Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Community and Canada establishing a cooperation programme in higher education and training
Date: 1995-07-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Canada, consortium, cooperation agreement (EU), educational exchange, higher education, vocational training

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

* 
•6c 

-tt 
tt 

Brussels,  26.07.1995 
COM(95)  77  final 

95/0108  (CNS) 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

concerning  the  conclusion  of  an Agreement  between 
the  European Community  and Canada 
establishing  a cooperation  programme 
in higher education  and training 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

INTRODUCTION 

Over  the  last  few  years,  developments  within  the  European  Community  and  on  the 
international  stage  have  fundamentally  altered  transatlantic  relations  and  perceptions 
of  these  relationships.  The  Transatlantic  Declarations,  agreed  in  1990,  gave  a  first 
expression to a new sense of partnership between  the European  Community  on  the one 
hand  and,  respectively,  Canada  and  the  United  States  of  America  on  the  other  in 
confronting  issues  of  common  interest  and  concern.  Since  then,  a  number  of  high-
level  bilateral  consultations  have  taken  place  with  Canada  and  the  United  States, 
whilst  the  negotiations  between  the  European  Community  and  the  United  States  as 
well  as Canada played a major role in the successful  conclusion  of the GATT  Uruguay 
round. 

Canada  recognises  the  importance  and  the  considerable  advantages  it  derives  from 
trading with  the European  Community,  the world's largest  trade  block  Both  partners 
are  major  sources  of  direct  investment,  both  industrial  and  financial,  undertaken  in 
each other.  Both share many common cultural traditions and the commitment  to open 
democratic  government 

The European  Community  has a clear  interest  in  promoting  a deeper  knowledge  and 
understanding  within  Canada of  the  new  realities  of  European  Union  and  vice  versa 
At  the  bilateral  level,  those  Member  States  which  have  developed  a  tradition  of 
transatlantic  academic  cooperation  acknowledge  that it provides  a powerful  means  of 
increasing  mutual  knowledge  and  understanding. 

In  addition,  the  achievements  of  the  European  Community  programmes  concerning 
higher education  and training have been  widely  acknowledged.  Through  the  creation 
and  fostering  of  international  education  and  training  networks,  the  Community 
Programmes  are  instrumental  in  developing  intensified  learning  which 
includes 
academic, cultural  and practical experience, in using the diversity  of systems for  better 
qualified  and  flexible  manpower,  in  facilitating  curriculum  development  and  the 
transfer  of  pedagogic  methods. 

Stemming  from  the  successes  of  these  European  Community  programmes,  there  has 
been a rapidly growing  interest on both sides of the Atlantic in developing  cooperative 
activities  along  the  lines  of  the  intra-European  networks  Bilateral  arrangements 
continue  to  play  an  important  role  in  promoting  transatlantic  teacher  and  student 
mobility  in particular.  However, the unique  features of  network  cooperation  are  seen 
to  offer  particular  strengths  in  facilitating  innovative  types  of  academic  cooperation 
which  are not provided  within  bilateral  programmes.  Structured  cooperation  projects 
involving  consortia  groupings  on  the  two  sides  of  the  Atlantic  can  provide  valuable 
inputs  to  intra-European  activities  whilst,  at  the  same  time,  providing  an  genuinely 
European  dimension  for  the  Canadian  partners. 
Innovative  EC:Canada  consortia 
arrangements  can  bring  mutual  gains  to  the  quality  and  breadth  of  the  study 
programmes  offered  by  partner  institutions  and can  develop  models of  good  practice 
for  wider  use. 

2 

II. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  present  Recommendation  for  a Council  Decision  gives  concrete  expression  to  the 
intentions  set  out  in  the  Transatlantic  Declaration  regarding  the  strengthening  of 
cooperative  activities  in  education  and  training  with  Canada  Moreover,  it  strictly 
adheres  to  the  guidelines  prescribed  for  such  cooperation  by  the  Council.  Finally,  it 
responds  to  the  wishes  expressed  by  the  European  Parliament  that  the  Community 
should  develop  educational  cooperation  with  third  countries.  This  background  is  set 
out  in  more  detail  in  the  following  section. 

BACKGROUND 

In  November  1990,  a  Transatlantic  Declaration  was  adopted  by  the  European 
Community  and  its  Member  States  and  Canada.  A  section  devoted  to  education, 
scientific  and  cultural  cooperation  stated: 

Their  mutual  co-operation  shall  also  he  strengthened  in  various  other  fields 
which  directly  affect  the  well-being  of  their  citizens,  such  as  exchanges  atid 
joint  projects  in science and technology\  including  space, research in  medicine, 
environmental  protection,  energy  conservation,  and in the safety  of nuclear and 
other  installations,  and  in  communication,  culture  and  education,  including 
academic  and youth  exchanges.' 

In  May  1992, the Commission  presented  a Communication  (SEC  92  1023 final)  to the 
Council  of  Ministers  regarding  possible  avenues  for  the  development  of  EC/US 
cooperation  in  the  fields  of  education  and  training  in  the  context  of  a  parallel 
Transatlantic  Declaration  agreed with the United  States of  America  In  that  document 
it  was  indicated  that  this  could  act  as  a  model  also  for  Canada.  In  response,  at  the 
meeting  in  November  1992,  the  Council  expressed 
its  readiness  to  assist  the 
Commision  in  the  consideration  of  future  action  and  indicated  certain  criteria  which 
such  action  should  fulfill. 

Suitable  cooperative  activities  should: 

-  take  into  account  existing  bilateral  programmes 
-  be  closely  tied  to  Community  policies  and  programmes 
-  bring  balanced  benefits  to  both  EC  and  US  sides 
-  make  the  most  effective  use  of  resources 
- provide  a  specific  European  added  value 

The  Council 
consideration  with  a  view  to  preparing  a  draft  agreement 

the  Commission  as  soon  as  possible 

invited 

to  enter 

into 

this 

The  European  Parliament  has  also  played  an  active  and  encouraging  role  in  this  area. 
In  1993,  it  produced  a  report  and  passed  a resolution  calling  for  the  establishment  of 
In  addition,  its  decisions 
cooperation  with  Third  countries  in  education  and  culture 
as  a  budgetary  authority  have  enabled  the  Commission  to  explore  possibilities  for 
development  of  cooperative  activities  with  Third  countries. 

3 

In  1993,  the  Commission  initiated  an  exploratory  phase  of  cooperation  within  which 
higher  education  institutions  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  were  invited  to  submit 
proposals for joint  EC/US  consortia activities to be undertaken  over a two-year  period. 
The  aim  of  this  exercise  was  to  examine  the  range  of  proposed  activities  in  order  to 
identify  particular  types of  cooperation  groupings  and  activities  which  could  meet  the 
criteria  set  out  by  the  Council. 

Drawing  on  the  positive  experience  of  this  exploratory  phase,  in  November  1994,  the 
Commission  was  authorized  by  Council  to  negotiate  Cooperation  Agreements  with 
both  Canada  and 
the  United  States  of  America  establishing  Programmes  of 
Cooperation  in higher  education  and vocational  training  (Council  Decn  of  21.11  94) 

Formal  negotiations  with  Canada  have  been  concluded  and  have  resulted  in  the 
attached  draft  Agreement  which  adheres  to  the  Negotiating  Directives  given  by  the 
Council. 

The  Agreement's  legal  bases are  Articles  126,  127 and  228  of  the Treaty  of  European 
Union. 

Ill 

DESCRIPTION  OF THE COOPERATION  PROGRAMME 

1. 

2. 

1) 

2) 

The  Programme  is  specifically  designed  to  encompass  both  higher  education  and 
vocational  training  and to  encourage,  where  appropriate, interaction  between  the  two 
Interactions  are  also  encouraged  between  higher  education  institutions,  training 
organisations  and  the  workplace. 

The  following  categories  of  activities  are  provided  for: 

Joint  projects  carried  out  by  EC/Canada  consortia.  These  can  be  composed  of  higher 
education  institutions, vocational  training  establishments or a mixture of the two.  The 
consortia  are  encouraged  to  include  other  relevant  actors  as  affiliated  members 
In 
order to maximize the advantages of  muli-lateral  arrangements  a minimum  number of 
three  participants  is  required  on  each  side,  two  of  which  must  be  in  different 
Community  Member  States  or  Canadian  Provinces. 

Complementary  measures  including,  notably,  exchanges  of  experience  in  the  area  of 
the  European 
higher  education  and  training  to  enhance  the  dialogue  between 
Community  and  Canada. 

IV 

COMPLEMENTARITY  AND  SUBSIDIARITY 

1. 

With the growth of Community  programmes, universities have begun to appreciate  the 
advantages of  networks.  This  form  of  cooperation  provides  a flexible  and  responsive 
framework  for  the  development  of  cooperative  activities,  enabling  expertise  and 
facilities  to  be  pooled  and  constituting  a  forum  for  the  exchange  of  experience, 
information  and the  resolution  of problems.  The  main objective  of the joint  consortia 
projects  is  to  build  bridges  for  Transatlantic  cooperation  activities  which  can 

4-

subsequently  be  implemented  without  the  need  for  continuing  Community  financial 
support. 

the  intra-Community  policies  and 
The  joint  consortia  build  on  and  enhance 
programmes.  In  many  subject  areas,  the  activities  of  existing  Community  networks 
can  be  enhanced  by  the  input  of  Canadian  experience  which  enriches  the  study 
programmes  of  all  the  students  concerned. 

The  European  institutions  acting  together  as  a group  in joint  consortia  activities  is in 
itself  a  concrete  expression  of  the  'European  dimension'.  Through  this  European 
network  arrangement,  the  Canadian  students  and  staff,  will  work  and  study  with  a 
mixed  group  of  Europeans,  bringing  together  varied  national  perspectives  into  a 
European  context. 

Partner  institutions  in  European  networks  without  transatlantic  contacts,  particularly 
smaller  insitutions  in  peripheral  regions  of  the  Community  can  gain  entrée  and  be 
introduced  through  their  more  experienced  partners'  transatlantic  links.  The  spirit  of 
cohesion  and  solidarity  promoted  within  the  European  networks  is  further  enhanced 
through  their  acting together  in transatlantic  cooperation.  The promotion  of  linguistic 
diversity  is  pursued  through  the  active  encouragement  of  linguistic  preparation  for 
Canadian  teachers  and  students  which  enables  them  to  be  fully  integrated  into  the 
study  programmes  of  their  European  host  institutions 

The joint  consortia  are a cost-effective  means of developing  transatlantic  cooperation. 
Especially  for  smaller  European  higher  education  institutions,  which  could  not  afford 
to  set  up  transatlantic  activities  on  a  bilateral  basis,  cooperating  within  a  network 
provides  economies  of  scale.  Good  relations  have  already  been  formed  in  the  intra-
European  partnerships  set  up  with  Community  financial  support  and  these  provide  an 
economical  springboard  for  transatlantic  activities.  For  example,  the  trust  and 
confidence  built up by Community  networks means that partner institutions are willing 
to  act  on  each-others'  behalf  at  meetings  or  for  student  monitoring  purposes 
Furthermore,  the  joint  consortia  projects  are  aimed  not  only  at  establishing  links 
between  the partners directly  involved but in producing  results and products which  can 
be  more  widely  used.  There  is  good  potential  for  multiplier  effects,  for  example,  in 
addressing  such  problems  as  transatlantic  academic  recognition  or  provision  of 
adequate language training in the less-used Community  languages  The joint  consortia 
are  encouraged  to  involve  other  establishments  and  organisations  in  their  activities  as 
associate,  non-funded  partners. 

The  Agreement  provides  for  an  annual  report  to  be  made  available  to  the  joint 
Cooperation  Committee  established  under  the  1976  European  Community/Canada 
Framework  Agreement  for  Commercial  and  Economic  Cooperation  and  appropriate 
Ministers  of  each  party. 
In  the  case  of  the  Community,  the  latter  would  be  the 
Education  Council. 

CONCLUSIONS 

This Explanatory  Memorandum  accompanies  the  Commission  proposal  for  a Council 
Decision  concerning  the  conclusion  of  a Cooperation  Agreement  for  higher  education 
and vocational  training  cooperation  with Canada  in the framework  of the Transatlantic 
Declaration  and  on  the  legal  bases  provided  by  the  provisions  of  the  Treaty  of 
European  Union  and  following  the  Mandate  given  by  the  Council  Decision  of  21 
November  1994. 

The Commission  believes  that  these  small-scale  activities  fulfill  the criteria set out  by 
the  Council  of  Ministers  and  respond  to  the  resolution  of  the  European  Parliament 
The  activities  fully  respect  the  bilateral  activities  of  the  Member  States,  whilst 
providing  a  flexible  and  dynamic  means  of  enhancing  transatlantic  cooperation 
between  the  European  Community  and  Canada  in  the  area  of  higher  education  and 
training. 

In  the  light  of  the  above  mentioned  considerations  the  Commission  proposes  that  the 
Council  adopt  the  attached  proposal  for  a  Decision. 

G 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

concerning the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Community  and Canada 
establishing a Cooperation Programme in higher education and training 

THE  COUNCIL  OF THE  EUROPEAN  UNION, 

Having  regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 
126,  127, 228(2) first  sentence and 228(3) first  line; 

Having regard  to the proposal  of the Commission  (), 

Having  regard to the Opinion  of the European  Parliament  (), 

WHEREAS  by its Decision  of 21 November  1994, the Council  authorized  the Commission to 
negotiate agreements for cooperation in higher education and vocational training between the 
European  Community,  Canada and the  United  States of  America, 

WHEREAS the Community and Canada expect to obtain mutual benefit from  such cooperation, 

WHEREAS the Agreement on higher education and vocational training cooperation between the 
European  Community  and Canada should be  approved, 

DECIDES: 

Article 1 

The  Agreement  for  cooperation  in  higher  education  and  vocational  training  between  the 
European Community  and Canada is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.  The text 
of the Agreement  is attached  to this Decision. 

The President  of the Council  shall  carry  out the notifications  provided  for  in  Article  11 

Article 2 

Done at 

For the Council 
The President 

AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITY  AND  CANADA 
ESTABLISHING  A  COOPERATION  PROGRAMME  IN  HIGHER  EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING 

The European Community of the one part and the Government of Canada of the other 
part, hereinafter  collectively  referred  to as 'the Parties', 

NOTING that the Transatlantic Declaration adopted by the European Community and 
its  Member  States  and  the  Government  of  Canada  on  22  November  1990  makes 
specific reference to strengthening mutual cooperation in various fields which directly 
affect  the present  and future  wellbeing of their citizens, such  as exchanges  and joint 
projects  in education  and culture, including  academic and youth  exchanges; 

ACKNOWLEDGING  the  crucial  contribution  of  education  and  training  to  the 
development  of  human  resources  capable  of  participating  in  the global  knowledge-
based  economy; 

RECOGNIZING  that  the  Parties  have  a  common  interest  in  cooperation  in  higher 
education  and  training,  as  part  of  the  wider  cooperation  between  the  European 
Community  and Canada; 

EXPECTING to obtain mutual benefit from  cooperative activities in higher education 
and training; 

DESIRING  to  establish  a  formal  basis  for  the  conduct  of  cooperative  activities  in 
higher  education  and training 

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 
Purpose 

1 

This Agreement establishes a Cooperation Programme in higher education and 
training  between  the European  Community  and  Canada. 

Article 2 
Objectives 

The objectives  of the Cooperation  Programme  shall  include: 

Promote  closer  understanding  between 
the  peoples  of  the  European 
Community  and  Canada  including  broader  knowledge  of  their  languages, 
cultures and institutions; 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

Improve  the  quality  of  human  resource  development  in  both  the  European 
Community  and Canada; 

Stimulate an innovative range of student-centred higher education and training 
regions  in  the  European 
cooperative  activities  between  the  different 
Community  and in  Canada; 

Improve  the  quality  of  Transatlantic  student  mobility  including  promoting 
transparency,  mutual  recognition  and thus portability  of academic credits; 

Encourage exchange of expertise in new developments in higher education and 
training, including the use of new technologies and distance education, for the 
mutual  enrichment  of practice  in the European  Community  and  Canada; 

Form or enhance partnerships among higher education and training institutions, 
professional  associations, public authorities, business and other associations as 
appropriate  in both  the  European  Community  and  Canada; 

Introduce a European  and a Canadian  added value dimension  to Transatlantic 
cooperation  in higher  education  and training; 

Complement bilateral programmes between the Member States of the European 
Community and Canada as well as other programmes and initiatives in higher 
education  and training; 

Seek, as appropriate, complementarity  with  activities undertaken  between  the 
European  Community  and  Canada  in  the  area  of  scientific  and  technical 
cooperation. 

Article 3 
Principles 

Cooperation  under this  Agreement  shall  be conducted  on  the basis of the  following 
principles: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Full  respect  for  the  responsibilities  of  the  Member  States  of  the  European 
Community  and  the  Provinces  of  Canada  and  the  autonomy  of  the  higher 
education  institutions; 

An overall  balance of  benefits; 

Effective  use of Cooperation  Programme  funds; 

Emphasis  on  a diverse  range of  innovative  projects,  building  new  structures 
and links, sustainable over the longer term and without on-going Cooperation 
Programme  support; 

°\ 

5. 

6. 

7. 

Broad  participation  across  the  different  Member  States  of  the  European 
Community  and the  Provinces  and Territories of  Canada; 

Recognition of the full  cultural, social and economic diversity of the European 
Community  and  Canada; 

Selection of projects on a competitive and transparent basis, taking account of 
the foregoing  principles. 

Article 4 
Scope 

The Cooperation  Programme  may  include  the  following. 

a) 

b) 

Joint  projects  carried  out  by  multi-lateral  EC/Canada  consortia, 
including, where appropriate, preparatory  actions.  These groups may 
be  composed  of higher  education  institutions, training  establishments 
and  other  organisations  providing  links  with  the  workplace.  Each 
consortium  will  be  encouraged  to  include  other  relevant  actors  as 
affiliated  members; 

Exchanges  of  experience  in  the area of higher  education  and training 
to  enhance  the  dialogue  between  the  European  Community  and 
Canada; 

c) 

Complementary  measures  including  technical  support. 

Specific  activities which  may be undertaken  are detailed  in the Annex which 
is an  integral  part of this Agreement. 

Article 5 
Joint  Committee 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

A Joint Committee is hereby  established.  It shall  comprise representatives of 
each  Party. 

The functions  of the Joint Committee shall  be to provide a report annually  to 
the  Parties  on  the  level,  status  and  effectiveness  of  cooperative  activities 
undertaken  under this  Agreement. 

The  Committee  shall  endeavour  to  meet  once  per  year,  with  such  annual 
meetings  being  held  alternately  in  the  European  Community  and  Canada. 
Other  meetings may  be held  as mutually  determined. 

Minutes  shall  be  agreed  by  those  persons  selected  from  each  side  to jointly 
chair the meeting and shall, together with the annual report, be made available 

lO 

to  the joint  Cooperation  Committee  established  under  the  1976  Framework 
Agreement for Commercial  and Economic Cooperation  between the European 
Communities  and  Canada and appropriate  Ministers of each  Party. 

Article 6 
Monitoring  and Evaluation 

The Cooperation Programme shall be monitored and evaluated as appropriate. 
This  shall  permit,  as  necessary,  the  reorientation  of  the  Cooperation 
Programme in the light of any needs or opportunities becoming apparent in the 
course of  its operation. 

Article 7 
Funding 

Cooperative  activities  shall  be  subject  to  the  availability  of  funds  and  to the 
applicable  laws  and  regulations,  policies  and  programmes  of  the  European 
Community  and  Canada.  Financing  will  be  on  the  basis  of  an  overall 
matching of funds  between  the Parties. 

Each  Party  shall  provide  funds  for  the direct  benefit  of:  for  Canada; its own 
permanent  residents  as  defined  in  the  Immigration  Act;  for  the  European 
Community;  citizens  of  one of  the European  Community  Member  States or 
persons recognized  by a Member State as having official  status as permanent 
residents. 

Costs incurred by or on behalf of the Joint Committe shall be met by the Party 
to whom the members are responsible.  Costs, other than those of travel  and 
subsistence,  which  are  directly  associated  with  meetings  of  the  Joint 
Committee  and its sub-group, shall  be met by the host Party. 

Article 8 
Entry  of personnel 

Each Party  shall take all  reasonable  steps and use its best efforts  to  facilitate 
entry  to  and  exit  from  its  territory  of  Personnel,  students,  material  and 
equipment of the other Party engaged in or used in cooperative activities under 
this  Agreement. 

Article 9 
Other  Agreements 

1. 

This  Agreement  is  without  prejudice  to  cooperation  which  may  be  taken 
pursuant to other  agreements between  the Parties. 

U 

This Agreement is without prejudice to existing or future  bilateral  agreements 
between  individual  Member  States of the  European  Community  and  Canada 
in the fields  covered  herein. 

Article 10 
Territorial  Application of this  Agreement 

This  Agreement  shall  apply, on  the  one hand, to  the territories  in  which  the 
Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community  is  applied  and  under  the 
conditions laid down  in that Treaty  and, on the other hand, to the territory  of 
Canada. 

Article 11 
Entry  into Force and  Termination 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

This Agreement shall  enter into force on the first  day of the month  following 
the  date  on  which  the  Parties  shall  have  notified  each  other  in  writing  that 
their legal  requirements for  the entry  into force  of this Agreement have been 
fulfilled. 

This Agreement  shall  be in force  for  an  initial  period  of five years. 

This  Agreement  may  be  amended  or  extended  by  agreement  of  the  Parties. 
Amendments or extensions shall enter into force on the first  day of the month 
following  the  date  on  which  the  Parties  shall  have  notified  each  other  in 
writing that their legal  requirements for  the entry  into force  of the agreement 
providing for  the amendment  or extension  in  question  have been  fulfilled. 

This  Agreement  may  be terminated  at  any  time by  either  Party  upon  twelve 
months written notice.  The expiration  or termination  of this Agreement shall 
not  affect  the  validity  or  duration  of  any  arrangements  made  under  it or  the 
obligations  established  pursuant to the  Annex to this  Agreement. 

Article 12 
Authentic Texts 

This  Agreement  is  drawn  up  in  duplicate  in  the  Danish,  Dutch,  English,  Finnish, 
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish  and Swedish languages, each of 
these texts being equally  authentic. 

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF the undersigned  have signed this Agreement. • 

DONE  AT 

, this day of 

,  One  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  ninety-five. 

FOR 
THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITY 

FOR 

THE GOVERNMENT  OF 
CANADA 

\2. 

ANNEX 

Action 1 

Joint EC/Canada  Consortia  projects 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The Parties will provide support to higher  education  institutions  and training 
establishments  which  form  joint  EC/Canada  consortia  for  the  purpose  of 
undertaking joint  projects  in  the  area  of  higher  education  and  training.  The 
European  Community  will  provide  support  for  the  use  of  the  European 
Community  consortia  partners,  Canada  will  provide  support  for  Canadian 
consortia partners. 

Each  joint  consortium  must  involve  at  least  six  active  partners  with  an 
absolute  minimum  requirement  of  two  partner  higher  education  or  training 
insititutions  on  each  side  which  are  in  different  Member  States  of  the 
European  Community  and  in different  Provinces of  Canada. 

Joint  Consortia  Project  grants  may  be  awarded  for  innovative  activities  with 
objectives which can be accomplished within a time-scale of up to a maximum 
of three years. 

The eligible subject  areas for joint  EC/Canada  consortia cooperation  shall  be 
agreed  by the Joint  Committee  as established  by  Article 5. 

5. 

Activities  eligible for  support  may include: 

Development  of  organisational  frameworks  for  student  mobility, 
language 
including  work  placements,  which  provide  adequate 
preparation  and full  academic  recognition, 

Joint  development  of  innovative  curricula  including  the  development 
of teaching  materials, methods  and modules, 

Short  intensive programmes  of  a minimum  of three weeks, 

Teaching  assignments forming  an  integral  part of the curriculum  in a 
partner  institution, 

Other  innovative  projects,  including  the  use of  new technologies  and 
distance  learning,  which  aim  to  improve  the  quality  of  transatlantic 
cooperation  in higher education  and training and meet one or more of 
the objectives  specified  in Article  2 of this  Agreement. 

6. 

Financial  support  for  joint  consortia  activities  may  be  provided  from  the 
Cooperation  Programme  for  up  to  a  maximum  of  three  years.  The  main 
purpose of support is to strengthen European Community-Canada  cooperation 

ri 

in  higher  education  and  training  by  providing 
cooperative projects to be jointly  carried  out. 

seed-funding  for  specific 

Each Party may provide grants to students, academic or administrative staff of 
higher education and training establishments in its territory  for the purpose of 
Transatlantic  cooperation. 

Administration  of  the joint  projects  shall  be  implemented  by  the  competent 
officials  of each  Party.  These tasks shall  comprise: 

deciding the procedures for the presentation  of proposals including the 
preparation  of a Common  Set of Guidelines  for  applicants; 

establishing  the  timetable  for  publication  of  calls  for  proposals, 
submission  and  selection  of proposals; 

providing 
implementation; 

information  on  the  Cooperation  Programme  and  its 

appointing  academic  advisors  and experts; 

recommending projects to finance to the appropriate authorities of each 
Party; 

financial  management; 

Programme  monitoring. 

Action 2 
Complementary  Activities 

The Parties may  undertake the following  complementary  measures: 

1. 

2. 

Conferences  on issues of interest to the European  Community  and Canada in 
higher  education  and/or training; 

Measures  to  facilitate  the  dissemination  of  information  on  the  Cooperation 
Programme, including making the results and achievements of joint  consortia 
projects  available for  the use of  a wider  audience; 

3. 

Provision  of technical  support  to underpin  activities. 

n 

COOPERATION  WITH  CANADA 
'TRANSATLANTIC EDUCATION  COOPERATION" 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

1. 

TITLE 

Conclusion  of an Agreement  for Cooperation, between  the European  Community  and 
Canada,  in  higher  education  and  vocational  training. 

2. 

BUDGETARY  HEADING 

B3-1007 - Cooperation  with Third Countries. 

3. 

LEGAL BASIS 

Articles  126,  127 and  228 of the Treaty  of European  Union. 

Transatlantic  Declaration  issued  in  the  context  of  European  Political  Cooperation, 
agreed  by  the  Community  (Italian)  Presidency  and  Foreign  Ministers  and  the  Prime 
Minister  of  Canada  in  November  1990,  following  endorsement  at  the  European 
Council  in June  1990 in  Dublin. 

Mandate  to  negotiate  Cooperation  Agreements  with  both  Canada  and  the  US 
establishing  Programmes of Cooperation  in higher education  and vocational  training. 
Council  Decision  of 21/11/1994. 

4. 

DESCRIPTION  OF THE ACTION 

4.1.  General objective  of the action 

The objective  is to promote  innovative  actions  in the  area of  education  and  training 
which promote qualitative improvements by building on the different  relative strengths 
of  all participants  to their  mutual  benefit. 

t^ 

The  activities  are  carried  out  in  the  context  of  the  political,  economic,  social  and 
cultural  relations  between  the  EU  and  Canada,  now  one  of  the  two  largest  trading 
blocks  in the world  given  the US and Canada  cooperation  within  the NAFTA.  EU and 
Canada  are  each  others'  major  trading  partners  with  trade  roughly  in  balance  and 
where  each  side have  levels of direct  investment  many  times higher  than  that  from  all 
other  countries  together. 

Following  the  principles  of  trade  liberalisation  to  which  both  parties  subscribe,  the 
globalisation  of production  patterns and the  accelerating pace of technology  diffusion, 
all  partners  and  young  people  in  particular,  can  benefit  in  terms  of  career  prospects, 
from  qualitative  improvements  in  curricula,  especially  in  interdisciplinary  studies, 
participating  in  the  same  classes  and  learning  in  the  same  language  as the  students  of 
the  host  country,  exchanges  of  teaching  staff  and  of  policy-makers  in  the  area  of 
vocational  training. 

Actually  living in another country, in the case of student mobility, especially  when this 
involves  another  language  and  culture,  is  an  ideal  means  of  spreading  understanding 
of  other  cultures  and  building  up  experience  of  dealing  with  the  people  of  the  host 
country  which  could  prove  of  considerable  value  in  securing  employment  and 
enhancing  career  prospects  in  the home  country  later.  Some  member  States  recognise 
the  need  for  greater  understanding  of  the  Union  by  Canadian  youth  and  opinion 
formers, particularly  of non English-speaking  and non French-speaking Member  States 
and  including  those  with  lesser-spoken  languages. 

By  structuring  actions  where  possible  on  a  consortium  basis,  building  on  the 
experience  of  existing  Programmes,  education  and  training  institutions  in  the  regions 
which  have,  in  the  past,  found  such  transatlantic  cooperation  too  costly  in  terms  of 
money  and  time,  have  a chance  to  participate  in  such  cooperation. 

transferring  of 
Different  relative  strengths  in  the  various  stages  of  successfully 
scientific  advances from  laboratory  to the market place provides an opportunity  for  the 
participants  to  regain  some  of  their  lost  international  competitiveness  in  the  area  of 
world  trade  in  high  technology. 

Exchanges  of  information  and  experiences,  particularly  in  the  area  of  skills  and 
qualifications,  can  help  to  ease  the  transition  from  school  and  university  to the  world 
of  gainful  employment  among  all  partners. 

4.2.  Duration  of  the  action 

The  Declaration  does  not  specify  an  expiry  date.  Five  year  action  programme 
(1995-99).  Individual  projects  subject  to  3 year  limit. 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

5.1.  Non-compulsory  expenditure. 
5.2  Differentiated  appropriations. 

6. 

NATURE OF THE EXPENDITURE 

6.1. 
6.2. 

100 % in the case of  studies and publications. 
Topping  up  grants  to  academic  staff  and  students  to  cover  part  of  transport  and 
accommodation  costs. Co-financing  with Canadian  Ministry  of Foreign  Affairs 
6.3.  Daily  allowance  for  Member  State  experts  and  members  of  independent  academic 

assessment  board  attending  relevant  meetings. 

7- 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7.1.  Method of calculating total of action set out in the annex to the proposal for  a Council 

Decision. 
Indicative  itemised  breakdown  of  cost of  action. 

7.2 

Breakdown of costs of actions 

ECU ooo  current 

CANADA 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

TOTAL 

Action  1 

550 

550 

570 

590 

600 

2  860 

Action  2 

50 

80 

80 

80 

90 

380 

TOTAL 

600 

630 

650 

670 

690 

3  240 

Action  1 : joint projects carried out by EC/Canada consortia 
Action 2 : complementary measures 

IT-

7.3. 

Indicative schedule of  appropriations 

7.3.1.  Echéancier des appropriations  - ECU  '000 current 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 
+ 

TOTAL 

600 

630 

650 

670 

690 

3 240 

Crédits 
d'enga 
gement 

Crédits  de  paiement 

1995 

480 

1996 

120 

504 

126 

520 

130 

536 

1997 

1998 

1999  + 

134 

690 

824 

TOTAL 

600 

630 

650 

670 

690 

3 240 

8. 

PREVENTION  OF  FRAUD 

All  contracts,  agreements  and  legal  undertakings  by  the  Commission  make  provision 
for  the  possibility  of  spot  checks  by  the  Commission  and  by  the  Court  of  Auditors. 
Among  other  things  beneficiaries  of  actions  are  obliged  to  provide  reports  and 
financial  statements  on  the  content  and  the  eligibility  of  expenditure,  in  accord  with 
the  aim  of  Community  financing. 

H 

480 

624 

646 

666 

9- 

ELEMENTS OF COST- EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.1. 

Specific  and quantifiable  objectives  : target  population. 

The  aim  of  the  proposed  programme  is  to  add  an  extra  dimension  to  existing 
programmes  by  generating  value  added  and  contributing  to the  enhanced  quality  of 
education and training through contact with external structures which have a  different 
range of strength  than  those  in Europe. 

The  programme  is  designed  to  create  the  maximum  degree  of  synergy  between 
systems, such as joint cooperation  on both sides using the ECTS as a model, building 
on  relative  strengths  of  consortium  members  in  multidisciplinary  curriculum 
development,  and  providing  a  vehicle  for  transatlantic  cooperation  for  regional 
institutions in Europe  who could not hitherto  afford  such  activities. 

Since  financial  support  in  the  case  of  the  consortia  should  be  for  a  maximum  of 
3 years  duration  the  multiplier  effects  should  be  substantial  as  the  EU  will  restrict 
itself to  the provision  of  seed  money. Their  projects  will  be  selected  with  a view to 
their viability  with alternative funding  subsequent years. Thus the main rôle of EU is 
to act as a catalyst  rather than  a long-term  source of on-going  finance. 

The Programme  involves  2 actions : 

1.  Joint  projects  carried  out  by  EC/Canada  consortia.  These  can  be  composed  of 
higher education institutions, vocational training establishments or a mixture of the 
two.  The consortia  are  encouraged  to  include  other  relevant  actors  as  affiliated 
members.  In  order  to  maximize  the  advantages  of  multi-lateral  arrangements,  a 
minimum number of three participants is required on each side, two of which must 
be in different  Community  Member  States or  Canadian  Provinces. 

2.  Complementary  measures including, notably, exchanges of experience in the area 
of higher  education  and  training  to  enhance  the  dialogue between  the  European 
Community  and  Canada. 

Target audience 

This  will  include  (i)  policy-makers  in  the  area  of  education  and  training,  including 
public officials,  representatives of the social partners; (ii) higher education  institutions 
including  staff  and,  with  the  framework  of  projects,  students;  (iii)  training 
establishments, including ongoing lifelong learning establishments, staff and indirectly 
through  projects,  students;  (iv)  industry  and  R+D  establishments  where  these  are 
linked to projects  led by  an education  or training  partner. 

19 

9.2. 

Justification  for  the  action 

The  Union's  role  in  education  and  training  is  to  act  as  a  catalyst,  exploiting  the 
Community  dimension,  in  order  to  promote  innovation  and  improve  quality  The 
decision  to  cooperate  in  education  with  Canada  derives,  in  the  first  place,  from  the 
decision  of  the European  Council  in  1990 and the proposed  action has been  designed 
based mainly on the experience gained from the preparatory action undertaken in 1993 
following  the guidelines of the Council  of December  1992. It is therefore  designed  as 
a positive  sum strategy  between partners of  a roughly  equal level  of  development, but 
with  complementary  strengths, to  ensure  a net  benefit  for  all. 

The European  Parliament has also played an active  and encouraging  role  in this area. 
In  1993, it produced  a report  and passed  a resolution  calling  for  the establishment  of 
cooperation  with  Third  Countries  in  education  and  culture.  In  addition,  its  decisions 
as  a  budgetary  authority  have  enabled  the  Commission  to  explore  possibilities  for 
development  of  cooperative  activities  with  Third Countries. 

The Commission  was authorized by the Council  to negotiate Cooperation  Agreements 
with  both  Canada  and  the  United  States  of  America  establishing  Programmes  of 
Cooperation  in higher  education  and vocational  training  (Council  Decn  of  21.11.94). 

The  actions  have  been  designed  to  respect  subsidiarity,  e.g.,  the  consortia  group 
partners  in  a number  of  member  States  and  do  not  duplicate  the  bilateral  exchange 
programmes.  There  are  considerable  economies  of  scale  to  be  reaped  using  this 
formula based as they are on the synergies of established and newly-created networks. 

The  actions  should  build  on  existing  actions,  without  diminishing  them  in  any  way, 
while  adding  an  extra  dimension  to these  programmes. 

No other similar actions are undertaken at Community level. By providing seed money 
for 2 to 3 years projects only the programme will  build bridges and infrastructure that 
will,  in  most  cases,  continue  to  be  active  thereafter  but  financed  from  alternative 
sources.  Long term  dependency  will  not  be  encouraged  while  long-term  independent 
sustainability  will  be a criterion of  selection.  In the  case of  opening  up the  European 
Credit Transfer System  to a grouping which  includes a European nucleus active  in the 
system,  for  example,  other  outer  ring  universities  and  faculties  can  later join  in  the 
system  established  by  the  central  nucleus. 

9.3.  Monitoring  and  evaluation  of  the  action 

9.3.1.  Performance  indicators  selected 

The  main  indicators  of  successful  performance  of  such  diverse  and  individually 
innovative  activities  is  based  on  the  personal  judgement  and  the  experience  of  the 
responsible  project  officers  with  collaborative  projects.  But  these  mainly  subjective 

la 

criteria,  are supplemented  by  such objective,  quantitative  indicators  as : 

*  number  of  faculty  and  students  involved,  numbers of  participants; 

* 

* 

range of achievements offered  by institutions (academic recognition, curriculum 
development,  intensive  programmes,  ECTS,  training  materials,  new  training 
technologies  developed,  language preparation); 

the number  of  faculties  in  regional  institutions  who  become  involved  in such 
cooperation  for  the first  time; the number  of  links established  with  industry. 

In  regards to the  relationship  between  impact  and  stated  objectives  these have  to be 
considered  at both  the diplomatic  as well  as the pedagogic  level  indicated  above. 

It is logical to believe that the introduction  of a formal  programme which  uses a low 
level  of  funding  to  maximum  effect,  including  publication  of  results,  would  greatly 
enhance  relations  and  demonstrate  the  willingness  of  the  EU  to  respect  the 
commitment  given  in Transatlantic  Declaration. 

The Programme  actions should be subject  to continual  review and supervision  by the 
project  officials  responsible.  Progress  reports  should  be  sent  to the  Council  in  1998 
and 2000. 

9.4.  Cohérence avec programmation  financière 

-  DG  : oui, inclus dans action  "Education  et Formation" 

-  Objectif  + général  de la DG  : "Education,  Formation" 

10.  DEPENSES  ADMINISTRATIVES 

N.A. 

ISSN  0254-1475 

COM(95) 77  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

04  16  11 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-95-189-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-88401-0 

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