Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision amending Decision 819/95/EC establishing the Community action programme Socrates
Date: 1997-06-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, European cooperation, action programme, education policy, student mobility

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  26.06.1997 
COM(97) 338  final 

97/0103 (COD) 

Amended proposal for a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 

amending Decision 819/95/EC establishing 
the Community action programme 
SOCRATES 

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article  189 a (2) 
of the EC-Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1. 

Introduction 

1.1 

On  14  March  1997,  the  Commission  presented  a  proposal  for  a  decision ^ pursuant  to 
Articles  126  and  127 of  the  EC  Treaty,  involving  a  new  Parliament-Council  codecision 
procedure,  for  the  purpose  of  amending  the  decision  establishing  the  Community  action 

programme  SOCRATES^.  The  only  amendment  proposed  is  that  the  programme's 
financial  framework  be  enlarged.  The  Commission  proposes  an  increase  of  ECU  50 
million,  bringing  the  total  for  the  period  1995-99  to  ECU  900  million  rather  than  ECU 
850  million.  The  Commission  proposal  was  submitted  to  the  European  Parliament  and 
the Council on  14 March  1997. 

1.2 

1.3 

1.4 

1.5 

1.6 

The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  issued  its  opinion  on  28  May  1997^,  in  which  it 
underlined  the  importance  of  the  programme,  expressed  the  view  that  programmes 
which  bring  together  the  citizens  of  the  EU  should  be  given  priority  financing  even  in 
periods  of  budgetary  constraints  and  welcomed  the  fact  that  the  Commission  was 
proposing  an  increase  in  the  financial  framework,  although  it  considered  that  the 
proposed  increase was  insufficient  (no alternative  figure  was  proposed). 

The  Council  has  asked  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  to  deliver  its  opinion  by  19 
September  1997. 

The  European  Parliament  adopted  its opinion  at the  first  reading  on  12 June  1997^. This 
opinion  contains  six  amendments 
the 
Commission.  Five  of  these  concern  the  recitals  referring 
to  the  Decision.  One 
amendment  relates  to  the  Decision  as  such  and  provides  for  an  increase  of  ECU  100 
million  in the  financial  framework,  rather than  ECU  50 million. 

the  wording  originally  proposed  by 

to 

The  Commission  is  able  to  accept  two  of  the  amendments  concerning  the  recitals.  The 
other  three  are  acceptable  in  principle  and/or  subject  to  rewording,  but  have  been 
in  the  Commission's  amended  proposal.  The  amendment  concerning  the 
included 
Decision  itself cannot be accepted  at this stage. 

The  reasons  for  the  position  adopted  by  the  Commission  regarding  these  amendments 
are  set  out  in  section  3  below.  Annex  I  contains  the  complete  text  of  the  original 
proposal  (left-hand  column) and the amended  proposal  (right-hand  column). 

COM(97) 99 final,  14.3.1997. 
Decision of the European  Parliament and of the Council No 819/95/EC of  14 March  1995 establishing 
the Community action programme SOCRATES, OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 10. 
SOC/337, ESC 593/97 - 97/0103 COD, 28.5.1997. 

2. 

Aim of the  proposal 

The  programme  spans  the  period  1995-99  and  is applicable  to  the  15 Member  States  as  well  as 
the  partner  countries  in  the  European  Economic  Area.  Its  overall  aim  is  to  promote  quality  by 
increasing  mobility,  encouraging  cooperation  and  strengthening  the  European  dimension  in  all 
areas of  education. 

SOCRATES  is  regarded  as  a  cornerstone  of  a  strategy  to  bring  Europe  closer  to  its  citizens  on 
the one  hand  and  to  improve  the quality  of  human  resources  with  a view  to  promoting  European 
competitiveness  and  stimulating  employment  on  the  other.  It  was  warmly  received  by  the 
the  process  of 
education  community 
Community  enlargement  in the  broad  sense  through  the  pre-accession  extension  of  strategically 
important  programmes to the associated  countries of Central and  Eastern  Europe and  Cyprus. 

is  also  a  mainspring  for 

in  Europe.  SOCRATES 

The  financial  framework  was  the  subject  of  a  conciliation  procedure  between  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  when  the  Decision  establishing  the  programme  was  adopted,  with 
the  figure  adopted  falling  far  short  of  the  Commission's  original  proposal.  At  the  end  of  the 
conciliation  procedure, the European  Parliament, the Council  and the Commission  agreed  that: 

"Two  years  after  the  launching  of  the programme,  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council 
will  assess  the  results  achieved  by  the programme.  To that  end,  the  Commission  will  submit  to 
including  any 
them  a  report  accompanied  by  any  proposal  which  it  considers  appropriate, 
concerning  the funding  set  by  the  legislator  within  the  meaning  of  the  Joint  Declaration  of  6 

March  1995$.  The  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  will  act  on  those  proposals  at  the 

earliest  opportunity  "°. 

On  the  basis  of the  mandate  contained  in the Joint  Declaration,  the  Commission  has  produced  a 

report  analysing  the  first  two  years  of  SOCRATES  (1995  and  1996)7,  accompanied  by  the 
proposal  for  a  decision  to  modify  the  financial  framework  of  the  programme  with  the  aim  of 
enabling  it to continue to achieve  its objectives. 

3. 

Commission  position  regarding  the  amendments  proposed  by  the  European 
Parliament  (first  reading) 

3.1 

Amendments  accepted 

The Commission  accepts amendments  1, 2 (subject to a slight rewording), 3 (subject  to a 
slight  rewording)  and  5 (subject  to a slight  rewording). The  reasons  for  this  position  are 
the  following: 

•  Amendment  1:  This  amendment  recalls  the  Commission's  initiatives  which  tended  to 
confirm  the  need  for  increased  financing  for  European  cooperation  in  the  field  of 
education.  The  final  part  of  the  amendment  concerns  the  priority  which  the  European 
Parliament  would  like  to  give  to  Community  measures  in  the  education  sector.  The 
Commission  has  itself  now  demonstrated  that  it  attaches  priority  to  this  sector  by 

Declaration  by  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  of  6  March  1995  (95/C 
293/03), OJ C 293, 8.11.1995, p. 4. 
Joint  Statement  by the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  concerning  Decision 
819/95/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  14  March  1995  establishing  the 
Community action programme 'SOCRATES', OJ L 132, 16.6.1995, p. 18. 
COM(97) 99 final,  14.3.1997. 

3 

proposing  an  increase  in the  financial  framework  for  SOCRATES  despite  the  extremely 
low  rate  of  increase  provided  for  in the  budgetary  proposals  concerning  heading  3 of  the 
financial  perspective.  The  amendment  nevertheless  refers  only  to  resolutions  of  the 
European  Parliament. 

Amendment  2:  This  amendment  tends  to  back  up  the  Commission's  own  arguments 
concerning  the  effects  of the  funding  for  the  programme  being  maintained  at  its  current 
level  or  not being  increased  sufficiently,  particularly  as regards  the continuous  reduction 
of  funding.  This  amendment  has  therefore  been  accepted  with  a  minor  modification 
giving  a  slightly  more  balanced  analysis  of  the  implications  of  a  failure  to  increase 
funding. 

Amendment  3:  Given  that  the  Commission  itself,  in  its  recitals,  drew  attention  to  the 
possible  impact  on the  budget  (for  establishments  in the  Member  States) of  SOCRATES 
being  extended  to  include associated  countries  in Central  and  Eastern  Europe and  Cyprus 
-  an  impact  which  will  also  have  to  be  absorbed  during  the  next  budgetary  period  -  this 
amendment  was  accepted  with  a  slight  change  to  its  wording.  If  the  costs  relating 
directly  to  the  participation  of  persons  and  institutions  from  the  new  countries  are to  be 
covered  by  the  contributions  from  each  participating  country,  cooperation  with  the  new 
countries  could  in  practice  result  in  substantial  costs  for  the  institutions  in  the  countries 
currently  participating  in  the  SOCRATES  programme.  The  amendment  was  modified 
slightly  in  order  to  above  all  take  account  of  the  fact  that  the  opening-up  of  the 
programme  has not yet taken effect;  this  is planned  for the second  half of  1997. 

• 

Amendment  5:  This  amendment  makes  a  relevant  reference 
the  budgetary 
arrangements  allowing  the  increase  proposed  in  the  draft  Decision  submitted  by  the 
Commission  to be  financed.  It was therefore  accepted  (subject  to a slight  rewording). 

to 

3.2 

Amendments  acceptable  in  principle 

Amendment  4  seems  to  be acceptable  in  principle.  However,  the  Commission  considers 
that  the  arguments  contained  in  it are  sufficiently  encompassed  by amendments  2 and 3, 
each  of  which  the  Commission  accepted  with  minor  modifications.  It  has  therefore 
rejected  amendment  4. 

3.3 

Amendments  not  accepted 

While  the  Commission  considers  that  the  additional  recitals  strengthen  its  arguments  in 
favour  of  an  increase  in  the  financial  framework,  it  is  unable  at  this  stage  to  accept 
amendment  6 concerning  an  increase  in the additional  funding.  The Commission  is quite 
aware  of the fact  that the  financial  perspective  in force  would  in principle have allowed  a 
proposal  going  well  beyond  the  increase  in  funding  provided  for  in  its  proposal. 
However,  the  Commission  considers  that,  at a time  of  continuing  budgetary  constraints, 
it would  be premature to propose a larger  sum. 

4. 

Conclusion 

The  Commission  recommends  that  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  approve  the 
amended  proposal  set out in Annex  I. 

Amended  proposal  for  a 

ANNEX I 

EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  COUNCIL  DECISION 

amending  Decision  819/95/EC  establishing 
the Community  action  programme 
SOCRATES 

Initial  proposal8 
Decision  of the European  Parliament  and 

Unchanged 

Amended  proposal 

of the  Council 

amending  Decision  819/95/EC9 establishing  the 
Community action programme  Socrates 

~~ 

THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  Unchanged 
THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN 
UNION, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Community,  and  in particular  Articles 
126 and  127 thereof, 
Having 
to 
regard 
Commission10, 
Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic 
and  Social Committee11, 
Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee 
of the Regions12, 
Acting 
in  accordance  with 
referred  to in Article  189b of the Treaty13, 

the  procedure 

the  proposal 

from 

the 

Whereas  Decision  819/95/EC  of  the  European  Unchanged 
Parliament and of the Council of  14 March  1995 
establishes  the  Community  action  programme 
SOCRATES; 

Whereas  Article  7 of this  Decision  provides  for  Unchanged 
a  financial  framework  for the implementation  of 
the  programme  during  the  period  1.1.1995  -
31.12.1999; 

Whereas  the  Joint  Statement  by  the  European 
Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission 
concerning the above-mentioned  Decision  of  14 
March  1995  provides  that  two  years  after  the 
launching  of  the  programme,  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  will  assess  the 
results  achieved  by  the  programme,  and  that  to 

OJC  113,  11.4.1997. 
O J L 8 7,  20.4.1997, p.  10. 

8 

9 

10 
11 
12 
13 

this  end  the  Commission  will  submit  to  them  a 
report  accompanied  by  any  proposals  which  it 
considers  appropriate,  including  any  concerning 
the  funding  set  by  the  legislator  within  the 
meaning  of  the  Joint  Declaration  of  6  March 
199514,  and  that  the  European  Parliament  and 
the  Council  will  act  on  those  proposals  at  the 
earliest opportunity15; 

the 

report 

submitted 

Whereas 
the 
Commission19  pursuant to the  above-mentioned 
Joint  Statement  has  set  out  the  outstanding 
results  achieved  by  the  programme  during  the 
first two years following  its adoption; 

by 

towards 

learning 

Whereas the European  Parliament  called  for  an 
increase  in the allocation  for  the programme  in 
its  resolution  on  the  Commission  White  Paper 
on  Education  and  Training  "Teaching  and 
learning; 
society' 
the 
(CQM(95)0590)16  and  its  resolution  on  the 
Commission  Green  Paper  on  "Education 
z 
the  obstacles 
Training 
to 
=  Research: 
(COM(96W462V7: 
transnational  mobility" 
whereas,  in  its resolution  on  the  guidelines  for 
the  1998  budgetary  procedure18,  it  included 
encouragement 
education 
for  youth 
programmes  among  its priorities: 

and 

Unchanged 

Whereas  the  programme  has  been  particularly 
well  received  in  the  educational  community, 
and  there  is  a  need  to  maintain  its  forward 
momentum  towards achieving  its objectives; 

Unchanged 

Whereas  the  demand  for  support  is  already 
many  times  higher  than  the  available  resources 
and  is continuing to rise; 

Unchanged 

Whereas  there  is a need  to  ensure  that  a  critical 
mass of  funding  is maintained, thereby  ensuring 
that  the  quality  of the  collaborative  activities  to 

seriously 

Whereas  the  success  of  the  programme  would 
the 
compromised 
be 
percentage  of  projects  supported  were  to  be 
reduced  and  if  the  annual  average  amount  of 

both 

if 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

Declaration  by the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  of  6  March  1995  on  the 
incorporation  of financial provisions into legislative acts (95/C 293/03), OJ C 293, 8.11.1995, p. 4. 
OJL  132, 16.6.1995, p. 18. 
(EP 257.132,  12.3.97, p. 47). 
(EP 259.215, 14.5.1997, p 66). 
(EP 225.133, 13.3.1997, p. 78). 
COM(97) 99 final,  14.3.1997. 

from 

threshold,  which  would  mainly  disadvantage 
favoured  backgrounds: 
ÛÏQS& 
whereas there is therefore  a need to ensure that 
a critical mass of funding  is maintained; 

l££S 

Whereas there is a need to provide continuity of 
support  for  projects  during their developmental 
phase,  while  nonetheless  reserving  sufficient 
funds  to  support  new  projects  and  activities, 
thereby safeguarding  the programme's potential 
for contributing to innovation, 

Unchanged 

Whereas  the  associated  countries  of  Central 
and  Eastern  Europe  and  Cyprus  may 
participate 
in  the  programme  from  1998 
onwards:  whereas  their  financial  contribution 
will  call  for  a  similar  contribution  by  the 
Union in order to ensure reciprocal  mobility in 
line with the Union's political objective. 

Whereas there  is a need  to adjust  the  financial  Unchanged 
framework  for  the  programme  in  order  to 
maintain the programme's capacity to fulfil  the 
objectives  set  out  in  the  Decision  establishing 
the programme, 

can 

funding 

additional 

Whereas 
be 
incorporated  within  the  overall  allocation  for 
heading  3  of  the  financial  perspective  and 
the  appropriations 
within 
available  during 
two  financial  years 
concerned, 

limits  of 

the 

the 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Unchanged 

Article 1 

Article  7(1)  of  Decision  819/95/EC  of  the 
European  Parliament  and  of the  Council  of  14 
March 1995 shall be replaced by the following: 

Unchanged 

"The financial framework for implementation of 
this  programme  for  the  period  referred  to  in 
Article 1  shall be ECU 900 million." 

Article 2 

This Decision  shall enter  into force  on the day 
of  its publication  in the  Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 

Unchanged 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 338 final 

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