WRITTEN QUESTION E-1365/00

by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Action following the Lisbon summit

At the Lisbon summit on 23 and 24 March, it was observed by all those taking part that the economic and social spheres are increasingly interdependent and should be brought together.

On the basis of this recognition, does the Commission intend to strengthen Community measures relating to vocational education based on a partnership between companies and educational establishments?

Does it intend to introduce a precise framework in order to ensure a minimum level of training for tutors, and to lay down precise objectives to be achieved by the end of the training period, in whatever European country the training takes place?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

The Lisbon European Council acknowledged the fundamental role of education and training policy in the economic and social renewal of our society and adopted a series of targets to be achieved in the short and medium-term. The Commission immediately took the following initiatives to address the Council's demands in the field of vocational training.

In the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme it has prioritised the creation of partnerships for cooperation between training centres and firms and for improving the training of instructors. The priorities of the Leonardo da Vinci programme for 2000-2002 include measures to improve the training of instructors. Besides, the programme's mobility measure provides for its participation in exchanges between training centres and firms. However, Community action in the field of training is based on Article 150 (ex-Article 127) of the EC Treaty, which specifies that Community measures shall support and supplement the action of the Member States, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content and organisation of vocational training (subsidiarity). This principle makes it difficult for the Commission to lay down a precise framework defining the training of instructors or the content of training courses.

In the context of mobility the Commission has urged the Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Europass and to generalise its use. The Europass is a document which certifies that the holder has a European record of work-linked training (school-firm) in another Member State.

On 24 May 2000 the Commission adopted the e-Learning initiative(1), designed to mobilise the education community and the economic and social players in order to accelerate the development of training systems and the transition of Europe towards a knowledge society. In the context of this initiative it is planned to strengthen the partnerships between the public and private sectors and between industry and the education community. Particular attention will be devoted to the training of teachers and instructors, notably in the use of new training technologies.

In its communication Strategies for jobs in the information society(2) the Commission argues that universities must create new partnerships with industry to ensure that the courses supply the skills needed by industry. This communication also aims to ensure that all teachers possess verifiable skills relevant to the information society.

In the framework of employment policy, the European Social Fund (2000-2006) is designed to help Member States put in place new active policies and appropriate systems for combating unemployment and improving skills. It explicitly addresses the development of links between the world of work, education, training and research institutes.

(1) COM(2000) 318 final.

(2) COM(2000) 48 final.