Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 189B(2)(d) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing the Community action programme 'SOCRATES' (amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 189A(2) of the EC Treaty)
Date: 1994-11-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, EU financing, EU programme, amendment, education policy, language teaching

COMMISSION  OF  THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(94) 502 final 
Brussels,  11.11.1994 

94/0001 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSJON 
pursuant  to Article  189 b (2) (d) of the EC Treaty, 
on  the European  Parliament's  amendments 
to the Council's  common  position  regarding the 
proposal  for a 
EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL  DECISION 

establishing the Community  action  programme 
" S O C R A T E S" 

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL  OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant  to Article  189 a (2) of the EC Treaty 

EXPLANATORY  STATEMENT 

According  to  Article  189  B  paragraph  2,  sub-paragraph  d)  of  the  EC  Treaty,  the 
Commission expresses its opinion on the amendments from the second reading of the 
European  Parliament. 

In  this  document  the  Commission  explains  its  opinion  on  the  22  amendments 
proposed by the European Parliament, and attaches, in accordance with Article 189 
A,  paragraph  2  of  the  EC  Treaty,  a  modified  proposal  incorporating  the  18 
amendments  of  the  European  Parliament  which  have  been  accepted  by  the 
Commission. 

1 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

e) 

f) 

g) 

h) 

Historic  background 

On  3  March  1994,  the  Commission  forwarded  to  the  Council  and  to  the 
European Parliament its proposal for a decision on the SOCRATES programme 
(COM(93) 708 final  - 94/0001 (COD)) 

On  27  April  1994,  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  gave  a favourable 
opinion 

On 18 May  1994, the Committee of the Regions gave a favourable opinion 

On  22  April  1994,  the  European  Parliament  adopted,  at  its  first  reading, a 
favourable resolution including 104 amendments to the Commission's proposal 

On  16  May  1994, the  Commission  adopted, on  the  basis  of Article  189  A, 
paragraph  2  of  the  EC  Treaty,  a  modified  proposal  which  integrated  either 
wholly or in part 48 of these amendments (COM(94) 180 final - 94/0001 (COD)) 

On  18 July  1994, the Council adopted a common position 

On 15 July 1994, the Commission took note of this, and informed the European 
Parliament  of  the  Commission's  position  on  the  common  position  (SEC(94) 
1217 final - 94/0001 (COD)) 

On 26 October 1994, the European Parliament adopted on its second reading 
a favourable resolution which included 22 amendments to the common position. 

2 

Purpose of the  Decision 

The proposal for a Decision is intended to encourage cooperation at Community level 
for all levels of education, as a significant contribution from the Community  towards 
improving  the  quality  of  education.  The  "SOCRATES"  programme  arises  from 
experience  gained  from  the  implementation  of  such  Community  programmes  as 
ERASMUS and LINGUA, as well as from pilot projects developed by the Commission 
for other educational levels. 

The programme shall run from 1995-1999, and it is divided into 3 chapters: 

higher education (interuniversity cooperation and student mobility) 

school  education  (school  partnerships,  schooling  for  children  of  migrant 
workers, and for gipsies, and updating of teachers' skills) 

horizontal measures  (promotion of language  learning, of open and distance 
education, and of information and exchange of experience). 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENTS  OF THE 
EP 

After  considering  the  proposed  amendments  of the  European  Parliament's  second 
reading, the Commission can support those: 

1) 

2) 

which are in line with its own original proposal, or 

which  are  in  line  with  its  position  on  the  amendments  of  the  European 
Parliament  presented from its first reading, or 

3) 

which bring useful clarifications to the text. 

A. 

Amendments accepted by the Commission 

1. 

The Commission accepts all amendments which had been already incorporated 
in its modified proposal of May 1994.  It therefore now inserts them in the new 
modified proposal so that they can be reconsidered by the Council. 

More precisely, these amendments fall into three categories: 

a) 

Target groups 

Amendments 2, 4 and 21, which refer to the accessibility  of the programme's 
activities and structures, particularly for disadvantaged groups 

b) 

Mobility 

Amendments  3  and  16, which  aim  to  assist  mobility  through  reinforcing  the 
social infrastructures, and Amendment 9, which aims to include in the Decision 
text the objective to have  10% mobility of students in higher education 

c) 

Cultural aspects 

Amendments 5, 8,18 and 19, which aim to emphasise the need to promote an 
intercultural dimension to teaching, especially through language learning. 

2. 

New amendments accepted bv the  Commission 

a) 

Programme  budget 

Amendment  13,  which  removes  mention  of  the  sum  deemed  necessary  for 
running the  programme 

b) 

Languages  used in teaching 

Amendment  1,  which  extends  the  linguistic  activities  of  the  programme, 
mentioning  particularly  those  in  higher  education,  to  languages  having  a 
national status which are used in a substantial manner as teaching languages 

c) 

Two amendments  referring to the overall content have been accepted 
by the Commission but, for legal reasons, the wording has been altered: 

Amendment 7, referring to the entry  into force of the  programme 

Amendment  14, which intends to open the programme to the countries 
of Central and Eastern Europe, Malta and Cyprus 

d) 

Amendments  bringing clarification 

Amendments  11,  12, 15 and  17, which bring useful clarification to the text. 

B. 

Amendments rejected bv the Commission 

Amendments 6,  10, 20 and 22 are rejected by the Commission: 

Amendment  10  refers  to  the  Programme  Committee. 
It  introduces  the 
obligation for the Commission to submit the planned measures for programme 
execution  to  Parliament  and  to  take  into  account  priorities  adopted  by  the 
Parliamentary  Committee, in order, where  necessary, to modify  its decisions. 

The Commission supports the form of Advisory Committee that it set out in its 
original proposal and does not accept any other form.  An Advisory Committee 
is appropriate for the implementation of a programme such as "SOCRATES", 
given the non-normative nature of the measures to be taken in executing the 
Decision. 

Moreover, the procedure of submitting to Parliament the planned measures for 
execution  is  inflexible  and  not  practical  for  efficient  implementation  of  the 
programme. 

Amendment 6, which envisages cooperation with OECD and UNESCO, is not 
necessary, given that the "competent international organisations" mentioned in 
Whereas 23 of the common position would include  OECD and UNESCO. 

Amendment 20, referring to national languages for teaching, repeats the text 
already  accepted under Amendment  1, and is not  necessary. 

Amendment 22, which envisages information centres at all levels, is rejected. 
The Commission is of the view that the national authorities designated by the 
Member States in the framework of the programme would be able to undertake 
this task at the national level. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the  Commission  considers that the  amendments  incorporated  in the 
modified proposal reinforce the text with particular regard to the groups targetted by 
the programme, and that they are fully compatible with the objectives of the proposal 
for a Decision. 

The Commission wishes to confirm its willingness to contribute to the preparation of 
a satisfactory global agreement between the three institutions involved in the decision 
making process. 

Modified Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARUAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 

establishing the CommunMy Action Programme 

SOCRATES 

(presented by the Commission in accordance with 
Article 189 A, paragraph 2 of the EC Treaty) 

*-

EXPLANATORY  STATEMENT 

Article  189  B,  paragraph  2,  sub-paragraph  d)  of  the  EC  Treaty  provides  that  the 
Commission  should  deliver  an  opinion  on  the  amendments  that  the  European 
Parliament  intends to bring to the common position of the Council. 

The Commission hereby presents, in accordance with Article  189 A, paragraph 2 of 
the EC Treaty, a modified proposal incorporating the eighteen amendments of the EP 
to the common position of the Council that it has accepted. 

§ 

Common  Position of the  Council 

Modified Text 

the following five new Whereas clauses should 
be added: 

10 a.  Whereas  certain  languages,  havinc  a 
national  statute  without  being  official 
languages of the European Union, are 
used  in  a  substantial  manner  as 
teaching 
in  universities: 
whereas teaching  in these  languages 
should offer  possibilities for access to 
parts  of  the  programme  concerning 
higher education: 

languages 

15 a.  Whereas,  in  order  to  increase  the 
efficiency of Community action so that 
it mav perform a  multiplier function, it 
must also be ensured that the assisted 
structures are open to a wider group of 
people than solely direct beneficiaries, 
which means that the structures must 
be organised in such a way as to allow 
non-assisted  students 
to  derive 
maximum benefit from the Community 
value added. 

15 b.  Whereas  the  success  of  mobility 
depends to a great extent on the social 
infrastructure provided bv the Member 
States and the host establishments. 

17 a.  Whereas  the  Community  and  the 
Member States should promote access 
to education,  particularly  for the less-
privileged,  actively  combating  social 
exclusion,  especially  with  regard  to 
initiatives 
participation 
organised  in  the  framework  of  the 
programme. 

in  mobility 

19 a.  Whereas it is necessary to promote an 
intercultural dimension to teaching for 
all pupils in the European Union so as 
to  prepare  them  to  live  in  a  society 
which is increasingly  characterised bv 
cultural and linguistic diversity: whereas 
measures need to be taken to improve 
the quality of education for the children 
of migrant workers, of gypsies and of 
occupational travellers, and to combat 
racism and xenophobia. 

Common  Position of the Council 

Modified Text 

Article 1 

Establishment of the Community Action 
Programme "SOCRATES" 

This  Decision  establishes  the  Action 
1. 
Programme "SOCRATES", hereinafter referred 
to  as  "this  programme",  for  the  period  1 
January  1995 to 31 December 1999. 

This  Decision  establishes  the  Action 
1. 
Programme "SOCRATES", hereinafter referred 
to as "this programme", to be applicable for 5 
years from 1 January 1995 

This programme is intended to contribute to the 
development of quality education and training 
and the creation of an open European area  for 
co-operation in education. 

2.  This programme shall comprise the following 
three  areas of action which are set out in the 
Annex: 

Chapter I 
Chapter II 

-  Higher education (ERASMUS) 
-  School education (COMENIUS) 

Chapter III  -  Horizontal activities in the areas 

of: 
-  language  skills 

in 
Community (LINGUA); 

the 

-  open and distance education; 
-  promotion of the exchange of 
information  and  experience 
(including  EURYDICE  and 
ARION). 

JJO 

Common  Position  of  the  Council 

Modified  Text 

Article  3 

Objectives 

in 

This  programme  shall  encourage  co-operation 
between  Member  States 
field  of 
education; it shall support and supplement their 
action while  fully  respecting their  responsibility 
for the content of teaching and the organisation 
of educational  systems,  and  their  cultural  and 
linguistic diversity. 

the 

In  accordance  with  that  aim,  and  to  help  to 
improve  the  quality  of  education,  the  specific 
objectives of the programme shall be: 

(a) 

(b) 

to  develop  the  European  dimension  in 
to 
education  at  all 
the  spirit  of  European 
strengthen 
citizenship,  drawing  on 
the  cultural 
heritage  of each Member  State; 

levels  so  as 

to promote a quantitative and qualitative 
improvement  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
languages of the European Union, and in 
particular  those  which  are  least  widely 
used and least taught, leading to greater 
understanding and solidarity between the 
peoples of the  European  Union; 

ffiU 

the  citizens  who 

to  develop  knowledge  of the  languages 
of  the  Community  and  promote  the 
intercultural  dimension  to  teaching  so 
that 
the 
Community  mav  take  advantage  of 
opportunities 
the 
establishment of the European Union, as 
well as leading to greater  understanding 
and interaction: 

arising 

from 

live 

in 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

to  promote  wide-ranging  and  intensive 
co-operation  between  institutions  in  the 
Member States at all levels of education, 
enhancing their intellectual and teaching 
potential; 

to encourage the mobility of teachers, so 
as to  promote  a  European  dimension in 
studies  and 
the 
qualitative  improvement  of their skills; 

to  contribute 

to 

to  encourage  mobility 
for  students, 
enabling  them  to  complete  part  of  their 
studies  in another  Member  State,  so  as 
to  contribute  to  the  consolidation  of  the 
European  dimension  in education; 

e) 

to  encourage  mobility 
for  students, 
enabling  them  to  complete  part  of  their 
studies  in another  Member  State,  so  as 
to  contribute  to  the  consolidation  of  the 
European dimension in education and to 
reach 
the  objective  of  10%  of  all 
students  of the  European  Union: 

M 

Common  Position  of the  Council 

Modified  Text 

(f) 

(g) 

to  encourage  contacts  among  pupils  in 
the European Union, and to promote the 
European dimension in their education; 

to encourage the academic recognition of 
diplomas,  periods  of  study  and  other 
qualifications, with the aim of facifitating 
the  development  of  an  open  European 
area for co-operation in education; 

(h) 

to  encourage  open  and  distance 
education in the context of the activities of 
this programme; 

0)  to  foster  exchanges  of  information  and 
experience  so  that  the  diversity  and 
specificity  of the  educational systems in 
the Member  States  become a  source of 
enrichment and of mutual stimulation. 

JtL 

Common  Position of the Council 

Modified Text 

Article 5 

Implementation and selection procedure 

The  Commission  shall  ensure 
the  programme 

1. 
the 
in 
implementation  of 
accordance  with the  arrangements  set  out in 
the Annex.  It shall consult the social partners 
and the competent associations in the field of 
education  at  European  level  and shall inform 
the Committee of their opinions.  It shall also 
ensure  that  the  European  Parliament  is fully 
informed on the operation of the programme. 

2.  It shall take measures to ensure appropriate 
transition  between  those  actions  already 
developed in the framework of the ERASMUS 
and  LINGUA  programmes  and  other  current 
actions and those to be implemented under this 
programme. 

3. 
The  Member  States  shall  take  the 
necessary  steps  to  co-ordinate  and  organize 
the  implementation  of  this  programme  at 
national level, in particular, by providing for the 
appropriate  structures  and  mechanisms  at 
national level. 

4.  The  methods for  proposing  and selecting 
the  projects  referred  to  in the  Annex  are  as 
follows: 

(a)  Requests  for  financial  assistance  for 
projects under Chapter I, Action 1 of the 
Annex  shall be sent to the Commission. 
the 
The  Commission  shall 
structures  designated  by  the  Member 
States of these requests.  Before taking a 
final  decision,  the  Commission  shall 
submit the proposal based on the results 
of the selection to the Committee referred 
to in Article 4 for its opinion. 

inform 

The  national  agencies  provided  for  in 
Chapter I,  Action 2  shall  award  the 
mobility grants provided for in Action 2 to 
students  participating 
in  the  projects 
accepted in the context of Action 1. 

(b)  Requests 

for 

financial  assistance 

for 
projects  mentioned in  actions  considered 
to  be decentralised  in  Chapters II  and Hi 
(Chapter  II,  Action  1  and  Action 3; 
Chapter III,  Action 1.2(b),  (c),  (e)  and 
Action 3.3)  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
structures designated by the Member 

b)  Requests 

for 

financial  assistance 

for 
projects  mentioned  in  actions  considered 
to  be decentralised  in  Chapters II  and III 
(Chapter  II,  Action  1  and  Action 3.2: 
Chapter III,  Action  1.2(b),  (c),  (e)  and 
Action 3.3)  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
structures designated by the Member 

A> 

Common  Position  of the  Council 

Modified  Text 

States,  These structures shall select and 
give Community financial assistance to the 
selected  projects  in  accordance  with  the 
genera!  guidelines 
in 
accordance with Article 4. 

established 

States.  These structures shall select and 
give Community financial assistance to the 
selected  projects  in  accordance  with  the 
general  guidelines 
in 
accordance with Article 4. 

established 

(c)  Requests 

for 

for 
financial  assistance 
in  actions  considered  to  be 

projects 
centralized in Chapter II (Action 2) shall be 
submitted  by the  project co-ordinators to 
the  structures  designated  by  Member 
States,  Those structures shall forward the 
approved requests to the Commission for 
a final decision, to be taken after receiving 
the opinion of the Committee. 

c)  Requests 

for 

financial  assistance 
for 
projects 
in  actions  considered  to  be 
centralized  in  Chapter II  (Action 2  and 
Action  3.1)  shall  be  submitted  by  the 
project  co-ordinators  to  the  structures 
designated  by  Member  States.  Those 
structures  shall  forward  the  approved 
requests  to  the  Commission  for  a  final 
decision,  to  be  taken  after  receiving the 
opinion of the Committee. 

(d)  Requests  for  financial  assistance  for 
projects  in  actions  considered  to  be 
centralised  in  Chapter III,  (Action 1.2(a) 
and  (d),  Action  2  and  Action 3  except 
point 3) shall be submitted by the project 
co-ordinators to the Commission and the 
structures  designated  by  the  Member 
States.  Those structures shall inform the 
Commission of their opinion.  Decisions on 
financial  assistance  for  projects shall be 
taken by the Commission after consulting 
the  Member  States  concerned  and 
receiving the opinion of the Committee. 

/1M 

Common  Position of the  Council 

Modified Text 

Article 7 

Budget 

1.  The funds estimated  as necessary  for the 
execution of this programme during the period 
referred 
to 
ECU 760 million. 

in  Article  1  amount 

to 

2.  The  annual  appropriations  necessary  to 
cover  the  Community  contribution  to  the 
measures provided for in this programme shall 
in  the  annual  budgetary 
be  established 
procedure  in  accordance  with  the  current 
financial  perspective. 

First paragraph deleted. 

Article 7 a  (new) 

The "SOCRATES" programme can be open, as 
appropriate (according to the elements desired), 
to participation from those countries of Central 
and Eastern Europe having signed association 
agreements with the Community, as well as to 
Cyprus  and  Malta,  as  far  as  appropriate 
additional  financial  resources  are  made 
available to this end. 

AC 

Common  Position  of  the  Council 

Modified  Text 

ANNEX 

The  purpose of the SOCRATES  programme is 
to support the transnational  actions  planned in 
the different  chapters  of the  programme. 

CHAPTER  I 

HIGHER  EDUCATION  (ERASMUS) 

This chapter contains the two following actions 
aimed  at: 

-  Action  1:  promoting 

the 

European 

dimension in universities; 

-  Action 2:  encouragement 

student 
mobility  and  the  financing  of 
ERASMUS  grants; 

of 

resources 

to  be  committed  under 
The 
ERASMUS  shall  not  be  less than  55%  of  the 
overall  budget  available  for  the  SOCRATES 
action  programme. 

The selection procedure for projects referred to 
in this Chapter is carried out in accordance with 
the  procedure  laid  down  in  Article  5  of  this 
Decision. 

ACTION  1 

The  promotion of the  European dimension in 
universities 

from 

Drawing  on  experience  gained 
the 
ERASMUS  and  LINGUA  programmes,  the 
Community  will  encourage 
transnational 
co-operation  between  universities,  especially 
through  the  development  of  inter-university 
co-operation programmes  (ICPs), with the  aim 
of gradually reinforcing the European dimension 
in higher education. 

A.  Inter-university co-operation 

financial 
The  Community  may  grant 
assistance  for  measures  for  the  following 
activities: 

- 

under  ICPs: 

(a) 

student  mobility  providing  students  of  a 
university  with an  opportunity  to 

AJo 

Common  Position  of  the  Council 

Modified  Text 

undertake  a  period  of  study  in  another 
Member State, accompanied by practical 
experience  where  appropriate,  such 
periods  being  fully  recognized  as  an 
integral part of their diploma or academic 
qualification; 

the  ECTS 

promotion  of 
system 
(European credit transfer system) without 
calling into question the existence of any 
other similar systems; 

joint  development  of  initial  or  advanced 
curricula  geared  to  facilitating  academic 
recognition  and  contributing,  through 
exchanges of experience, to the process 
of  innovation  and  improvement  of  the 
quality of education  at Community  level; 

(b) 

(c) 

(d)  mobility of teaching staff for the purpose 
of  providing 
forming  an 
instruction 
integral part of the curriculum in another 
Member  State; 

(e) 

intensive  short-term  education  courses 
aimed  at  students  coming  from  several 
Member States, and  particularly in fields 
of study which do not lend themselves to 
long stays abroad. 

- 

outside  ICPs: 

(f) 

study  visits  to  pave  the  way  for  co 
operation may  be carried  out by: 

- 

teachers; 

-  administrative  staff of universities, 

as well as  by, if appropriate: 

-  students 

the 
preparation of co-operation  projects. 

associated  with 

e) 

intensive  short-term  education  courses 
rsummer 
at 
universities") 
students  coming  from  several  Member 
States, and  particularly in fields of study 
which  do  not  lend  themselves  to  long 
stays abroad. 

aimed 

4* 

Common  Position of the  Council 

ACTION 2 

Modified Text 

Encouragement of student mobility 
and financing of ERASMUS grants 

1.  The following conditions must be fulfilled in 
order  to  ensure  that  periods  of  study  spent 
abroad are of maximum benefit to students: 

(a)  studies abroad will be carried out on a full-
time basis and for a significant  period of 
time (a  minimum of three months or one 
term,  and  a  maximum  of  one  academic 
year); 

(b)  studies  undertaken 

in  other  Member 
States  will  be  fully  recognized  by  the 
university of origin; 

(c)  students  must  have  a  satisfactory 
knowledge  of  the  language  in  which 
courses are given by the host university; 

(d)  host  universities  will  not  charge  tuition 
fees to  students  participating  in mobilty 
schemes.  They wiH take steps to fatifitate 
the reception of students; 

(e)  students in the first year  of their studies 
will not be eigible for mobilty grants. 

Host universities should endeavour 
c) a. 
to 
resolve  students'  practical  problems 
(particularly with  respect to reasonably-priced 
accommodation): 

A« 

Common  Position of the  Council 

Modified Text 

CHAPTER II 

SCHOOL EDUCATION: (COMENIUS) 

1.  This  chapter  contains the  three following 
actions intended to encourage: 

- 

Action 1:  Partnerships between schools; 

Action 2:  Education  of  the  children  of 
migrant workers.as well as the 
children  of  occupational 
travellers,  Travellers  and 
G y p s i e s; 
intercultural 
education; 

- 

Action 3:  Updating  and 

improving  of 

skills of educational staff; 

These activities  are  based on the experience 
gained through the LINGUA programme as well 
as  the texts  adopted  by the  Council and the 
Ministers  of  Education,  meeting  within 
the Council,  on  Community  co-operation  in 
education, including pilot projects undertaken in 
the areas of primary and secondary education, 
schooling for the  children  of  migrant workers 
and Gypsies and the exchange of teachers. 

The  resources  to  be  committed 
in  the 
framework of school education shall not be less 
than 10% of the overall budget available for the 
SOCRATES programme. 

2.  The Community funds aimed at promoting 
Actions  1  and 3  will  be  shared  between  the 
Member  States  according  to  the  following 
formula: 

2.  The Community funds aimed at promoting 
Actions 1 and 3^2 will be shared between the 
Member  States  according  to  the  following 
formula: 

(a)  subject to budget availability, a minimum 
of ECU 200 000 will be allocated to each 
Member State; 

(b)  the remainder will be allocated to various 

Member States depending on: 

0) 

the total number of pupils 

A.% 

Common  Position of the Council 

Modified Text 

attending school, 

Cii) 

the number of schools, 

(iii) 

the number of teaching staff, 

Civ) 

(v) 

the  gross  domestic  product  by 
inhabitant, 

the average cost of travel between 
the country of origin and the host 
country. 

*b 

Common  Position  of  the  Council 

Modified  Text 

Annex,  Chapter  II 

ACTION  1 

Partnerships  between  schools 

1.  The  Community will encourage the creation 
of  multilateral  partnerships  between  schools 
which  are  built  around  a  European  Education 
Project  (EEP). 

A  multilateral partnership is a group of at  least 
three schools, from three  Member  States; one 
of  the  schools,  or  an  associated  educational 
body,  will  act  as  the  co-ordinator. 
The 
partnership  might  be  bilateral  if  the  aim  is 
mainly to  promote  knowledge  of  languages  of 
the  European  Union,  particularly  those  which 
are  least widely  used and  least taught. 

An EEP  aims to develop one  or more subjects 
through  a  set  of 
of  European 
educational activities and  measures  integrated 
into the  regular  activities of the schools. 

interest 

These activities and measures may include the 
following: 

the participation  of pupils in projects of,  if 
possible, a  multidisciplinary  nature; 

in  the  area  of 

new  paragraph: 
Consideration  shall  be  given  to  cooperation 
projects 
intercultural  and 
language teaching  involving European  schools 
and schools within national educational systems 
which  are  geared  towards  disseminating  the 
educational  experiences  of  the  European 
schools. 

- 

- 

learning 
languages  of the European Union; 

improvement  of 

and 

the 

the mobility of pupils, particularly for those 
participating in partnerships where the aim 
is  to  improve  knowledge  of  languages. 
Nursery pupils are excluded from this type 
of project; 

exchange  of 
teaching  materials  and 
exchange  of  information  and  experience 
on innovatory  teaching  methods; 

£A 

Common  Position  of the  Council 

Modified  Text 

- 

the use of information and communication 
technologies,  including  the  opportunities 
through  open  and  distance 
offered 
education, 
that 
in  particular 
achievements  and  experiences  of 
partnerships may be widely disseminated, 
benefiting schools not directly participating 
in the projects. 

so 

2.  Financial aid may be allocated for financing 
new  EEPs  for  a  limited  period. 
It  will  be 
granted  for  a  maximum  period  of three  years 
initially,  subject  to  periodic  review  of  the 
projects carried out. 

In granting Community aid, priority will be given 
to  projects  having  the  following  subjects  of 
European interest: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

the  European  dimension  in  general,  as 
well  as  other  themes  concerned  with 
the 
cultural  heritage,  protection  of 
environment,  artistic  education,  and  the 
promotion of science and technology; 

elements promoting equality of opportunity 
in education between boys and girls; 

elements  aiming  to  improve  the  level  of 
achievement of all pupils; 

elements  aiming  to  meet  the  needs  of 
children  with  specific  educational  needs 
and capacities. 

If several  projects  satisfy  the same conditions 
for  selection,  preference  will  be  given  to 
projects  including  schools  which  have  not yet 
taken part in Community activities. 

3.  Financial aid may  be allocated for visits to 
prepare partnerships, for a maximum period of 
one week, and for exchanges of staff  between 
schools to support partnerships and to develop 
European Education Projects, up to a maximum 
period of four weeks. 

*L 

Common Position of the  Council 

Modified Text 

3) a. 

the  Community  wIM  organise 
competitions  fer  pupils  in  subjects 
relating  to  the  common  cultural 
héritage,  such  as  modern  and 
classical tanouaoes.  history,  art  and 
music,  in close  cooperation  with the 
Council of Europe, in agreement with 
the Member States andin^coofleration 
with  the  networks,  with  the  aim  of 
§ ^ a ^ « ^ ^ d ^ i d t t a ^ i a p a c ^ r Jg 

s& 

Common  Position  of the  Council 

Modified  Text 

Annex, Chapter  III, Action 1 

3.  As  far  as  point 2(a) - (d)  above  are 
concerned, priority will be given to projects and 
activities: 

- 

- 

relating to the teaching of languages of the 
European  Union  which  are  least  widely 
used and least taught; 

including  the  use  of  new  educational 
technologies, and/or distance education. 

As far as point 2(e) above is concerned, priority 
will  be  given  to  projects  in  vocational  or 
technical education which: 

- 

- 

- 

innovation 

develop 
in 
educational  exchanges 
language learning; 

the 
for 

field  of 
foreign 

emphasize  the  European  dimension  in 
education; 

support  the  teaching  of  the  least  widely 
used  and  least  taught  languages  of  the 
European Union. 

which  are  aimed  at  those  who  are  less 
advantaged  and  therefore  less  likely  to 
have  the  opportunity  to  team  foreign 
languages. 

Sb 

0254-1475 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-528-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-82173-6 

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 

i 

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