COMMON POSITION (EC) No 44/98 adopted by the Council on 29 June 1998 with a view to adopting a Council Decision of ... on the promotion of European Pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship
Date: 1998-06-29
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: action programme, apprenticeship, vocational training

19.8.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  262/41

COMMON  POSITION  (EC)  No  44/98

adopted  by  the  Council  on  29  June  1998

with a view to adopting a Council Decision of . . . on the promotion of European Pathways in
work-linked  training,  including  apprenticeship

(98/C  262/04)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

apprenticeship  in  its  communication  ‘Promoting
apprenticeship  training  in  Europe’;

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  127  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission (1),

(4)  Whereas  the  Council  Resolution  of  18  December
1979 (6)  on  linked  work  and  training  for  young
persons  advocates  that  the  Member  States  should
encourage 
links
between  training  and  work  experience;

the  development  of  effective 

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty (3),

(1)  Whereas  the  Treaty  gives  the  Community  the  task
of implementing a vocational training policy which
supports  and  supplements  the  action  of  Member
States  while  fully  respecting  their  responsibility,  in
particular  by  promoting  the  mobility  of  persons  in
training,  but  excluding  any  harmonisation  of  the
laws  and  regulations  of  the  Member  States;

(2)  Whereas 

in 

the  Council, 

its  Decision
63/266/EEC (4), adopted the general principles and
set  a  number  of  fundamental  objectives  for
training
implementing  a  common  vocational 
policy;  whereas  by  Decision  94/819/EC (5) 
it
adopted  the  LEONARDO  DA  VINCI  programme
for  the  implementation  of  a  vocational  training
policy  of  the  European  Community;

(3)  Whereas  the  Florence  European  Council  asked  the
Commission  to  make  a  study  of  the  role  of
apprenticeship  in  the  creation  of  jobs;  whereas  the
of
Commission 

importance 

stressed 

the 

(1)  OJ  C  67,  3.3.1998,  p.  7.
(2)  OJ  C  214,  10.7.1998,  p.  63.
(3)  Opinion of the European Parliament of 30 April 1998 (OJ C
152,  18.5.1998,  p.  54),  Council  Common  Position  of  29
June  1998  and  Decision  of  the  European  Parliament  of  . . .
(not  yet  published  in  the  Official  Journal).

(4)  OJ  63,  20.4.1963,  p.  1338/63.
(5)  OJ  L  340,  29.12.1994,  p.  8.

(5)  Whereas  the  Council  Resolution  of  15  July
1996 (7) calls on the Member States to promote the
transparency  of  vocational  training  certificates;

learning:  towards  the 

(6)  Whereas  the  Conclusions  adopted  by  the  Council
on 6 May 1996 on the Commission’s White Paper
‘Teaching  and 
learning
society’ (8)  stress  the  need  for  cooperation  between
schools  and  the  business  sector;  whereas  the  1998
Employment  Guidelines,  annexed  to  the  Council
Resolution  of  15  December  1997 (9),  ask  Member
States  to  improve  the  employment  prospects  for
young  people  by  equipping  them  with  skills
relevant  to  market  requirements;  whereas  in  that
context  the  Council  invited  the  Member  States  to
set  up  or  develop  apprenticeship  training  where
appropriate;

(7)  Whereas  training  establishments  on  the  one  hand
and  the  business  sector  on  the  other  can  be
complementary  fora  for  the  acquisition  of  general,
technical, social and personal knowledge and skills;
whereas  in  this  connection,  work-linked  training,
including  apprenticeship,  makes  a 
significant
contribution 
to  a  more  effective  social  and
occupational  integration  into  working  life  and  the
labour  market;  whereas  it  can  benefit  various
target  groups  and  various  levels  of  teaching  and
training,  including  higher  education;

(6)  OJ  C  1,  3.1.1980,  p.  1.
(7)  OJ  C  224,  1.8.1996,  p.  7.
(8)  OJ  C  195,  6.7.1996,  p.  1.
(9)  OJ  C  30,  28.1.1998,  p.  1.

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(8)  Whereas  the  Council  Resolution  of  5  December
1994 (1)  on  the  quality  and  attractiveness  of
vocational  education  and  training  stresses  the
importance  of  work-linked  training  and  the  need
to  encourage  periods  of  vocational  training  in
other Member States and to integrate those periods
into  national  vocational  training  programmes;

(9)  Whereas,  in  order  to  promote  this  mobility,  it  is
desirable  to  establish  a  document  known  as  the
‘EUROPASS  Training’  document  to  record  at
Community  level  the  period  or  periods  of  training
in  another  Member  State;

(15)  Whereas the Council, in its Recommendation of 30
June  1993  on  access  to  continuing  vocational
training (2),  encourages  access  for,  and  effective
participation  by,  women  in  continuing  vocational
training; whereas it is therefore important to make
taken  of  equal
sure 
opportunities 
in  European
in  participation 
pathways and appropriate measures must be taken
to  that  end;

that  due  account 

is 

(16)  Whereas 

is 

required, 

the  Commission 

in
cooperation  with  the  Member  States,  to  ensure
overall  consistency  between  the  implementation  of
this  Decision  and  Community  programmes  and
initiatives  in  the  fields  of  education,  vocational
training  and  youth;

(10)  Whereas  it  is  important  to  ensure  the  quality  of
such  periods  of  transnational  mobility;  whereas
Member  States  have  a  particular  responsibility  in
in  close
this  area;  whereas  the  Commission, 
cooperation  with  the  Member  States,  should
establish  a  procedure  for  exchanging  information
and  coordinating  the  activities  and  arrangements
developed  by  Member  States  to  implement  this
Decision;

(17)  Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  ensure  continuous
monitoring of the implementation of this Decision;
whereas  the  Commission  is  therefore  invited  to
submit  a  report  to  the  European  Parliament,  the
Council  and  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee
thereon  and 
forward  any  necessary
to  put 
proposals  for  the  future;

(11)  Whereas  the  Extraordinary  European  Council  on
Employment  held  in  Luxembourg  acknowledged
the decisive role played by small and medium-sized
enterprises  (SMEs)  as  regards  the  creation  of
sustainable  jobs;

(18)  Whereas  three  years  after  this  Decision  is  adopted
an assessment should be made of its impact and of
the  experience  gained,  so  that  any  corrective
measures  needed  can  be  adopted;

(12)  Whereas 

training, 

work-linked 

including
apprenticeship,  in  micro-enterprises,  SMEs  and  the
crafts  sector  is  an  important  aid  to  employability;
whereas  their  specific  requirements  in  that  area
should  be  taken  into  account;

the  Council  and 

(19)  Whereas  a  financial  reference  amount  within  the
meaning  of  point  2  of  the  Declaration  of  the
European  Parliament, 
the
Commission  of  6  March  1995  is  included  in  this
the
Decision  with  a  view 
introduction  of  the  EUROPASS  measure  without
prejudice  to  the  powers  of  the  budget  authority  as
defined  by 
the  Treaty;  whereas  Community
financial  support  is  limited  to  an  introductory
stage  between  1  January  2000  and  31  December
2004;

facilitating 

to 

(13)  Whereas  trainees  should  be  properly  informed  as
to  the  relevant  provisions  in  force  in  the  host
Member  State;

(14)  Whereas 

the  Community  Charter  of 

the
Fundamental 
of  Workers
Social  Rights 
acknowledges  the  importance  of  combating  all
forms  of  discrimination,  especially  those  based  on
sex,  colour,  race,  opinions  and  beliefs;

(20)  Whereas  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of
subsidiarity  and  proportionality  as  set  out  in
Article  3b  of  the  Treaty,  the  objectives  of  the
action  envisaged  for  the  establishment  of  the
require
‘EUROPASS-Training’ 
coordinated  action  at  Community  level,  by  reason
of  the  diversity  of  training  systems  and  structures
in  the  Member  States;  whereas  this  Decision  does
not  go  beyond  what  is  necessary  to  achieve  those
objectives,

document 

(1)  OJ  C  374,  30.12.1994,  p.  1.

(2)  OJ  L  181,  23.7.1993,  p.  37.

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Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  262/43

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION:

Article  1

Objectives

1. This  Decision  establishes  a  document  known  as  the
‘EUROPASS  Training’  document.  It  is  intended  as  a
record  at  Community  level  of  the  period  or  periods  of
training which a person undergoing work-linked training,
including apprenticeship, has followed in a Member State
other than that in which his/her training is based (known
as  ‘European  pathway(s)’).

2. The  use  of  this  record  and  participation 
in  a
‘European pathway’ are voluntary and do not impose any
obligations  or  confer  any  rights  other  than  those  defined
below.

Article  2

Definitions

For  the  purposes  of  the  Decision,  and  taking  account  of
the  differences  in  the  systems  and  arrangements  for
work-linked  training,  including  apprenticeship,  in  the
Member  States,  the  following  definitions  shall  apply:

(a)  ‘European  pathway’  means,  where  it  has  been  agreed
to  use  the  EUROPASS-training  document,  any  period
of  vocational  training  completed  by  a  person  in  a
Member  State  (host  Member  State)  other  than  the
one  (Member  State  of  provenance)  where  his  or  her
work-linked  training  is  based,  which  forms  part  of
that  work-linked  training;

(b) ‘person in work-linked training’ means any person, of
whatever  age,  in  vocational  training,  at  any  level
including  higher  education.  This  training,  recognised
or  certified  by  the  competent  authorities  in  the
Member  State  of  provenance  according  to  its  own
legislation, 
involves
structured  periods  of  training  in  an  undertaking  and,
where  appropriate,  in  a  training  establishment  or
centre,  whatever  the  person’s  status  (contract  of
employment,  apprenticeship 
contract,  pupil  or
student);

procedures 

practices, 

or 

(c)  ‘mentor’  means  any  person  with  a  private  or  public
employer  or  a  training  establishment  or  centre  in  the
host  Member  State  who  has  the  task  of  assisting,
informing,  guiding  and  monitoring  trainees  during
their  ‘European  pathway’;

(d) ‘EUROPASS  Training’  document  means  a  document
establishing  that  the  holder  has  completed  one  or
more  periods  of  work-linked  training, 
including
apprenticeship,  in  another  Member  State  under  the
conditions  defined  in  this  Decision;

(e)  ‘host  partner’  means  any  body  in  the  host  Member
State  (inter  alia  private  or  public  employer,  training
establishment  or  centre)  with  which  a  partnership
with  the  body  responsible  for  organising  the  training
in  the  Member  State  of  provenance  has  been
established, 
the  completion  of  a  European
pathway.

for 

Article  3

Content  and  common  principles

following 

The 
EUROPASS-Training document;

conditions 

shall 

apply 

to 

the

(a)  each  European  pathway  shall  form  part  of  the
training followed in the Member State of provenance,
according  to 
legislation,  procedures  or
practices;

its  own 

(b) the body responsible for organising the training in the
Member  State  of  provenance  and  the  host  partner
shall  agree  on  the  content,  objectives  and  the
practicalities  of  the  European  pathway;

(c)  the  European  pathways  shall  be  monitored  and

supervised  by  a  mentor.

Article  4

EUROPASS  Training  document

1. A  Community  information  document  known  as  the
‘EUROPASS  Training’  document 
the  contents  and
presentation  of  which  are  described  in  the  Annex,  shall
be  issued  by  the  body  responsible  for  organising  the
training in the Member State of provenance to all persons
completing  a  European  pathway.

2. The  EUROPASS  Training  document  shall:

(a)  specify  the  vocational  training  followed  in  the  course
of  which  the  European  pathway  was  completed  and
the  qualification,  diploma,  title  or  other  certificate  to
which  the  training  leads;

(b) specify  that  the  European  pathway  forms  part  of  the
training followed in the Member State of provenance,
according  to 
legislation,  procedures  or
practices;

its  own 

(c)  identify  the  content  of  the  European  pathway,
providing  relevant  details  of  any  work  experience  or
training  followed  during  the  pathway  and,  where

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appropriate,  the  skills  acquired  and  the  method  of
evaluation used;

(d) indicate  the  duration  of  the  European  pathway
organised  by  the  host  partner  during  the  work
experience  or  training;

(e)  identify  the  host  partner;

(f)  identify  the  mentor’s  function;

(g)  be  issued  by  the  body  responsible  for  organising  the
training  in  the  Member  State  of  provenance.  It  shall
contain,  for  each  European  pathway,  a  record  which
shall  form  an 
integral  part  of  the  EUROPASS
Training  document,  completed  by  the  host  partner
and  signed  by  him  and  by  the  holder.

3.
In  close  cooperation  with  the  Member  States,  the
Commission  shall  set  up  a  coordination  and  mutual
information  system.

4.
In  implementing  the  provisions  of  this  Decision,  the
Commission and the Member States shall take account of
the importance of SMEs and crafts and of their particular
needs.

Article  7

Financing

The financial reference amount for the implementation of
Article 6(1), (3) and (4) for the period 1 January 2000 to
31  December  2004  shall  be  ECU  7,3  million.

Article  5

Consistency  and  complementarity

The  annual  appropriations  shall  be  authorised  by  the
budget  authority  within  the 
limits  of  the  financial
perspective.

With due regard for the procedures and resources specific
to  Community  programmes  and  initiatives  in  education
and  vocational  training,  the  Commission,  in  cooperation
with  the  Member  States,  shall  ensure  overall  consistency
between  the  implementation  of  this  Decision  and  those
programmes  and  initiatives.

Article  8

This  Decision  shall  apply  from  1  January  2000.

Article  6

Support  measures  and  accompanying  measures

for 

and 

dissemination 

the
1. The  Commission  shall  be  responsible 
production 
and
appropriate 
monitoring  of  the  EUROPASS  Training  document  in
close  cooperation  with  the  Member  States.  To  that  end,
each  Member  State  shall  designate  one  or  more  bodies
responsible for ensuring implementation at national level,
in  close  cooperation  with  the  social  partners  and,  where
appropriate,  with 
for
work-linked  training.

representative  organisations 

Article  9

Evaluation

Three  years  after  the  adoption  of  this  Decision  the
Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and
the  Council  a  report  on  its  implementation,  evaluate  the
impact  of  the  Decision  on  the  promotion  of  mobility  in
work-linked  training,  including  apprenticeship,  propose
any further corrective measures designed to make it more
effective  and  make  any  proposals  it  deems  appropriate,
including  budgetary  proposals.

Article  10

2. To  that  end,  each  Member  State  shall  take  steps  to:

This  Decision  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

(a)  facilitate access to the EUROPASS Training document

by  disseminating  appropriate  information;

(b) allow  an  evaluation  of  the  actions  implemented,  and

Done  at  . . .

c)  facilitate  equal  opportunities,  in  particular  by  raising

awareness  among  all  relevant  actors.

For  the  Council

The  President

19.8.98

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ANNEX

‘EUROPASS Training’

Description  of  the  document

The  document  is  in  the  form  of  an  A5  booklet.

It  comprises  12  pages  in  addition  to  the  cover.

The  outside  front  cover  will  bear:

—  the  words  ‘EUROPASS  Training’

—  the  logo  of  the  European  Community.

Inside  front  cover:

General  description  of  the  ‘Europass  Training’  document  (in  the  language  in  which  the  training  has  been
followed  in  the  Member  State  of  provenance).

‘This  Community  record,  known  as  the  “EUROPASS  Training”  document,  is  established  in  accordance
with  Council  Decision  98/. . . ./EC  on  the  implementation  of  European  pathways  in  work-linked  training,
including  apprenticeship  (OJ  L  . . ., . . .,  p.  . . .).

Its purpose (in accordance with Article 1 of the Decision) is to provide a Community record of the period(s)
of  training  which  a  person  in  work-linked  training,  including  apprenticeship,  has  completed  in  a  Member
State  other  than  the  one  in  which  his/her  training  is  based.

It  is  issued  by  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  (body  responsible  for  organising  the  training  course  in  the  Member
State  of  provenance).(date  and  signature)’

Page  1  (in  the  language  of  the  establishment  of  provenance)

Particulars  of  the  holder:

—  name

—  first  name

—  signature.

All  the  headings  will  be  given  in  the  other  official  languages  of  the  institutions  of  the  European  Union  on
the  inside  back  cover.

Page  2  (in  the  language  of  the  host  partner):

European  pathway  1

(a)  vocational  training  followed

(b) this  European  pathway  forms  part  of  the  training  followed  in  the  Member  State  of  provenance

(c)  content of the European pathway, providing relevant details of the work experience acquired or training
followed  during  the  pathway  and,  where  appropriate,  the  skills  acquired  and  the  method  of
evaluation

(d) duration  of  the  European  pathway

(e)  details  of  the  host  partner

(f)  name  and  function  of  the  mentor

(g)  signatures  of  the  host  partner  and  the  holder.

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Page  3  (in  the  language  of  the  establishment  of  provenance):

European  pathway  1

Details  given  on  page  2  repeated  in  the  language  of  the  establishment  of  provenance.

Page  4  (in  the  language  of  the  holder):

European  pathway  1

Details given on page 2 repeated in the language of the holder if different from that used on pages 1 and 2
and  provided  it  is  one  of  the  official  languages  of  the  institutions  of  the  European  Union.

Pages  5,  6  and  7:

European  pathway  2  (if  appropriate)

Pages  8,  9  and  10:

European  pathway  3  (if  appropriate)

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STATEMENT  OF  THE  COUNCIL’S  REASONS

I. 

INTRODUCTION

1.  On  12  January  1998,  the  Commission  submitted  to  the  Council  a  proposal  for  a
Decision, based on Article 127 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on
including
the  promotion  of  European  Pathways 
apprenticeship.

in  work-linked 

training, 

2.  The  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  Committee  of  the  Regions  delivered  their

Opinions  on  29  April  1998  and  12  March  1998  respectively.

The  European  Parliament  delivered  its  Opinion  on  first  reading  on  30  April  1998.

3.  In  a  letter  dated  2  June  1998,  the  Commission  submitted  an  amended  proposal  to  the

Council,  incorporating  a  number  of  European  Parliament  amendments.

4.  In  accordance  with  Article  189c  of  the  EEC  Treaty,  the  Council  adopted  its  common

position  on  29  June  1998.

II.  AIM

The aim of this Decision is to introduce a document (known as the ‘EUROPASS-Training’
document)  which  records  at  Community  level  periods  of  work-linked  training,  including
apprenticeship,  in  another  Member  State.  The  use  of  the  EUROPASS-Training  document
should  give  a  higher  profile  to  skills  and  experience  acquired  during  a  period  of  training
abroad.

III.  ANALYSIS  OF  THE  COMMON  POSITION

1. 

GENERAL  COMMENTS

Article  127  of  the  EC  Treaty  states  that  the  Community  shall  implement  a
vocational  training  policy  which  shall  support  the  action  of  the  Member  States,
while  fully  respecting  their  responsibility  for  the  content  and  organisation  of  the
training.  The  common  position  adopted  by  the  Council  is  entirely  in  line  with  that
principle.

The  employment  guidelines  for  1998,  adopted  by  the  Extraordinary  European
Council in Luxembourg (20 and 21 November 1997), underlined the importance of
apprenticeship  for  employability.  With  that  in  mind,  the  common  position  will
encourage  the  mobility  of  persons  undergoing  work-linked  training  and  also  allow
for  the  exchange  of  best  practice  in  each  Member  State  in  this  area.

2. 

AMENDMENTS  MADE  BY  THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT 

2.1.  European  Parliament  amendments  accepted  by  the  Commission

In  its  amended  proposal,  the  Commission  incorporated  26  of  the  29  amendments
proposed  by  the  European  Parliament.

2.2.  European  Parliament  amendments  rejected  by  the  Commission

On  the  other  hand,  the  Commission  excluded  amendments  19,  29  and  part  of
amendment  28  from  its  amended  proposal.

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3. 

AMENDMENTS  MADE  BY  THE  COUNCIL  TO  THE  AMENDED  COMMISSION
PROPOSAL

(The  recitals  and  paragraphs  referred  to  are  numbered  as  in  the  Common  Position
unless  otherwise  indicated).

3.1. 

Preamble

Most of the European Parliament’s proposed amendments referred to the preamble.
The  Council  accepted  most  of  them,  if  not  in  the  letter  at  least  in  spirit:

—  recital  3  was  adapted  to  echo  the  exact  text  of  the  conclusions  of  the  Florence
European  Council  on  21  and  22  June  1996  (recital  3  of  the  amended
proposal),

—  recital  4  (first  part  of  recital  6  of  the  amended  proposal),

—  recitals  6  and  7  (recitals  7  and  8  of  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  8  (end  of  recital  6  of  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  10  (part  of  recital  9  of  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  11  (recital  4  of  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  12  (recital  5  of  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  13  (recital  13  of  the  amended  proposal  with  slightly  different  wording),

—  recital  15,  on 

equal  opportunities,  now 

referring 

to 

the  Council

Recommendation  of  30  June  1993  (recital  15  in  the  amended  proposal),

—  recitals  16  and  17  (recital  16  in  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  18  (recital  17  in  the  amended  proposal),

—  recital  20  (recital  19  in  the  amended  proposal).

Recitals  5  (transparency  of  vocational  training  certificates),  9  (overall  objective  of
the  Decision),  16  (consistency  with  other  programmes)  and  19  (financial  reference
amount)  have  been  added.

3.2.  Objectives  (Article  1)

The  Council  has  simplified  the  first  paragraph  by  merging  paragraphs  1  and  2  in
the amended proposal and taken over paragraph 3 from the amended proposal with
slightly  different  wording.

3.3.  Definitions  (Article  2)

The  definition  of  ‘person  in  work-linked  training’  has  been  slightly  simplified.  The
definition  of  ‘mentor’  has  also  been  shortened.

The  Council  abandoned  the  definition  of  ‘significant  duration’  since,  without  a
minimum length, a period of training is deemed of significant duration once agreed
by  the  partners.

3.4.  Content  and  common  principles  (Article  3)

The  Council  simplified  the  wording  of  this  Article  in  order  to  streamline  European
pathway arrangements.

19.8.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  262/49

3.5.  EUROPASS-Training  document  (Article  4)

The  description  of  the  EUROPASS  Training  document  has  been  clarified.

3.6.  Consistency  and  complementarity  (Article  5)

While  not  taking  up  the  Commissions  suggested  term  of  ‘synergy’  between
EUROPASS  and  Community  programmes  and 
in  education  and
vocational  training,  the  Council  has  retained  the  idea  of  ‘overall  consistency’.

initiatives 

3.7. 

Support  measures  and  accompanying  measures  (Article  6)

Paragraph 6(2)(c) in the amended proposal was not kept verbatim since the Council
considered  it  implicitly  covered  by  Articles  3(1)  and  3(2)  already.

3.8. 

Financing  (Article  7)

The  Article  on  financing  has  been  worded  in  accordance  with  budgetary  procedure
used  in  this  type  of  decision.

3.9.  Evaluation  (Article  9)

This  new  Article  repeats  Article  6(4)  of  the  amended  proposal.

3.10.  Description  of  the  EUROPASS  Training  document  (Annex)

Some  details  have  been  changed  in  this  Annex  to  make  it  more  consistent  with  the
wording  of  the  Decision,  and  also  to  make  it  clearer  for  users.

4. 

AMENDMENTS  ACCEPTED  BY  THE  COMMISSION  BUT  NOT  BY  THE  COUNCIL

The  Council  decided  against  taking  over  recitals  10,  11,  12,  14  and  18  of  the
amended proposal on the grounds that they had no direct connection to the relevant
provisions  of  the  draft  Decision.