Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing the second phase of the Community education action programme Socrates
Date: 1998-12-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, education, employment policy, vocational training

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 02.12.1998 

COM(1998) 719  final 

98/0195 (COD) 

Amended proposal for a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 

establishing the second phase of the Community education action programme SOCRATES 

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

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

In the  light  of  the  opinion  of the European Parliament  of  5 November  1998, the  Commission,  in 
accordance  with  Article  189  A  §2  of  the  EC. Treaty,  is  submitting  an  amended  proposal  for  a 
decision.  The  Commission  accepts  in  full  or in part  34  of  the  54  amendments  proposed  by  the 
Parliament. 

The  amended  proposal  largely  retains  the  same  structure  and  the  same  objectives  as  the  initial 
proposal but goes into certain aspects in greater detail: 

one  set  of  amendments  improves  and  strengthens  the  initial  proposal  by  incorporating 
features  designed  to  make  access  to  the  programme  easier  for  target  publics  who  may  have 
difficulties  in  taking  part.  Other  amendments  are  designed  to  strengthen  the  emphasis  placed  on 
certain key features  of the proposal, e.g. the dissemination of results and the academic recognition 
of studies pursued in other Member States via the ECTS (European course credit transfer system); 

in  relation  to  the  initial  proposal,  a second  set  of  amendments  provides  useful  additional 

information and clarification on specific aspects of cooperation policy in the field of education. 

The  Commission  was  unable to  take on board certain amendments  which  concerned  institutional 
aspects such as rules on committee procedures and budgetary matters. 

The  Commission  is  most  appreciative  of  the  increase  in  funding  proposed  by  the  European 
Parliament, but has opted to abide by its initial proposal on this. 

The  Commission  was  also  unable  to  accept  amendments  designed  to  group  together  Action  6 
(Observation  and  innovation),  Action  7  (Joint  actions)  and  Action  8  (Support  measures)  into  a 
single action to be called 'Horizontal measures'. This is not felt to be useful  inasmuch as grouping 
together three  actions  would  detract from the political  visibility  of  Actions  6  and  7 to  which the 
Commission wishes to give priority in the context of creating a Europe of knowledge. 

-2-

Amended proposal for a 

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION 

establishing the second phase of the Community education action programme SOCRATES 

D  0^ 

COMMISSION'S INITIAL PROPOSAL  I  PROPOSAL MODIFIED FOLLOWING 
THE OPININION OF THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AT THE FIRST 
READING ON 5 NOVEMBER 1998 

PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL 
DECISION 

Establishing the second phase of the 
Community action programme in the field  of 
education "Socrates" 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE 
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

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

Having regard to the proposal from the 
Commission1, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee2, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of 
the Regions3, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid 
down in Article 189b of the Treaty4, 

1.  Whereas the Treaty establishing the European 
Community  stipulates  that  the  tatter's  action 
shall inter alia contribute to the development 
of quality education and training; whereas this 
was  resolutely  reiterated  by  the  Amsterdam 
Treaty signed on 2 October 1997, which states 
that  the  Community's  objective  is  also  to 
promote  the  highest  possible  level  of  the 
knowledge for its peoples through wide access 
to  education  and  through  the  continuous 
' 
updating of knowledge; 

2.  Whereas  Decision  No  819/95/EC  of  the 
European "Parliament  and  of  the  Council5, as 
amended  by  Decision  No  576/98/EC  *, 
establishes the Community action programme 
Socrates; 

3. „ Whereas the extraordinary  European  Council 

COM (1998) 329 final, 27 May 1998 
ESC 1307/98 (98/0195 COD) 

OJL 87 20.4.1995, p. 10. 
OJL77 14.3.1998, p. 1. 

\ 

in  which 

on  Employment  held  in  Luxembourg  on  20 
and 21 November  1997 adopted a coordinated 
employment  strategy 
lifelong 
education  and  training  have  a  fundamental 
role  to  play  in  implementing  guidelines7  for 
the  Member  States'  employment  policies  in 
order  to  enhance  employability,  adaptability, 
and  the  culture  of  entrepreneurship8  and  to 
promote equal opportunities; 

in 

the 

Commission 

its  4. Whereas the Commission in its communication 
4.  Whereas 
"Towards  a  Europe  of  "Towards a  Europe  of  Knowledge"10  set  out 
communication 
Knowledge'*  set  out  guidelines  of  the  gradual  guidelines of the gradual creation of an open and 
creation  of  an  open  and  dynamic  European  dynamic  European  Education  area  capable  of 
Education area capable of achieving the objective  achieving the objective  of lifelong  education and 
of  lifelong  education  and  training,  defining  six 
training,  defining  six  types  of  measures  to  be 
types of measures to be developed at Community  developed  at  Community  level,  focusing  on 
level,  focusing  on  transnational  cooperation  and 
transnational  cooperation  and  designed  to  bring 
designed to bring added value to the action taken  added  value to the  action taken  by  the Member 
by  the  Member  States,  in  full  respect  of  the  States,  in  full  respect  of  the  principle  of 
principle  of  subsidiarity,  and  in  a  context  of  subsidiarity [...]; and whereas in order to make it 
easier for  all the target groups to have access to 
simplified procedures; 
the  programme,  it  has  decided  to  simplify  the 
application and selection procedures; 

5.  Whereas  the  White  Paper  Teaching  and  5. Whereas the White Paper Teaching and 

to 

learning - Towards the learning society states that 

the emergence of the learning society entails 

learning - Towards the learning society states 
that  the  emergence  of  the  learning  society 
entails  encouraging  the  acquisition  of  new  encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge 
knowledge  and 
this  end  providing  and to this end providing motivation to learn at 
motivation  to  learn at every  opportunity, and  every opportunity, and whereas the Green Paper 
whereas  the  Green  Paper  "  "Education,  "Education, training, research: the obstacles to 
training,  research: 
transnational mobility highlighted the advantages 
the  obstacles 
transnational  mobility12  highlighted 
advantages  mobility  brings  to  people  and 
competitiveness in the Union; 

to 
the  mobility brings to people and competitiveness in 

the Union; and whereas the objective should be to 
achieve a participation rate of at least 10% of 
schools in Comenius and 10% of students in 
mobility actions under Erasmus; 

6.  Whereas  there  is  a  need  to  promote  active  6. Whereas there is a need to promote active 
citizenship,  to  strengthen  the  links  between  citizenship, to strengthen the links between 
measures pursued under this programme, and  measures pursued under this programme, and to 
to step up the fight against exclusion in all its  step up the fight against exclusion in all its forms, 
including racism and xenophobia; whereas special 
forms, 
whereas  special  attention  should  be  focused  attention should be focused on removing all forms 
on  removing  all  forms  of  inequality  and  on  of discrimination and inequality and on 
promoting equal opportunities for women and  promoting equal opportunities for women and 
men; 

including  racism  and  xenophobia; 

men; 

OJ C 30 28.1.1998, p. 1. 
Communication from the Commission to the European Council "Fostering entrepreneurship in Europe: priorities for the future" (COM (1998) 
222 final/2 of 21.4.1998). 
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions-Towards a Europe of knowledge, COM(97) 563  final,  12 November  1997. 
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions -  Towards a Europe of knowledge, COM(97) 563 final,  12 November  1997. 
Commission's White Paper : "Education and training-.Teaching and learning-  Towards the learning society", Office  for Official  Publications 
of the European Communities, Luxembourg,  1996. 
Commission's Green Paper: Education, training, research: the obstacles  to transnational mobility, COM(96) 462 final, 2 October 1996. 

. 

-

A-

Whereas  the  Parliament  and  the  Council  in 
their  Decision  No  XXX/99/EC  [Youth]13 and 
the  Council  in  its  Decision  No  XXX/99/EC 
[Training]14,  have  established  Community 
action programmes  for the youth and training 
fields  respectively,  which  contribute  together 
with the Socrates programme to implementing 
a knowledge policy; 

7. Whereas the Parliament and the Council in 
their Decision No XXX/99/EC [Youth]'5 and the 
Council in its Decision No XXX/99/EC 
[Training]16, have established Community action 
programmes for the youth and training fields 
respectively, which contribute together with the 
Socrates programme to the promotion of a Europe 
of knowledge; 

8. Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce 
the added value of Community action, for  the 
Commission, in conjunction with the Member 
States, to ensure a coherence and a 
complementarity at all levels between the actions 
implemented in the framework of this Decision 
and the Community interventions, in particular in 
the domains of culture("), research and 
development, audio-visual media, the completion 
of the single market, the environment, consumer 
protection, the information society, SMEs, social 
policies, employment and public health; 
8a Whereas provision should be made for joint 
activities between the Socrates programme and 
other Community programmes and actions which 
have a bearing on education, including those in 
the area of international cooperation, fostering 
synergy and enhancing the added value of 
Community action; 

. 

between 
the  framework  of 

8.  Whereas  it is  necessary,  in  order to  reinforce 
the  added  value  of  Community  action  to 
ensure,  at  all  levels,  a  coherence  and  a 
actions 
complementarity 
this 
in 
implemented 
Decision and the Community interventions, in 
particular  in  the  domains  of  culture17,  audio 
visual  media,  the  completion  of  the  single 
market, 
consumer 
protection,  the  information  society,  SMEs, 
social policies, employment and public health; 

environment, 

the 

the 

9.  Whereas  the  Commission's  proposals  for 
reforming  the  Structural  Funds1*,  particularly 
the 
the  European  Social  Fund,  and 
Community  initiatives  stemming  therefrom, 
are based  and  objectives  designed  to  support 
the  adaptation  and  modernisation  of  policies 
and systems relating to education, training and 
employment; 

in 

10. Whereas provision should be made to open up 
this  programme  to  participation  by  the 
associated  Central  and  Eastern  European 
countries  in  accordance  with  the  conditions 
relevant  association 
established 
agreements, 
association 
agreements  and  the  additional  protocols  to 
these agreements to Cyprus on the same terms 
as  those  applied  to  the  EFTA/EEA  countries 
as  well  as to  Turkey  and  Malta according  to 
procedures to be agreed with those countries; 

the 
notably 

the 

Proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation 
(Programme Culture 2000), OJ C 211,7.7.1998, p. 18. 
Agenda 2000 Reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds -  Pre-accession structural assistance -  Pursuing the cohesion effort -  A new reform 
of the Structural Funds, COM(1998)  131 final, 18.3.1998 

11. Whereas this programme should be monitored 

11. Whereas this programme should be monitored 

and  continuously  evaluated  in  cooperation  and continuously evaluated in cooperation 
between  the  Commission  and  the  Member  between the Commission and the Member States 
States  in  order  to  allow  for  readjustments, 
particularly  in the priorities for  implementing 
the measure; 

in order to allow for readjustments, particularly in 
the priorities for implementing the measure; 
whereas this assessment should include an 
external evaluation and be carried out by 
independent organisations; 

12. Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  12. Whereas, in accordance with the principles 

the 

contribution  of  concerning the contribution of European 

and proportionality as defined  in Article 3b of  and proportionality as defined in Article 3b of the 
the  Treaty,  the  objectives  of  the  proposed  Treaty, the objectives of the proposed action 
action  concerning 
European  cooperation  to  quality  education  cooperation to quality education cannot be 
cannot  be  sufficiently  achieved  by 
the  sufficiently  achieved by the Member States 
Member States because inter alia of the need  because inter alia of the need for multilateral 
for  multilateral  partnerships,  multilateral  partnerships, multilateral mobility of people and 
mobility  of  people  and  Community-wide  Community-wide exchange of information, and 
exchange of information, and can therefore be  can therefore be better achieved by the 
better  achieved  by the  Community  thanks  to  Community thanks to the transnational dimension 
the  transnational  dimension  of  Community  of Community actions and measures; whereas this 
actions  and  measures; whereas  this  Decision  Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to 
does  not  go  beyond  what  is  necessary  to  achieve these objectives; whereas it is for the 
achieve these objectives; 

Member States to develop and strengthen 
arrangements in favour of the programme's target 
groups in order to make European Community 
action more effective; 

12a: whereas it is essential to improve the ECTS 
system in order to ensure that mobility fully 
achieves its aims; whereas the higher education 
establishments taking part in the programme are 
invited to implement the ECTS system as widely 
as possible; 

13. Whereas  this  Decision  establishes,  for  the 
entire duration  of the programme, a  financial 
framework  offering  the  budgetary  authority 
the  principal  point  of  reference,  within  the 
meaning of point  1 of the Declaration  by the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the 
Commission  of  6  March  199519,  during  the 
annual budgetary procedure; 

the  Commission 

14. Whereas  an  agreement  on  a  modus  Vivendi 
between the European Parliament, the Council 
the 
and 
implementing  measures  for  acts  adopted  in 
accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in 
Article 189b of the EC Treaty was reached on 
20 December 199420, 

concerning 

OJC 102,4.4.1996, p. 4. 
OJC 102,4.4.1996, p. 1. 

-6-

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

"1 

Articlel 

Establishment  of the  programme 

1.  This  Decision  establishes the  second  phase  of 
the Community  action  programme  in the  field 
of education  "Socrates", hereinafter  referred  to 
as "this programme". 

2.  This  programme  shall  be  implemented  in  the 
period  starting  on  1 January  2000  and  ending 
on 31 December 2004. 

to 

3.  This  programme  shall  contribute 

the  3. This programme shall contribute to the 
Community's  knowledge  policy  through  the  promotion of a Europe of knowledge by 
implementation  of  a European  education  area  developing a European education area by 
fostering 
education  and  training.  It  shall  permit  the  education and training. It shall permit the 
development  of  the  knowledge  and  skills  development of the knowledge and skills 
conducive to the full exercise of citizenship. 

and  development  of 

fostering  cooperation of the field of  lifelong 

lifelong 

conducive to active citizenship and employability. 

4.  This programme shall support and supplement  4. This programme shall support and supplement 
action  taken  by  and  in  the .Member  States,  action taken by and in the Member States, while 
while  fully  respecting  their  responsibility  for 
the  content  of 
organisation  of  education  systems,  and  their 
cultural and linguistic diversity. 

and training systems, and their cultural and 
linguistic diversity. 

the  of education and the organisation of education 

fully  respecting their responsibility for the content 

the  education  and 

_ 

Article 2 

Article  2 

Aims of the programme 

Aims of the  programme 

1.  In  order  to  contribute  to  the  development  of  1. In order to contribute to the development of 
quality  education,  while  fully  respecting  the  quality education and to stimulate  lifelong 
responsibility  of  the  Member  States, the  aims  education and training, while fully respecting the 
responsibility of the Member States, the aims of 
of the programme shall be: 
the programme shall be: 

to  strengthen  the European  dimension  in 
a) 
education  at  all  levels,  in  particular  by 
granting  wider  access 
education at all levels, in particular by granting 
to  European 
educational  resources  and  through  the  wider access to European educational resources 
teaching and dissemination  of languages,  and through the teaching and dissemination of 
while  promoting  a better  gender  balance 
throughout all fields of education; 

languages, while promoting equal opportunities 
throughout all fields of education; 

to strengthen the European dimension in 

to  promote  cooperation  in  the  field  of 
education,  in  particular  by  encouraging  b) 
exchanges 
institutions  and  by  promoting  open  and  cooperation, notably by encouraging: 
distance education; 

to  promote  cooperation 

remove  obstacles 

educational 

education 

between 

and 

in 

the  field  of 
this 
to 

- teacher and student mobility, 
- cooperation between education establishments, 
-  better  recognition  of  diplomas  and  periods  of 
education, 
- better exchange of  information; 

to  help  remove  the  obstacles  to  such 
cooperation, in particular by encouraging 
improvement 
recognition  of 
the 
diplomas  and  periods  of  study,  and  by 
developing the exchange of  information; 

in 

-7-

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

to  encourage  innovation,  in  particular 
where such innovation is associated with 
new technologies. 

c) to encourage innovation in the development of 
educational practices and materials, including 
through the use of new technologies. 

implementing 

these  objectives, 

In 
the 
Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall 
ensure  that  action  under  the  programme  is 
consistent with the Community's other actions 
and  policies,  particularly  with  regard  to 
employment, to the removal of inequalities, to 
equal  opportunities  for  women  and men, and 
to social policy. 

Article 3 

Community actions 

The aims of this programme shall be pursued 
through the following  actions, the operational 
content  and  the  application  procedures  of 
which are described in the Annex: 

a)  School education (Comenius); 
b)  Higher education (Erasmus); 
c)  Other educational pathways (Grundtvig); 
d)  Teaching  and  learning  of  languages 

(Lingua); 

e)  Education and multimedia (Atlas); 
f)  Observation and innovation; 
g) 
h)  Accompanying measures. 

Joint actions; 

2.  The actions shall be implemented through the 
following  types  of  measure,  in  the  form  of 
operations which  may use several of them in 
combination: 

a) 

support for the mobility of people in the 
field of education in Europe; 

b)  promotion  of  virtual  mobility  in  the 
context  of  education,  particularly  by 
promoting 
educational 
multimedia; 

access 

to 

In 

implementing 

these  objectives* 

2. 
the 
Commission  and the Member States shall ensure 
that  action  under  this  programme  is  consistent 
with the Community's other actions and policies, 
particularly  with  regard  to  employment,  to  the 
removal of all forms of social discrimination and 
inequality, to equal opportunities for women and 
men,  particularly  by  integrating  this  dimension 
into all initiatives through positive action, and to 
social policy. 

e) Education and multimedia (Minerva) 

b) promotion of the use of and access to 
information and communication technologies in 
the field of education; 

c) 

for 

support 
the  development  of 
European-level  cooperation  networks 
permitting the mutual exchange of good 
practice; 

d)  promotion  of 

language  skills  and 

understanding of different cultures; 

e) 

support  for  innovatory  pilot  projects 
based  on 
transnational  partnerships 
designed 
to  develop  innovation  and 
quality  in  education  in  order  to  create 
instruments  of 
educational  products, 

-8-

skills accreditation or in order to test out 
any new approach; 

f) 

improvement  of 

the  constant 
the 
Community  terms  of  reference  through 
support  for  the  dissemination  of  good 
practice and through the observation and 
dissemination of innovation. 

f)  the constant improvement of the 

Community terms of references through: 

- the observation and analysis of national 

education policies; 

- the observation and dissemination of good 

practice and innovation; 

- extensive exchanges of information. 

Particular  attention  shall  be  given  to  projects 
combining two or more different  measures. Any 
project relating to the measures mentioned under 
a), b) c) and  e) above must  in  principle  include 
measures listed under d) as preparatory or follow-
up action. 

Article 4 

Article 4 

Access to the programme 

Access to the programme 

1.  Under the  conditions  and  in accordance with 
for 
and 
the  definitions 
implementation  specified  in  the  Annex,  this 
programme is aimed in particular at: 

arrangements 

1.  Under the  conditions  and  in accordance with 
for 
and 
the  definitions 
implementation  specified  in  the  Annex,  this 
programme is aimed at: 

arrangements 

a) 

all pupils, students or other learners; 

a) 

all pupils, students or other learners; 

b) 

all  categories  of  staff 
education; 

involved 

in 

b) 

all  categories  of  staff 
education; 

involved 

in 

c) 

all types of educational institutions; 

c) 

all types of educational institutions; 

d) 

the  people  and  bodies  responsible  for 
education  systems  and  policies  at  local, 
level  within 
regional  and  national 
Member States. 

d) 

the  people  and  bodies  responsible  for 
education  systems  and  policies  at  local, 
level  within 
regional  and  national 
Member States^ 

2.  Public  or  private  bodies  cooperating  with 
educational  institutions  may also take part or 
be  actively  involved  in  several  actions under 
this programme, in particular: 

e) 

local 

and 

regional 

bodies 

and 

'  organisations; 

a) 

b) 

local 
organisations; 

and 

regional 

bodies 

and 

associations  working 
education, 
associations; 

including 

the 

field  of 
parents' 

fj associations working the field of education, 
including 
and 
parents', 
students' associations,; 

teachers' 

c).  companies 

organisations 
Commerce and Industry; 

and 

consortia, 
and  Chambers 

trade 
of 

organisations 
Commerce and Industry; 

g)  companies 

.and 

consortia, 

trade 
and  Chambers  .  of 

d)  organisations of both sides of industry at 

h)  organisations of both sides of industry at 

all levels; 

all levels; 

-9-

e) 

research centres and bodies. 

i} research centres and bodies. 

3.  Every Member State shall draw up a list of 
universities, types of schools and other 
educational institutions eligible to participate 
in the programme. 

2.  Every  Member  State  shall  draw  up  a  list of 
types  of  schools  and  other 
universities, 
educational  institutions  eligible  to  participate  in 
the programme. 

Article 5 

Implementation of the programme and 
cooperation with the Member States 

1.  The  Commission 

the 
implementation  of  the  Community  actions 
covered  by  this  programme  in  accordance 
with the Annex. 

ensure 

shall 

It shall consult both sides of industry and the 
competent  associations 
the  field  of 
education  at European  level  and shall  inform 
the Committee referred to in Article 7 of their 
opinions. 

in 

2.  In conjunction with the Member States, the 
Commission shall take the steps described in 
the Annex to make the best use of what has 
been achieved through the action undertaken 
under the first phase of the Socrates 
programme. 

3.  The  Member  States  shall  take  appropriate  3. The Member States shall take appropriate 
action  to secure, nationally, the coordination,  action to secure, nationally, the coordination, 
organisation and the follow-up needed for the  organisation, follow-up and evaluation  needed 
attainment  of 
programme, 
concerned  by  education  in  accordance  with  concerned by education and shall take the steps 
national practice. 

the  parties  programme. They shall involve all the parties 

the  objectives  of 
all 

for the attainment of the objectives of this 

involving 

this 

necessary to optimise potential synergy with other 
Community programmes 

To  this  end,  they  shall  set  up  an  integrated  To this end, they shall set up an integrated 
management  structure  for  the  operational  management structure for the operational 
implementation  of  the  programme's  actions 
and  shall  ensure  that  appropriate  information 
and  publicity  is  provided  on  actions  co-  publicity is provided on actions co-financed by 
financed  by the programme. 

implementation of the programme's actions. They 
shall also ensure that appropriate information and 

the programme. 

4.  Each  Member  State  shall  endeavour  to  take  4. Each Member State shall endeavour to take the 
the  necessary  steps  to  ensure  the  efficient  necessary steps to ensure the efficient  running of 
this programme and to take appropriate measures 
running  of  this  programme  and  to  take 
it, 
to  remove  any  obstacles  to  access 
appropriate measures to remove any obstacles 
particularly for less favoured people. 
to access to it. 

to 

5.  The Commission, in conjunction with the 
Member States, shall ensure the transition 
between these actions developed within the 
framework of the preceding "Socrates" 
programme in the field of education and those 
to be implemented under this programme. 

•10-

Article 6 

Joint actions 

Article 6 

Joint auctions 

in  conformity  with 

As part of the process of building up a Europe of 
the 
knowledge,  and 
procedures  set out in Art. 7 of the Decision, the 
measures of this programme may be implemented 
as 
joint  actions  with  other  Community 
programmes  and  actions,  notably  in  the  area  of 
vocational 
and 
development, and new technologies. 

training,  youth, 

research 

As part of the process of building up a Europe of 
knowledge, the measures of this programme may 
be  implemented  as  joint  actions  with  other 
Community  actions 
the 
knowledge  policy,  particularly  Community 
programmes in the area of vocational training and 
youth-related matters. 

forming  part  of 

Article 7 

Committee 

1.  The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a 
committee composed of the representatives of 
the  Member  States  and  chaired  by  the 
representative of the Commission. 

in 

2.  The  committee  shall  be  assisted  by  two 
subcommittees 
the  areas  of  school 
education and higher education. They shall be 
composed  of  representatives  of  the  Member 
shall  ensure 
States.  The  Commission 
coordination  between  the  committee  and the 
subcommittees.  Specific  questions  may  be 
referred 
the  subcommittees  for  final 
decision. 

to 

3.  The  representatives  of  the  Commission  shall 
submit  to  the  committee  a  draft  of  the 
measures to be taken as regards: 

a) 

b) 

the  arrangements  for  implementing  this 
programme, including where appropriate 
the  annual  plan  of  work  for 
the 
the  programme's 
implementation  of 
actions; 

the criteria applicable for establishing the 
indicative  breakdown  of  funds  among 
the Member States for the purpose of the 
actions to be managed on a decentralised 
basis; 

c) 

the  arrangements  for  evaluating  the 
programme. 

4.  The committee shall deliver its opinion on the 
draft  within  a time-limit which the Chairman 
may lay down according to the urgency of the 
matter. The opinion shall be delivered  by the 
majority  laid  down  in Article  148 (2)  of the 
Treaty  in  the  case  of  decisions  which  the 
Council  is  required  to  adopt  on  a  proposal 
from  the  Commission.  The  votes  of  the 
representatives  of  the  Member  States  within 

•11-

the  Committee  shall  be  weighted  in  the 
manner  set out  in the Article. The Chairman 
shall not vote. 

5.  The Commission shall adopt measures which 
shall  apply  immediately.  However,  if  these 
measures  are  not  in  accordance  with  the 
opinion  of  the  committee,  they  shall  be 
communicated  by  the  Commission  to  the 
Council forthwith. 

In that event: 

the Commission may defer application of 
the measures which  it had decided for a 
period of up to one month from  the date 
of such communication; 

the  Council,  acting  by  a  qualified 
majority,  may  take  a  different  decision 
within  the  time-limit  referred  to  in  the 
first  indent. 

6.  The Commission may consult the Committee 
concerning 

on 
implementation of the programme. 

other  matter 

any 

In  that  event,  the  Commission  representative 
shall  submit  to  the  Committee  a draft  of the 
measures  to  be  taken.  The  Committee  shall 
deliver its opinion on the draft,  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. 

Funding 

1.  The financial resources for the implementation 
of this programme  for the period specified  in 
Article 1  shall be set at ECU 1  400 million. 

2.  The annual appropriations shall be authorised 
by the budgetary authority, within the limits of 
the financial perspectives. 

-12-

Article  9 
Consistency and complementarity 

Article 9 
Consistency and  complementarity 

1.  The Commission shall, in conjunction  with the 
Member  States,  ensure  overall  consistency 
with  other  Community  policies  and  actions. 
There  shall  be  coordination  between 
the 
activities  of  this  prograntaie  and  the  other 
Community 
those 
covered by the knowledge policy. 

in  particular 

actions, 

1. The Commission  shall, in cooperation with the 
Member States, and in full  respect of the  intrinsic 
and  specific  nature  of  each  programme,  ensure 
overall consistency  and  coordination  between  the 
programme  activities  and  the  other  Community 
policies 
those 
contributing to a Europe of knowledge  in the area 
of  education, 
research  and 
training,  youth, 
development, and innovation. 

particularly 

actions, 

and 

The  Commission  shall,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Member  States,  ensure  consistency  between 
implementation  of  this  programme  and  the  other 
Community  actions  relating  to  education  in  the 
area  of  culture  and  the  audiovisual  sector,  the 
completion of the internal market, the  information 
society, 
consumer  protection, 
SMEs,  social  policies,  employment,  and  public 
health. 

environment, 

The Commission shall ensure in cooperation with 
the Member States consistency and synergy 
between the implementation of this programme 
and the other Community actions relating to 
youth in the area of culture, research and 
development, and the audiovisual sector, the 
completion of the internal market, the  information 
society, environment, consumer protection, 
SMEs, social policies, employment, and public 
health. 

The  Commission  shall  ensure  an  efficient 
link-up  between  this  programme  and  the 
the  area  of 
programmes  and  actions 
education  undertaken 
the 
Community's external relations. 

as  part  of 

in 

The Commission  and the Member  States shall 
ensure  that  the  measures  of  this  programme 
are,  as  part  of  the  implementation  of  the 
coordinated  employment  strategy,  consistent 
with  the  orientations  established  annually  for 
the employment  guidelines and  in  conjunction 
with  the  other  actions  contributing  to  the 
implementation of the action plans. 

2.  The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall 
ensure mat the  measures  of this  programme  will, 
as  part  of  the  implementation  of  the  coordinated 
employment strategy, contribute to the  attainment 
of the objectives  set in the European  employment 
guidelines  and  to  the  drafting  of  national  action 
plans. 

The Commission  and the Member  States shall 
complementarity 
ensure 
between 
this 
under 
programme  and  Community  action  under  the 
Structural Funds. 

consistency 
action 

and 
undertaken 

3.  The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall 
ensure  consistency  and  complementarity  between 
action  undertaken  under  this  programme  and 
Community  action  under  the  Structural  Funds. 
They  shall  in particular  facilitate  the  transfer  and 
dissemination  on  a  greater  scale,  through  the 
Community  Structural  Funds,  of 
innovatory 
approaches  and  methods  developed  under  this 
programme. 

Article  10 

Article 10 

Participation of the associated Central and 
Eastern European countries, Cyprus, Turkey 
and Malta 

Participation of the associated Central and 
Eastern European countries, EFT A countries 
members of the EEA, Cyprus, Turkey and 
Malta, 

1.  This  programme 

the 
participation  of  the  associated  Central  and 
in 
Eastern  European 

shall  ;be  open 

countries 

(CEEC) 

to 

1.  This  programme  shall  be  open 

the 
participation  of  the  associated  Central  and 
in 
Eastern  European  countries 

(CEEC) 

to 

-13-

accordance  with  the  conditions  laid  down  in 
the  Europe  agreements  or  in  existing  or 
anticipated  additional  protocols  governing  the 
participation  of these  countries  in Community 
programmes.  This  programme  shall  also  be 
open to the participation,  funded  by additional 
appropriations,  of  Cyprus  under  the  same 
rules  as  those  applied  to  the  countries  of  the 
European  Free  Trade  Association  (EFTA) 
which belong to the European Economic  Area 
(EEA)  according  to  the  procedures  to  be 
agreed  with  this  country.  This  programme 
shall  also  be  open  to  participation  by  Turkey 
according  to  the  procedures  to  be  established 
with that country-. 

in 

agreements  or 

accordance  with  the  conditions  fixed  in  the 
existing  or 
Europe 
anticipated  additional  protocols  governing  the 
participation  of these countries  in  Community 
programmes.  This  programme  shall. also  be 
open  to  the  participation  of  the  countries  of 
the European  Free  Trade  Association  (EFTA) 
which belong to the European  Economic  Area 
(EEA). This programme  shall  also be  open  to 
additional 
the  participation, 
appropriations,  of  Cyprus  [...]  according  to 
the procedures to be  agreed with  this country, 
This  programme  is  also  open  to  participation 
by  Turkey  according  to  the  procedures  to  be 
established with that country. 

funded 

by 

2.  This  programme  shall  also  be  open 
participation  by  Malta  according 
to 
procedures to be agreed with that country. 

to  2.  This  programme  shall  also  be  open 
participation  by  Malta  according 
to 
the 
procedures to be agreed with that country. 

to 
the 

_ _ _ __ 

Article 11 

International  cooperation 

International  cooperation 

The  Commission  shall  strengthen  its  cooperation  Under  this  programme,  the  Commission  shall 
strengthen  its  cooperation  with  non-Community 
with  non-Community  countries  and  with  the 
countries 
relevant  international  organisations,  particularly 
international 
organisations, particularly  the Council  of Europe. 
the Council of Europe. 
The  activities  covered  by  this  article  and  the 
relevant  funding  arrangements  will  be  decided  in 
accordance  with the procedures  set out  in  Article 
7 of the Decision. 

relevant 

and 

the 

_ _ _ _ _ __ 

Monitoring and  evaluation 

1.  The  Commission  shall  continually  monitor 
the 

in  cooperation  with 

this  programme 
Member States. 

This  monitoring  shall  be  effected  through  the 
reports referred  to  in paragraph  3 and  through 
specific  activities. 

2.  The  Commission 

shall 

evaluate 

this  2. The Commission shall evaluate this programme 

programme  periodically,  in  conjunction  with  periodically  in cooperation with the Member 
the  Member  States. The  evaluation  shall  seek  States. The evaluation shall seek to appraise the 
to  appraise  the  effectiveness  of  the  actions 
implemented,  by  reference  to  the  objectives 
set out in Article 2. 

relevance, effectiveness  and impact of the actions 
implemented, by reference to the objectives  set 
out in Article 2. 

The  evaluation  will  also  examine 
the 
complementarity  between  actions  under  this 
programme  and  those  pursued  under  other 
Community  programmes,  particularly  those 
supported by the European  Social Fund. 

-14-

In  accordance  with  criteria  established  using 
the procedure described in Article 7 (3), there 
shall  be periodical  external  evaluations  of the 
results of the Community actions. 

3.  Member  States 

submit 

the 
shall 
Commission  by  31  December  2002  and  30 
the 
June  2005  respectively  reports  on 
implementation  and  the 
this 
impact  of 
programme. 

to 

The Commission shall submit to the European 
Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and 
Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the 
Regions: 

-  an 

interim  evaluation  report  on  the 
implementation of this programme no later 
than 30 June 2003; 

- 

the  final  report  on  the  implementation  of 
this  programme,  no 
than  31 
December 2005. 

later 

Article  13. 

Entry into force 

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

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

3. Member States shall submit to the Commission 
by 31 December 2002 and 30 June 2005 
respectively reports on the implementation, the 
effectiveness  and the impact of this programme, 
by reference to the objectives set out in Article 2, 
also with regard to the education systems and 
arrangements which exist in the Member States. 
Specific mention shall be made of the measures 
taken to combat all forms of discrimination and to 
promote equality of opportunity between men and 
women, and their impact in terms of participation 
in the programme. 
4.  The Commission  shall submit to the European 
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions: 

- an interim report, no later than 30 June 2003, on 
the  qualitative  and  quantitative  aspects  of  the 
implementation of this programme, 

-the  final  report  on  the  implementation  of  this 
programme, no later than 31 December 2005. 

•15-

ANNEX 

I. 

INTRODUCTION 

1.  The  actions  proposed 

in  this  Annex 
contribute  to  the  achievement  of  the 
objectives  laid  down  in  Article  2  of  the 
Decision  and  implemented  through  the 
Community  measures  provided  for  in 
Article 3. 

for 

2.  Provisions  relating  to  the  timetable,  the 
conditions 
submission  of 
the 
applications  and the eligibility  criteria are 
published  regularly  by  the  Commission, 
following  consultation  of  the  programme 
committee, in the "Socrates Guidelines for 
Applications". 

3. 

In  the  context  of  activities  involving  the 
mobility  of persons, there should be some 
the 
linguistic 
that 
so 
beneficiaries 
the  necessary 
competence  in  the  language(s)  of  the 
instruction in the host establishment. 

preparation 
possess 

4.  As  a  general  rule,  Community  financial 
assistance  granted to the  projects  selected 
under  this  programme  is  intended  to 
partially compensate for the estimated cost 
necessary  to  carry  out  projects  and  may 
cover  a  maximum  period  of  three  years, 
subject to an annual review of the results. 
Assistance  may  be  granted  in  advance to 
enable preparatory  visits to the projects in 
question. 

5.  The  projects  coordinated  by  universities 
the 
under 
programme  may 
the 
"institutional  contract"  of  the  institutions 
concerned, provided for in Article 2. 

the  various  actions  of 
form  part  of 

6. 

In  accordance  with  Article  2 paragraph 2 
of the Decision, the projects selected must 
respect the principle 6f equal opportunities 
and  avoid  any type  of  exclusion. Positive 
actions  may  be  introduced  in  some areas 
where  such  action  is  required.  Projects 
giving  special  emphasis  to  multicultural 
aspects will be a priority, and the  specific 
needs  of  disabled  people  should  also  be 
taken  into  account  when  establishing  the 
amount of financial assistance. 

6. 
In accordance with Article 2 paragraph 2 of 
the  Decision,  the  projects  selected  must  respect 
the principle of equal opportunities and avoid any 
type  of  exclusion.  Positive  actions  may  be 
introduced  in  some  areas  where  such  action  is 
required.  Projects  giving  special  emphasis  to 
multicultural  aspects  will  be  a  priority,  and  the 
specific  needs of  disabled  people  should  also be 
taken into account when establishing the amount 
of financial assistance. Special attention  must be 
paid  in  all  the  actions  of  the  programme  to the 
dissemination of results. 

16-

II. 

COMMUNITY  ACTIONS 

This  Annex  contains 
actions: 

two  main 

types  of 

the first,  Actions  1-3,  are  aimed  at  the 
three  basic  stages  of  lifelong  education 
(school, university,  others); 

the  second,  Actions  4 - 8, 
concern 
transversal  measures  such  as  languages, 
multimedia 
exchange  of 
information,  as  well  as  matters  of 
horizontal  interest such as innovation, the 
dissemination  of results, joint  actions. 

and 

the 

ACTION  1  "COMENIUS" - SCHOOL 
EDUCATION 
School  partnerships 
Staff involved  in school education 

Action  1.1 
Action  1.2 

ACTION 2  "ERASMUS"-HIGHER 

EDUCATION 
Action 2.1  European  inter-university 
cooperation 

Action 2.2  Mobility of students and teachers 

ACTION 3  "GRUNDTVIG" - OTHER 

EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS 

Action 3.1  New educational  approaches 
Action 3.2  Adult education 

ACTION 4  "LINGUA" - TEACHING  AND 
LEARNING  OF LANGUAGES 

ACTION 5  "ATLAS" - EDUCATION AND 

MULTIMEDIA 

ACTION 6  OBSERVATION  AND 

INNOVATION 

Action 6.1  Observation of education systems 

and  policies 
Action 6.2  New innovatory  initiatives 

ACTION 7  JOINT ACTIONS 

ACTION 8  ACCOMPANYING  MEASURES 

ACTION 5 

« MINERVA » - EDUCATION 
AND MULTIMEDIA 

•17-

ACTION 1 - "COMENIUS": SCHOOL 
EDUCATION 

ACTION 1 - "COMENIUS": SCHOOL 
EDUCATION 

the  European 
Comenius  seeks  to  reinforce 
dimension  of  school  education,  to  encourage 
transnational cooperation, to promote the learning 
of 
intercultural 
understanding. 

languages  and 

to  support 

Comenius  seeks  to  reinforce  the  European 
dimension of school education, to encourage 
transnational cooperation and to promote the 
learning of languages. 

Comenius  also  promotes  the  creation  of 
school partnership networks and partnership 
networks for the training of school education 
staff  to  enable  cooperation  on  subjects  of 
mutual  interest,  the  dissemination  of  good 
practice  and  discussion  of  qualitative  and 
innovatory aspects of school education. The 
staff  training network  is to be developed in 
close  cooperation  with 
the  university 
"thematic  networks"  provided  for  in  the 
Erasmus action. 

Action 1.1:  School partnerships 

1.  The Community  encourages the creation of 
multilateral partnerships between schools by 
making  use  of  the  facilities  offered  by 
multimedia and by encouraging in particular 
those  which  also  involve  teacher  training 
and 
local 
establishments, 
businesses, as well as parents. 

authorities 

Schools  taking  part  in  one  or  more  of  the 
activities  contained  in  this  Action  shall 
submit  a  "Plan  for  inter-school  cooperation 
in  Europe"  covering  all 
the  activities 
proposed.  The  plans  shall  be  examined  by 
the national  structures set up  in accordance 
with Article 5, paragraph 3, of the Decision, 
involving  with  due  respect  for  national 
systems, the  supervisory  bodies  at  regional 
and local level, on the basis of the guidelines 
in 
established 
consultation with the programme committee. 

the  Commission 

by 

3.  Activities eligible for Community assistance 

may include the following: 

3.  School  partnerships  may  obtain  Community 
financial  support to carry out educational projects 
with  a  European  dimension,  particularly  those 
involving: , 

a)  partnerships involving: 

a) the following activities: 

the mobility of teachers to prepare 
and  monitor  partnerships  to  teach 
in-company 
abroad, 
placements; 

including 

-the mobility  of teachers to prepare and monitor 
partnerships 
in-
company placements; 

to  teach  abroad, 

including 

- 

the  development  of 

teaching 

the  involvement  of  pupils  in  partnership 

-18-

material and the exchange of good 
practice; 

activities, as well as mobility for a limited number 
of them; 

- 

involvement  of  pupils 

in 
the 
partnership  activities, 
including 
mobility  for  a  limited  number  of 
them; 

b)  partnerships  aimed  specifically  at 
promoting  the  Community's  official 
languages.  The  partnerships  may  in 
exceptional  circumstances  be bilateral 
if  they  target  the  less  widely  used 
languages  and  may  also 
include 
exchanges of pupils  in addition to the 
activities referred to in point (a); 

-  the  development  of  teaching  material  and the 
exchange of good practice; 

partnerships  may 

b)  activities  aimed  specifically  at promoting the 
teaching and learning of the Community's official 
languages,  including  Irish  and  Luxembourgish. 
These 
exceptional 
circumstances  be bilateral  if they  target the less 
widely  used 
languages  of 
languages  or 
neighbouring  countries  which  are  less  widely 
used and taught in the partner countries, and may 
also include exchanges of pupils in addition to the 
activities referred to in point (a); 

in 

c) 
cooperation projects meeting the specific 
needs of the children of migrant workers, gypsies 
and travellers and itinerant workers. 

c) cooperation projects meeting the specific needs 
of the  children  of migrant  workers, gypsies and 
travellers and itinerant workers. 

Action 1.2: 

involved 

Staff 
education 

in  school 

1.  This action seeks to contribute to the career 
development  of staff  working  in the school 
the 
education 
European 
initial  and 
continuing training. 

sector,  by 
dimension 

reinforcing 
in 

2.  The  Community 

supports  multilateral 
projects  from  establishments  and  bodies 
involved in the training of educational staff, 
also by making use of the  facilities  offered 
by multimedia. The participation of schools 
and  other  players  involved  in the field of 
.  education - such as parents' representatives -
and socio-economic affairs  is encouraged, as 
is the involvement  of supervisory-bodies at 
regional and local level, where appropriate. 

Activities eligible for Community assistance 
in the context of the partnerships referred to 
above may include the following 

3. Activities eligible for Community assistance in 
the context of the partnerships  referred  to above 
may include the following 

a) 

the  development  and/or  adaptation  of 
curricula, 
or 
European modules; 

teaching  material 

b) 

aspects of school management; 

c) 

the mobility of school staff  - future or 
already in service - for the purpose of 
initial  or  continuing  teacher  training, 
including practical training periods and 
language  assistantships  in  schools  or 
adult education centres; 

a) the development and/or adaptation of curricula, 
teaching material or European modules; 

b) exchanges of information  on aspects of school 
management; 

c) the mobility of school staff- future-or already 
in service - for the purpose of initial or continuing 
teacher training, including practical training 
periods and language assistantships in schools or 
adult education centres; 

-19-

d) 

aspects  of  specific  training  relating  to 
the  integration  of  the  children  of 
migrant workers, gypsies and travellers 
and itinerant workers. 

d) aspects of specific training relating to the 
integration of the children of migrant workers, 
gypsies and travellers and itinerant workers; 

d(aXnew):  aspects  concerning  specific  training 
designed to ensure intercultural and multicultural 
education; 

d(b)(new):  aspects  concerning  specific  training 
integration,  equality  of 
aimed  at 
opportunity and the education of children at risk. 

social 

ACTION 2 - "ERASMUS" : HIGHER 
EDUCATION 

Erasmus  seeks  to  reinforce 
the  European 
dimension of higher education at all levels and 
to encourage transnational cooperation between 
universities. 

Participating universities conclude "institutional 
contracts" with the Commission covering all the 
activities approved. 

Erasmus  also  promotes  the  development  and 
consolidation  of  thematic  networks  enabling 
universities  to  cooperate  on  topics  relating  to 
one or more disciplines or on matters of mutual 
interest in order to facilitate the spread of good 
practice, encourage discussion of qualitative and 
innovative aspects of higher education, improve 
teaching  methods 
the 
joint  programmes  and 
development  of 
specialised  courses.  The 
involvement  of 
representatives of learned societies, professional 
and socio-economic circles is encouraged. 

stimulate 

and 

Erasmus  also  promotes  the  development  and 
consolidation  of  thematic  networks  enabling 
universities to cooperate on topics relating to one 
or  more  disciplines  or  on  matters  of  mutual 
interest  in order to  facilitate  the  spread  of good 
practice, encourage discussion  of qualitative  and 
innovative  aspects  of  higher  education,  improve 
teaching methods and stimulate the development 
of joint programmes and specialised courses. The 
involvement  of 
learned 
societies, professional and socio-economic circles 
is  encouraged.  The  dissemination  of  the  results 
obtained by thematic networks will be especially 
encouraged. 

representatives  of 

Action 2.1: 
cooperation 

European 

inter-university 

1.  The  Community  supports  inter-university 
cooperation 
activities  carried  out  by 
universities  in  conjunction  with  partners  in 
other Member States, with the participation, 
where appropriate, of other players involved 
in education and the socio-economic world. 

2.  The  following  inter-university  cooperation 
activities, which  should,  wherever possible, 
make  use  of  the  facilities  offered  by 
multimedia,  are  eligible  for  Community 
assistance  under  the  "institutional  contract" 
referred to above: 

a) 

the  organisation  of  mobility  of 
students,  teachers  and  other  members 
in 
staff 
of  university 

involved 

-20-

European cooperation; 

b) 

joint  development  and  implementation 
of curricula, modules, intensive courses 
or  other  curricula 
in. 
particular  multidisciplinary  activities, 
including  the  teaching  of  subjects  in 
other languages; 

activities, 

c) 

consolidation  of  the  European  Credit 
Transfer  System  (ECTS),  designed  to 
facilitate academic recognition. 

Action 2.2:  Mobility 

of 

students  and 

university teachers 

1.  The Community encourages the mobility of 
students  and  teachers  between  the Member 
in  the  framework  of 
States,  organised 
"institutional contracts". 

2.  Students  benefiting 

the 

under 

from  mobility  and 
in  another 
spending  periods  of  study 
Member  State,  such  periods  being  fully 
recognised 
inter-university 
agreements.forming  part of the  institutional 
contracts,  will  be  considered  as  Erasmus 
students,  regardless  of  whether  or  not  an 
"Erasmus  grant"  has  been  allocated  in 
accordance  with  point  3  below.  The  host 
universities  will  not  charge  tuition  fees  to 
Erasmus  students  and  any  loans  or  grants 
which they might receive will continue to, be 
paid during their stay abroad. 

The Community encourages the mobility of 
students and teachers by providing  financial 
support under Erasmus. 

3. The  Community  encourages the mobility  of 
students  and  teachers  by  providing  financial 
support  under  Erasmus.  As  regards  student 
selection, due account must be taken not only of 
applicants'  competencies  but  also  of  their 
financial  circumstances, in accordance with the 
relevant definition  of these circumstances in the 
national provisions on support. 

ACTION 3 - "GRUNDTVIG": 
OTHER EDUCATIONAL 
PATHWAYS 

ACTION 3 - "GRUNDTVIG": 
OTHER EDUCATIONAL 
PATHWAYS 

The  Grundtvig  Action  seeks  to  encourage 
lifelong learning, in particular by offering  - as a 
complement to Actions 1  (school education) and 
2  (higher  education) 
-  other  educational 
pathways  for  all  citizens  desirous  of  acquiring 
new  knowledge.  The  Action  is  targeted  in 
particular  at  young  people  who  have  left  the 
school  system  with  insufficient  basic  training, 
those  who  wish  to  begin  or  resume  formal 
studies after  a break  from  the education system 
and adults wishing to  acquire  or  improve their 

The Grundtvig Action seeks to encourage lifelong 
learning, 
in  particular  by  offering  -  as  a 
complement to Actions  1 (school  education) and 
2 (higher education) - other educational pathways 
for  all  citizens  desirous  of  acquiring  new 
knowledge and skills. The Action is targeted both 
at young people who have left  the school system 
with insufficient  basic training, at those who wish 
to begin  or  resume  formal  studies  after  a break 
from  the education  system and at adults wishing 
to acquire or improve their knowledge and skills. 

-21-

knowledge for personal reasons. 

The  action  targets  people  taking  part  in  the 
development  of a democratic society who wish  to 
acquire intercultural skills with this in mind. 

the  creation  of 
Grundtvig  thus  encourages 
European  networks  to  strengthen 
links 
the 
between the various parties involved  in this area 
to  enable  them  to  cooperate  on  a  more  stable 
basis on matters of mutual interest. 

Action 3 . 1:  New educational  approaches 

1.  This  action  seeks  to  encourage  initiatives 
less 
aimed  at  developing  more  flexible, 
formal  educational methods which are  more 
suited 
the  specific  needs  of  each 
individual  wishing  to  acquire  recognised 
skills or qualifications.. 

to 

2.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be 
granted  to  particular  for  projects  seeking  to 
promote: 

2. 
Community  financial  assistance  may  be 
granted  to  particular  for  projects  seeking  to 
promote: 

a)  the  development  of  new  educational 
approaches,  making  use  in  particular  of 
multimedia; 

the  development  of  new 

a) 
educational 
approaches, such as the design of modules and the 
use of multimedia; 

b)  the  development  of  appropriate  teaching 

material; 

the  development  of  appropriate 

b) 
material; 

teaching 

c)  the 

dissemination 

of 

innovatory 

approaches and good practice; 

c)  the  dissemination  of  innovatory  approaches 
and good practice; 

d)  the 

development 

accreditation, 
validation  or  certification  schemes  for 
skills acquired in this manner; 

of 

d) the development  of accreditation,  validation  or 
certification  schemes  for  skills  acquired  in  this 
manner; 

e)  the training  of  educational  staff  working 

in this sector. 

- 

- 

e) the initial and in-service training of educational 
staff working in this sector. 

Action 3.2  :  Adult education 

Action 3.2 : Adult education 

in  particular  by 

1.  The  aim  of  this  action  is  to  improve  the 
to  adult 
quality  of  education  available 
reinforcing 
learners, 
the  various  bodies 
cooperation  between 
working  in  this  field,  and  to  strengthen  the 
European  dimension  of  adult  education  by 
highlighting  the  richness  of  the  linguistic 
thus 
and  cultural  diversity  of  nations, 
to  a 
developing  a  sense  of  belonging 
European citizenship. 

learners, 

to  adult 

1. The aim of this action is to improve the  quality 
of  education  available 
in 
particular \>y reinforcing  cooperation  between  the 
various  bodies  working  in  this  field,  and  to 
the  ' European  dimension  of  adult 
strengthen 
in 
education, 
the 
participation 
including 
development  of  a  democratic 
society,  by 
highlighting  the  richness  of  the  linguistic  and 
cultural  diversity  of  nations,  thus  developing  a 
sense of belonging to a European citizenship. 

2.  The Community supports projects developed 
by  multilateral  partnerships  whose  purpose 
is in particular to: 

2.  The Community supports projects  developed 
by  multilateral  partnerships  whose  purpose 
is in particular to: 

-22-

a) 

stimulate adults' individual demand for 
learning, so that they continue to remain 
active participants in a society 
undergoing rapid change; 

a) stimulate adults' demand  for  and  participation 
in  learning, so that they continue to remain active 
participants in a society undergoing rapid change; 

b)  develop  support  services  for  adult 
learners  and  the  providers  of  such 
education; 

b) develop support services for adult learners and 
the  providers  of  such  education,  and  provide 
information and guidance; 

c)  develop  teaching  material  which  may 
be  adapted  to  multimedia  methods of 
to  exchange  good 
learning  and 
' 
practice; 

d)  develop  accreditation,  validation  or 
certification  schemes  for  the  skills 
acquired; 

e) 

support the training of educational staff 
working in this sector. 

ACTION 4 - "LINGUA": TEACHING 
AND LEARNING OF LANGUAGES 

c)  develop  and  exchange  teaching  material 
which  may  be  adapted  to  multimedia methods 
of learning and to exchange good practice; 

d)  develop 
certification schemes for the skills acquired; 

accreditation,  validation  or 

e) improve the initial and in-service training of 
educational staff working in this sector. 

in  partnership  with 

1.  The  aim  of  this  action  is  to  enable  the 
Commission, 
the 
Member  States,  to  ensure  the  coordination 
and consolidation of measures relating to the 
learning  of  languages,  with  a  view  to 
promoting 
linguistic 
and  maintaining 
diversity within  the Community, helping to 
improve  the  quality  of  language  teaching 
and  learning  and  promoting  easy  access to 
lifelong 
learning  opportunities 
tailored to individual requirements. 

language 

the  official 

languages  of 

2.  In this context, language teaching covers the 
teaching  and  learning  as  foreign  languages 
the 
of  all 
Community, 
and 
including 
Luxembourgish.  Special  attention  will 
usually  be  given  throughout  the  whole 
programme  to  the  teaching  of  the -least 
widely  used  and  taught  languages  of  the 
Community. 

Irish 

transnational 

3.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be 
allocated  in  the  context  of  this  action  to 
language-learning 
general 
projects and activities, such as in particular: 
- awareness-raising activities, 
- activities seeking to promote and/or spread 
innovations  such  as  the  early  learning  of 
languages or multilingual comprehension, 
- 
the  development  and  exchange  of 
curricula,  innovatory  teaching  material  and 
methods and instruments for the recognition 
of language proficiency, 
-  the  networking  of  national,  regional  or 

local resource centres. 

-23-

ACTION 5 - "MINERVA": 
EDUCATION AND MULTIMEDIA 

I 

ACTION 5 "MINERVA" : 
EDUCATION AND MULTIMEDIA 

1.  The  aim  of  this  action  is  to  ensure  the 
coordination  and  consolidation  of measures 
relating to open and distance education and 
the use of new  information  and multimedia 
communication  technologies  in the field of 
education.  All  these  measures  serve  a dual 
purpose:  to  promote  better  understanding 
and the critical, responsible use of tools and 
methods which apply new technologies, and, 
at European  level, to promote the access to 
and  enhance  the  availability  of  improved 
educational resources. 

this  action 

2.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be 
to  general 
granted  under 
transnational  projects  for  the  use  of  new 
technologies and/or the development of open 
and  distance  education,  in  particular  in the 
context of three types of measure: 
dealing  with 
projects 
understanding  , the 
innovatory  processes 
under  way  and  the  development  of  quality 
to 
criteria, 
. educational multimedia products, 

in  particular  with 

studies 

regard 

and 

-  projects 

to  develop  pilot  modules, 

methodologies and multimedia resources, 

on 

-  projects  to  develop  information  services  and 
-  projects to develop information  services and 
systems on educational multimedia resources, and 
systems 
educational  multimedia 
communication  systems to support  the  exchange 
resources,  and  communication  systems  to 
support 
of ideas and experience, including the creation of 
ideas  and 
experience,  including  the  networking  of  multi-lingual  European  school  television,  the 
resource  centres,  experts,  decision-makers 
networking of resource centres, experts, decision-
and  project  coordinators  on  subjects  of  makers  and  project  coordinators  on  subjects  of 
mutual interest. 

the  exchange  of 

mutual interest. 

A C T I Q N 6; 

OBSERVATION 

"TLND INNOVATION 

"~~ 

" 

Action 6.1. 
systems and policies 

Observation  of  education 

1.  The  present  action  contributes 

to  the 
transparency of education systems in Europe 
through  the  exchange  of  information  and 
experience  and  turns  the  specificity  of 
national  systems  into  a  source  of  quality 
is  based  on 
European  education. 
arrangements 
involving  a  variety  of 
activities to be linked together and supported 
by the Community: 

It 

- creation of Community terms of reference, 
-  development  of  indicators  and  evaluation  of 
in  particular 
the  networking  of  the  bodies 

the  quality  of  education, 
through 
involved and pilot projects, 

-24-

- development and upkeep of databases of 
innovatory experiments, e.g. the Ortelius 
information system; 

" 

-  development, and  upkeep  of  databases  of 

innovatory experiments, 

-  linking  up  the  organisations  engaged  in 
analysing educational systems and policies, 
-  studies and pilot projects  on the recognition . 
of  diplomas,  qualifications  and  periods  of 
learning  at  all  educational  levels  in  other 
Member States. 

2. Community support is also granted to: 
-  the  European  education  information  network 
Eurydice,  comprising  the  European  unit  and 
national units, set up by the Commission and 
the Member States respectively, to enable it to 
make a full contribution to the implementation 
of this action, 

-  the  organisation  of  and  participation  in 

ARION multilateral study visits, 

- the Community network of national academic 
recognition  information  centres  NARIC,  in 
order  to  enable  the  intensive  exchange  of 
information  between  the  various  parts  of the 
network  and  the  launch  of  pilot  projects  on 
matters  of  mutual 
to 
facilitate recognition. 

interest  designed 

3.  Close cooperation with the  Statistical  Office 
of the  European  Communities  (Eurostat)  is 
ensured in the implementation of the action. 

Action 6.2  New innovatory initiatives 

to 

In  addition 
the  cooperation  activities 
provided for in the various actions of the present 
programme,  the  Community  also  supports 
transnational projects aimed at 
developing innovations  in one or more specific 
sectors of education. The subjects given priority 
are  reviewed  regularly  to  enable  adaptation  to 
the new requirements 
which will emerge during the period covered by 
this programme. 

" 

ACTION 7: 

JOINT ACTIONS 

ACTION 7: 

JOINT ACTIONS 

1. 

For the joint actions described in Article 6 
of this Decision, Community support may 
be  provided  for  joint  actions  with  other 
actions  under  the  knowledge  policy,  in 
particular  Community  vocational  training 
and youth programmes  designed to widen 
access to knowledge. 

for 

1. For the joint actions described in Article 6 of 
this  Decision,  Community  support  may  be 
joint  - actions  with  other 
provided 
Community  programmes  and  actions  which 
contribute  to  a  Europe  of  knowledge,  in 
particular  Community  vocational  training  and 
youth programmes designed to widen access to 
knowledge. 

2.  Coordination 

the 

three 
between 
programmes  can be achieved  by common 
calls  for  proposals.  The  Commission 
intends  in  particular  to  develop  a  joint 
information  and  observation  arrangement 
with regard to good practice in the field of 
knowledge, and joint actions on education 

. 

-25-

and  training  multimedia.  These  projects 
may  encompass  a  range  of  measures 
covering 
including 
education.  They  may  be  supported  in  a 
various 
complementary  manner  by 
Community programmes. 

sectors, 

several 

3.  Appropriate  steps, a significant  one being 
the  setting  up  of  European  knowledge 
centres,  will  be  taken  to  ensure  regional 
and  local  contact  and  interaction  between 
the players taking part  in this, programme 
and  in  vocational  training  and  youth-
related  progVammes.  This  will  contribute 
to  the  implementation  of  a  policy  of 
lifelong  learning  in the  regions  and  local 
districts concerned. 

3.  Appropriate  steps,  e.g.  the  setting  up  of 
European  knowledge  centres,  will  be  taken  to 
ensure regional and local contact and  interaction 
between the players taking part in this programme 
and  other  Community  programmes,  particularly 
those  relating  to  vocational  training  and  youth-
related  programmes.  This  will  contribute  to  the 
implementation of a policy of lifelong learning in 
the regions and local districts concerned 

ACTIONS: 

ACCOMPANYING 

MEASURES 

Financial  assistance  may  be  granted  to 
initiatives aimed at promoting the objectives 
of  this  programme,  provided  that  such 
initiatives  are  not  eligible  for  assistance 
under  other  actions  of  the  programme. 
Community  assistance may be given to the 
following: 
to  promote 
awareness-raising  activities 
cooperation 
in  the  field  of  education, 
including support for the organisation of the 
'Europe 
in  the  school'  competition  in 
cooperation with the Council of Europe, 
activities  aimed  at  training  the  persons 
involved  in  the  management  of  European 
cooperation  projects 
the  field  of 
education, 
transnational  activities  carried  out  by 
associations  and  other  non-governmental 
bodies active in the "field of education, 
conferences  and symposia on innovations in 
the sectors targeted by the programme, 

in 

measures  to  optimise  and  disseminate  the 
results of projects  and  activities carried out 
with  the  support  of  this  programme  or  its 
previous  phase,  including  by  means  of 
instruments such as the Ortelius information 
system 

Community  assistance  may  be  provided  to 
carry out the information activities necessary 
to  implement  the  programme,  support  the 
activities  of  the  integrated  management 
structures  set  up  by  the  Member. States  in 
accordance  with  Article  5  of  the  Decision, 
and  to  ensure  an  effective  monitoring  and 
evaluation system of the actions contained in 
this Annex. 

- measures to optimise and disseminate the results 
of projects and activities carried out with the 
support of this programme or its previous phase 
L_J-

-26-

3. 

the  programme 

In  carrying  out 
the 
Commission can have recourse to technical 
assistance  organisations  the  financing  of 
which  may  be  provided  for  within  the 
overall envelope for the programme. It can, 
under the same conditions, have recourse to 
experts.  Furthermore,  the  Commission  will 
be  able  to  organise  seminars,  colloquia  or 
other meetings of experts, likely to facilitate 
the  implementation  of the programme. The 
Commission 
forward 
information,  publication  and  dissemination 
actions. 

take 

also 

can 

' 

__ 

p R O C E D U R ES  F OR  T HE 

- 

-

SUBMISSION AND SELECTION 
OF PROJECTS 

Procedures for the proposal and selection of the 
projects referred to in mis Annex are as follows: 

integrated  management 

1.  Requests for financial assistance for projects 
submitted  under  actions  1.1  and  1.2  point 
3(c), which are considered decentralised, as 
well  as  for  preparatory  visits  under  all 
actions except action 2, shall be submitted to 
structures 
the 
in 
designated  by 
the  Member  States 
the 
accordance  with  Article  5(3)  of 
Decision.  These  structures  shall  select  the 
projects  and  allocate financial assistance to 
the selected projects  in accordance with the 
general guidelines established under Article 
7(3) of the Decision 

2.  The  awarding  of  the  financial  assistance 
provided for in action 2.2 point 3 to students 
and academic teachers carrying out mobility 
assignments within the institutional contracts 
mentioned in action 2.1, shall be carried out 
by  the  integrated  management  structures 
in 
the  Member  States 
designated  by 
accordance  with  Article  5(3)  of 
the 
Decision,  in  accordance  with  the  general 
guidelines established  under Article 7(3) of 
the Decision. 

3.  Requests for financial assistance for projects 
mentioned  in other parts of the programme, 
to  be  centralised,  shall  be 
considered 
submitted  to  the  Commission  which  will 
forward  them to the integrated management 
structures. Decisions on financial  assistance 
for  projects  shall  be 
the 
Commission  after  receiving  the  opinion  of 
the  Committee  in  accordance  with  Article 
7(6) of the Decision. 

taken  by 

-27-

IV. 

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 

1.  The  Community  funds  intended  to  provide 
financial  support under actions  1.1,  1.2 point 
3(c)  and  2.2  point  3,  will  be  shared  out 
between the Member States according to the 
formulas contained in point 5. 

2.  The Community  funds thus distributed shall 
be  administered  by  the  national  structures 
provided for in Article  5(3) of the Decision. 
These 
ensure 
coordination  with  the  financial  resources 
available  in  the  Member  States  aimed  at 
in  European 
encouraging  participation 
cooperation activities. 

structures 

shall 

also 

to 

- -encourage 

3.  The Commission, acting in cooperation with 
the Member  States, shall  take the  necessary 
measures 
balanced 
participation  at  Community,  national  and 
regional  level,  and,  in  the  case  of  higher 
education, in the various fields of study. The 
proportion  allocated to these measures must 
not  exceed  10  % of  the  annual  budget  for 
financing each of the actions in question. 

4.  In  order to  ensure  as wide  a distribution as 
possible  in  each  Member  State,  and  the 
efficient  monitoring  and  exchange  of 
experience  between  the  projects  and  the 
activities supported, national structures shall 
be  encouraged  to  work  in close  cooperation 
with  the  appropriate  authorities  at  regional 
and local  level  in their respective countries. 
the 
They  may, 
Commission, 
initiatives  aimed  at 
promoting  an  equitable  participation  of  the 
various  establishments  at  national  or 
in  particular  through  the 
regional  level, 
dissemination of information and awareness-
raising activities. 

in  cooperation  with 
take 

5. Distribution formula  for: 
action 1.1 
action 1.2 point  3(c) 
action 2.2 point  3 
(a)  a  minimum  amount  to  be  determined  in 
accordance  with  budgetary  availability  will 
be allocated to each Member State; 

(b)  the  remainder  will  be  allocated  to  the 

'  various Member States on the basis of: 

(i)  the  country's  per  capita  gross  domestic 

product; 

(ii)  the  distance  between  the  Member  State  of 

origin and the host Member State; 

(iii) the country's total number of: 
-  pupils  and  teachers  in  school  education  for 

action 1.1 and action  1.2 point 3(c), 

-students  in  higher  education  for  action  2.2 

-28-

point 3 (students). The number of graduates 
could also be taken into account, 

-  teachers  in  higher  education  for 
action 2.2 point 3 (teachers). 

6.  The arrangements for the allocation of funds 
to  each  Member  State  for  the  support  of 
preparatory visits shall be decided on by the 
Commission,  after  receiving the  opinion of 
the  Committee  in  accordance  with  Article 
7(6) of the Decision. ~ 

V.  DEFINITIONS 

For the purposes of this programme: 
- 

opportunities 

lifelong learning means the education and 
training 
to 
individuals throughout their lives to enable 
them 
their 
knowledge and skills, 

continually 

offered 

update 

to 

-  decision-makers  , includes 

staff  with 
managerial, assessment, training, guidance 
and  inspection  duties  in  the  field  of 
education, persons responsible for this area 
at  local,  regional  and  national  level  and 
within the ministries, 

-  open  and  distance  education  means any 
type  of  education  involving  the  use  of 
traditional  or  advanced  information  and 
communication  technologies and services, 
backed  up  by  individualised  counselling 
and tutoring, 

-  pupil  means  persons  enrolled  in  that 

- 

capacity at a school, 
teacher/educational  staff  means  persons 
who  through  their  duties  are  involved 
directly  in  the  educational  process  in the 
Member  States,  in  accordance  with  the 
organisation  of  their  respective  education 
system, 

-  company  means  all  companies  in  the 
public or private sector whatever their size, 
legal  status  or  the  economic  sector  in 
which  they  operate,  and  all  types  of 
economic  activities,  including  the  social 
economy, 

or 

-  school  means  all  types  of  institutions 
school  education,  whether 
providing 
providing  general  (nursery,  primary  or 
secondary),  vocational 
technical 
education, 
in 
student  means  persons  registered 
universities, whatever their field of study, 
in order to follow higher education studies 
leading to a degree or diploma, up to and 
including the level of doctorate, 
-  "virtual  mobility"  means 

- 

resources,  methods, 
simulations  which  make 

services 

all 

the 
and 
it  possible, 

[...] 

-29-

of 

the 

use 

and 

information 
through 
technologies 
telecommunications 
networks,  to  gain  access  to  information 
available  in  other  places,  exchange  ideas 
and cooperate with geographically  distant 
partners; 

local 

employers' 

employers' 

both  sides  of  industry  at  national  level 
means 
and  workers' 
organisations  in  conformity  with  national 
laws and/or practices; at Community level 
means 
and  workers' 
organisations  taking  part  in  the  social 
dialogue at Community level, 
European  knowledge centre  is the  term 
used  to  denote  a  grouping  together  at 
regional  or 
level  of  actors 
participating in the present programme and 
the  Community  programmes  in the  fields 
of  vocational  training  and  youth,  for  the 
purpose  of  supporting  regional  or  local 
lifelong  learning  policies  in  particular  by 
means  of  disseminating  information  and 
results  and  promoting  active  interaction 
across the three programmes, 
Community terms of reference means all 
the  analyses, 
surveys  and 
studies, 
identification of good practice which make 
it possible to  locate, at Community level, 
the relative position of the various Member 
States and the  progress  made  on  a  given 
subject or in a given area, 
type  of  higher 
university  means  any 
education 
offers 
qualifications  or  diplomas  at  that  level, 
whatever such establishments may be called 
in the Member States. 

institution  which 

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ISSN 0254-1475 

C0M(98) 719  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

16  04  15  01 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-98-713-EN-C 

Office  for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg 

M