted during the year using the same procedure.

>Original text>

The projects and activities in the annual work programme shall be accompanied by an estimate of the necessary expenditure and by allocation of staff and budgetary resources.

>Text following EP vote>

The projects and activities in the annual work programme,

which shall be drawn up taking into consideration the constraints of the budgetary framework and subsequently adjusted in the light of the budgetary decision taken in relation to the financial year in question, shall be accompanied by an estimate of the necessary expenditure and by allocation of staff and budgetary resources.

(Amendment 11)

ARTICLE 1(9)

Article 6(1), 2nd subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

The members of the forum shall be selected from experts among training and other circles concerned in the work of the Foundation, taking into account the need to ensure the presence of representatives of the social partners, of the Commission, of those international organizations active in the provision of training assistance and of the eligible countries.

>Text following EP vote>

The members of the forum shall be selected from experts among training and other circles concerned in the work of the Foundation, taking into account the need to ensure

a balanced representation of the social partners, of the Commission, of those international organizations active in the provision of training assistance and of the eligible countries.

(Amendment 12)

ARTICLE 1(9a) (new)

Article 6(1), 3rd subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

9a. The third subparagraph of Article 6(1) shall be replaced by the following:

'There shall be appointed one expert from each of the Member States, from each of the eligible countries and from each of the social partners at European level. The Advisory Forum shall be subdivided into three working groups covering, respectively, the accession countries, the remaining PHARE and TACIS countries, and the MEDA countries.'

(Amendment 13)

ARTICLE 1(10)

Article 6(2), 4th indent (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

- the social partners at European level which are already active in the work of the Community institutions, and

>Text following EP vote>

-

the social partners at European level,

- the consultative committee established by Council Decision 63/266/EEC(1), and

__________

(1) OJ 63, 20.4.1963, p.1338.

(Amendment 14)

ARTICLE 1(11)

Article 7(1) (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

The director of the Foundation shall be appointed by the governing board, on a proposal by the Commission, for a term of office of three to five years, which can be extended on a proposal from the Commission.

>Text following EP vote>

The director of the Foundation shall be appointed by the governing board,

following an open selection procedure organized by the Commission, for a term of office of five years, which can be extended once for up to five years.

>Original text>

The director shall be responsible:

>Text following EP vote>

The director shall be responsible:

>Original text>

- for the preparation and organization of the work of the governing board, of any ad hoc working parties convened by the governing board and, in particular, following the general policy guidelines set by the Commission, for the preparation of the draft annual work programme of the Foundation,

>Text following EP vote>

-

for the preparation and organization of the work of the governing board, of any ad hoc working parties convened by the governing board and, in particular, within the framework of the three-year rolling programme agreed with the Commission, for the preparation of the draft annual work programme of the Foundation,

>Original text>

- for the day-to-day administration of the Foundation,

>Text following EP vote>

-

for the day-to-day administration of the Foundation,

>Original text>

- for the preparation of the statement of revenue and expenditure and execution of the budget of the Foundation,

>Text following EP vote>

-

for the preparation of the statement of revenue and expenditure and execution of the budget of the Foundation,

>Original text>

- for the preparation and publication of reports specified under this Regulation,

>Text following EP vote>

-

for the preparation and publication of reports specified under this Regulation,

>Original text>

- for all staff matters,

>Text following EP vote>

-

for all staff matters,

>Original text>

- for undertaking the tasks set out in the annual work programme referred to in Article 5(7),

>Text following EP vote>

-

for undertaking the tasks referred to in Article 3 as implemented under the annual work programme referred to in Article 5(7),

>Original text>

- for properly implementing the governing board's decisions and the guidelines set down for the Foundation's activities.

>Text following EP vote>

-

for properly implementing the governing board's decisions and the guidelines set down for the Foundation's activities.

(Amendment 15)

ARTICLE 1(12)

Article 8 (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

The Commission, in cooperation with the governing board and, where appropriate, in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89, Article 8 of Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 1279/96 and Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 or in any subsequent relevant legal act, shall ensure consistency and, where necessary, complementarity between the work of the Foundation and other actions at Community level, both within the Community and in assistance to the eligible countries, with particular reference to actions under the Tempus scheme.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission, in cooperation with the governing board and, where appropriate, in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89, Article 8 of Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 1279/96 and Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 or in any subsequent relevant legal act, shall ensure consistency and complementarity between the work of the Foundation and other actions at Community level, both within the Community and in assistance to the eligible countries, with particular reference to actions under the Tempus scheme.

(Amendment 16)

ARTICLE 1(13)

Article 10(4) (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

The governing board, after receiving the advice of the Commission, shall adopt the budget of the Foundation together with the work programme at the beginning of each financial year, adjusting it to the several contributions granted to the Foundation and to its other resources.

>Text following EP vote>

The governing board, after receiving the advice of the Commission, shall adopt the budget of the Foundation together with the work programme at the beginning of each financial year, adjusting it to the several contributions granted to the Foundation and to its other resources.

The budget shall detail by category and grade the number of staff which will be employed by the Foundation in the relevant financial year.

(Amendment 17)

ARTICLE 1(14a) (new)

Article 17 (Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

14a. Article 17 shall be replaced by the following:

"Monitoring and evaluation procedure

The Commission shall, in consultation with the governing board, establish a monitoring and evaluation procedure of the experience acquired in the work of the Foundation. This procedure should be carried out by an external body, and should take particular account of the extent to which the Foundation has:

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

- achieved the aims and objectives set out in the mission statement jointly defined by the Commission and the governing board, the three-year rolling programme, and the annual work programme; and

- implemented measures designed to ensure non-discrimination and equal opportunities in access to training.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

It shall present the first results of this procedure in a report to be submitted to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee before 31 December 2000."

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the second time Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90 establishing a European Training Foundation (COM(97)0177 - C4-0261/97 - 97/0126(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0177 - 97/0126(CNS) ((OJ C 156, 24.5.1997, p. 27.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty (C4-0261/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0032/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.