Proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION establishing 1996 as the European Year of Lifelong Learning
Date: 1994-09-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Economic Area, European symbol, competitiveness, continuing education, education policy, fight against unemployment

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM(94)  264  final 
Brussels,  07.09.1994 
94/0199  (COD) 

Proposal  for  a 
EUROPEAN. PARU AMENT  AND  COUNCIL  DECISION 

establishing  1996  as  the  European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1. 

Background 

A  very  sharp  increase  in  the  demand  for  education  has  been  observed  in  the  Member  States 
in  recent  decades  in  both  quantitative  -  particularly  as  regards  higher  education  -  and 
qualitative  terms.  There  are  many  reasons  for  this: 

The  recognition  of  a  sound  level  of  basic  education  as  a  fundamental  right  of  the 
individual  and,  as  a  corollary,  the  need  for  broader  access  to  education  and  training. 

The  face  of  society  is  changing  rapidly  -  lifestyles  and  behavioural  patterns  are 
changing,  the  needs  of  industry  are  changing  in  the  wake  of  the  introduction  of  new 
technologies  and  new  patterns  of  work  organization 
-  and  is  generating  the  need  for 
parallel  changes  in  education  systems  in  order  to  tailor  them  to  the  new  requirements 
of  society. 

The  Member  States  have  realized  the  increasing  importance  of  the  quality  of  human 
resources in economic and social  development,  and have accordingly  given  high  priority 
to education  and  training  through  the  adoption  of  new  legal  or  statutory  provisions  and 
a  significant  increase  in  the  resources  allocated  to  education  and  training. 

The  prospect  of  lifelong  education  and  training  is  steadily  emerging  as  an  invaluable 
instrument  for  adjusting  to  technological  and  social  changes. 

The  adoption  of  the  White  Paper  on  Growth,  Competitiveness  and  Employment  echoes  this 
acknowledgment within the European  Union: education and training are strategically  important 
for  the  emergence  of  a  new  model  of  economic  and  social  development  which  respects  the 
environment  and  which  will  be  based  on  knowledge  and  know-how,  will  secure  the 
competitiveness  of  the  European  economy  for  the  future  and  will  make  it  possible  to  make 
better  use of technological  advances in  creating  more and  more rewarding jobs  and  better  use 
of  the  leisure  time  generated  by  these  advances. 

2. 

The  present situation 

The present situation  is characterized  by  the following  aspects which  are important  as  regards 
trends  in  education  and  training  systems: 

After  a period  during  which  the  thrust  of  national  reform  was directed  at the  structures 
of  education  and  training  systems  and  curricula,  Member  States  are  laying  particular 
emphasis  on  the  capacity  for  innovation  which  exists  within  schools,  firms,  regional  or 
local  authorities.  It  is  indeed  at  this  level  that  lie  the  solutions  to  the  specific  needs  of 
a given environment: heterogeneousness  of pupils and persons being trained; pupils with 
specific  needs;  answers  to  demand  arising  from  factors  to  do  with  local  development, 
employment  area, the  retraining  of  certain  categories  of  workers, the  adaptation  to  new 
to  employment  after  a  period  of 
the  return 
work  organization  configurations, 
inactivity,  etc. 

This  concern  to  improve  the  quality  of  education  and  training  is  taking  place  in  a 
context  of  high  unemployment  which  erodes  the  confidence  of  those  affected  in  the 
point  of  preparation  for  working  life  and  occupational  integration,  even  if,  as the  White 
Paper  stresses:  "... all  other  things  being  equal,  it  is the  countries  with  the highest  levels 
of  general  education  and  training  ...  which  are  the  least  affected  by  the  problems  of 
competitiveness  and  employment" 

The  Treaty  on  European  Union  has  consolidated  and  built  on  Community  action  in  the 
area  of  education  and  training  by  providing  a  new  base  for  European  cooperation 
programmes.  It is on this base that the Commission  has proposed  two new programmes, 
LEONARDO  DA VINCI  and  SOCRATES. These programmes  use the achievements  of 
previous  programmes  as  regards  exchanges  and  mobility  and  expand  the  range  of 
cooperation  between  Member  States  particularly  as  regards  primary  and  secondary 
education,  and  seek  to  achieve  a greater  degree  of  rationalization  of  action  undertaken 
and  organizational  and  financial  arrangements.  Arrangements  as  regards  mobility  and 
right  of  stay  also  contribute  to  the  emergence  of  a  European  area  of  education  and 
training  which  the  public  must  be  made  more  aware  of 

Since the second  reform  of the sructural  Funds in  1993 the Community  has  stepped  up 
its  action  in  the  field  of  education  and  vocational  training  with  support  from  these 
Funds,  inter  alia  through  the  Community  initiatives  EMPLOYMENT  and  ADAPT. 

3. 

The  underlying reasons for a promotional  drive  at  European  level 

Europe  is  faced  with  a  situation  in  which  its  success  in  terms  of  economic  growth  is  not 
matched  by  an  equal  capacity  to  create jobs.  In  response  to  this  situation,  the  White  Paper 
proposes  a strategy  based  on  a healthy,  decentralized  and  competitive  economy  anchored  by 
solidarity.  The  vectors of  this  collective  strategy, education  and  training  approached  through 
the theme of lifelong  learning, wilt  enable constant  renewal  of employment  opportunities  and 
will  make  it  easier  to  keep  abreast  of  technological  change 

This  strategy,  i.e.  placing  faith  in  high  quality  human  capital  and  in  the  quest  for  both 
technological  and  organizational  innovation,  implies  on  the  part  of  the  general  public  an 
awareness  of  the  opportunities  and  the  benefits  but  also  of  the  constraints  they  involve  It 
implies,  thus,  a  special  effort  to  raise  awareness  among  the  general  European  public  which 
could  be  based  on  Community  action  on  education  and  training  (SOCRATES  AND 
LEONARDO  programmes)  which  take  over  from  programmes  under  way,  actions  financed 
from  the  structural  Funds  such  as  the  Community  initiatives  ADAPT  and  EMPLOYMENT 
and  legislative  measures  in  the  field  of  recognition  of  vocational  training  qualifications. 

The  proclamation  of  a  European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning  in  1996  will  provide  a 
promotional  framework  for  the action  undertaken  within  the  European  Union. This will  make 
it  possible  to  get  through  to  a  much  wider  public  than  that  directly  affected  by  such  action 
and  the impact in terms of  awareness  creation  will  be greater than  would  be possible  through 
individual  actions  undertaken  by  the  Member  States  themselves. 

4.  Objectives 

The  objectives  of  the  European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning  are  to: 

make  the  European  public  aware  of  the  importance  of  lifelong  learning  as a key  factor 
in the personal  development of individuals and  fora  European  model  of  competitiveness 
and  growth  which  is  employment-intensive; 

foster  better  cooperation  at  all  levels  between  education  and  training  structures  and  the 
business  community,  particularly  the  SMEs; 

help  to  establish  a  European  area  of  education  and  training  through  the  academic  and 
vocational  recognition  of  qualifications  within  the  European  Union  and  through  the 
introduction  of  a  European  dimension  in  education  and  training; 

stress  the  importance  of  improving  the  equality  of  opportunities  in  access  to  education 
and  training,  particularly  between  men  and  women. 

5. 

Contents 

The actions implemented  during this  European  Year, described  in general  terms in the  Annex, 
will  be  designed  mainly  for  the  purposes  of  promotion,  raising  awareness  or  demonstration. 
They  might,  for  instance,  include: 

the  design  and  use  of  a  logo  and  one  or  more  slogans; 

events  presenting  exemplary  achievements  in  education  and  training; 

regional,  national  and  European  competitions  in  the  areas  of  common  interest; 

communication  products  (televised,  multimedia  or  telematics)  illustrating  the  priority 
themes  of  the  Year; 

television  programmes  on  themes  such  as  lifelong  learning. 

The Commission  intends to work  in  conjunction  with  the Member  States, which  presupposes 
close interworking  with the bodies responsible  for  implementation  appointed  by the countries. 
The  specific  actions  which  can  receive  financial  aid  from  the  Community  will  be  proposed 
by  the  Member  State(s)  involved  and  Community  financing  will  be  decided  on  by  the 
Commission  which  will  consult  the  Advisory  Committee. 

The  Commission  will  bear  the  cost  of  and  be  responsible  for  the  communication  products  at 
Community  level, and for  surveys and any other action  it undertakes to fuel  public debate and 
contribute  to  the  subsequent  assessment  of  the  Year. 

6.  Timetable 

Four  major  areas of activity  are  involved  and these will  to some extent overlap  in time: 

creation  of  the  legal  basis:  Commission  proposal  launched  in  September  1994, 
negotiations  in  autumn  m  order  to arrive  at  the  codecision  envisaged  in  the  first  half 
of  1995; 

subject to a positive reception to the principle of this Year from the other institutions, 
establishment of me administrative structure within the Commission and in the Member 
States: autumn  1994 - spring 1995; 

selection md implementation of the communication projects: preparation in 1995, public 
launch in  J 996, 

surveys and assessment: from  1995-97. 

Hie control structure proposed is as follows: 

An  advisory  committee  to  assist  the  Commision,  which  is  responsible  for  the 
implernentatton of the decision. 

For each Member Slate, a body to select, coordinate and implement actions nationally. 

Proposal  for  a 
EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  COUNCIL  DECISION 

establishing  1996  as  the  European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning 

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, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the  Regions, 

Whereas  changes  in  lifestyles  and  in  individual  and  collective  patterns  of  behaviour  generate 
new  education  and  training  requirements; 

Whereas  changes  in  the  production  cycle  as  a  result  of  the  introduction  of  new  technologies 
and  new  configurations  of  work  organization  imply  radical  changes  in  the  knowledge  and 
skills  required  of  workers  and  entail  an  effort  to  favour  the  emergence  of  new jobs  in  order 
to  bridge  the  widening  gap  between  economic  growth  and  the  creation  of jobs  in  Europe; 

Whereas 
the  continuing  adaptation  of  education  and  training  systems  to  these  new 
requirements is of major  strategic importance to Europe whose economic competitiveness  and 
social  model  are  based  on  knowledge  and  know-how; 

Whereas  the  role  of  lifelong  learning  for  the  individual  and  the  worker  is  becoming 
fundamental  both  in order to secure personal  fulfilment  and to enhance long-term  employment 
prospects; and whereas the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment  stresses 
that  education  and  training  will  undoubtedly  play  a crucial  role  in  the  renewal  of growth,  the 
recovery  of  competitiveness  and  the  restoring  of  a  socially  acceptable  level  of  employment; 

Whereas  the  scale  of  unemployment  affecting  young  people  and  adults  bring  risks  of  social 
upheaval  and  of  scepticism  as  regards  training,  thus jeopardizing  the  confidence  they  should 
have  in  the  concept  of  lifelong  learning; 

Whereas there should  be exchanges of experience and information  on  what the Member  States 
have  achieved  in  their  own  countries,  on  the  many  regional  and  local  initiatives  undertaken, 
and  on  the  work  of  the  Council  of  Europe  and  other  international  organizations  involved  in 
education  and  training; 

Whereas  1996  will  be  (he year  in  which  the  Leonardo'"  and  Socrates'"''  programmes,  which 
constitute the second generation  of Community  education  and training programmes, come  into 
their  own; 

Whereas  the  structural  Funds  and  the  European  Social  Fund,  and  the  Community  initiatives 
which  derive  therefrom,  particularly  EMPLOYMENT  and  ADAPT,  do  much  to  enhance 
quality  education  and  training; 

Whereas  there is a need  to highlight  the fundamental  importance of  education  and training  for 
the  construction  of  a  Europe  which  is  economically  competitive  and  socially  anchored  in 
solidarity  and  in the encouragement  of individual  fulfilment,  through  a series of activities  and 
events  concerted  at  European  Union  level  under  the  banner  of  a  European  Year  of  Lifelong 
Learning,  and  thus  achieve  a  greater  impact  than  that  achieved  by  existing  Community 
programmes and which  would not be feasible  for actions  undertaken  singly  by Member  States, 

HAVE  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS: 

Article 

1.  Actions  to  provide  information  on,  create  awareness  of  and  promote  lifelong  learning 

shall  be  undertaken  between  1 January  1995  and  31  December  1996. 

2. 

1996  shall  be  proclaimed  the  "European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning". 

The  objectives  of  the  actions  referred  to  in  Article  1 are  to: 

Article  2 

I.  make  the  European  public  aware of  the  importance  of  lifelong  learning  as  a key  factor 
in the personal  development of individuals and for  a European  model  of  competitiveness 
and  growth  which  is  employment-intensive; 

2 

3. 

4. 

foster  better  cooperation  at all  levels  between  education  and  training  structures  and  the 
business  community,  particularly  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises; 

help  to  establish  a  European  area  of  education  and  training  through  the  academic  and 
vocational  recognition  of  qualifications  within  the  European  Union  and  through  the 
introduction  of  a  European  dimension  in  education  and  training; 

stress the  contribution  made by  education  and training  to the  equality  of  opportunities  -
and  thus  the  importance  of  this  equality,  particularly  between  men  and  women  -  in 
access  to  education  and  training. 

Council  Decision 
/ 
European  Parliament  and  Council  Decision 

/EC;  OJ  No  L 

.../.../EC;  OJ  No  L 

Article  3 

1. 

2. 

The  actions  referred  to  in  Article  I  shall  include  general  or  theme-based  events,  the 
preparation  and  dissemination  of  communication  products,  and  studies  and  surveys. 

The criteria,  procedures  and  arrangements  for  the  selection  and  financing  of  actions  are 
set  out  in  the  Annex. 

Article  4 

The  Commission  shall  be  responsible  for  the  implementation  of  this  Decision. 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a  committee  of  an  advisory  nature  composed  of  one 
representative  from  each  Member  State  and  chaired  by  the  Commission  representative. 

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. 

Article  5 

Decisions  on  financial  support  to  be  awarded  by  the  Community  for  actions  proposed  by 
Member  States  shall  be  taken  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  set  out 
in  Article  4. 

Article  6 

1. 

2. 

Each  Member  State  shall  designate  a  body  to  be  responsible  for  the  selection, 
coordination  and  implementation  nationally  of the actions provided  for  in this  Decision. 

Applications  for  financial  support  for  the  actions  provided  for  in  Section  II.B  of  the 
Annex  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Commission  by  the  Member  States  concerned. 

Article  7 

The  Commission  shall  submit,  by  31  December  1997  at  the  latest,  a  report  to  the  European 
Parliament,  to  the  Council,  to the  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  and  to the  Committee  of 
the Regions  on  the implementation,  results and  overall  assessment  of the actions provided  for 
in  this  Decision  and  shall  propose  follow-up  arrangements. 

Done  at  Brussels, 

For  the  European  Parliament 
The  President 

For  the  Council 
The  President 

ANNEX 

1. 

General 

I 

Objectives  and  grounds  for  the  action 

The action  follows  up the White  Paper on growth, competitiveness  and employment  submitted 
by  the  Commission  to  the  Brussels  European  Council  in  December  1993,  in  which  it  is 
recommended  that  the  Commission  should  "set  firmly  and  clearly  the  essential  requirements 
and  the  long-term  objectives  for  measures  and policies" in the areas of education  and training, 
and  that  "one  way  of  sending  an  important  signal  and  creating  added  awareness  in  this  area 
would  be  announce  and  organize  a  "European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning". 

2. 

Themes 

the  objectives  described 

Activities  and events  undertaken  as part of the European  Year of Lifelong  Learning  will  focus 
on 
in  Article  2,  viz.  the  development,  generalization  and 
systcmatization  of  continuing  eduaction  and  training,  the  importance  of  cooperation  between 
education  and  training  structures  and  the  business  community,  the  potential  of  a  European 
education  and  training  area  in  the  context  of  mobility  of  people  receiving  training  and  of 
workers, the  need  to ensure  better  access to  education  and  training  actions  - particularly  from 
the  point  of  view  of  equal  opportunities  for  men  and  women. 

3 

Criteria 

Priority  in  the  selection  of  the  actions  mentioned  in  Section  II  will  go  to  those  which  offer 
a  practical  demonstration  of  the  advantages  of  education  and  training  for  individuals,  firms 
and  regional  development  alike;  those  highlighting  education  and  training  actions  as  part  of 
a lifelong  learning approach; those based on Community  action on education  and training; and 
those  which  show  the  contribution  made  by  transnational  cooperation. 

II.  Contents 

A 

Actions  wholly  financed  out  of  the  Community  budget 

1. 

(a)  Organization  of  European  conferences  on  the  abovementioned  themes  to  launch 

and  close  the  European  Year. 

(b)  Organization  of  meetings  in  the  Member  States  in  order  to stress the  contribution 

made  by  the  European  Union  to  the  abo'vementioned  themes. 

2. 

Community-wide  information  and  promotional  campaigns  involving: 

(a) 

the  designing  of  a logo  and  a slogan  for  the  European  Year of  Lifelong  Learning; 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

preparation  of  communication  products,  e.g.  video  clips  describing  innovatory 
experiences  in  education  and  training;  multimedia  points  at fairs  and  exhibitions; 
brochures  and  leaflets;  packages  (texts,  pictures,  graphs,  diagrams,  etc.)  to 
facilitate  organization  of  local  and  regional  conferences  and  seminars  around  the 
Year's  four  themes;  interactive  systems  (CD-ROM,  CD-I  or  telematics)  to 
complement  printed  material;  in addition  to  raising  awareness  these  products  will 
help  to  improve  access  by  a  wider  public  to  information  on  the  vocational 
recognition  of  qualifications,  on  the  conditions  of  access  to  higher  education  in 
the Union, and on the projects supported  by the different  Community  programmes 
and  initiatives; 

the  use  of  the  major  public  (television,  radio,  press)  and  specialized  media 
(educational  TV  channels,  specialized  press)  for  events  and  promotional 
campaigns; 

organization  of European  competitions (e.g. for pupils, schools, companies or local 
authorities)  highlighting  tangible  experiences  and  achievements  on  one  of  the 
Year's  four  themes,  inter  alia,  in  conjunction  with  business  circles,  the  social 
partners  and  the  world  of  education,  particularly  as  regards  access for  workers  to 
conrinuing  education  and  training; 

Organization  of surveys, preparatory  and ex-post assessment studies as a function  of the 
target publics for  each  of the themes, one of the main points being to circumscribe  more 
the  expectations  of  these  different  publics,  including  as  regards  the 
accurately 
contribution  of  the  Union. 

B.  Actions  co-financed  out  of  the  Community  budget 

The  actions  proposed  for  the  European  Year  by  the  national  authorities  could  qualify  for 
modulated  financing  out  of  the Community  budget  according  to  each  case, up to a  maximum 
of  50% of  the  cost.  These  actions  could  relate  inter  alia  to: 

(a) 

national  or  regional  events  around  the  common  themes  established  for  the 
European  Year; 

(b) 

providing  information  on  and  disseminating  examples  of  good  practice; 

(c) 

the  organization  of  prizes  and  competitions  at  national  or  regional  level. 

C 

Actions  receiving  no  financial  aid  from  the  Community  budget 

Voluntary  actions  to  be  conducted  by  public  or  private  operators,  including  authorization  to 
use  the  logo  and  priority  themes  of  the  European  Year  in  campaigns  and  events. 

10 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

TrilJC  <W OPKKATIOM 

European  Year of  Lifelong  Learning 

BUDGET  HEADING  INVOLVED 

B3-1O08 

LEGAL  BASIS 

Proposal  for  a  decision  of  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  on  a 
programme  of  action  for  the European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  OPERATION 

4.1 

General  objective 

Chapter  7 of the White Paper on growth, competitiveness  and  employment 
submitted  by  the  Commission 
to  the  Brussels  European  Council  in 
December  1993  recommends  that  the  Commission  should  Mset  firmly  and 
clearly 
for 
measures  and  policies"  in  the  areas  of  education  and  training.  "One  way 
of  sending  an  important  signal  and  creating  added  awareness  in  this  area 
would  be  to  announce  and  organize  a  "European  year  of  education". 

the  essential  requirements  and  the  long-term  objectives 

This  would  make  it  possible  to: 

make  the  European  public  aware  of  the  importance  of  lifelong 
learning  as  a  key  factor  in  the  personal  development  of  individuals 
and  for  a  European  model  of  competitiveness  and  growth  which  is 
employment  intensive; 

foster better cooperation  at all levels between between  education  and 
training  structures  and  the  business  community,  particularly  the 
SMEs; 

help  to  establish  a European  area  of  education  and  training  through 
the  academic  and  vocational  recognition  of  qualifications  within  the 
European  Union  and  through  the  introduction  of  a  European 
dimension  in  education  and  training; 

11 

stress  the  importance  of  improving  the  equality  of  opportunities  in 
access  to  education  and  training,  particularly  between  men  and 
women. 

4.2 

Period coveted  and ammgcments  for renewal or extension 

Action  limited  in  time  to  the  preparation  and  organization  of  the  event 
"European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning". 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  EXPENDITURE  OR  REVENUE 

5.1 

Compulsory/Non-compulsory  expenditure 

Non-compulsory  expenditure. 

5.2 

DifferenuatedVlNon-diiTerenùated  appropriations 

Differentiated  appropriations. 

TYPE  OF  EXPENDITURE  OR  REVENUE 

Direct  expenditure:  purchase  of  communications  goods  and  services. 

100%  subsidy:  yes, on  occasion. 

Subsidy  for  joint  financing  with  other  sources  in  the  public  and/or  private 
sector.  The  Commission  will  play  the  main  role  in  the  preparation  and 
organization  of the actions envisaged, but in view of the political  importance 
and the  nature of the  action  it is important for  genuine  cooperation  between 
itself, the  Member  States and the public  and  private players concerned  to  be 
achieved. 

FINANCIAL  IMPACT 

7.1 

Method  of  calculating  total  cost  of  operation  (relationship  between  unit 
costs  and total  cost) 

Some  of  the  actions  undertaken  during  the  Year  will  be  wholly  financed 
from  the Community  budget, some will be jointly  financed  with public and 
private  partners  in  the  Member  States,  while  others  will  receive  no 
financial  aid  from  the  Comunity  budget. 

The  first  of  these  categories  covers  the  creation  of  an  immediately 
recognisable  identity  for  the  Year,  material  for  the  media  and  organizers, 
opening  and  closing  conferences,  and  events  highlighting  the  work 
performed  by  the  Union  in the  field  of  education  and training.  The  second 
category  will  cover  actions  targeted  more  specifically  at  the  national, 

12 

regional  or  other  publics  in  the  Member  States,  the  latter  adapting  the 
themes  of  the  Year  to  these  publics.  The  third  category 
common 
essentially  concerns  the  use of  the  logo, slogan  or  themes  of  the  Year  by 
public  and  private  players  to  enhance  the  impact  of  the  Year. 

A.  Actions  wholly  financed  out  of  the  Community  budget 

A1.  Organization  of  Community-level  events: 

Symposia,  conferences,  and  seminars,  including  the  European 
Year  opening  and  closing  conferences. 

Cost:  ECU  1.5  million 

A2.  Community-wide 
involving. 

information  and  promotional  campaigns 

the  designing  of  a  logo  for  the  European  Year  of 
Lifelong  Learning 

the  use  of  the  main  general  public  media  (TV,  radio, 
magazines, dailies) and specialized  media (education  and 
training  TV  channels  of  the  major  public  (television, 
radio,  posters,  periodicals  and  dail,  posters  in  schools, 
universities,  with  focal  authorities,  specialized  press) 

publications 

organization  of  European  competitions. 

Cost:  ECU  2.5  million 

A3.  Preparatory  surveys  and  assessment  studies 

The  Commission  will  conduct  preparatory  surveys  and 
assessment  studies  as a function  of  the  different  target  publics 
(young  people,  parents,  educationalists  and  trainers). 

Cost:  ECU  0.5  million 

B.  Actions  co-financed  out  of  the  Community  budget 

Bl  Organization  of  events  (at  schools,  in  firms,  in  town  halls, 
public and  other places where young people and  adults  gather) 

Cost:  ECU  1.5  million 

13 

B2.  Campaigns  to  provide  information  on  and  disseminate  good 
practice.  These  campaigns  will  involve  the  production  of 
the 
leaflets,  videos  and  other  multimedia  products  and 
organization  of  meetings  and  exchanges. 

Cost:  ECU  1.5 million 

B3.  Prizes  and  competitions 

There  will  be  prizes  and  competitions  regionally  and  nationally, 
organized  under the  responsibility  of the regional  and national  teams 
responsible.  The  themes  of  these  prizes  and  competitions  will  be 
decided  on  by  the  Commission  in  conjunction  with  the  committees. 

Cost:  ECU  0.5  million 

C.  Actions  receiving  no  financial  aid  from  the  Community  budget 

Voluntary  actions  to  be  conducted  by  public  and  private  operators, 
and  including: 

use  of  the  common  logo  and  slogan  for  the  European  Year  in 
publicity  campaigns  and  events 

dissemination  of  information  on  the  European  Year  in  the 
media. 

7.2 

Itemised  breakdown  of  costs 

Breakdown 

1995  Budget 

1996  Budget 

Total 

in  million  current  ECUs 

Al  Conferences 

A2  Promotion/publicity 

A3  Surveys 

Bl  Events 

B2  Information/dissemination 

B3  Prizes  and  competitions 

TOTAL 

1.2 

1.0 

0.2 

1.3 

1.0 

0.3 

5.0 

1.5 

2.5 

0.5 

1.5 

1.5 

0.5 

8.0 

0.3 

1.5 

0.3 

0.2 

0.5 

0.2 

3.0 

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7.3 

Indicative  plan 

Commitment  appropriations 

Payment  appropriations 

1995 

1996 

JW7 

Total 

1995 

3.0 

2.0 

1.0 

3.0 

1996 

5.0 

3.3 

1.7 

5.0 

Total 

8.0 

2.0 

4.3 

1.7 

8.0 

FRA1J©  «SEVENTHS  MEASURES; RESULTS OF  MEASURES TAKEN 

All  contracts, agreements  and legal  commitments  undertaken  by the  Commission 
allow  for  the  possibility  of  spot  checks  fey  the  Commission  and  the  Court  of 
Auditors.  Moreover,  the  recipients  of  aid  in  respect  of  actions  are  bound  by 
obligations  of  financial  report  and  accounts  which  are  analysed  both  from  the 
point of view of  contents  and from  the point  of  view of  eligibility  of  expenditure 
in accordance  wim  the  objective  of Community  financing. 

ELEMENÏS Vf  C)OST-€*FEOWENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.1 

Specific  and quantified  objectives;  target  population 

The  objective  of  the  European  Year  of  Lifelong  Learning  is  to  make  the 
broadest possible public aware of the  vital  importance to European  society 
of  questions  relating to education  and  training; thus  the potential  target  is 
the whole of this society  in so far  as the Year  will focus  on  education  and 
training.  The  action  therefore  will  concern  not  only  the  players  and 
recipients  of  education  but  also  all  players  involved  in  training  policies, 
including  employees. 

9.2 

Groraads for ihe  operation 

The  strongest  arguments  in  favour  come  from  the approach  to  the  current 
economic  and  social  problems  set  out  in  the  White  Paper  "Growth, 
competitiveness,  employment",  which  examines  how  to  achieve  a  pattern 
of  economic  growth  conducive  to  widespread  job  creation  and  to  the 
preservation  of  the  achievements  of  the  existing  European  social  model. 
The Commission  proposes z strategy  based on a healthy,  decentralized  and 
competitive  economy  anchored  by  solidarity.  Education  and  training 
approached  through  the  theme  of  lifelong  learning,  will  enable  constant 

15 

renewal  .of-employment  opportunities-'and  will  make  it  easier  to  keep 
abreast  of  technological  change. 

This  strategy,  i.e.  placing  faith  in  high  quality  human  capital,  implies  on 
the  part  of  the  general  public  an  awareness  of  the  opportunities  and  the 
benefits  but  also  of  the  constraints  they  involve.  It  implies  thus  a  special 
effort  to  raise  awareness  among  the general  European  public  which  could 
be based on  Community  action  on  education  and  training, actions  financed 
from  the  structural  Funds  such  as  the  Community  initiatives  ADAPT  and 
EMPLOYMENT,  and  legislative  measures  in  the  field  of  recognition  of 
vocational  training  qualifications. 

A European  Year of  Lifelong  Learning  in  1996 will  provide a promotional 
framework  for  the action  undertaken  within  the  European  Union. This will 
make  it  possible  to  get  through  to  a  much  wider  public  than  that  directly 
affected  by such  action  and  the  impact  in  terms of  awareness  creation  will 
be  greater  than  would  be  possible  through  individual  actions  undertaken 
by  the  Member  States  themselves. 

9.3 

Monitoring  and evaluation  of  the  operation 

The  ex-ante  surveys  conducted  among  adults,  young  people, 
teachers/trainers  will  make it possible  to have  a basis for  the  ex-post 
assessment  which,  in  addition  to  measuring  the  size  of  the  audience 
reached  by the event, will  include  an  analysis of changes  in  attitudes 
among  the  different  players  involved.  In  the  field  of  education  and 
training  -  and  particularly  as  regards  mainstream  teaching  and 
lifelong  learning  -  a  change  in  attitudes  is  a  precondition  for  the 
modernisation  of  education  and  training  systems  both 
through 
reforms  or  through  the  dissemination  of  initiatives. 

The  success  of  the  operation  will  be  assessed  over  the  following 
5-10 years  by  examining  trends  in  actual  practices  followed  by  the 
players  concerned.  The  general  indicators  established  by  the TFR.H 
in  the  field  of  education  and  training  will  make  it  possible  to 
monitor  the  changes. 

9.4 

Coherence  with  financial  programming 

New  action  introduced  in  the  wake  of  the  adoption  of  the  White  Paper. 

10 

ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE  (PART  A  OF  THE  BUDGET) 

No  increase  in  the  number  of  staff  is  envisaged  for  the  purposes  of  this  action 

16 

BSN 0254-1475 

COM(94) 264 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

16 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-407-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-80567-6 

Office for Officiai Publications of the Europeaa Commuiiities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 

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