Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 93/246/EEC of 29 April 1993 adopting the second phase of the trans-european cooperation scheme for higher education (TEMPUS II) (1994 to 1998)
Date: 1996-05-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU programme, higher education, international cooperation, student mobility

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 08.05.1996 
COM(96)  198 final 

96/0133  (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

AMENDING  DECISION  93/246/EEC  OF  29  APRIL  1993 
ADOPTING  THE  SECOND  PHASE  OF THE  TRANS-EUROPEAN  COOPERATION  SCHEME 

, 

.  FOR  HIGHER  EDUCATION  (TEMPUS  II)  (1994  TO  1998) 

(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

L 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

BACKGROUND 

At the conclusion  of the  European  Council  in  Strasbourg  in December  1989, the 
Council  of  Ministers  asked  the  Commission  to  submit  detailed  proposals  on  the 
measures  to  be  taken  in  the  area  of  higher  education  and  training  in  order  to 
support  the  reform  process  in  the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe.  The 
Tempus  programme  was  adopted  by  the  Council  on  7 May  1990  (Council 
Decision 90/23 3/EEC) within the budgetary framework  of Phare, the Community's 
programme of economic assistance to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. 

Tempus, the  aim  of  which  is to  encourage  the  development  and  restructuring  of 
the  systems of  higher  education  in  the beneficiary  countries  with  partners  in  the 
Community,  was  initially  adopted  for  a pilot  phase  of  three  years,  which  began 
on  1 July  1990. A subsequent  Council Decision  extended this pilot phase by  one 
year  to the  end  of  June  1994  (Council  Decision  92/240/EEC)1. 

On  29  April  1993  the  Council  adopted  the  second  phase  of  the  Tempus 
programme  for  a period  of  four  years to  begin  on  1 July  1994,  and  extended  its 
coverage  to  include  the  Republics  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  and  Mongolia 
within  the budgetary  framework  of  the Tacis  economic  aid  programme2. 

Article  11 of the Council  Decision  of 29  April  1993 (93/246/EEC)  stipulates that 
the Commission  will evaluate the implementation  of the Tempus programme  and 
will  submit  no  later  than  30  April  1996  a  proposal  for  the  continuation  or 
adaptation  of  the  programme  for  the  period  beginning  1 July  1998.  This  is  the 
background  against  which  the  current  proposal  is being presented  to the  Council 
for  a decision. 

II. 

DESCRIPTION  OF THE PROGRAMME 

A. 

The joint European projects have always been the main instrument for  cooperation 
between  universities  under  the  Tempus  programme.  A  joint  European  project 
requires  the participation  of  at  least  one  university  in  a beneficiary  country  and 
of partner institutions in at least two Member  States of the European  Community 
(one of which must be a university). The projects, which are selected on the basis 
of  an  annual  open  invitation  to  tender,  are  funded  for  a  period  of  three  years 

The number of partner  countries involved in the programme increased from  two in May  1990 (Poland 
and Hungary) to  11 in February  1992. The current participants are as follows: Albania, Bulgaria, the 
Czech  Republic,  the  Slovak  Republic,  Estonia,  Hungary,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Poland,  Romania  and 
Slovenia. 
In the  1996/97 academic year, the following  Republics of the former  Soviet Union are taking part in 
the  Tempus  programme  funded  by  the  Tacis  programme:  Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Belarus,  Georgia, 
Kazakhstan,  Kyrgyzstan,  Moldova,  the  Russian  Federation,  Tajikistan,  Turkmenistan,  Ukraine  and 
Uzbekistan, as well as Mongolia. 

•1 

(preceded  by  a  one-year  preparatory  period  in  the  Tacis  countries),  the  funding 
being  allocated  on  the  basis  of  an  annual  assessment  of  the  progress  made.  All 
decisions  relating  to  the  selection  of  projects  are  taken  in  agreement  with  the 
partner  States  after  consultation  with  experts  from  these  countries  and  from  the 
European  Community. 

In  the  initial  phase,  the  strategy  established  for  the  Tempus  programme  was  to 
seek  to  restructure  university  education  by  supporting  initiatives  on  the  basic 
aspects  of  reform,  such  as  the  development  of  curricula,  the  organisation  of  the 
mobility  of  staff  (especially  periods of  retraining  and continuing  training)  and of 
students,  as  well  as  the  purchase  of  the  equipment  needed  for  teaching  and 
communication. 

Under  Tempus II, the programme's  objectives  were redefined  in order to bring it 
more  into  line  with  the  strategic  aim  of  developing  higher  education  in  each 
partner  country  and  to  ensure  that  it  dovetails  with  the  developments  funded  by 
other  activities  under the Phare  and  Tacis programmes.  To this end, the  Tempus 
programme  set out  to tackle  the following  areas: 
- 

the  questions  relating  to  the  development  and  overhaul  of  curricula  in 
priority  areas; 
the reform  of the structures and establishments of higher education, and of 
their  management; 
the development of skills training in order to make up for the lack of skills 
at higher-education level which are adapted to periods of economic  reform, 
in particular  by  improving  and  increasing  links  with  industry. 

- 

The priority  sectors to be supported by the Tempus programme are defined  on the 
basis  of the  annual  consultations  between  the  Commission  and the  authorities  of 
each partner  country.  These priorities  must fit  in with the pre-accession  strategy, 
thereby  following  the  policy  of  the  Phare  programme  towards  the  associated 
countries. In the case of the Tacis countries, the priorities must be in line with the 
economic  and  democratic  reform  policies  of  these  States  and  with  the  specific 
priorities  of  the Tacis  programme. 

B. 

C. 

In  the  case  of  the  Phare  programme,  as  well  as  the  joint  European  projects, 
mobility  grants  are  provided  to  teachers,  instructors  or  administrative  staff  of 
establishments  of  higher  education,  to  senior  officials  in  the  relevant  ministries 
and  to  education  planners.  The  visits  conducted  by  these  people  must  be 
concerned  with  the  development  of  higher  education  in  a  partner  country  and, 
more  specifically,  the  development  of the participating  institution  of  the  country 
concerned. 

In addition, grants are provided  for  a number  of  activities which complement the 
Tempus/Phare programme as a whole. These activities are designed to support the 
overall objective of the programme, which is to contribute to the development and 
restructuring of the systems of higher education in the partner countries, especially 
by improving the capacities of the establishments of higher education to carry out 

strategic planning  and institutional  development, by  supporting  the  dissemination 
of the results of Tempus and by promoting the establishment of a national  strategy 
in  the  partner  countries  for  the  development  of  a  specific  aspect  of  higher 
education. 

III. 

THE  POLITICAL,  ECONOMIC, SOCIAL  AND  TECHNICAL  CONTEXT OF 
THE PROPOSAL 

The possible continuation  of the Tempus programme  must be seen  in its political 
and  financial  context. 

The  financial  planning  for  the  Phare  and  Tacis  programmes  will  run  until 
December  1999, which  means  a comparatively  short  time  span  (two years)  for  a 
new phase  of  Tempus. 

There  are differences  between  the partner  countries. The needs  of  an  area  of  the 
size  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  (where  the  Community  has been  working  for  a 
relatively  short  period  of time3)  are not the  same as the needs of  the countries  of 
Central Europe, which have already been involved for six years and are in the pre-
accession  process. 

A. 

Tempus/Tacis 

In the Republics of the former  Soviet Union and in Mongolia, Tempus has proved 
to be an important  instrument  for  supporting  the reform  of the education  systems 
by funding,  over a period of three years, 237 preparatory  projects lasting one year 
and  59 joint  European  projects  lasting  three years. 

Furthermore,  Tempus  is  still  at  an  early  stage  of  development  in  the  Tacis 
countries,  which  must  meet  tough  requirements  in  the  reform  of  their  political, 
economic,  social  and  legal  structures,  and  these  requirements  will  continue  to 
apply  in  the years  to  come. 

Although the various Tacis countries are independently  pursuing their own  reform 
policies, they share certain common themes resulting from  their Soviet past, which 
shape  the  role  to  be  played  by  the  Tempus  programme  in  the  future.  The  tasks 
include,  in  particular: 

providing  assistance  in  diversifying  and  decentralising  higher  education 
and  in  increasing  its  independence; 

strengthening  the  regional  dimension  of  higher  education; 

Tempus was extended  to cover the countries of the former  Soviet Union by the  "Tempus IT" Council 
Decision of 29 April  1993. The programme has been extended gradually  to cover the various States, 
some of which are taking part this year for the  first time. 

supporting  the  universities in  their  efforts  to  make  a specific  contribution 
to  economic  and  social  reforms 
in  other  areas,  in  particular  the 
improvement  of relations between the universities and the  socio-economic 
players; 

reforming  and modernising over-specialised  courses which no longer meet 
current needs, in particular  in the subjects  which  are crucial  to the overall 
reform  process; 

introducing new teaching methods, training teaching staff  and boosting the 
capacity  for  continuing  education; 

- 

modernising 
establishments  of  higher  education  to  adapt  to  the  market  economy; 

the  management  of  universities 

in  order 

to  enable 

improving  and  modernising  teacher  training,  especially  with  a  view  to 
developing  pluralist  civics  education. 

While the activities  and measures that have been  carried  out thus far  by  Tempus-
Tacis have proved to be  fruitful  and suitable (see also point  V below), the nature 
of  the  remaining  needs  in  the  areas  in  which  Tempus  can  provide  assistance 
warrants  an  extension  of  the  programme. 

This extension  should  initially  be  adopted  for  a period  of two  years, in  line with 
the  planned  duration  of  the  new  Tacis  Regulation  and  the  funding  plan  for  the 
Tacis  programme. 

In  addition, Tempus  fits  in  with  the  general  framework  of  relations  between  the 
European  Community  and  the  Republics  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  and 
Mongolia,  and  with  the  cooperation  agreements,  all  of  which  provide  for 
education  and  training  measures. 

is  planned  to 

The  new  Council  Regulation  on  Tacis4,  which 
last  until 
31 December  1999, and the national  Tacis programmes  in particular,  provide  for 
a  more  specific  operational  strategy  to  be  defined  in  order  to  support  the 
objectives  of  economic  and  democratic  reform.  The  future  activities  of  Tempus 
will  be at the heart  of this  strategy  in  order to  encourage  as many  of  the  players 
in  higher  education  as  possible  to  help  achieve  these  reform  objectives.  The 
priorities  of  Tempus  will  be  established  on  a  regular  basis  for  each  country, 
depending  on  the  corresponding  Tacis  programmes. 

The new Council Regulation on Tacis of 29 January  1996 (No ....) provides for indicative programmes 
lasting four years (1996-1999) and  for more detailed  action programmes of varying  duration. 

B. 

Tempus/Phare 

Association  agreements  have  been  concluded  by  the  European  Community  with 
six  Central  European  countries5  and,  for  three  others6,  such  agreements  have 
already  been  signed  and  are  expected  to  be  concluded  in  1996. 

All  these  countries  are preparing  for  their  incorporation  into  the  internal 
a) 
market  as  part  of  the  pre-accession  strategy  established  at  the  Essen  European 
Council  (December  1994).  The  "White  Paper"  of  May  1995  "Preparation  of  the 
associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe for  integration  into the internal 
market  of  the  Union"  emphasises  the  demands  that  this  process  entails  for  the 
associated  countries  and  the  consequences  for  their  systems  of  education  and 
training. Moreover, these countries have been asked to become gradually  involved 
in  Community  programmes. 

b) 
These  associated  countries  include those which  have been  beneficiaries  of 
Tempus  since  the  beginning  (1990).  The  scale  of  the  assistance  granted  to  the 
universities  of  these  States,  in  terms  of  both  the  number  of  projects  and  the 
amount  of  funding,  is  worth  stressing. 

1  207 joint European projects have been implemented since  1990. 23  295 students 
from  the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  have  spent  a  period  of  time 
studying in a Member  State, and 3 924 students of the European  Community  have 
spent  time  in  a  country  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe.  In  addition,  29  923 
teachers  from  the  partner  countries  have  spent  time  in  the  Member  States,  and 
21  017  teachers  from  the  European  Community  have  spent  time  in  Central  and 
Eastern  Europe. 

Of  the  many  contributions  which  Tempus  has  made  to  the  development  of  the 
local  systems  of  higher  education,  the  initiatives  designed  to  develop  new 
curricula, to transfer  equipment  and to encourage  mobility  have been  particularly 
appreciated. It is therefore  true to say that Tempus has made a major  contribution 
to  reducing  the  gap  between  the  European  Community  and  the  countries  of 
Central  and Eastern  Europe  in  terms of  the  range  and  quality  of  teaching  offered 
to  students. 

c) 
Given  this new situation,  rather than pursue beyond  1998 all the  measures 
conducted  by  Tempus  since  1990  in  these  countries  with  the  same  level  of 
funding,  the  intention  is to  focus  on  four  main  areas: 

- 

preparing  for  accession  to  the  European  Community  : 
the Union  has a duty  to  smooth  over  the road to  accession  for  the  partner 
countries.  The  universities  can  play  a  key  role  in  defining  the  "new 

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the  Slovak Republic, Romania  and  Bulgaria. 
Estonia, Latvia  and Lithuania. 

5 

occupational  profiles"  which  the  countries  need  and  in  transposing  the 
European  directives  on  the  regulated  occupations,  which  will  involve  a 
reform  of  the  curricula  in  the  sectors  concerned.  This  is  part  of  the  more 
general  role  of  higher  education  in  regard  to  the  labour  market  of  looking 
ahead  to  see  what  qualifications  should  be  developed. 

making  it  easier  to  take  part  in  Socrates  (the  Erasmus  strand): 
In  particular,  Tempus  can  act  as  a  facilitator  to  contribute  to  the  effective 
participation  of the partner  countries  in  Socrates, which  is planned  to  begin 
in  the  1998/99  academic  year  in  areas  such  as: 

• 

the  academic  recognition  of  periods  of  study 
mobility  scheme; 

in  the  student 

the  development  or  improvement  of  services  for  students  with  a 
view 
(counselling, 
housing,  cultural  activities); 

to  establishing  good  exchange  conditions 

university  management,  the  improvement  of  which  will  prepare  the 
way  for  the  establishment  of  the  "institutional  contracts"  under 
Socrates. 

Clearly,  the  date  of  entry  into  Socrates/Erasmus  and  any  sharing  of  effort 
and  funding  between  Socrates  and Tempus  are  decisions  to be taken  by  the 
associated  country  in  question,  since  they  have  not  all  reached  the  same 
level  of  development  or  set  the  same  priorities. 

managing  change: 
Although  the  universities  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  have  adopted  a 
certain  form  of  autonomy,  they  still  need  to establish  real  governing  bodies 
and  effective  structures. They  are  accountable  to  their  various  partners  (the 
State, local  authorities,  parents,  students, firms)  and  have  to  diversify  their 
services,  while  at  the  same  time  maintaining  quality,  against  a  background 
of  falling  public  funding.  It  is  for  example  a  major  concern  of  the 
universities how  ongoing training  is to be developed  within  the  universities 
and 
the  practical 
application  of  research)  created.  Tempus  is  in  a  position  to  provide 
effective  assistance  in  these  areas, which  have been  and  still  are  among  the 
key  concerns  of  the  Member  States.  Tempus  can  also  be  a  useful  channel 
for  providing  assistance  towards  the  implementation  of  major  national 
reforms  in  higher  education,  such  as  the  establishment  of  short  and 
vocational  courses.  The  task,  begun  in  TEMPUS  II,  is  a  priority  in  most 
of  the  countries. 

interfaces  between  universities  and  business  (for 

building  on  what  has  been  achieved: 
Following  the  conclusions  of  the  external  evaluation,  which  regretted  that 
the  potential  of  excellent  Tempus  projects  was  being  underexploited, 

considerable  efforts  still  need  to  be  made  to  disseminate  the  results  at 
sectoral  or  local  level. 

To sum up, the task is to use the university  system to prepare for  accession in the 
best possible conditions  and to make it possible for the institutions of the partner 
countries to  reach  European  standards in  areas in  which  they have  shortcomings, 
notably  in  management  and  quality. 

A  targeted  programme  of  this  kind  can  be  implemented  over  a  period  of  two 
years,  with  a  level  of  funding  which  is  adapted  to  each  country's  stage  of 
development  and  needs,  but  which  is,  in  any  event,  more  limited  than  in  the 
previous phase. 

d)  As  regards  the  non-associated  countries,  Albania  still  needs  substantial 
assistance  in  all  areas,  given  its  economic  backwardness  and  the  specific 
difficulties  of its education  system. Its situation can be compared, for the purposes 
of  the  analysis,  to  that  of  many  countries  in  the  Tacis  assistance  zone.  The 
countries of the former  Yugoslavia (apart from  Slovenia, for which the  assistance 
is  to  take  the  same  form  as  the  components  of  the  association  agreements 
concluded  with  the  countries  which  are  at  the  pre-accession  stage)  may  be 
included  in  this  group,  depending  on  their  political  situation  and  the  actual 
implementation of the Phare programme. They have different  traditions of contacts 
with the European  Community,  but their  university  community  would  like to  re 
establish  substantial  links, in view of  the events of  recent years. The  universities 
play  a  particularly  important  role  in  spreading  the  values  of  democracy  and 
tolerance  in  society. 

IV. 

THE REASONS  WHY  ACTION  AT  UNION  LEVEL IS  NECESSARY,  AND 
AN  ANALYSIS  OF THE CONSEQUENCES  OF A  FAILURE TO ACT 

The  European  Community's  political  commitment  to  cooperation  and  dialogue 
with  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and  the  Newly  Independent  States  no  longer 
needs  to  be  proved.  This  subject  has  been  regularly  discussed  in  the  European 
Council  and has been translated  into operational  measures, namely the Phare and 
Tacis programmes and the "association agreements" and "partnership agreements". 
Education  and the development of human resources have been treated as priorities 
in  this process. 

The Commission  would stress that the Tempus programme has provided a way of 
responding rapidly  and substantially  to the need to overhaul  and adapt systems of 
higher  education.  Tempus has made a major  contribution  in the partner  countries 
to the  fulfilment  of  the  recognised  tasks of  universities: 

- 

to  raise the  general  level  of  knowledge; 

to produce  citizens who are adapted to the needs resulting from  economic 
restructuring:  the achievements  in  disciplines  such  as economics, law and 
the  social  sciences  are  significant  in this  respect; 

to  contribute  to  the  civic,  democratic  and  cultural  life  of  peoples,  which 
assumes  academic  freedom  and is  a particularly  important  issue in  States 
which  are  in  a period  of  transition. 

In  addition,  Tempus has: 

helped  to  create  interest  in  trans-European  cooperation  among  higher 
education  establishments  in the beneficiary  countries; 

- 

- 

- 

encouraged  greater  use of  the  languages  of  the European  Community; 

broken  down  the  barriers  preventing  higher  education  systems  from 
adapting  to the  requirements  of  the European  Community; 

begun to open  up higher  education to its local, regional  or  even European 
environment 
local  authorities  or  other  higher  education 
establishments); 

(firms, 

made  it  possible  for  many  teachers,  administrative  staff  and  students  to 
spend  time  in  the  Member  States  of  the  European  Community;  on  their 
return to their respective countries, most of these people have endeavoured 
to  modernise  university  organisation. 

It  is  now  necessary  to  consolidate  the  work  done  by  Tempus,  especially  by 
focusing  on  structural  reforms  and  on  the  dissemination  and  promotion  of  the 
results  already  achieved;  in  this  connection,  the  bilateral  assistance  provided  by 
the Member  States provides  an essential  complement to Community  cooperation. 

This was the theme of the joint  message of the Commission  and the Ministers  for 
Education  of  the  Member  States  at  their  meeting  with  the  Russian  Minister  for 
in  St Petersburg  (September  1994).  Prior  to  this  meeting,  the 
Education 
Commission  had  disseminated  a  study  reviewing  the  cooperation  between  the 
Member  States  and  the  countries  of  the  former  Soviet  Union. 

At  the  meeting  of  Ministers  on  23  October  1995  in  Luxembourg  as  part  of  the 
institutionalised  dialogue,  the  Ministers  of  the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern 
Europe expressed  their wish to become involved  in the Community  programmes. 
At  the  same  meeting,  the  Ministers  of  the  Member  States  stressed  the 
complementary  nature  of  the  bilateral  and  Community  measures. 

Seen  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  partner  countries,  the  Community  measures 
offer  an opportunity  to appreciate and benefit  from  the diversity  of the  education 
systems  in  the  European  Community.  By  obviating  the  need  for  them  to  follow 

8 

one  particular  model,  the  Community  measures  encourage  them  to  take the  best 
features  of the various systems and then to establish their own system, which will, 
by  definition,  be  original  and  adapted  to  their  needs. 

A decision to suspend the programme would be premature and unjustified  in both 
technical  and  political  terms,  given  that  the  European  Community  will  maintain 
programmes of technical  assistance for this part of the world, at least until the end 
of  1999. 

The  lack  of  an  educational  component  in  these  programmes  would  be  badly 
received,  not just  by  the  university  community  in  Europe,  but  also  by  all  those 
who  believe  that  there  is  a  link  between  investment  in  training  and  economic 
development. 

As there  is no  alternative  instrument  which  can  support  the  structural  reforms  of 
higher  education  in  the  countries  which  are  beneficiaries  of  Phare  and  Tacis,  an 
interruption of the Tempus programme from  1998 would slow down, or even halt, 
the  process  of  adapting  the  university  systems  of  these  countries  to  the  new 
economic  situation.  This would jeopardise  the switch  from  an approach  based  on 
providing  assistance  to  one  based  on  Community  cooperation. 

V. 

THE COSTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE CHOSEN SOLUTIONS FOR THE 
GROUPS  MOST DIRECTLY  AFFECTED 

The Tempus  programme  is targeted  primarily  at higher  education  establishments 
in  the  partner  countries  and  their  staff  (lecturers  and  administrative  staff).  In 
addition,  the  measures  supported  by  Tempus  affect  all  those  in  the  partner 
countries  who  seek  the  necessary  vocational  qualifications  to  contribute  to  the 
economic  and  social  reforms,  and  in  particular,  to  the  pre-accession  process. 
Moreover,  the  national  authorities  with  responsibility  for  higher  education  in  the 
partner  countries  benefit  directly  from  the  support  provided  by  Tempus  for  the 
reform  of  their  respective  systems. 

The external  evaluation  ordered by the Commission in accordance with Article 11 
of the Council  Decision  not only  confirmed  that the target  groups  derived  lasting 
benefit  from  Tempus, but  also  showed  the  need  to  continue  the  assistance. 

On  the  basis  of  the  results  of  the  evaluation,  the  Commission  believes  that  it  is 
necessary  to  extend  Tempus  in  order  to: 

- 

prepare  the  way  for  the  associated  Phare  countries  to join  the  European 
Community  by  means  of  specific  measures  within  the  framework  of  the 
strategy  laid  down  in the  "White Paper"  of May  1995  "Preparation  of  the 
associated  countries of Central  and Eastern Europe for  integration  into the 
internal  market  of  the  Union; 

- 

- 

- 

establish,  to  this  end,  the  vocational  qualifications  required  for  a  single 
market; 

prepare higher  education  establishments  in the  associated  Phare  countries 
to  take  part,  on  an  equal  footing,  in  the  education  programmes  of  the 
European  Community  (such  as Socrates); 

provide  lasting  support  for  the  implementation  of  the  Tacis  programmes 
and  the  partnership  and  cooperation  agreements  with  these  countries  by 
means of  measures  in  the higher  education  sector; 

develop  new  curricula,  books  and  teaching  material  in  priority  sectors 
whose  reform  is particularly  important  for  the overall  reform  process; 

strengthen the autonomy and improve the management of higher education 
in the beneficiary  countries in line with the policies adopted by them, and 
show  that  higher  education  is  essential  to  the  process  of  social  and 
political  reform; 

- 

strengthen cooperation between higher education establishments, firms and 
other  social  and  economic  players; 

provide  effective  support  for  the  political  initiatives  of  the  partner 
countries  to  reform  higher  education. 

The extent to  which  these objectives  are achieved  will  continue  to depend  on  the 
level  of  involvement  of  the beneficiaries  in  the  Tempus  programme. 

The  implementation  of  Tempus  will  also  continue  to  depend  primarily  on  the 
willingness  of  higher  education  establishments  in  the  Member  States  of  the 
Community to share their experience by taking part in Tempus projects. Moreover, 
it  has  emerged  that  these  establishments  actually  benefited  themselves  from  this 
cooperation,  and  the  recent  experience  of  the  implementation  of  the  programme 
clearly  shows  the  continued  interest  of  universities  in  the  European  Community 
in  participating  in  Tempus.  Tempus  will  have  to  continue  to  meet  all  the 
operational  costs  of  the  projects. 

VI.  REASONS WHY THE PLANNED MEASURES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE 

CONSONANT WITH THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM 

The  measures  planned  under  Tempus  (joint  European  projects,  structural  and/or 
complementary  measures,  and  individual  mobility  grants)  are  described  in  the 

10 

Annex  to  the  Council  Decision,  which  remains  largely  unchanged,  apart  from 
updating  for  the  associated  Phare  countries7. 

The external  evaluation  of the first  and second phases of the Tempus  programme 
confirmed  that these measures are generally  appropriate. Given that the measures 
applied in the past have proved  to be fruitful  and suitable, there is no need  to re 
examine  them  for  the  extension  of  the  Council  Decision.  Fine  tuning  can  be 
carried out during the implementation  of the programme, after  consultation  of the 
Tempus Committee, without any substantial modification  of the Council Decision. 

VU  PRESENTATION  OF  THE  VIEWS  EXPRESSED  BY  THE  INTERESTED 

PARTIES  CONSULTED 

It was considered useful  to find out the views of the parties most directly  affected 
by  the future  of  the  programme.  Various  consultations  were held  to  this end: 

The  Ministries  responsible  for  higher  education  in  the  partner  countries  with 
which  no  association  agreement  has  been  concluded  would  like  to  see  Tempus 
maintained  in  a broadly  similar  form,  offering  a variety  of  measures  which  help 
to  reform  the  university  system. 

The authorities of the partner countries which have signed association  agreements 
are  aware  of  the  new  opportunities  they  have  to  take  part  in  Community 
programmes such  as Leonardo, Youth  for Europe or, more specifically  for  higher 
education,  Socrates.  Nevertheless,  they  would  like  their  universities  to  continue 
to be able to benefit from  the Tempus programme for a transitional period. Certain 
strands of Tempus - those involving  assistance in the reform  of higher  education, 
the  improvement  of  the  management  of  universities  and/or  the  development  of 
new  functions  for  them,  or  the  establishment  of  specialised  forms  of  training 
corresponding  to the needs of European  integration  - appear to  correspond  to the 
current needs of the countries in which higher  education  is faced  with the double 
challenge  of  numbers  and  quality,  against  a background  of  tight  funding. 

The Commission  has also  communicated  its working hypotheses to the  members 
of the Tempus Committee,  who, at their  level  of  responsibility,  consider  them to 
be  realistic  and  appropriate.  Most  of  the  education  authorities  of  the  Member 
States do not consider the idea of maintaining  a refocused programme for a period 
of two years to be incompatible with the entry of several associated  countries into 
the  Socrates  programme. 

This  wish  to  see  the  programme  maintained  in  the  Phare  countries  with  several 
specific,  but  essential, themes  was  also  expressed  by the  national  officials  of the 
Tempus  bureaux,  who  met  in  three  regional  seminars  at  the  end  of  1994.  They 

7 

For which no mobility  or support grants will be provided  to students for practical  placements. 

11 

endeavoured, together with the Commission's representatives, to translate this new 
approach  into  practical  proposals  for  the operation  of  the  programme. 

The  Commission  has  also  collected  the views  of  a panel  of  top  academics  from 
the European  Community  and the partner  countries, who confirmed  that this was 
the  right  approach. 

Vm.  JUSTIFICATION  OF THE CHOICE OF LEGAL BASIS, SHOWING THAT IT 
IS  ADAPTED  TO THE OBJECTIVES  PURSUED  AND  TO THE STATE OF 
LEGISLATION 

As  the  Tempus  programme  forms  part  of  the  assistance  provided  to  countries 
which  are  not  members  of  the  European  Community,  the  legal  basis  chosen  is 
Article 235, since the Treaty  does not include another Article which is appropriate 
in this  specific  case. 

K. 

CONDITIONS  FOR THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION  OF THE MEASURES 

The actual  implementation  of the measures described  in the annex to the Council 
Decision  shows  a  high  level  of  cost  effectiveness  according  to  the  external 
evaluation  (see point  VI.  above). 

As  in  the  past,  the  Commission  will  ensure  permanent  monitoring  of  the 
implementation  of  the  activities  of  the  Tempus  programme.  This  follow-up  will 
be  based  on  the  regular  reports  submitted  by  the  project  managers,  and  on 
financial  control,  monitoring  and  evaluation  by  on-the-spot  checks.  The 
Commission  will  organise  the necessary  technical  assistance. 

The  draft  decision  also  proposes  an  evaluation  of  the  Tempus  programme  at the 
end of  the second phase  (Tempus II) and the presentation  of  an interim  report  to 
the  Council  by  30  April  1998. 

12 

PROPOSAL  FOR  A  COUNCIL  DECISION 

AMENDING DECISION  93/246/EEC  OF 29  APRIL  1993 
ADOPTING  THE  SECOND  PHASE  OF THE  TRANS-EUROPEAN  COOPERATION  SCHEME 
FOR  HIGHER  EDUCATION  (TEMPUS  II)  (1994  TO  1998) 

THE  COUNCIL  FO  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article  235  thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission1, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  European  Parliament2, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee3, 

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the  Regions4, 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Whereas  on  18  December  1989 
(EEC) 
No  3906/89  on  economic  aid  to  the  Republic  of  Hungary  and  the  Polish  People's 
Republic5,  which  provides  for  aid  to  support  the  process  of  economic  and  social 
reform  in  central  and  eastern  European  countries  in  areas  including  training; 

the  Council  adopted  Regulation 

Whereas  on  19  July  1993  the  Council  adopted  Regulation  (EEC,  Euratom) 
No  2053/93  concerning  the  provision  of  technical  assistance  to  economic  reform 
and  recovery  in the  independent  States of the former  Soviet  Union  and  Mongolia6; 

Whereas  on  29  April  1993  the  Council  adopted  the  Decision  adopting  the  second 
phase  of  the trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for  higher  education  (Tempus  II) 
for  a  period  of  four  years  from  1 July  19947; 

Whereas  the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and  of  the  former  Soviet 
Union,  which  are  beneficiaries  of  the  Phare  and  Tacis  programmes,  consider 
training  and,  in  particular,  higher  education,  to  be  one  of  the  key  areas  for  the 
process  of  economic  and  social  reform; 

OJ  No  C  ... 
OJ No C ... 
OJ No C ... 
OJ No C ... 
OJ No L 375, 23.12.1989, p.  11. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1366/95 (OJ No 
133,  17.6.1995, p. 1). 
OJNo  L  187, 29.7.1993, p. 1. 
OJNoL  112, 6.5.1993, p. 34. 

i3 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

Whereas the European  Community has concluded association agreements with six 
countries of  Central  Europe8  and  has  signed  such  agreements  with  three others9; 

Whereas  the  Essen  European  Council  (December  1994)  established  a  "pre-
accession"  strategy  for  these  associated  countries,  involving,  notably,  access  to 
Community  programmes,  especially  in the  area  of  education  and  training10; 

Whereas  Tempus  can  still  make  an  effective  contribution  to  the  structural 
development  of higher  education  required to improve occupational  skills adapted 
to economic reform,  with a view to their incorporation  into the internal  market of 
the  European  Union;  whereas  there  is  no  other  instrument  for  achieving  this 
objective; 

Whereas  the  associated  countries  of  Central  Europe  are  required  to  define  a 
particular  strategy  and  their  specific  needs  in  connection  with  Tempus,  with 
particular  regard  to  the  new  possibility  of  participation  in  the  Socrates  and 
Leonardo  programmes; 

Whereas  the  European  Community  has  signed  partnership  agreements  with 
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation  and Ukraine11 
and that it is currently  negotiating agreements with other independent States of the 
former  Soviet  Union; 

10  Whereas the recent  establishment  of Tempus in the countries which  are recipients 
of  Tacis  assistance,  whose  needs  are  greater  and  whose  area  is  more  extensive, 
fully  warrants  the  continuation  of  the  existing  measures; 

11  Whereas  a funding  plan  has been  drawn  up for  the Phare  and Tacis  programmes 

up to  31  December  199912; 

12  Whereas  Article  11  of  the  Council  Decision  of  29  April  1993  (93/246/EEC) 
stipulates  that  the  Commission  will  evaluate  the  implementation  of  the  Tempus 
programme and will submit, before  30  April  1996, a proposal for the continuation 
or  adaptation  of  the programme  for  the period  beginning  1 July  1998; 

13  Whereas the results of this evaluation  confirmed  the decision to adopt and  further 
diversify  the forms  of  assistance  in  line  with national  needs  and  the priorities  of 
the  systems  of  higher  education; 

Poland,  Hungary,  the  Czech  Republic,  the  Slovak  Republic,  Romania  and  Bulgaria 

Estonia,  Latvia  and  Lithuania 

O J No 

OJ  No 

4W 

14  Whereas  this  evaluation  has  shown  the  ability  of  Tempus  to  make  an  effective 
contribution 
in  the  partner  countries  to  the  diversification  of  educational 
opportunities  and  to  cooperation  between  universities,  thereby  creating  the  right 
conditions  for  the  development  of  scientific,  cultural  and  economic  cooperation; 

15  Whereas  the  results  of  the  evaluation,  as  set  out  above,  are  confirmed  by  the 
assessment  of  the  programme  by  the  competent  authorities  of  the  countries  of 
Central  and Eastern Europe and of the Republics of the former  Soviet Union, and 
by  the  opinions  expressed  by  the  users  of  the  programme  and  the  facilities 
responsible for its organisation in the partner countries and in the European Union, 
and  by  the  qualified  experts  and  representatives  reflecting  the  views  of  the 
university  community  in Europe; 

16  Whereas  there  exist  in  the  European  Community  and  in  third  countries  regional 
and/or national, public and/or private facilities  which  can be called  upon to assist 
in  the  effective  provision  of  financial  support  in  the  area  of  training  at  higher-
education  level; 

17  Whereas the Treaty  does not provide, for the action  concerned, powers other than 
those  of  Article  235,  and  the  conditions  for  the  use  of  that  Article  have  been 
satisfied, 

HAS  DECIDED  AS FOLLOWS: 

-u 

Article 1 

Article  1 of  Decision  93/246/EEC  is hereby  replaced  by  the  following: 

"Duration of Tempus II 

The  second  phase  of  the  trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for  university  studies 
(hereinafter  referred  to as "Tempus II") is hereby  adopted for  a period of six years as of 
1  July  1994." 

Article 2 

The text of the Annex referred  to in Article 6 of Decision  93/246/EEC is hereby  replaced 
by  the text  annexed  to this  Decision. 

Article  3 

The  last  two  paragraphs  of  Article  11 of  Decision  93/246/EEC  are  hereby  amended  as 
follows: 

"Monitoring and evaluation arrangements - Reports 

The  Commission  shall  submit  an  interim  report,  including  the  results  of  the  evaluation, 
before  30 April  1998. If  appropriate, this report  shall  be  accompanied  by  a proposal  for 
the  continuation  or  adaptation  of  Tempus  for  the  period  beginning  1 July  2000  for  the 
partoer  countries  which  do  not  yet  have  the  possibility  of  taking  part  in  the  higher 
education  activities of the Community  programmes of  education  and training  (Socrates -
Leonardo). 

The  Commission  shall  present  a final  report  by  30 June  2004  at the  latest." 

For  the  Council 

The  President 

% 

ANNEX  TO THE COUNCIL DECISION 

THIS  TEXT  REPLACES  THE  TEXT  PUBLISHED  AFTER  THE  TEMPUS II 
DECISION  EM  OFFICIAL JOURNAL L 112/93 

Joint European projects 

The  European  Community  will  provide  support  for  joint  European  projects  of  a 

1. 
maximum  duration  of  three years. 

Joint  European  projects  will  comprise at least one university  from  a partner  country, one 
university  from  a Member State and one partner institution (university or enterprise)  from 
another  Member  State. 

2 
Joint  European  project  grants  may  be  awarded  for  activities  according  to  the 
specific  needs  of  the  institutions  concerned  and  according  to  the  priorities  laid  down, 
including: 

i) 

ii) 

iii) 

iv) 

joint  education  and  training  measures,  notably  for  the  establishment  of  new 
curricula, the development  and overhaul  of existing  curricula, the development of 
universities'  capacities  to  provide  continuing  education  and  retraining,  the 
provision  of  short  intensive  courses, and  the  development  of  systems  of  distance 
learning; 

measures  for  the  reform  and  development  of  the higher  education  system  and  its 
capacities,  notably  by  means  of  the  restructuring  of  the  management  of  higher 
education  institutions  and  systems,  the  upgrading  of  existing  facilities  by  the 
acquisition  of  the  equipment  needed  to  implement  a joint  European  project  and, 
where  appropriate,  the  provision  of  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  the 
competent  authorities; 

the promotion of cooperation between universities and the socio-economic players, 
including  industry,  through  joint  projects; 

the  development  of  the  mobility  of  teachers,  university  administrative  staff  and 
students  within  the  framework  of joint  European  projects. 

a) 

b) 

grants will be awarded to teaching/administrative  staff  from  universities or 
to  instructors  from  enterprises,  in  the  Member  States,  to  carry  out 
teaching/training  assignments  for  periods  lasting  from  one  week  to  one 
year  m partner  countries  and  vice versa; 

grants  will  be  awarded  to  teaching/administrative  staff  of  universities  in 
the  partner  countries  to  undertake  retraining  and  updating  training  in  the 
European  Community; 

^ 

c) 

d) 

e) 

grants  will  be  awarded  to  students, up to  and  including  at  doctoral  level, 
and will  be  available  both  to students from  the partner  countries  carrying 
out periods of study in the European  Community  and to students from  the 
European  Community  spending  study  periods  in  the  partner  countries. 
These  grants  will  normally  be  awarded  for  a  period  of  between  three 
months  and  one year1; 

for  students participating in joint European projects, whose specific  aim is 
to  foster  mobility,  priority  will  be  given  to  students  participating  in 
projects  in  which  the  period  of  study  abroad  will  be  granted  full 
recognition  by  the  student's  home  university1; 

support will be provided for industrial  or practical placements, of between 
one month and one year, to teachers, instructors, students and graduates of 
the  partner  countries  between  the  end  of  these  studies  and  their  first 
employment,  so  that  they  can  undertake  a period  of  practical  training  in 
enterprises  in  the European  Community  and  vice  versa1. 

v) 

activities to ensure the success of a joint European  project  involving two or more 
partner  countries. 

Structural  and/or complementary  measures 

Grants  will  be  awarded  for  a  number  of  structural  and/or  complementary  measures 
(including  technical  assistance,  seminars,  studies,  publications,  information  activities). 
These  measures  are  designed  to  support  the  objectives  of  the  programme,  notably  to 
contribute  to  the  development  and  restructuring  of  the  higher  education  systems  in  the 
partner  countries. 

In connection  with  these structural  measures, grants will be awarded, in order  to, among 
other  things. 

• 

• 

• 

to  develop  and  strengthen  the  capacities  for  strategic  planning  and  institutional 
development  of  institutes of  higher  education  at  university  or  faculty  level; 

support  the  multiplication  of  cooperation  measures  designed  to  achieve  the 
objectives  of  Tempus  and  to  ensure  its  duration; 

draw up a national  strategy  in a particular partner  country  for  the development of 
a  specific  aspect  of  higher  education. 

No mobility or support grants will be awarded for practical placements to students from the associated 
countries of Central Europe which are eligible for these activities under the Community  programmes 
of education and training (Socrates, Leonardo). 

1g 

Individual  grants 

In addition to joint European  projects  and structural  and/or  complementary  measures, the 
European  Community  will  also  support  the  provision  of  individual  grants  to  teachers, 
instructors,  university  administrators,  senior  Ministry  officials,  education  planners  and 
other  training  experts  from  partner  countries  or  the  European  Community  for  visits 
designed  to promote  the  quality,  development  and restructuring  of  higher  education  and 
training  in  the partner  countries. 

These visits  will  cover  the  following  areas in  particular: 

• 

• 
• 

the  development  of  courses  and teaching  material, 
the  development  of  staff,  notably  by  periods  of  retraining  and  industrial 
placements, 
teaching  assignments, 
activities  for  supporting  the  development  of  higher  education. 

Support activities 

1 

The  Commission  will  receive  the necessary  technical  assistance  to  underpin  the 
activities carried  out  in accordance  with the Decision  and to ensure the necessary 
monitoring  of  the  implementation  of  the  programme. 

2 

Support  will  be  provided  for  appropriate  external  evaluation  of  Tempus II. 

19 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

TITLE  OF OPERATION 

Proposal  for  the  extension  of  the  trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for  higher 
education  (Tempus  II  -  Council  Decision  93/246/EEC  of  29  April  1993)  for  a 
period  of  two years  (1998 to  2000) 

2. 

BUDGET  HEADINGS  INVOLVED 

The budget  headings  involved  are: 

a) 

b) 

for  the  countries  of  Central  and Eastern  Europe 
Article  B7-500: 
"Aid  for  economic  restructuring  of  the  countries  of  central  and  eastern 
Europe" 

for  the Republics of  the former  Soviet  Union 
Article  B7-520 
'Technical  cooperation with the  Independent  States  of  the former Soviet 
Union" 

3. 

LEGAL  BASIS 

A. 

Article  235  of  the Treaty  of  Rome establishing  the  European Community 

a)- 

b)- 

Council Regulation  (EEC) No 3906/89 of  18 December  1989 on economic 
aid to  the Republic  of  Hungary  and  the Polish  People's  Republic; 
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  2698/90  of  17 September  1990  amending 
Regulation  (EEC)  No  3906/89  in  order  to  extend  economic  aid  to  other 
countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, the German Democratic 
Republic,  Romania,  Czechoslovakia,  Yugoslavia); 
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3800/91  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No 
3906/89  in  order  to  extend  economic  aid  to  include  other  countries  in 
central  and  eastern  Europe  (Albania,  Estonia,  Latvia  and  Lithuania); 
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1366/95  of  12  June  1995  amending 
Regulation  (EEC) No 3906/89 in order to extend economic aid to Croatia; 
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  ...  of  ...  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No 
3906/89  in  order  to  extend  economic  aid to  Bosnia  Herzegovina; 
Council  Regulation  (EEC,  Euratom)  No  2053/93  of  19 July  1993 
concerning  the  provision  of  technical  assistance  to  economic  reform  and 
recovery  in  the  independent  States  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  and 
Mongolia; 

y-\ 

c)- 

Council  Regulation  (EEC, Euratom)  No  ... of  ... concerning  the provision 
of  assistance  for  economic  reform  and  recovery  in  the  new  independent 
States  and  Mongolia; 
the  Council  Decision  of  7 May  1990  (90/233/EEC)  establishing  a trans-
European  mobility  scheme  for  university  studies  (Tempus); 
the  Council  Decision  of  28  April  1992  (92/240/EEC)  amending  the 
Decision  of  7 May  1990; 
the Council  Decision  of 29 April  1993 (93/246/EEC)  adopting the second 
phase  of  the  trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for  higher  education 
(Tempus  II)  (1994  to  1998); 
proposal  amending  Council  Decision  93/246/EEC  of  29  April  1993 
adopting  the  second  phase  of the  trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for 
higher education  (Tempus II) (1994 to  1998) so as to extend it for  a period 
of  two years. 

4. 

DESCRIPTION  OF OPERATION 

4.1.  General  objectives 

The objectives  of  Tempus II  are to promote, within  the  framework  of the 
broad  lines  and general  objectives  of the Phare  and Tacis programmes  for 
economic  and  social  reform,  the  development  of  the  systems  of  higher 
education  in the partner  countries by  cooperation,  which  is as balanced  as 
possible,  with  the  partners  of  all  the  Member  States  of  the  European 
Union.  More  specifically,  Tempus  II  is  designed  to  assist  the  systems  of 
higher  education  of  the partner  countries  to tackle: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

the issues concerning the development  and overhaul  of curricula in 
priority  areas; 

the reform  of the structures and establishments of higher  education, 
and  of  their  management; 

the development  of skills training  in order to make up for  the lack 
of  skills  at higher-education  level  which  are  adapted to  periods of 
economic  reform,  in  particular  by  improving  and  increasing  links 
with  industry. 

The Commission  establishes, in  agreement  with the  competent  authorities 
of  each  partner  country,  detailed  priorities  and  objectives  for  the  role  of 
Tempus  II  in  the national  strategy  of  economic  and  social  reform,  on  the 
basis of the objectives  of the programme  and the provisions of the Annex, 
and  in  accordance,  notably,  with: 

a) 

the  general  objectives  of  the  Phare  programme; 

2-1 

the  general  objectives  of  the  Tacis  programme,  with  particular 
reference  to  its  sectoral  aspects; 

the policy  of  each partner  country  on  economic  and  social  reform 
and  education; 

the need to find the right balance between the priority  areas chosen 
and the  resources  allocated  to  Tempus II; 

the  involvement  of  the  associated  countries  of  Central  Europe  in 
the  Socrates  and Leonardo  programmes. 

b) 

c) 

d) 

4.2. 

Period covered 

The  1998/99  and  1999/2000  academic years. 

4.3.  Target population 

Teachers,  instructors,  university  administrators  and  students  in  higher 
education  (approximately  10 million  people). 

4.4. 

Intermediary  body 

The  European  Training  Foundation 
the 
Commission with technical assistance in the implementation of the Tempus 
programme. 

in  Turin,  which  provides 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  EXPENDITURE 

- 
- 

Non-compulsory  expenditure 
Differentiated  appropriations 

6. 

TYPE  OF  EXPENDITURE 

100%  subsidy:  in  accordance  with  the  particular  nature  of  the  programme 
(economic  assistance  to the partner  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and 
to the  independent  States of  the  former  Soviet  Union). 

7. 

FINANCIAL  IMPACT 

7.1.  Method of  calculating  total  cost of  operation 

As Tempus  is  funded  out  of  the  overall  budget  allocated  to  each  partner 
country  by  Phare,  it  is the  partner  countries  which  decide  how  this  total 

Z*> 

amount is to be distributed between the various measures they plan to take 
under  Phare. 

The proportion  allocated  to  the  restructuring  of  higher  education  through 
the  Tempus  programme  represents, for  most  of  the beneficiary  countries, 
between  10 and  15% of  the total  assistance  provided  by  Phare. 

As  an  indication. 

in  1995, the  Tempus/Phare budget  was ECU  98.1  million 
in  1996, the  budget  should  be  approximately  ECU  83  million; 

in  1995, the  Tempus/Tacis budget  was ECU  22.79  million 
in  1996, the  budget  could  be ECU  45  million. 

7.2.  Aspects  of  the measure 

The financial  assistance  available under Tempus can be divided  into three 
major  categories: 

The joint European projects (JEPs): 

Financial  assistance  is  granted  for  the  development  of  joint  European 
projects  (JEPs)  linking  universities  and/or  enterprises  of  the  countries  of 
Central and Eastern Europe with partners in the European Union. The JEPs 
must include as least one university  from  a country  of Central  and Eastern 
Europe and partners in at least two Member  States of the European  Union, 
one  of  which  must  be  a  university. 

Assistance  can  be  granted  for  a wide  range  of  activities,  including  for: 

i) 

ii) 

joint education and training measures, notably for the establishment 
of  new  curricula,  the  development  and  overhaul  of  existing 
curricula,  the  development  of  universities'  capacities  to  provide 
continuing education and retraining, the provision of short intensive 
courses,  and  the  development  of  systems  of  distance  learning; 

measures  for  the  reform  and  development  of  the higher  education 
system  and  is capacities, notably  by  means of  the  restructuring  of 
the  management  of  higher  education  institutions  and  systems, the 
upgrading of existing  facilities  by the acquisition  of the equipment 
needed  to  implement  a  joint  European  project  and,  where 
appropriate,  the  provision  of  technical  and  financial  assistance  to 
the  competent  authorities; 

iii) 

the  promotion  of  cooperation  between  universities  and  the  socio 
economic  players, including  industry,  through joint  projects; 

l§ 

iv) 

v) 

the  development  of 
teachers,  university 
the  mobility  of 
administrative  staff  and  students  within  the  framework  of  joint 
European  projects1; 

activities  to  ensure  the  success  of  a  joint  European  project 
involving  two  or  more partner  countries. 

The financial  assistance granted  is provided  in the form  of an  institutional 
grant  to  the  consortium  of  organisations.  The  average  level  of  assistance 
allocated  is ECU  450  000  per  project  for  a  duration  of  three years. 

Structural  and/or complementary  measures 

Grants may be awarded  for  a  number of  structural  and/or  complementary 
measures  (including  technical  assistance,  seminars  and  studies).  These 
measures  are designed  to support the overall  objective  of  the programme, 
which  is to  contribute  to the  development  and  restructuring  of  the higher 
education  systems  in  the partner  countries. 

Individual  grants 

In  addition  to joint  European  projects,  the European  Union  also  supports 
the  provision  of  individual  grants  to  teachers,  instructors,  university 
administrators,  senior  Ministry  officials,  education  planners  and  other 
training  experts  from  partner  countries  or  the  European  Union  for  visits 
designed  to promote the  quality,  development  and  restructuring  of  higher 
education  in  the partner  countries. 

7.3. 

Indicative  breakdown of costs  by aspects  of  the action 

The costs of the joint European projects  (which account for  approximately 
92%  of  the total  budget  allocated  to Tempus  actions)  are  divided  up into 
two  categories: 

a) 

Expenditure for the structural  actions accounts for 47% of the total 
cost,  on  average.  This  covers: 

staff  costs  for  project  administration  and  development  (the 
ceiling  is  fixed  at  50% of  the  total  amount  of  action  1, to 
the  amount  of  ECU  50 000 per year); 

equipment for the countries of Central  and Eastern  Europe; 

No mobility or support grants will be awarded for practical placements to students from  the associated 
countries of Central Europe which are eligible for these activities under the Community  programmes 
of education and training (Socrates, Leonardo). 

Zxi 

miscellaneous expenses: missions, translations, publications, 
intensive  courses, etc.; 

overheads  (a ceiling  of  10% of  the total). 

b) 

Mobility  grants  for  teachers  and  students. 
On  average,  these  grants  account  for  53%  of  the  total  costs. 
Approximately  85%  of  this  amount  is  provided  to  beneficiaries 
from  the  Eastern  European  countries  for  periods  of  study  or 
training  in  the  Member  States  of  the European  Union. 

7.4. 

Indicative  schedule  of  appropriations 

Year 1 
(6) 

Year  1 
(12) 

Year 2 
(6) 

Year  2 
(12) 

Year 3 
(6) 

Year 3 
(12) 

22% 

33% 

55% 

67% 

89% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

National 
budgets 

Technical 
assistance 

PLANNED  FRAUD  PREVENTION  MEASURES 

Financial  monitoring:  by  the  Commission's  departments,  in  order  to  check  that 
expenditure has been incurred in accordance with the rules and that the budget has 
been  implemented. 

Scientific  and  technical  monitoring:  by  the  responsible  departments  of  the 
Commission  with  the opinion  of the Tempus  management  committee  established 
by  the  Council  Decision. 

ELEMENTS  OF  COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSLS 

9.1. 

Specific  objectives 

The financial  assistance granted under the programme is broken down into 
three  main  categories  (see  also point  7.2): 

Joint  European  projects: 

Joint  measures  for  teaching  and  training,  support  for  staff  and 
student  mobility  and  development  of  the universities'  capacities to 
conduct cooperation measures linking universities and/or enterprises 

zs 

of  the  beneficiary  countries  to  equivalent  partners  in  the  Member 
States of  the European  Union. 

Structural  measures 

Seminars,  studies,  technical  assistance  and  grants  in  order  to 
strengthen  the  capacities  for: 
strategic  planning  and 
* 
institutional  development  of  institutes  of  higher  education 
* 
at  university  or  faculty  level. 

Individual grants 

Support  for  the  individual  mobility  of  teachers,  instructors, 
university  administrators  and  other  training  experts.  These  visits 
can  cover  the  following  areas: 
* 
* 

the  development  of  courses  and  teaching  material, 
the  development  of  staff,  notably  by  periods  of  retraining 
and  industrial  placements, 
teaching  assignments, 
activities 
education. 

the  development  of  higher 

for  supporting 

* 
* 

Assistance  to  European  associations  for  publications  and  other 
information  activities, as well  as surveys, analyses and monitoring. 

9.2.  Grounds  for the operation 

The  programme  is  based  on  the  concept  of  the  provision  of  external 
assistance  to  the  universities  of  the  beneficiary  countries  by  means  of 
cooperation  with  suitable  partner  institutions  in  the  European  Union  and 
beyond  (G-24).  An  intrinsic  feature  of  this  approach  is that  it  establishes 
a parallel financial  commitment on the part of the participating  universities 
of the European  Union, which  would  not be the case if the Tempus  funds 
were  directly  invested  in  the  beneficiary  countries.  In  addition,  the 
universities of the European Union provide all the contacts, experience and 
equipment  needed  to develop the teaching  capacities of the universities in 
the beneficiary  countries in accordance with their own respective academic 
plans. 

Following a long period of separation  from  university  life in the West, this 
cooperation  programme  designed  to transform  higher  education  is greatly 
prized  by the beneficiary  countries. They  would  be unable to finance  such 
transformation  measures  themselves  during  the  period  covered  by  the 
programme. 

2G 

There is also a need to ensure the necessary  transition to the  incorporation 
of  the  countries  of  Central  Europe  into  the  Socrates  and  Leonardo 
Community  education  programmes. 

9.2.1.  Cost of  the measure 

a) 

National  projects 

The amount of funding  allocated to Tempus -  from  Phare for the countries 
of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  and  from  Tacis  for  the  countries  of  the 
former  Soviet  Union  -  will  be  established  every  year  by  the  beneficiary 
countries  themselves. 

As far  as the Tempus/Phare  programme  is  concerned,  the overall  amount 
is expected to  fall  every  year in  comparison  with the current budget.  This 
is  because  the  measures  taken  by  the  Tempus  programme  in  this  new 
period  will  be  concentrated  exclusively  in  the  sectors  which  still  require 
structural  change.  The  mobility  measures  will  be  covered  by  Socrates  in 
all  the  countries  which  have  access to  this programme. 

As  far  as  the  Tempus/Tacis  programme  is  concerned,  the  budget  will  be 
established  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  various  States  of  the 
former  Soviet  Union  and  in  accordance  with  the  amount  of  funding 
available  in  the  Tacis  budget  as  a whole. 

b) 

Technical  assistance  to the  Commission 

The task  of  providing  technical  assistance  to  the  Commission  is  given  to 
the  European  Training  Foundation  in  Turin.  The  budget  allocated  to  the 
Foundation  will  have  to  cover  all  the  operational  activities  connected  to 
the  implementation  of  the  Tempus  programme  (expenses  to  cover 
publications,  missions, the organisation  of  meetings,  seminars, talks, etc.) 
and will  be covered by a specific  agreement between the Commission  and 
the European  Training  Foundation. 

9.2.2.  Spin-offs  (the impact of  the programme over and above its specific 
objectives) 

is  essentially  a  measure 

The  Tempus  programme 
the 
development  of  university  education.  However,  the  programme  produces 
considerable  spin-offs  in  other  areas  of  university  activity.  Not  only  does 
research  derive  considerable  benefit  from  Tempus,  but  there  is  also  an 
impact  on the  development  of new  education  structures  and  new  systems 
of  academic  qualifications  and  recognition  of  qualifications. 

to  support 

n 

The evaluation  of  the programme  has  also  shown  that  it has  considerable 
benefits  for  the  institutions  concerned  in the Member  States, in  particular 
for  the  modernisation  of  their  own  curricula. 

The  great  improvement  in  mutual  understanding  between  the  partner 
countries  and  the  Union  constitutes  a  sound  basis  for  new  contacts  and 
opportunities  for  cooperation,  in  particular  in  economic  terms. 

9.2.3.  Multiplier  effects  (capacity to mobilise  other sources of  funding) 

The Tempus budget  can  cover  100% of  the  cost  of the projects  involved. 
However,  several  factors  have  already  helped  to provide  other  sources  of 
funding  for  the joint  European  projects,  in  particular: 

- 

the  fact  that  universities  in  the  European  Union  do  not,  in  many 
cases,  apply  for  reimbursement  of  infrastructure  costs or,  in  some 
cases, for  reimbursement  of  all  their  staff  costs; 

the high  level  of  rejection  caused by  the  lack of  adequate  funding 
has  prompted  universities  to  propose joint  funding,  which,  in  the 
view of  DG XXII,  shows  a high  level  of  commitment  on  the part 
of  the  institutions  involved; 

the  involvement  of  G-24  countries  which  are not  members  of  the 
European  Union  automatically  creates  new  sources  of  funding,  as 
these  countries  meet  100%  of  the  costs  resulting  from  their 
participation. 

9.3.  Monitoring  and evaluation  of  the operation 

9.3.1.  Performance indicators selected 

The performance  indicators used for  evaluation  are the parameters used to 
define  each  Joint  European  project  (JEP). In  addition,  specific  indicators 
are  added  in  order  to  take  account  of  the  wide  variety  of  conditions  in 
which  the  JEPs  are  implemented  in  each  partner  country. 

9.3.2.  Details and frequency  of  planned evaluations 

An  evaluation  report  for  Tempus  I  (1990-1994) and  an  interim  report  for 
Tempus  II  (1994-1995)  will  be  presented  to  the  institutions  of  the 
European  Union  very  shortly. 

Moreover,  the  monitoring  of  the  programme  is  a  wide-ranging  ongoing 
process  comprising  contractual  reporting  by  contractors, visits to  specific 
places  by  the  Commission,  and  a  number  of  talks  and  seminars  dealing 
with  particular  aspects of  the implementation  of  the Tempus  programme. 

£? 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 198  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

16  H 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-96-207-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-03560-2 

Office for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

^9