Proposal for a Council Decision adopting the third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education - Tempus III (2000 - 2006)
Date: 1998-07-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, EU programme, continuing education, economic aid, higher education

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

T* 

"à-

Brussels.  17.07.1998 
COM(1998) 454  final 

98/0246 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

adopting the third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme 

for higher education 

TEMPUS III (2000-2006) 

(presented by the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

I. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

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  central  and  eastern  European  countries  (CEEC).  The  TEMPUS  programme  was 
adopted  by  the  Council  on  7 May  1990  (Council  Decision  90/233/EEC)  within  the 
budgetary  framework  of  Phare,  the  Community's  programme  of  economic  assistance  to 
the  CEEC. 

TEMPUS,  the  aim  of  which  is  to  encourage  the  development  and  restructuring  of  the 
higher  education  systems  in  the  beneficiary  countries  through  cooperation  with  partners 
in  the  Community,  was  initially  adopted  for  a  three-year  pilot  phase,  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  four-year  period  starting  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  programme^-  (Council  Decision  93/246/EEC). 

On  21 November  1996 the  Council  amended  this  decision  in  order  to  extend  TEMPUS  II 
by  a  period  of two years  (1998-2000) (Council  Decision  96/663/EC). 

The  Decision  of  21  November  1996  stipulates  that  the  Commission  will  evaluate  the 
implementation  of the  TEMPUS  programme  and  will  submit  no  later  than  30  April  1998 
a  proposal  for  the  continuation  or  adaptation  of  the  programme  for  the  period  beginning 
1 July  2000  for  the  partner  countries  who  will  not  yet  have  had  access  to  the  higher 
education  activities  of  the  Community  education  and  training  programmes  (Socrates  and 
Leonardo). 

II. 

AIM  OF  THE  PROPOSED  COUNCIL  DECISION 

The  aim  of  this  proposed  Council  Decision  is to  launch  a  new  phase  of the  TEMPUS  programme 
for  a  six-year  period  (2000-2006)  (TEMPUS  III): 

The number of partner countries  involved  in the programme  rose from  the n\< •  v-Mmii-'e*-. of Poland and 
Hungary  in May  1990 to  11 countries  in  1992. Current  participants  arc: Albania,  huiganu,  the Czech 
Republic,  Slovakia,  Estonia,  Hungary,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Poland,  Romania,  Slovenia.  Bosnia-
Herzegovina and the Former Yugoslav Republic of  Macedonia. 

The  following  new  independent  states  are  participating  in  the  TEMPUS  programme  financed  by  the 
Tacis  programme:  Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Belarus,  Georgia,  Kazakhstan,  Kyrgyzstan,  Moldova,  the 
Russian  Federation, Tajikistan,  Turkmenistan,  Ukraine and  Uzbekistan, plus  Mongolia. 

- 

in  the  non-associated  CEEC  eligible  for  the  Phare  programme  who  will  not  yet  have 
had  access  to  the  Community  education  programmes  (Socrates  and  Leonardo)  and 
who  in  addition  began  to  take  part  at  a  very  late  stage  in  the  TEMPUS  programme 
(Albania,  Bosnia-Herzegovina,  the Former  Yugoslav  Republic  of  Macedonia), 

- 

in the  new  independent  states and  in Mongolia,  eligible  for  the Tacis  programme. 

III. 

DESCRIPTION  OF THE PROGRAMME 

The  strategy  initially  set  for  the  TEMPUS  programme  was  to  purse  the  aim  of  restructuring 
university education  by providing support for  initiatives relating to fundamental  reform  problems 
such  as the  development  of syllabuses, the organisation  of staff  mobility  (particularly  periods  of 
refresher  training  and  continuing  training)  and  student  mobility,  plus  the  purchase  of  essential 
teaching and communication  equipment. 

With TEMPUS  II the aims of the  programme  were redefined  to make  it fit  better  into a  strategic 
framework  of  higher  education  development  within  each  partner  country  and  for  it  to  secure 
synergy  with  developments  funded  by  other  activities  supported  by  the  Phare  and  Tacis 
programmes. In order to achieve this, the TEMPUS programme set out to address: 

- 

issues  concerning  the  development  and  readjustment  of  teaching  programmes  in  the 
priority  areas; 

- 

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

- 

the  development  of  training  opening  on  to  a  qualification  in  order  to  make  good  the 
shortage  of  higher  skills  needed  for  the  period  of  economic  reform,  particularly  by 
improving  and  increasing  links with  industry. 

A. 

The Joint European Projects (JEPs) have been the main  instrument  for  inter-university 
cooperation  under the TEMPUS  programme. A JEP  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 Union (one of which must be a university). 

The  priority  sectors  to  be  supported  by the  TEMPUS  programme  (Phare  and  Tacis)  are 
defined  on  the  basis  of  the  annual  consultations  between  the  Commission  and  the 
authorities  of  each  partner  country.  These  priorities  must  be  in  line  with  the  economic 
and  democratic  reform  policies  of the states and  with the  specific  priorities  of the  Phare 
and  Tacis  programmes.  The  Commission  must  also  ensure  that  TEMPUS-based  action 
dovetails  with  the  other  activities  pursued  within  the  general  framework  of  these 
programmes. 

The projects, which  are selected  on the basis of an annual  open  invitation  to tender,  have 
so far  been funded  for  a three-year  period, 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  by  the  Commission  in  agreement  with  the  partner  states  after 
consultation  with experts from  these countries and from  the European  Union. 

B. 

In the  case  of the TEMPUS/Phare  programme, as well  as the JEPs, mobility  grants  are 
instructors  or  administrative  staff  of  higher  education 
provided 
establishments,  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 

teachers, 

to 

education 
participating  institution  of the country  concerned. 

in  a  partner  country  and,  more  specifically, 

the  development  of  the 

C. 

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  higher  education  systems  in  the  partner  countries,  especially  by 
improving  the  capacities  of  higher  education  establishments  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. 

IV.  THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL CONTEXT OF 

THE PROPOSAL 

A  common  feature  of  the  partner  countries  concerned  by  this  proposal  is  that  they  began  to 
participate  in  the  TEMPUS  programme  only  at  a  very  late  stage-\  However,  there  are 
fundamental  differences  between  them. The needs of an area the size of the former  Soviet Union 
are not the same as the needs of the non-associated  countries of central  Europe. 

In  these  central  European  countries,  the  programme  will  have  to  contend  with  a  comparatively 
tricky  political  and  economic  situation  in the  wake  of  recent  historical  events.  In  addition  to  its 
traditional  fundamental  aims,  TEMPUS  may  therefore  also  represent  an  instrument  of  regional 
cooperation  by  encouraging  cross-border  links  for  the  maintenance  of  friendly  cooperation 
relations. 

This  cooperation  should  be  extended  to  certain  neighbouring  associated  countries  who  could 
share  with  the  non-associated  countries  the  experience  gained  under  the  programme.  Alongside 
the Member  States they would  as it were provide a functional  link to  stimulate  fresh  cooperation 
between these countries. 

Agenda  2000  stresses  that  the  new  pattern  of  events  in the  former  Soviet  Union  opens  up  fresh 
horizons  for  international  cooperation  and  gives  the  EU  a  key  role  in  instigating  change  and 
stability  in Europe. The EU's  enlargement  implies direct  frontiers  with  Russia,  Ukraine,  Belarus 
and  Moldova.  Access  by  the  Community  to  the  Black  Sea  will  intensify  its  contacts  with  the 
Caucasus  and  central  Asia. This  makes  contributing  to the  drive  towards  stability  in this  region 
through cooperation  an essential task for an enlarged EU. 

The  associated  countries  which  already  take  part  in  the  Community  programmes  will  then 
represent  the  European  Union's  external  borders.  This  geographical  position  means  they  are 
destined  to  play  here,  too,  a crucial  role  in  the  dissemination  of  what  has  been  achieved  under 
TEMPUS both academically and more broadly at the political  level. 

A. 

New independent states and Mongolia  (TEMPUS/Tacis) 

In the new  independent  states and  in Mongolia,  TEMPUS has proved  a major  support  instrument 
in  the  reform  of  the  education  systems  by  funding  between  1994  and  1997  316  one-year 

3  TEMPUS was extended to the new independent states of the former Soviet Union by Council Decision 
"TEMPUS IF' of 29 April  1993. The participation of the various countries concerned began gradually 
as from that date. 

preparatory  projects,  117 three-year JEPs and 27 compact projects. The degree of participation  of 
the  universities  of the  partner  countries  ranged  from  10% in the bigger  countries  to  100% in  the 
smaller countries. 

Nevertheless,  the  impact  TEMPUS  has  had  on  education  systems  is  still  at  an  early  stage,  for 
these  countries  have,  in  reforming  their  political,  economic,  social  and  legal  structures, to tackle 
a whole host of requirements  in the years ahead. 

Unfortunately,  higher education  systems are going through  a serious financial  crisis which  sorely 
restricts their capacity  for  management  and their resources for  infrastructure  maintenance. In this 
context  any  international  cooperation  which  allows  access  to  new  methods  of  teaching,  the 
introduction  of new courses and a supply of essential  equipment, constitutes a unique  opportunity 
for making progress. 

Or 

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.  These  include in particular: 

-  providing  assistance  in  diversifying  and  decentralising  higher  education  and 

in 

increasing  its  autonomy; 

- 

strengthening  the regional  dimension  of higher  education; 

- 

- 

- 

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 
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  the  management  of  universities  in  order  to  enable  higher  education 

establishments  to  adapt to the  market  economy; 

- 

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

-  promoting  and  consolidating  lasting  international  academic  links. 

While continuing  to cater  for  these  needs  common  to all the countries, TEMPUS  III  will  seek  to 
take account of the specific  needs of certain of these countries, e.g.: 

- 

in  parallel  with  the  'bottom-up'  call  for  applicants,  a  'top-down'  approach  will  be 
preferred  when  establishing  priorities, 

-  where  TEMPUS  has  already  produced  results,  special  attention  will  be  focused  on 

propagating  and  recognising  new  courses  by  national  or regional  actions, 

-  on  the  basis  of  the  experience  gained,  TEMPUS  will  encourage  the  universities  to  use 
their  achievements  in  certain  specialised  subject  areas  such  as  languages  or  European 
law to  develop  the  human  resources  needed  to  run  a democratic  society.  These  actions 

would  cater  especially 
administrations, 

for 

the  needs  of  government, 

regional  or  national 

in  order  to  promote  civil  society,  TEMPUS  will  promote  the  participation  in  the 
projects  of players  outside  the  academic  world  (e.g.  local  and  regional  authorities  and 
the  business  sector), 

to  answer  the  call  from  certain  Tacis  countries,  JEPs  will  endeavour  to  strengthen 
links  between  universities  through  student  exchanges. 

- 

- 

As the  Commission's  interim  evaluation  has  shown,  the  TEMPUS  programme  has proved  to  be 
an  efficient  channel  for  providing  assistance  to  the  partner  countries  when  it  comes  to  higher 
education.  Be that  as  it  may, the  needs which  continue  to  exist  in  areas  in which  TEMPUS  can 
provide assistance are such that an extension  of the programme  is justified. 

The  funding  of  the  Tacis  part  of  the  programme  will  be  secured  in  accordance  with  the  future 
decisions on the extension of the Tacis programme for the new independent  states and Mongolia. 

B. 

Non-associated  CEEC countries (TEMPUS/Phare) 

TEMPUS  has  contributed  much  to  the  development  of  local  higher  education  systems  in  the 
associated  countries which have  benefited  from  the  previous  three  phases of the  programme  has 
introduced  new  features,  the  initiatives  fostering  the  development  of  new  curricula,  the  transfer 
of  equipment,  and  mobility  being  the  ones  most  appreciated.  It  can  therefore  be  claimed  that 
TEMPUS has made a major  contribution  to narrowing the gap between the European  Community 
and  the  CEEC  from  the  point  of  view  of  variety  and  quality  in  the  provision  of  teaching  to 
students. 

Albania  in  particular  continues to  require  major  assistance  owing  to  its  poor  economic  situation 
and  difficulties  inherent  in  its  education  system.  The  situation  is  comparable  to  that  of  many 
countries  of  the  Tacis  assistance  area.  As  a  function  of  the  political  context  and  the  actual 
implementation  of the Phare programme, the other  states  of  former  Yugoslavia  are  likely to join 
this  group.  They  have  different  traditions  when  it  comes  to  contacts  with  the  European 
Community,  but  their  university  world  is  eager  to  re-establish  with  it  solid  relations  after  the 
events  of  the  past  few  years.  The  role  of  the  universities  in  disseminating  the  values  of 
democracy  and tolerance in society is particularly  important. 

In view  of the  context, the  intention  is to continue  for  the  non-associated  Phare  countries  all the 
actions pursued  under TEMPUS and focusing  them henceforth  on four priority areas: 

-  giving  the regional  dimension  a  boost: 

It  is  up  to  the  Community  to  help  the  partner  Phare  partners  of  former  Yugoslavia  to  re 
establish  a  feeling  of  solidarity.  Universities  can  play  a  significant  part  in  providing  support 
for  local  authorities  in  committing  themselves  to  cooperation,  particularly  as  regards 
initiatives  to contribute  to  stability  and  security  in the  region.  The  assistance  provided  by the 
inter-university  cooperation programmes can be crucial  in this context. 

-  modernising  national  and  local  administration: 

Using  the  model  applied  in  TEMPUS  Ha  in  the  associated  countries,  universities  and 
consortia of universities will undertake pilot  projects to train the officials  of administrations in 
the eligible countries. 

-  managing  change: 

The  universities  of  the  partner  countries  need  to  establish  effective  management  structures. 
They  will  have  to  be  accountable  to their  different  partners  (state,  local  authorities,  parents, 
students, the  business  sector)  and  diversify  their  services  while  maintaining  quality  against  a 
backcloth  of  dwindling  public  funding.  The  development  of  continuing  training  at  university 
and  the  creation  of  university/business  sector  interfaces  (to  make  good  use  of  applied 
research),  for  instance,  are  major  concerns  for  the  universities.  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 of the Community. TEMPUS can also be a useful  channel  for 
providing  assistance  towards  the  implementation  of  major  national  reforms  in  higher 
education,  e.g.  the  establishment  of  short  and  vocational  courses.  The  work  has  been  started 
under TEMPUS II and remains a priority for the eligible countries. 

-  building  on  what  has been  achieved  in the associated  countries 

The results of excellent  TEMPUS  programmes  undertaken  in the associated  countries must be 
made  available,  in  terms  of  sectoral  or  geographical  dissemination,  to  the  non-associated 
countries  eligible  under  TEMPUS  III.  It  is  important  to  allow  for  cross-frontier  cooperation 
between  the  associated  countries  (which  already  use  the  instruments  of  the  Community 
programmes)  and  the  non-associated  countries which  could  thus  b .nefit  indirectly  from  what 
has been achieved through  the Community  programmes. 

Funding  of the  Phare  part  of  the  programme  will  be a function  of  future  decisions  on  extending 
the  Phare  programme  for  the  non-associated  countries  and  taking  into  account  the  possible 
involvement  of  other  countries  of  the  region 
in  the  European  Community's  assistance 
programmes. 

Special  attention  will  be  paid  in  the  implementation  of  TEMPUS  to  good  coordination  of  the 
actions  of the  programme  with  those  undertaken  in the  same  countries  in  the  area  of  vocational 
training by the European  Training  Foundation. 

V. 

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  new  independent  states  and  Mongolia  speaks  for  itself.  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. 

TEMPUS  also- offers  the  opportunity  to  promote  regional  cooperation  between  Member  States 
and their neighbours. 

The  Commission's  report  to  the  Council  on  regional  cooperation  in  Europe  mentions  that  this 
cooperation  can  also  be  used  to  develop  closer  relations  between  the  EU  and  the  new 
independent  states  and  Mongolia.  The  report  suggests  that  by  using  the  channels  which  exist  in 
the  Community  programmes,  proposals  be  made  to  direct  coopératif!*  u-  areas  in  which  joint 
action  can  achieve  the  best  results.  Education  is an  excellent  example  of what  can  be tackled  at 
the regional  level. 

In  the  Tacis  countries,  common  features  stemming  from  the  Soviet  period  entail  the  need  to 
reform  the same structures. For the Phare countries, the development  of closer  regional  links and 
the  possibility  to  transfer  the  achievements  of  the  associated  countries  to  the  non-associated 
countries constitutes added value. 

The EU encourages  peaceful  cooperation  between  countries. Education  plays a fundamental  role 
in changing  attitudes  by allowing young  generations to compare their respective  national  values. 
The  direct  international  contacts  offered  by  the  programme  make  it  possible  to  transcend  the 
traditional  academic  divides. Furthermore, the bilateral aid provided  by the Member  States  plays 
an essential role in complementing Community  cooperation. 

TEMPUS  has  made  a  significant  contribution  in  the  partner  countries  to  the  acknowledged 
missions of the university, viz.: 

- 

raising the  general  level  of  knowledge; 

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

-  contributing  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  open  up  higher  education  establishments  in  the  beneficiary  countries  to 

trans-European  cooperation; 

-  encouraged  greater  use of the  languages  of the European  Community; 

-  has to  some  extent  brought  higher  education  out  of its  shell; 

-  begun to  open  up higher  education  to  its local, regional  or even  European  environment 

(firms,  local  authorities  or other higher  education  establishments); 

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

-  encouraged  the  participation  of  the  Member  States  who  had  traditionally  fewest  links 

with the partner  countries  concerned; 

-  enabled  universities  in  the  partner  countries  to  gain  access  directly  to  experiments 

undertaken  in the  Member  States with regard to higher  education  systems. 

No  other  Community  framework  allows  systematic  development  of  international  links  between 
universities  of  the  European  Community  and  those  of  the  non-associated  CEEC,  the  newly 
independent states and  Mongolia. 

These  countries  have  already  to  differing  extents  felt  the  first  benefits  of  the  programme. 
However,  their  higher  education  systems  are  but at the very  first  stage  of their  restructuring  and 
still  need  radical  action.  The  example  of  the  associated  Phare  countries,  which  have  needed  10 

years  under  TEMPUS  (1990-2000)  to  be  able  to  accede  to  the  Community  education 
programmes, would  seem to  indicate the path to  follow. 

Investment  in  education  is a  long-term  process per  se.  The  experts  agree  that  at  least  five  years 
are  needed  to  introduce  a  new  cycle  into  a  university  system.  In  certain  countries,  the  first 
projects  implemented  by  TEMPUS  have  not  yet  reached  completion  and  the  students  have  not 
yet  finished  the  full  cycle  of  the  new  courses  introduced.  TEMPUS  must  continue  to  extend  its 
network to more universities, particularly  in the bigger countries such as the Russian  Federation. 

Special  attention  must  be  paid  to  consolidating  the  results  of  the  most  successful  TEMPUS 
projects  by disseminating  course material, teacher training and the creation of modular courses. It 
is  also  important  to  cooperate  closely  with  the  education  ministries  in  order  tc  be  sure  that  the 
new courses are recognised  nationally. 

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.  This  is an  aspect  which  has  up to  now  been 
taken  into account and  it would  be premature to suspend this assistance. 

As there  is no  alternative  instrument  to  support  the  structural  reforms  of higher  education  in  the 
countries which  are beneficiaries  of Phare and Tacis, an interruption  of the TEMPUS  programme 
from  the  year  2000  would  slow  down,  or  even  halt,  the  process  of  adapting  the  university 
systems of these countries to the new social, economic and political  situation. 

VI.  THE COSTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE CHOSEN SOLUTIONS FOR THE 

GROUPS MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED 

The TEMPUS  programme  is targeted  primarily  ai 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. 

From  the  point  of  view  of the  partner  countries,  Community  action  makes  it  possible  to  benefit 
from  the  diversity  of the  education  systems  in the  European  Community.  By  obviating  the  need 
for  them  to  follow  one  particular  model,  the  Community  measures  encourage  them  to  take  the 
best  features  of the various  systems  and then  to establish  their  own  system  as a function  of their 
needs. 

The principle of an open call for applications drafted  by the universities themselves: 

-  makes  it  possible  to  take  account  of  the  immediate  needs  of  the  establishments 
(development  of  new  syllabuses,  obtaining  teaching  material  in  the  priority  sectors  in 
which  there  is  a particularly  urgent  need  for  reform  with  a  view  to  the  overall  reform 
process); 

-  and  strengthens  the  feeling  of  direct  involvement  of  the  staff  in  the  implementation 

and  success  of  projects. 

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

-  provide 

lasting  support  for 

the  results  of  the  actions  of  the  Tacis  and  Phare 
programmes  in  cooperation  with  these  countries  by  means  of  measures  in  the  higher 
education  sector; 

- 

- 

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,  the  business  sector 
and  other  social  and economic  players, including  national  and  local  administrations; 

-  provide  effective  support  for  the  policy  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 partners 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  Union  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  Union  in 
participating  in TEMPUS. 

VII.  REASONS W HY THE PLANNED MEASURES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE 

CONSONANT WITH THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM 

The  measures  planned  under  TEMPUS  (JEPs,  structural  and/or  complementary  measures,  and 
individual mobility grants) are described  in the Annex to the Council  decision. 

There  is no way the European  Community  can  alone  reform  the higher  education  systems  of the 
partner  countries.  Hence  the  approach  based  on  an  open  call  for  applicants  whereby  funds  are 
concentrated  on  projects  from  a  restricted  number  of  universities  as  the  best  method  of 
Community  financial  support  in  this  context.  Dissemination  actions  thereafter  will  make  it 
possible  to  make  the  positive  results  of  these  projects  more  broadly  visible  and  to  share  the 
benefits  with a wider audience. 

The various TEMPUS evaluations have confirmed  that these  measures are appropriate  and  given 
that  they  have  so  far  proved  fruitful  there  is  no  need  to  re-examine  them  for  the  purposes  of a 
Council  decision  on  a new  phase.  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. 

VIII.  PRESENTATION  OF  THE  VIEWS  EXPRESSED  BY  THE  INTERESTED 

PARTIES  CONSULTED 

The interim  report on the results of the implementation  of TEMPUS  II, submitted  simultaneously 
to the  Council,  shows  that  the  representatives  of  the  beneficiary  countries  (ministries  for  higher 
education,  heads  of  national  bureaux,  project  participants)  are  satisfied  with  the  results  of  the 
programme and hope to take it forward  in its current  form. 

The  external  evaluation  of  TEMPUS  which  has just  been  carried  out  in  the  new  independent 
states and  in Mongolia  shows that all the parties consulted  on the spot appreciate  their  role  in the 
programme.  They  like the  pragmatic  and  concrete  aspect  of a programme  which  is  limited  in  its 
objectives  and  flexible  in its forms  of cooperation  which can be adjusted  constantly. There  is also 
appreciation  for  TEMPUS  as  a  means  of  bringing  about  a  change  of  mentality,  allowing 
universities  to  become  familiar  with  current  developments  in  the  European  Community  while 
taking due account of the specific  needs of the partner countries. 

o» 

The  evaluators  consulted  many  players  involved  in  the  TEMPUS/Tacis  programme  and  at  the 
close of their exercise produced the following  recommendations: 

- 

the  TEMPUS  approach  should  remain  based  on  carrying  out  projects  to  secure  the 
direct  participation  of  the  universities  of  the  partner  countries  and  the  European 
Community; 

-  coordination  with  the  governments  of  the  partner  countries  should  be  as  close  as 
possible  in  order  to  ensure  that  the  courses  created  by  TEMPUS  cater  properly  for  the 
national  human  resources  requirements; 

- 

the  number  of  priority  sectors  should  remain  limited  in  order  to  better  focus  funding. 
Their  links  with the Tacis programme  in general  should  be  strengthened. 

Asked  on  the  occasion  of their  latest  meeting  held  in  December  1997 to  give  their  preliminary 
and  informal  views,  the  members  of  the  TEMPUS  Committee  unanimously  expressed  their 
support  for  the  suggestion  from  the  Commission  that  the  TEMPUS  programme  should  be 
pursued  in the countries mentioned above. 

IX. 

JUSTIFICATION  OF THE CHOICE OF LEGAL BASIS 

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

The first  TEMPUS  III  projects  implemented  at the start  of the 2000/2001  academic  year  will  be 
the  result  of  a  selection  made  in  the  first  half  of  the  year  2000.  The  applicant's  guide  will  be 
drafted  in the first  half of  1999 ready to be translated  and  submitted  to the TEMPUS  Committee 
before  its  publication  for  open  call-for  applications  in  September  1999.  This  means  that  the 
Commission  needs a Council decision on the extension  of the programme before the end of 1998. 

The  extension  of  the  Phare  and  Tacis  programmes  which  finance  TEMPUS  will  not  yet  have 
been  decided  on  when  this  proposal  for  a  decision  is  submitted  to  the  Council.  The  Council 
decision  must  therefore  indicate  that  the  implementation  of  TEMPUS  III  will  depend  on  the 
extension of these programmes (cf.  Article 2 of the proposed decision). 

X. 

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 will be based  on the regular reports submitted  by the 

project  managers, on  financial  control, and  on  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  and  the  presentation 
of an interim  report to the Council  by 30 April 2004. 

11 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 

adopting the third phase of the trans-European  cooperation scheme for higher education 
(TEMPUS III) (2000-2006) 

THE COUNCIL OF 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 Commission % 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee^, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions % 

Whereas the Council 

1. 
on  18 December  1989 adopted Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89 on economic aid to the Republic of 
Hungary  and  the  Polish  People's  Republic^,  which  provides  for  aid  to  support  the  process  of 
economic and social reform  in central and eastern European countries in areas including training, 

on  25  June  1996  adopted  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  1279/96  concerning  the  provision  of 
assistance  to  economic  reform  and  recovery  in the  new  independent  states  of the  former  Soviet 
Union, and Mongolia", 

2. 

Whereas  on  29  April  1993  the  Council  the  decision  adopting  the  second  phase  of  the 
trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for  higher  education  (TEMPUS  II)  for  a  period  of 

1  OJNoC... 

2  OJNoC... 

3  OJNoC... 

4  OJNoC... 

5  OJ L 375 of 23.12.1989, p.  11. Regulation  amended most recently by Regulation  (EEC) No 753/96 

(OJL  103 of 26.4.1996, p. 5). 

6  OJ  L  165  of  4.7.1996,  pp.  1-11,  amended  by  Regulation  (EC)  2240  of  10.11.1997  (OJ  L  307  of 

12.11.1997). 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

four  years from  1  July  1994^ and thereafter  amended  its decision  on 21 November  1996 
to extend to six years the duration  of this programme (1994-2000) (96/663/EC)^; 

Whereas  the  countries  of  central  and  eastern  Europe,  the  new  independent  states  of  the 
former  Soviet  Union  and  Mongolia,  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; 

Whereas the recent establishment  of TEMPUS  in the  non-associated  countries of central 
and  eastern  Europe,  in  the  new  independent  states  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  and  in 
Mongolia,  whose  needs  are  greater  and  whose  areas  are  more  extensive,  fully  warrants 
the continuation  of the measures  undertaken; 

Whereas  TEMPUS  can  make  an  effective  contribution  to  the  structural  development  of 
higher education required to improve occupational  skills adapted to economic reform  and 
whereas there is no other instrument for achieving this objective; 

Whereas TEMPUS can contribute to the restoration  of cooperation,  interrupted  by recent 
events, between  neighbouring  regions of the Community  and whereas this cooperation  is 
a factor  of peace and stability  in Europe; 

Whereas  the  associated  countries  in  the  pre-accession  phase  which  have  taken  part  in 
TEMPUS  I  and  TEMPUS  II  could  now  make  a  useful  contribution  alongside  the 
Member  States  in  assisting  the  partner  countries  who  came  into  the  programme  at  a 
much  later stage to restructure their higher education  systems; 

Whereas  Article  11 introduced  by  Council  Decision  of  21 November  1996  (96/663/EC) 
stipulates that the Commission  must carry out an evaluation  of the  implementation  of the 
TEMPUS  programme  and  submit  no  later  than  30  April  1998  a  proposal  for  the 
extension  or  the  adjustment  of  the  programme  for  the  period  commencing  on 
1 July 2000; 

Whereas  the  competent  authorities  in  the  countries  of  central  and  eastern  Europe,  the 
new  independent  states  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  and  Mongolia,  the  users  of  the 
programme,  the  structures  responsible  for  organising  it  in  the  eligible  countries  and  in 
the  European  Community,  and  the  experts  and  qualified  representatives  reflecting  the 
views  of  the  university  world  in  Europe,  share  the  findings  of  the  evaluation  report 
attesting  to  the  capacity  of  TEMPUS  to  make  an  effective  contribution  in  the  eligible 
countries  to the  diversification  of  educational  opportunities  and  to  cooperation  between 
universities,  thereby  paving  the  way  for  the  development  of  scientific,  cultural  and 
economic  cooperation; 

10.  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: 

7  OJL  112 of 6.5.1993, p. 34. 

8  OJL  306 of 28.11.1996, p. 36. 

A3 

Article J 

Duration of Tempus III 

The  third  phase  of  the  trans-European  cooperation  scheme  for  university  studies  (hereinafter 
referred  to as "Tempus III") is hereby adopted  for a period of six years as from  1  July 2000. 

Article 2 

Eligible  countries 

Tempus  III  concerns  the  non-associated  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  eligible  for 
economic  aid  by  virtue  of  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3906/89  (Phare  programme)^,  and  the  new 
independent  states  of  the  former  Soviet  Union  and  Mongolia  mentioned  in  Regulation  (EEC, 
Euratom)  No  1279/96  (Tacis  programme),  subject  to  these  assistance  programmes  being 
prolonged  for  the  period  referred  to.  These  countries  are  hereinafter  referred  to  as  "eligible 
countries". 

On  the  basis  of  an  evaluation  of  the  specific  situation  of  each  country  the  Commission,  in 
accordance  with  the  procedures  set  out  in  the  abovementioned  regulations,  shall  determine  in 
agreement  with  the  eligible  countries  concerned  whether  they  should  participate  in  Tempus III, 
and  the  nature  and  the  conditions  of  their  participation  in  the  national  planning  of  Community 
assistance for  social  and economic  reform. 

Article 3 

Definitions 

For the purposes of Tempus III: 

a) 

b) 

"university"  means  any  type  of  post-secondary  teaching  and  training  establishment 
which,  in  higher  education  and  training,  award  higher  level  qualifications  or  diplomas, 
offer  higher  level  qualifications  or  diplomas,  whatever  such  establishments  may  be 
called  in the Member States; 

"industry"  and  "company"  cover  all  types  of  economic  activity,  irrespective  of  legal 
status,  local  authorities  and  public  law  bodies,  autonomous  business  organisations, 
chambers  of  commerce  and  industry  and/or  their  equivalents,  professional  associations, 
employers'  and  workers'  organisations,  and  the  training  bodies  of  the  institutions  and 
organisations  mentioned  above. 

Each  Member  State or eligible country may determine  what types of establishment  referred  to in 
point a) can  participate  in Tempus III. 

At present Albania. Bosnia-Herzegovina and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 

AH 

Article 4 

Aims 

The  aims of Tempus III are to promote,  in  line with  the  guidelines  and  general  objectives  of the 
Phare  and  Tacis  programmes  for  economic  and  social  reform,  the  development  of  the  higher 
education  systems  in the  eligible  countries  through  the most  balanced  cooperation  possible  with 
the partners of all the Member States of the Community. 

These actions are open to the associated  countries of central  and eastern Europe so that what has 
been  achieved  through  Tempus  can  be  shared  with  the  neighbouring  countries  and  in  order  to 
develop regional cross-border  cooperation. 

More  specifically,  Tempus  III  is  intended  to  help  the  higher  education  systems  in  the  eligible 
countries to address: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

issues  relating  to  the  development  and  reshaping  of  teaching  syllabuses  in  the  priority 
areas; 

reform  of higher education  structures and establishments and their  management; 

the development  of training opening on to qualifications,  with a view to making good the 
shortage  of  high  level  skills  needed  for  the  period  of  economic  reform,  particularly  by 
improving and increasing links with  industry. 

The  Commission  will, when  pursuing  the  objectives  of  Tempus  III,  endeavour  to  adhere  to  the 
Community's  general policy on equal opportunities for men and women. The same will apply  for 
disadvantaged  groups such as those suffering  from  handicaps. 

Article 5 

Dialogue with the eligible  countries 

In  agreement  with  the  competent  authorities  in  each  country,  the  Commission  will  define  the 
detailed  priorities  and  objectives  for  the role of Tempus III  in the national  strategy  for  economic 
and  social  reform,  on  the  basis  of  the  programme's  objectives  and  the  provisions  set  out  in  the 
annex, and in conformity  in particular with: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

i) 
ii) 

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

the policy of each eligible country on economic, social and educational  reforms; 

the  need  to  strike  an  appropriate  balance  between  the  priority  areas  selected  and  the 
resources allocated to Tempus III. 

JS 

Article 6 

Committee 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

2. 

The  Commission  shall  implement  the  Tempus  III  programme  in  accordance  with  the 
provision  set out  in the annex, with the detailed  guidelines to be adopted  every year  as a 
function  of  the  objectives  and  priorities  defined  in  agreement  with  the  competent 
authorities  in each eligible country, as described  in Article 5. 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  in  the  implementation  of  this  task  by  a  advisory 
committee  comprising  a  representative  of  each  Member  State  and  chaired  by  the 
representative of the Commission. 

The  Commission  representative  shall  submit  to  the  Committee  drafts  for  measures 
relating to: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

the general  guidelines governing Tempus III; 

the  selection  procedures  and  the  general  guidelines  for  the  Community's 
financial  contribution  (amounts, duration and  beneficiaries); 

matters  concerning  the  general  balance  of Tempus  III,  including  the  breakdown 
across the various actions; 

the detailed  priorities and objectives  to be defined  with the competent  authorities 
in each eligible country; 

e) 

the arrangements for monitoring and evaluating Tempus. 

The  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  these  draft  measures  within  a  time  limit 
which  the  Chairman  may  lay down  according  to the  urgency  of the  matter,  if  necessary 
by taking a vote. 

The opinion  shall  be recorded  in the minutes  ; in addition,  each  Member  State shall  have 
the right to ask to have its position recorded  in the minutes. 

The  Commission  shall  take  the  utmost  account  of  the  opinion  delivered  by  the 
Committee.  It  shall  inform  the  Committee  of the  manner  in  which  its  opinion  has  been 
taken  into account. 

Article 7 

Cooperation with the competent  institutions 

The  Commission  shall  cooperate  with  the  institutions  of  each  of  the  eligible  countries 
designated  and  set  up  to  coordinate  the  relations  and  structures  needed  to  implement 
Tempus  III,  including  the  allocation  of  funds  earmarked  by  the  eligible  countries 
themselves. 

In  addition,  for  the  implementation  of  Tempus  III,  the  Commission  shall  cooperate 
closely with the competent  national  institutions designated  by the Member  States. It shall 
take  due  account  whenever  possible  of  bilateral  measures  taken  in  this  context  by  the 
Member  States. 

AC 

Article  8 

Links with other Community  actions 

In line with the procedure  set out  in Article  6(3) of this Decision  and, if applicable, the  procedure 
defined  in  Article  9  of  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3906/89  and  in  article  8  of  Regulation  (EC)  N° 
1279/96, the  Commission  shall  ensure  consistency  and,  if  necessary,  complementarity  between 
Tempus  III  and  other  Community  actions  undertaken  both  in  the  Community  and  as  part  of 
assistance provided to eligible countries, particularly with regard to the activities of the European 
Training  Foundation. 

Article  9 

Coordination with action taken in non-Community  countries 

1. 

The  Commission  shall  organise  appropriate  coordination  with  actions  undertaken  by 
countries  not members  of the  Community  or by universities  and the  business  sector  in 
this country  in the same field  as Tempus III, including, where applicable, participation  in 
Tempus III projects. 

2. 

This participation  may take a variety of forms,  including one or more of the  following: 

-  participation  in Tempus III projects  on a co-financing  basis; 

-  using  the  opportunities  available  under  Tempus  III  to  redirect  exchange  actions  receiving 

bilateral  funding; 

-  coordination  between Tempus III and national  initiatives which have the same aims but which 

are funded  and managed  separately; 

-  mutual exchange of information  on all relevant  initiatives in this  field. 

Article 10 

Annual  report 

An  annual  report  on the  operation  of  Tempus  III  shall  be  forwarded  by  the  Commission  to  the 
European  Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions. This report shall forwarded  to the eligible countries for  information. 

These countries are the members of the Group of 24, other than the Member States of the Community, 
the Republic  of Cyprus and  Malta,  and the associated  countries of Central  and Eastern  Europe, and 
participation  relates  to  projects  with  the  non-associated  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe 
eligible under the Phare programme. 

fr 

Article  11 

Monitoring and evaluation -  reports 

In  accordance  with  the  procedure  described  in  Article  6(3),  the  Commission  shall  see  to  the 
arrangements  for  regular  monitoring  and  external  evaluation  of  experience  gained  with  Tempus 
III, taking  due  account  of the specific  objectives  in Article  4 and  the national  objectives  defined 
in accordance with Article 5. 

It shall submit by 30 April 2004 an interim report on the findings  of the evaluation, together with 
any proposals for extending or adjusting  Tempus for the period commencing on  1  July 2006. 

The Commission  shall submit a final  report no later than 30 June 2009. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 

The President 

At 

ANNEX 

Joint European  projects 

The European  Community will provide support for joint  European  projects. 

The JEPs will associate at least one university  in an eligible country, one university  from 
a Member  State and  a partner establishment  (university  or company)  in another  Member 
State. 

Support  for  JEPs  can  be  provided  for  activities  according  to  the  specific  needs  of  the 
establishments concerned  and in line with the priorities established,  including: 

i) joint  teaching  and  training  actions,  particularly  with  a view  to  creating  new  courses, 
developing  and restructuring  existing teaching programmes, boosting university  capacity 
to  provide  continuing  and  refresher  training,  setting  up  short  intensive  courses,  and 
developing distance teaching systems; 

ii)  measures  for  the  reform  and  development  of  higher  education  and  its  capacity, 
particularly  by  restructuring  the  management  of  higher  education  establishments  and 
systems,  by  modernising  existing  infrastructures,  by  acquiring  the  equipment  needed  to 
implement  a JEP  and,  where  applicable,  by  providing  technical  and  financial  assistance 
to the authorities  responsible; 

iii) the promotion  of cooperation  between the university  and the socio-economic  players, 
including  industry, through joint actions; 

iv)  the  development  of  mobility  for  teachers,  administrative  staff  at  universities  and 
students under JEPs: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

e) 

grants  will  be  provided  for  teaching/administrative  staff  at  universities  or  to 
trainers  in  companies  in  the  Member  States  to  carry  out  teaching/training 
assignments  for  periods  lasting  from  one  week  to  one  year  in  eligible  countries 
and vice versa; 

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

grants  will  be  available  for  students  up  to  and  including  postgraduate  level, 
targeting  both  students  in the  eligible  countries  undertaking  a period  of  study  in 
the  European  Community  and  European  Community  students  undertaking  a 
period  of  study  in  the  eligible  countries.  These  grants  will  normally  be  granted 
for a period of three months to one year; 

for  students  taking  part  in  JEPs  with  the  specific  aim  of  promoting  mobility, 
priority  will  go  to  students  taking  part  in  projects  for  which  their  university  of 
origin will give full  academic recognition to the period of study spent abroad; 

support  will  be  provided  for  practical  or  in-company  training  periods  of  one 
month  to  one  year  for  teachers,  trainers,  students  and  graduates  of  the  eligible 
countries  between  the  end  of  their  studies  and  their  first  job,  so  that  they  can 
undertake  a period  of practical  training  in companies  in the Community  and  vice 
versa; 

A^ 

v) 

activities to ensure the success of a JEP involving two or more eligible countries. 

Structural and/or complementary  measures 

Financial  support  will  be  provided  for  certain  structural  and/or  complementary  measures 
(particularly  technical  assistance,  seminars,  studies,  publications,  information  activities)  to 
support  the  objectives  of  the  programme,  particularly  the  development  and  restructuring  of 
higher  education  systems  in  the  eligible  countries.  Under  the  structural  measures,  financial  aid 
will be granted  inter alia in order to: 

• 

to develop and  strengthen  the capacity  for  strategic  planning  and  institutional 
of higher education  establishments at university or faculty  level; 

development 

•  establish  a  plan  to  develop  universities  under  structural  contracts  to  help  them  build  up 

international  relations; 

•  support the spread  of durable cooperation  actions targeting the Tempus objectives; 

•  prepare  a  national  strategy  in  a given  eligible  country  to  develop  a  specific  aspect  of  higher 

education. 

Individual  grants 

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

These visits could  inter alia cover the following  areas: 

• 

the development  of courses and teaching material; 

• 

the  development  of  staff,  particularly  through  periods  of  refresher  training  and  in-company 
placements; 

• 

teaching  assignments; 

•  activities to support the development  of higher education. 

Support actions 

The  Commission  will  receive  the  technical  assistance  needed  to  underpin  the  action 
taken  pursuant to this decision  and to monitor programme  implementation. 

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

lo 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

1.  TITLE OF OPERATION 

Proposal  for  the  establishment  of  a third  phase  of  the  trans-European  cooperation  scheme 
for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006). 

2.  BUDGET HEADINGS INVOLVED 

The budget headings involved  are: 

a) 

b) 

for the non-associated  central and eastern European Countries* 
Article  B7-500:  "Aid  for  economic  restructuring  of the  countries  of  central  and 
eastern Europe" 
and  B7-543  "Measures  for  the  rehabilitation  of  the  Republics  formerly  part  of 
Yugoslavia" 

for  the  new  independent  states  and  Mongolia:  Article  B7-520:  "Technical 
assistance  to  economic  reform  and  recovery  in  the  new  independent  states  and 
Mongolia" 

3.  LEGAL BASIS 

A.  Article 235 of the Treaty establishing the European  Community 

a )- 

- 

- 

- 

Council  Regulation  (EEC) No  3906/89  of  18 September  1989 on  economic  aid 
for  certain  countries  of  central  and  eastern  Europe  (specifically  the  Republic  of 
Hungary and the Popular Republic of Poland); 
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 2334/92 amending  Regulation  (EEC) No  3906/89 
in order to extend economic aid to Slovenia; 
Council Regulation (EEC) No  1764/93 amending  Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89 
on economic aid for certain countries of central and eastern Europe; 
Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1366/95  of  12  June  1995  amending  Regulation 
(EEC) No 3906/89 in order to extend economic aid to Croatia; 
Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  463/96  of  11  March  1996  amending  Regulation 
(EEC)  No  3906/89  in  order  to  extend  economic  aid  to  the  Former  Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia; 
Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  753/96  of  22  April  1996  amending  Regulation 
(EEC) No 3906/89  in order to extend economic aid to  Bosnia-Herzegovina; 

• Currently Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM 

b) - 

- 

c )- 

- 

- 

- 

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; 
Council  Regulation  (EC, Euratom) No  1279/96  of 25  June  1996 concerning  the 
provision  of  technical  assistance  to  economic  reform  and  recovery  in  the  new 
independent states and  Mongolia; 

Council  Decision  of  7  May  1990  (90/233/EEC)  establishing  a  trans-European 
mobility scheme for university studies (Tempus); 
Council  Decision  of  28  April  1992  (92/240/EEC)  amending  the  Decision  of 
7 May  1990; 
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-
1998); 
Council  Decision  of  21  November  1996  (96/663/EC)  amending  Council 
Decision  93/246/EEC  29  April  1993  adopting  the  second  phase  of  the  trans-
European  cooperation  scheme  for  higher  education  (Tempus  II)( 1994-1998)  so 
as to extend  it by two years (1998-2000); 
Proposal  for  a Council  Decision  adopting  the  third  phase  of the  trans-European 
cooperation  scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006). 

Article  11  of  the  Council  Decision  adopting  Tempus  lia  (1998-2000)  provides  that  the 
Commission  shall, before  30 April  1998, submit  a proposal  for  the extension  or  adaptation 
of Tempus for the period beginning  1  July 2000. 

To  ensure  that  the  programme  is not  interrupted,  a new  decision  must  be  taken  before  the 
end of  1998. This should allow us: 
- 
- 
- 

to prepare the guide for applicants at the beginning of  1999 
to submit  it to the Tempus Committee for their opinion 
to have it translated  in time for publication  in September  1999. 

The  applicant  institutions  will  submit  their  applications  at the  beginning  of the year  2000. 
The  projects  will  then  be  analysed  at  the  technical  and  academic  level.  The  Commission 
will  approve the selection  at the end of the  first  half of 2000  so that the projects  can  be put 
in place at the beginning of the academic year 2000-2001. 

When  this  Decision  is presented  to the  Council,  the  Phare  and  Tacis  programmes  will  not 
yet have  been  extended  beyond  1999. Hence the proposal  for the Tempus III Decision  will 
point  out  that  the  existence  of  Tempus  is  conditional  on  the  existence  of  the  two 
programmes under which it is funded  (cf. Article 2 of the proposal for a Decision). 

4.  DESCRIPTION  OF OPERATION 

4.1 

General objectives of the operation 

The  objectives  of Tempus  III  are  to  promote,  as  part  of the  overall  objectives  and 
guidelines  of the Phare and  Tacis programmes  for  economic  and  social  reform,  the 
development  of  the  higher  education  systems  of  the  non-associated  central  and 
eastern  European  countries  and  in  the  new  independent  states  and  Mongolia 
through  as  balanced  as  possible  a  cooperation  with  partners  from  all  the  Member 
States  of  the  European  Community.  Associated  countries  of  central  and  eastern 

XI 

Europe 1, as  well  as  the  G-24  states,  Malta  and  Cyprus,  may  be  involved  in  these 
actions.  Specifically,  Tempus  III  seeks  to  help  the  higher  education  systems  of 
partner countries to address: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

issues of curriculum  development and overhaul  in priority areas 

the  reform  of  higher  education  structures  and  institutions  and  their 
management; 

the  development  of  skill-related  training  to  address  specific  higher  and 
advanced  level  skill  shortages  during  economic  reform,  in  particular 
through  improved and extended  links with  industry. 

The  Commission  agrees  with  the  competent  authorities  in  each  country  detailed 
objectives  and  priorities  for  the  role  of  Tempus  III  in  the  national  strategy  of 
economic  and  social  reform,  on  the  basis  of  the  programme's  objectives  and  the 
provisions of the Annex, and in accordance with, in particular: 

(a) the overall objectives  of the Phare programme; 

the  overall  objectives  of  the  Tacis  programme,  with  particular  reference  to  its 
sectoral  focus; 

(b) each partner country's policy for economic, social and education  reform; 

(c)  the  need  for  an  appropriate  balance  to  be  struck  between  the  selected  priority 
areas and the resources allocated to Tempus III. 

4.2 

Period  covered 

Academic years:  1  July 2000 to 30 June 2006. 

4.3 

Population covered  by the operation 

Professors, 
education  sector (estimate:  10 million), national and  local administrations. 

instructors,  university  administrators  and  students 

in  the  higher 

5.  CLASSIFICATION  OF EXPENDITURE 

-  Non-compulsory  expenditure 
-  Differentiated  appropriations 

6.  TYPE OF EXPENDITURE 

100% subsidy:  in  line with  the particular nature  of the  programme  (economic  assistance  to 
central  and  eastern  European  partner  countries,  to  the  new  independent  states  and 
Mongolia). 

1 These countries may participate in the programme on the basis of their own financial  contributions 

•  I* 

7. 

FINANCIAL  IMPACT 

7.1 

Method  of calculating  total  cost of  operation 

Since  Tempus  is  funded  out  of  the  total  budget  allocated  by  the  European 
Community  to the partner countries concerned,  it is these  countries that  will  decide 
how this total  amount  is to be distributed  between the various measures  they  intend 
to take. 

For  most  of  the  beneficiary  countries,  the  proportion  allocated  to  restructuring 
higher  education  under the  Tempus  programme  generally  represents  between  10% 
and  15% of the total assistance  provided. 

The  Tempus/Phare  budget  for  Albania  amounted  to  2.5  million  ecus  in  1997  and 
0.7 million  ecus in  1998, for Bosnia-Herzegovina to  1.5  million  ecus in  1997 and in 
1998 and for FYROM to 2 million  ecus in  1997 and also in principle  in  1998^. The 
Tempus/Tacis budget was  18 million ecus in  1997 and 23.8 million ecus  in 1998. 

7.2 

Breakdown  of  measures 

Financial  aid available  in the framework  of Tempus may be broken  down  into three 
major  categories: 

-  The joint  European  projects  (JEPs) 

Financial  aid  is  granted  for  the  development  of  joint  European  projects  (JEPs) 
linking  universities  and/or  undertakings  of  the  central  and  eastern  European 
countries,  the  new  independent  states  or  Mongolia  with  partners  in  the  European 
Community.  The JEPs must  include at least one university  in a beneficiary  country 
and  partners  in  at  least  two  Member  States  of  the  European  Community,  one  of 
which must be a university. 

Funding may be granted for a large range of activities, inter alia: 

i) 

ii) 

cooperative  education  and  training  actions,  notably  the  creation  of  new 
curricula,  curricular  development  and  overhaul,  the  development  of 
universities'  capacities  to  provide  continuing  education  and  retraining, 
the  provision  of  short,  intensive  courses  and  the  development  of  open 
and distance learning  capability; 

measures  for  reform  and  development  of  higher  education,  and  its 
capacities,  notably  via  the  restructuring  of  the  management  of  higher 
education  institutions  and  systems,  the  upgrading  of  facilities  by 
acquiring  the  equipment  necessary  to  implement  a  joint  European 
project,  and, where  appropriate,  the  provision  of technical  and  financial 
assistance to the responsible authorities; 

iii) 

the  promotion  of  cooperation  between  universities  and  the  socio 
economic players, including  industry, in the form  of cooperative actions; 

2 Decision not confirmed  at the time this document was drafted 

IH 

iv) 

v) 

development 

the 
administrative/teaching  staff 
projects; 

of 

student  mobility 

of 
in  the  framework  of  joint  European 

and  mobility 

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

The financial  aid  is granted  in the form  of an institutional  grant to the consortium  of 
organisations.  Average  aid  granted  is  450 000  ecus  per  project  over  a  three-year 
period. 

-  Structural  and/or complementary  measures 

Financial  support  may  be  granted  to  a  certain  number  of  measures  with  structural 
and/or  complementary  objectives  (notably  technical  assistance,  seminars  and 
studies).  These  measures  are  designed  to  support  the  programme's  overall 
objective,  which  is to help  develop  and  restructure  the* higher  education  systems  in 
the partner countries. 

- 

Individual  grants 

The European  Community will also provide support outside joint European  projects 
for  individual  grants  to teachers, trainers, university  administrators,  senior  ministry 
officials,  education  planners  and  other  training  experts  for  visits  designed  to 
promote  the  quality,  development  and  restructuring  of  higher  education  in  the 
partner countries. 

Technical  Assistance 

Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  Annex  to  the  Council  Decision,  technical 
assistance  will  be  provided  to  the  Commission  on  a  contractual  basis  for  the 
operational  aspects of implementing the programme. 

7.3 

Indicative breakdown of costs by action subcategory 

The costs of the joint  European projects  (which represent approximately  92% of the 
total budget allocated  to the Tempus actions) are broken down  into two categories: * 

a) 

b) 

Costs of the structural measures representing on average 47% of the total 
cost. This includes: 
- 

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

-  equipment for the beneficiary  countries; 
-  miscellaneous  costs:  missions,  translations,  publications,  intensive 

courses, etc.; 

-  overheads: a ceiling of  10% of the total. 

Mobility grants for teachers and  students 
On  average,  these  grants  represent  53% of the  total  cost.  An  estimated 
85%  of this amount  is allocated  to the beneficiaries  of eligible  countries 
for  study  or  training  periods  in  the  Member  States  of  the  European 
Community. 

tt 

7.4 

Indicative schedule of appropriations 

Yearl 
(6) 

22% 

Yearl 
(12) 

33% 

Year 2 
(6) 

Year 2 
(12) 

Year 3 
(6) 

Year 3 
(12) 

55% 

67% 

89% 

100% 

National 
budgets 

Technical 
assistance 

100% 

100% 

8. 

FRAUD PREVENTION  MEASURES 

Financial  control:  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  control:  by the  Commission's  departments, acting on the  opinion 
of  the  Management  Programme  of  the  Tempus  Committee  established  by  the  Council 
Decision. 

ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.1 

Specific  objectives 

The  financial  assistance  provided  under  the  programme  can  be  broken  down  into 
three main categories (see also point 7.2): 

Joint European projects: 

- 

Joint  teaching  and  training  programmes,  support  for  staff  and  student  mobility 
and development of universities'  capacities to mount cooperative actions  linking 
the  universities  and/or  undertakings  of  the  beneficiary  countries  to  equivalent 
partners in the countries of the European  Community. 

Structural  measures 

Seminars,  studies,  technical  assistance  and  grants  in  order  to  strengthen  the 
capacities  for: 
* 
* 

strategic  planning 
institutional  development  of higher education  institutions at university or 
faculty  level. 

Individual  grants 

-  Support  for  individual  mobility  of  teachers,  trainers,  university  administrators 

and other training experts. These visits may cover the following  areas: 
* 
* 

development of curricular and teaching material 
human  resources  development,  notably  in  the  form  of  retraining  and 
practical training  in  industry 
teaching  assignments 

* 

H 

* 

activities for  supporting the development  of higher  education. 

-  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, Malta, Cyprus and the 
associated  countries  of  central  and  eastern  Europe).  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. 

9.2.1 

Cost of the operation 

s 

a) National  projects 

The  amount  of  funding  allocated  to  Tempus,  from  Phare  for  the  non-associated 
central  and  eastern  European  countries,  and  from  Tacis  for  the  new  independent 
states  and  Mongolia,  will  be  established  every  year  by  the  beneficiary  countries 
themselves  in the overall  framework  of their budgetary resources. 

b) Technical  assistance for  the  Commission 

The  amount  granted  to  the  Commission  for  technical  assistance  will  cover  all 
operations  involved  in  putting  in  place  the  Tempus  III  programme  (publications, 
organisation  of meetings, seminars, conferences,  follow-up visits, monitoring, etc.). 

9.2.2 

Spin-offs 
objectives) 

(impact  of  the  programme  over  and  above  its  specific 

The  Tempus  programme  is  essentially  a  measure  to  support  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. 

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. 

* 3~ 

9.2.3  Multiplier effect (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 shows a high level of commitment on the 
part of the institutions involved; 

- 

by definition  the  participation  of the  G-24  countries  that  are  outside  the 
European  Community  generates  new  sources  of  funding,  since  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 purposes 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 

Tempus has been the subject of several evaluations: 

- 

- 

- 

the  interim  report  on  Tempus  I  (based  on  an  external  evaluation)  was 
distributed  to  the  Community  institutions in February  1993  (COM(93)  29 
final) 

the final report  on  Tempus  I,  also  based  on  an  external  evaluation,  was 
distributed  in September  1996 (COM(96) 428 final) 

the  interim  report  on  Tempus  II,  based  for  Phare  on  an  external 
evaluation  and  for  Tacis  on  research  conducted  by  the  Commission,  was 
distributed  in May  1996 (COM(96)  197  final). 

An  interim  assessment  report  on  Tempus  lia  for  the  1994-1996  period  will  be 
presented to the institutions of the European Community very shortly. The analysis 
of Tempus in the Tacis countries is based on an external evaluation, while that of the 
Phare countries is based on impact  studies carried  out by the beneficiary  countries 
themselves. 

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. 

xz 

The draft  decision also proposes that an interim assessment  report on the Tempus III 
programme be presented to the Council before  30 April 2004. 

10. 

GROUNDS  FOR  THE  LEGAL  BASIS  CHOSEN  SHOWING  THAT  IT  IS 
CONSONANT WITH  THE  OBJECTIVES  PURSUED AND  THE  LEGISLATIVE 
INTENSITY 

As the Tempus programme is part of an action to assist Third Countries, the legal basis  is 
Article 235, since there is no other appropriate article in the Treaty for this specific case. 

11. 

CONDITIONS FOR 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. 

12. 

ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE 

12.1.  Effect  on the number of jobs  (ECU) 

5 A - 2 B - 1C 

12.2.  Overall financial impact of human resources  (ECU) 

Officials  (*) 

Amount 

5.184.000 

Method of calculation 

108Kecux8hx6 

(*) calculation based on A-l, A-2, A-4, A-5 and A-7 -  annual cost 

15 

12.3.  Financial impact of other operational expenditure resulting from the action (ECU) 

Budgetary heading 

A-7010 : Mission expenses 

Amount 

189.000 

A-7031  :  Cost  of  meetings  of 
committees  whose  consultation 
is mandatory 

Total 

117.000 

306.000 

Funds will be drawn from DG XXII's existing budget. 

Method of calculation 

26  missions  Tacis/countries 
/year 
9  missions  Phare/countries 
/year 
x 6 years 

2 meetings x  1  participant 
x  15 Member  States 
x 650 ECU x 6 years 

"} 
>o, 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(98) 454  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

15  16 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-98-464-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-38232-9 

Office  for  Official  Publications  of the European  Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg