COMMON POSITION (EC) No 6/1999 adopted by the Council on 21 December 1998 with a view to the adoption of Decision No .../1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of... establishing the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education 'Socrates'
Date: 1998-12-21
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, cultural cooperation, education, international cooperation

C  49/42

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22.2.1999

COMMON  POSITION  (EC)  No  6/1999

adopted  by  the  Council  on  21  December  1998

with  a  view  to  the  adoption  of  Decision  No  . . ./1999/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of
the  Council  of. . .  establishing  the  second  phase  of  the  Community  action  programme  in  the
field  of  education  ‘Socrates’

(1999/C  49/04)

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  Commission (1),

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

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the
Regions (3),

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189b  of  the  Treaty (4),

(1)  Whereas  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community  provides  that  the  latter’s  action  shall
contribute, inter alia, to the development of quality
education  and  training;  whereas  measures  under
this  programme  should  promote  the  European
dimension  of  education  and  contribute  to  the
development  of  quality  education  with  a  view  to
encouraging  life-long  learning;

(2)  Whereas  by  Decision  No  819/95/EC  the  European
the

Parliament  and 
the  Council  established 
Community  action  programme  SOCRATES (5);

(3)  Whereas  the  extraordinary  European  Council  on
Employment  held  in  Luxembourg  on  20  and  21
November 1997 recognised that life-long education
and  training  can  make  an  important  contribution

(1)  OJ  C  314,  31.10.1998,  p.  5.
(2)  OJ  C  410,  30.12.1998,  p.  2.
(3)  Opinion  delivered  on  19  November  1998  (not  yet  published

in  the  Official  Journal).

(4)  Opinion  of  the  European  Parliament  of  5  November  1998
(OJ  C  359,  23.11.1998).  Council  common  position  of  21
December 1998 and Decision of the European Parliament of
. . .  (not  yet  published  in  the  Official  Journal).

(5)  OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 10. Decision as amended by Decision

No  576/98/EC  (OJ  L  77,  14.3.1998,  p.  1).

to  the  Member  States’  employment  policies  in
order  to  enhance  employability,  adaptability  and
the  culture  of  entrepreneurship  and  to  promote
equal  opportunities;

(4)  Whereas, in its communication, ‘Towards a Europe
of  knowledge’,  the  Commission  set  out  guidelines
for the creation of an open and dynamic European
education  area  capable  of  achieving  the  objective
of  life-long  education  and  training;

(5)  Whereas, in its White Paper ‘Teaching and learning
-  Towards  the  learning  society’,  the  Commission
stated  that  the  emergence  of  the  learning  society
entails  encouraging 
the  acquisition  of  new
knowledge and to this end providing motivation to
learn  at  every  opportunity;  and  whereas,  in  its
Green  Paper  ‘Education,  training,  research:  the
the
obstacles 
Commission highlighted the advantages of mobility
for  people  and  competitiveness  in  the  European
Union;

transnational  mobility’, 

to 

(6)  Whereas  the  Commission’s  aim,  in  line  with  the
European  Parliament’s  wish, 
to  attain  a
participation rate of around 10 % of schools under
the  Comenius  action  and  of  around  10 %  of
students 
in  the  mobility  activities  under  the
Ereasmus  action;

is 

(7)  Whereas  there 

is  a  need  to  promote  active
citizenship  and  to  step  up  the  fight  against
exclusion  in  all  its  forms,  including  racism  and
xenophobia;  whereas  special  attention  should  be
focused  on  promoting  equality  and  furthering
equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men;  whereas
special  attention  should  be  given  to  persons  with
special needs;

(8)  Whereas the European Parliament and the Council,
in their Decision No . . ./1999/EC on youth (6), and
the  Council,  in  Decision  No  . . ./1999/EC  on
training (7),  have  established  Community  action

(6)  OJ  . . .
(7)  OJ  . . .

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programmes  for  the  youth  and  training  fields
respectively,  which  contribute,  together  with  the
Socrates  programme,  to  promoting  a  Europe  of
knowledge;

(9)  Whereas  it  is  necessary,  in  order  to  reinforce  the
added  value  of  Community  action,  that  the
Commission,  in  cooperation  with  the  Member
States, should ensure, at all levels, a coherence and
a 
actions
implemented  in  the  framework  of  this  Decision
and 
policies,
instruments  and  actions;

relevant  Community 

complementarity 

between 

other 

the 

(10)  Whereas 

it 

to  provide 

is  necessary 

the
possibility  of  organising  joint  activities  involving
the  Socrates  programme  and  other  Community
programmes  or  actions  that  have  an  educational
dimension, 
and
reinforcing  the  added  value  of  Community  action;

encouraging 

synergies 

thus 

for 

(11)  Whereas 

the  Agreement  on 

the  European
Economic  Area  (EEA  Agreement)  provides  for
greater  cooperation  in  the  field  of  education,
the  European
training  and  youth  between 
Community  and  its  Member  States,  on  the  one
hand,  and  the  countries  of  the  European  Free
Trade  Association  participating  in  the  European
Economic  Area  (EFTA/EEA  countries),  on  the
other;

(12)  Whereas provision should be made to open up this
programme  to  participation  on  the  associated
central  and  eastern  European  countries  (CEECS),
in  accordance  with  the  conditions  established  in
the  Europe  Agreements, 
their  additional
protocols  and  in  the  decisions  of  the  respective
Association  Councils,  of  Cyprus  under  the  same
conditions  as  those  applied  to  the  EFTA/EEA
countries,  funded  by  additional  appropriations  in
accordance  with  the  procedures  to  be  agreed  with
that  country,  as  well  as  of  Malta  and  Turkey,
funded  by  additional  appropriations  in  accordance
with  the  provisions  of  the  Treaty;

in 

(13)  Whereas  this  programme  should  be  regularly
monitored  and  evaluated  in  cooperation  between
the Commission and the Member States in order to
allow 
the
priorities  for  implementing  the  measures;  whereas
external
the 
evaluation 
independent,
impartial bodies;

readjustments,  particularly 

to  be  conducted  by 

include  an 

evaluation 

should 

for 

in 

(14)  Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of
subsidiarity  and  proportionality  as  defined 
in
Article 3b of the Treaty, since the objectives of the
proposed  action  concerning  the  contribution  of

the  need 

multilateral 

European  cooperation  to  quality  education  cannot
be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, inter
for  multilateral
alia,  because  of 
partnerships, 
and
mobility 
Community-wide  exchanges  of  information,  they
can therefore be better achieved by the Community
owing  to  the  transnational  dimension  of  the
Community  actions  and  measures;  whereas  this
Decision  does  not  go  beyond  what  is  necessary  to
achieve  those  objectives;

(15)  Whereas 

improvement  of  the  European  credit
transfer  system  (ECTS)  is  an  effective  means  of
ensuring  that  mobility  fully  attains  its  objectives;
whereas 
the
programme are to be encouraged to make the best
use  of  the  ECTS;

participating 

universities 

in 

(16)  Whereas  this  Decision  lays  down,  for  the  entire
duration of the programme, a financial framework
constituting the principal point of reference, within
the  meaning  of  point  1  of  the  Declaration  by  the
the
European  Parliament, 
Commission  of  6  March  1995 (1), 
the
budgetary  authority,  during  the  annual  budgetary
procedure;

the  Council  and 
for 

(17)  Whereas  an  agreement  was  reached  on  20
December  1994  on  a  modus  vivendi  between  the
European  Parliament, 
the
implementing
Commission 
measures  for  acts  adopted  in  accordance  with  the
procedure 
in  Article  189b  of  the
Treaty (2),

the  Council  and 

laid  down 

concerning 

the 

HAVE  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

Article  1

Establishment  of  the  programme

1. The  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 over the period
starting  on  1  January  2000  and  ending  on  31  December
2006.

3. This programme shall contribute to the promotion of
a  Europe  of  knowledge  through  the  development  of  a
European  area  of  cooperation  in  the  field  of  education
and  training  by  promoting  life-long  learning,  based  on

(1)  OJ  C  102,  4.4.1996,  p.  4.
(2)  OJ  C  102,  4.4.1996,  p.  1.

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formal  and  informal  education,  and  training.  It  shall
support  the  building  up  of  the  knowledge,  skills  and
competences 
likely  to  foster  active  citizenship  and
employability.

Article  3

Community  actions

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

Article  2

Objectives  of  the  programme

In  order  to  contribute  to  the  development  of  quality
education  and  encourage  life-long  learning,  while  fully
respecting  the  responsibility  of  the  Member  States,  the
objectives  of  the  programme  shall  be:

(a)  to strengthen the European dimension in education at
all levels and to facilitate wide transnational access to
educational  resources  in  Europe  while  promoting
equal  opportunities 
fields  of
education;

throughout 

all 

1. The objectives of this programme as set out in Article
2 shall be pursued by means of the following actions, the
operational  content  and  the  application  procedures  of
which  are  described  in  the  Annex:

Action  1 School  education  (Comenius)

Action  2 Higher  education  (Erasmus)

Action  3 Adult 

education 

and  other 

educational

pathways  (Grundtvig)

Action  4 Teaching  and  learning  of  languages  (Lingua)

Action  5 Open  and  distance  learning;  information  and
communication  technologies  in  the  field  of
education  (Minerva)

Action  6 Observation  and  innovation

Action  7 Joint  actions

Action  8 Accompanying measures.

2. These  actions  shall  be  implemented  through  the
following types of measures, in the form of transnational
operations  which  may  combine  several  of  the  measures:

(a)  support  for  the  transnational  mobility  of  people  in

the  field  of  education  in  Europe;

(b) to 

a 

and 

promote 

qualitative
quantitative 
improvement  of  the  knowledge  of  the  languages  of
the  European  Union,  in  particular  those  languages
which  are  less  widely  used  and  less  widely  taught,  so
as  to  lead  to  greater  understanding  and  solidarity
between  the  peoples  of  the  European  Union  and
promote  the  intercultural  dimension  of  education;

(b) support 

information 
use 
communication  technologies  (ICT)  in  education;

the 

for 

of 

and

(c)  support 

for 

transnational
the  development  of 
cooperation  networks  facilitating  the  exchange  of
experience  and  good  practice;

(d) promotion  of  language  skills  and  understanding  of

different  cultures;

(c)  to  promote  cooperation  and  mobility  in  the  field  of

education,  in  particular  by:

—  encouraging 
institutions,

exchanges  between 

educational

(e)  support  for 

innovatory  pilot  projects  based  on
to  develop

transnational  partnerships  designed 
innovation  and  quality  in  education;

(f)  constant 

improvement  of  Community 

reference

material  through  the

—  observation  and  analysis  of  national  education

—  promoting  open  and  distance  learning,

policies,

—  encouraging  improvements  in  the  recognition  of

diplomas  and  periods  of  study,

—  developing  the  exchange  of  information,

and  to  help  remove  the  obstacles  in  this  regard;

(d) to  encourage 

innovation 

in  the  development  of
educational  practices  and  materials  including,  where
appropriate,  the  use  of  new  technologies,  and  to
explore matters of common policy interest in the field
of  education.

—  observation  and  dissemination  of  good  practice

and  innovation,

—  comprehensive  exchange  of  information.

Article  4

Access  to  the  programme

Under 

the  conditions  and  arrangements 

1.
for
implementation specified in the Annex, this programme is
aimed  in  particular  at:

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(a)  pupils,  students  or  other  learners;

(b) staff  directly  involved  in  education;

(c)  all  types  of  educational  institutions  specified  by  each

Member  State;

(d) the  persons  and  bodies  responsible  for  education
systems  and  policies  at  local,  regional  and  national
level  within  the  Member  States.

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

—  local  and  regional  bodies  and  organisations,

—  associations  working 

in  the  field  of  education,
including  students,  pupils,  teachers  and  parents
associations,

—  companies  and  consortia,  trade  organisations  and

chambers  of  commerce  and  industry,

—  social partners,

—  research  centres  and  bodies.

Article  5

Implementation  of  the  programme  and  cooperation  with
the  Member  States

1. The  Commission  shall:

—  ensure  the  implementation  of  the  Community  actions
covered  by  this  programme  in  conformity  with  the
Annex,

—  consult the social partners and relevant associations in
the  field  of  education  at  European  level  and  shall
inform the Committee referred to in Article 7 of their
opinions.

2. The  Member  States  shall:

—  take  the  necessary  steps  to  ensure  the  efficient
running  of  the  programme  at  Member  State  level
involving  all  the  parties  concerned  in  education  in
accordance  with  national  practice,

—  establish an appropriate structure for the coordinated
management 
the
programme’s  actions  at  Member  State  level  (Socrates
national agencies),

implementation 

the 

of 

of 

—  endeavour  to  adopt  such  measures  as  they  deem
legal  and  administrative

appropriate 
to  remove 
obstacles  to  access  to  this  programme,

—  take  steps  to  ensure  that  potential  synergies  with
realised  at

other  Community  programmes  are 
Member  State  level.

3. The  Commission,  in  cooperation  with  the  Member
States,  shall  ensure

—  the  transition  between  those  actions  carried  out
within the framework of the preceding programme in
the  field  of  education  (Socrates,  established  by
Decision No 819/95/EC) and those to be implemented
under  this  programme,

—  the  dissemination  of  the  results  of  the  actions
undertaken  within  the  framework  of  the  preceding
programme in the field of education (Socrates) and of
those  to  be  implemented  under  this  programme,

—  appropriate information, publicity and follow-up with
regard  to  actions  supported  by  this  programme.

Article  6

Joint  actions

As  part  of  the  process  of  building  up  a  Europe  of
knowledge,  the  measures  contained  in  this  programme
may  be  implemented  in  accordance  with  the  procedures
laid  down  in  Article  7  as  joint  actions  with  related
Community  programmes  and  actions,  particularly
Leonardo  da  Vinci  and  Youth,  as  well  as  Community
programmes in the field of research and development and
new  technologies.

Article  7

Committee

1. The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a  committee
composed  of  two  representatives  from  each  Member
State  and  chaired  by 
the
Commission.

representative  of 

the 

be 

by 

shall 

assisted 

committee 

2. The 
two
subcommittees  in  the  areas  of  school  education  and
higher  education.  They  shall  be  composed  of  two
representatives  of  each  Member  State.  The  Commission
shall ensure coordination between the committee and the
subcommittees.  Specific  questions  may  be  referred  to  the
subcommittees  for  final  decision.  The  committee  may
also  establish  working  groups  for  certain  specific  issues
such  as  actions  3  (Grundtvig)  and  action  7  (Joint
Actions).

3. The  Commission  representative  shall  submit  to  the
committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be  taken  on:

(a)  the  annual  plan  of  work,  including  priorities,  themes
joint  actions  and  the  selection  criteria  and

for 
procedures;

(b) the 

support 

financial 

the
Community  (amounts,  duration  and  recipients)  and
the 
the
programme;

implementing 

supplied  by 

guidelines 

general 

to  be 

for 

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(c)  the  annual  budget  and  the  breakdown  of  funds

7. The  committee  shall  draw  up  its  rules  of  procedure.

among  the  different  actions  of  the  programme;

(d) the  breakdown  of  funds  among  the  Member  States
for  the  actions  to  be  managed  on  a  decentralised
basis;

(e)  the  arrangements  for  monitoring  and  evaluating  the
programme  and  for  the  dissemination  and  transfer  of
results;

(f)  Commission proposals for project selection, including

those  under  action  7  (Joint  actions).

4. The  committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  this  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 the committee shall be weighted in the manner set
out  in  that  Article.  The  chairman  shall  not  vote.

8. The  committee  shall  establish  regular  and  structured
cooperation  with  the  committee  set  up  within  the
framework of the ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ action programme
for  the  implementation  of  a  Community  vocational
training  policy  as  well  as  with  the  Committee  set  up
within  the  framework  of  the  Youth  Community  action
programme.

9. To  ensure  the  consistency  of  this  programme  with
other  measures  referred  to  in  Article  9,  the  Commission
shall  keep  the  committee  regularly 
informed  about
Community  initiatives  taken  in  the  fields  of  education,
training  and  youth,  including  cooperation  with  third
countries  and  international  organisations.

Article  8

Funding

5.  (a)  The  Commission  shall  adopt  measures  which

apply immediately.

1. The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of
this  programme  for  the  period  specified  in  Article  1  is
hereby  set  at  EUR  1 550 million.

(b) However,  if  these  measures  are  not  in  accordance
with  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  they  shall  be
communicated  by  the  Commission  of  the  Council
forthwith.  In  that  event,

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

—  the  Commission  shall  defer  application  of  the
measures  which  it  has  decided  for  a  period  of
two  months 
the
communication,

the  date  of 

from 

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

6. The Commission shall consult the committee on other
appropriate  matters  concerning  implementation  of  the
programme.  In  that  event,  the  representative  of  the
Commission 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.

Article  9

Consistency  and  complementarity

in  cooperation  with  the
1. The  Commission  shall, 
Member 
and
ensure  overall 
States, 
complementarity with other relevant Community policies,
instruments and actions, The programme shall contribute
to  achieving  the  aims  of  Community  policy  in  the  areas
of equality, equal opportunities for woman and men and
promotion  of  social  inclusion.

consistency 

The Commission shall ensure an efficient link-up between
this  programme  and  the  programmes  and  actions  in  the
area  of  education  undertaken  within  the  framework  of
the  Community’s  cooperation  with  third  countries  and
the  competent  international  organisations.

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.

In implementing the measures of this programme, the
2.
Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall  have  regard  to
the  priorities  set  out  in  the  employment  guidelines
adopted  by  the  Council,  as  part  of  a  coordinated
employment strategy.

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Article  10

Participation  of  the  EFTA/EEA  countries,  the  associated
central  and  eastern  European  countries  (CEECs),
Cyprus,  Malta  and  Turkey

This  programme  shall  be  open  to  the  participation  of

—  the  EFTA/EEA  countries  in  accordance  with  the

conditions  established  in  the  EEA  Agreement,

in 

—  the associated central and eastern European countries
conditions
accordance  with 
(CEECs) 
in  their
established 
additional  protocols  and  in  the  decisions  of  the
respective  Association  Councils,

in  the  Europe  Agreements, 

the 

—  Cyprus, under the same conditions as those applied to
funded  by  additional
the  EFTA/EEA  countries, 
appropriations  in  accordance  with  procedures  to  be
agreed  with  that  country,

—  Malta 

and  Turkey, 

additional
appropriations  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
the  Treaty.

funded 

by 

Article  11

International  cooperation

Under  this  programme,  and  in  accordance  with  the
procedure  laid  down  in  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5),  the
Commission may cooperate with third countries and with
the  competent  international  organisations,  in  particular
the  Council  of  Europe.

2. This  programme  shall  be  evaluated  regularly  by  the
Commission in cooperation with the Member States. This
evaluation 
relevance,
effectiveness  and  impact  of  actions  implemented  with
regards  to  the  objectives  referred  to  in  Article  2.  It  will
also  look  at  the  impact  of  the  programme  as  a  whole.

to  assess 

intended 

the 

is 

This  evaluation  will  also  examine  the  complementarity
between  action  under  this  programme  and  that  pursued
under  other  relevant  Community  policies,  instruments
and  actions.

In  accordance  with  criteria  established  using 
the
procedure described in Article 7(3), (4) and (5), there will
be  regular 
independent  external  evaluations  of  this
programme.

3. Member States shall submit to the Commission by 31
December  2004  and  30  June  2007,  respectively,  reports
on 
this
the 
programme.

implementation  and 

impact  of 

the 

4. 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  qualitative  and
quantitative  aspects  of  the  implementation  of  this
programme  by  30  June  2005,

—  a  communication  on 

the  continuation  of 

this

programme  by  31  December  2006,

—  an  ex  post  evaluation  report  by  31  December  2007.

Article  13

Entry  into  force

Article  12

Monitoring  and  evaluation

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

1. The  Commission 
this
programme  in  cooperation  with  the  Member  States.  The
results  of  the  monitoring  and  evaluation  process  should
be  utilised  when  implementing  the  programme.

regularly  monitor 

shall 

Done  at  . . .

This  monitoring  shall  include  the  reports  referred  to  in
paragraph  3  and  specific  activities.

For  the  European  Parliament

For  the  Council

The  President

The  President

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I. 

INTRODUCTION  AND  GENERAL  PROVISIONS

ANNEX

1.  The objectives laid down in Article 2 are to be implemented by means of the actions set out in this

Annex  on  the  basis  of  the  Community  measures  described  in  Article  3.

2.  The  provisions  relating  to  the  timetable,  the  conditions  for  the  submission  of  applications  and  the
eligibility and selection criteria are to be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) and
published  regularly  by  the  Commission  in  the  ‘Socrates  guidelines  for  applicants’.  In  addition  calls
for  proposals  will  be  published,  specifying  all  deadlines  for  the  submission  of  proposals.

3.  In the context of activities involving the mobility of persons, adequate linguistic preparation should
be  provided  in  order  to  ensure  that  the  beneficiaries  possess  the  necessary  competence  in  the
language(s)  of  instruction  in  the  host  establishment.  Appropriate  organisational  arrangements
should  be  made  at  the  home  and  host  establishments  in  order  to  ensure  that  maximum  benefit  is
derived  from  the  mobility  activity  in  question.

4.  The  projects  coordinated  by  universities  under  the  various  actions  of  the  programme  should  form

part  of  the  ‘institutional  contract’  of  the  institutions  concerned  provided  for  in  action  2.

5.  Supporting  measures  may  be  taken  to  promote  access  and  participation  by  persons  with  special
educational  needs.  Where  appropriate,  positive  actions  may  be  taken  in  order  to  promote  equal
opportunities  for  women  and  men.  Activities  giving  special  emphasis  to  intercultural  aspects  or  to
promoting  competence  in  other  languages,  in  particular  the  less  widely  used  and  less  taught
languages of the Community, are to be particularly encouraged. The promotion of all types of open
and distance learning, as well as the appropriate use of information and communication technology,
is  to  be  encouraged  across  all  actions  of  the  programme.  Under  all  actions  of  the  programme,
particular  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  dissemination  of  results.

II.  COMMUNITY  ACTIONS

This  Annex  contains  two  main  types  of  actions:

—  the  first  type,  actions  1  to  3,  is  aimed  at  the  three  basic  stages  of  life-long  education  (school,

university,  others),

—  the  second  type,  actions  4  to  8,  concerns  transversal  measures  in  fields  such  as  languages,
information and communication technology (ICT) for educational purposes, including in particular
educational  multimedia  and  the  exchange  of  information,  as  well  as  matters  of  horizontal  interest
such  as  innovation,  the  dissemination  of  results,  joint  actions  and  the  evaluation  of  the
programme.

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ACTION  1 ‘COMENIUS’  —  SCHOOL  EDUCATION

Action  1.1:

School  partnerships

Action  1.2:

Initial  and  in-service  training  of  staff  involved  in  school  education

Action  1.3: Networks  related  to  school  partnerschips  and  the  training  of  staff  involved  in  school

education

ACTION  2:

‘ERASMUS’  —  HIGHER  EDUCATION

Action  2.1: European  inter-university  cooperation

Action  2.2: Mobility  of  students  and  university  teachers

Action  2.3: Thematic  networks

ACTION  3:

‘GRUNDTVIG’  —  ADULT  EDUCATION  AND  OTHER  EDUCATIONAL
PATHWAYS

ACTION  4:

‘LINGUA’  —  TEACHING  AND  LEARNING  OF  LANGUAGES

ACTION  5:

‘MINERVA’  —  OPEN  AND  DISTANCE  LEARNING, 
COMMUNICATION  TECHNOLOGIES  IN  THE  FIELD  OF  EDUCATION

INFORMATION  AND

ACTION  6: OBERSERVATION  AND  INNOVATION

Action  6.1: Oberservation  of  education  systems,  policies  and  innovation

Action  6.2:

Innovatory  initiatives  responding  to  emerging  needs

ACTION  7: JOINT  ACTIONS

ACTION  8: ACCOMPANYING  MEASURES

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ACTION  1:  ‘COMENIUS’  —  SCHOOL  EDUCATION

Comenius  seeks  to  enhance  the  quality  and  reinforce  the  European  dimension  of  school  education,  in
particular  by  encouraging  transnational  cooperation  between  schools  and  contributing  to  improved
professional  development  of  staff  directly  involved  in  the  school  education  sector,  and  to  promote  the
learning  of  languages  and  intercultural  awareness.

Action  1.1:  School  partnerships

1.  The  Community  encourages  the  creation  of  multilateral  partnerschips  between  schools.  Such
partnerschips  may  also  involve  other  appropriate  bodies,  such  as  teacher  training  establishments,
local institutions and authorities, businesses or cultural establishments as well as parents, pupils and
other  relevant  organisations.

2.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  for  the  following:

(a)  projects  which  focus  on  one  or  more  topic  of  common  interest  to  the  participating  schools,

involving:

—  the  participation  of  pupils 

in  project  preparation  and  project  activities, 

including

project-related  mobility  where  appropriate,

—  the  mobility  of  teachers  to  prepare  and  monitor  a  project  or  to  teach  in  another  Member

State,  including  in-company  placements,

—  the  development  of  teaching  material  and  the  exchange  of  good  practice,

(b) projects  aimed  specifically  at  teaching  and  learning  the  official  languages  of  the  Community,
together  with  Irish  (one  of  the  languages  in  which  the  Treaties  establishing  the  European
Communities  are  drawn  up)  and  Lëtzeburgesch  (a  language  spoken  throughout  the  territory  of
Luxembourg).  The  projects  may  be  bilateral,  especially  where  they  target  a  less  widely  used  or
less taught language and should include exchanges of pupils in addition to the activities referred
to  in  point  (a);

(c)  projects  aimed  at  promoting  intercultural  awareness  and  in  particular  those  designed  to  help
combat  racism  and  xenophobia  or  to  address  the  specific  needs  of  the  children  of  migrant
workers,  gypsies  and  travellers  and  occupational  travellers;

(d) projects  addressing  issues  related  to  pupils  with  special  educational  needs,  with  particular

attention  to  the  integration  of  such  pupils  into  mainstream  schooling.

3.  Schools  wishing  to  take  part  in  this  action  shall  submit  a  brief  outline  description  of  the  activities
which  they  plan  to  carry  out  during  the  coming  school  year  within  the  framework  of  this
programme  (‘Comenius  plan’).  The  Comenius  plan  shall  enable  the  Socrates  national  agencies  to
take  into  account  the  overall  development  of  European  activities  of  the  respective  school  when
carrying  out  the  selection  under  this  action.

Action  1.2: 

Initial  and  in-service  training  of  staff  involved  in  school  education

1.  The Community is to support multilateral projects undertaken by establishments and bodies active
in the initial or in-service training of staff directly involved in school education. The participation of
schools and other players involved in the field of education described in Article 4 of the Decision is
to  be  encouraged,  as  is  the  involvement  of  supervisory  bodies  at  regional  and  local  level,  where
appropriate.

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2.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  for  the  following:

Mobility  actions

(a)  Mobility  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  initial  training,  including  practical  training  periods,

language  assistantships  and  in-company  placements;.

(b) mobility  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  in-service  training  and  updating  the  skills  of  school

education  staff;

(c)  mobility of limited duration, including immersion courses, for language teachers, staff retraining
as  language  teachers,  qualified  teachers  intending  soon  to  return  to  employment  as  language
teachers,  and  teaching  staff  of  other  disciplines  required  or  wishing  to  teach  in  a  foreign
language.

Multilateral  cooperation  projects  concerning:

(d) contributions  to  the  development  of  curricula,  courses,  modules  or  teaching  material  in  the

context  of  reinforcing  the  European  dimension  of  school  education;

(e)  training activities and information exchange concerning school management and related services

such  as  guidance  and  counselling;

(f)  education  and  training  activities  and  information  exchange  designed  to  enhance  intercultural
awareness  in  school  education  or  to  promote  the  integration  and  improved  educational
achievement  of  children  of  migrant  workers,  gypsies  and  travellers  and  occupational  travellers;

(g)  activities concerning the training and development of staff involved in the education of pupils at

risk  and  of  pupils  with  special  educational  needs.

Action  1.3:  Networks  related  to  school  partnerschips  and  the  training  of  staff  involved  in  school

education

The Community is to promote the networking of school partnerschips and of projects concerned with
the training of staff involved in school education, supported within actions 1.1 and 1.2 respectively, to
enable  cooperation  to  take  place  on  subjects  of  mutual  interest,  the  dissemination  of  results  and  good
practice  and  discussion  of  qualitative  and  innovatory  aspects  of  school  education.  The  staff  training
networks  are  to  be  developed,  where  appropriate,  inclose  cooperation  with  the  university  ‘thematic
networks’  provided  for  in  the  Erasmus  action.

ACTION  2:  ‘ERASMUS’  —  HIGHER  EDUCATION

Erasmus  seeks  to  enhance  the  quality  and  reinforce  the  European  dimension  of  higher  education,  to
encourage  transnational  cooperation  between  universities,  to  boost  European  mobility  in  the  higher
education  sector  and  to  improve  transparency  and  academic  recognition  of  studies  and  qualifications
throughout  the  Community.

Participating  universities  conclude  ‘institutional  contracts’  with  the  Commission  covering  all  the
Erasmus  activities  approved.  Such  contracts  will  normally  be  of  three  years’  duration  and  will  be
renewable.

Action  2.1:  European  inter-university  cooperation

1.  The  Community  supports  inter-university  cooperation  activities  including  the  development  of
innovative projects, carried out by universities in conjunction with partners in other Member States,
with  the  participation,  where  appropriate,  of  other  players  involved  in  education,  as  described  in
Article  4  of  the  Decision.

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2.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  for  the  following:

(a)  the  organisation  of  mobility  of  students  and  university  teachers;

(b) joint  development  and  implementation  of  curricula,  modules,  intensive  courses  or  other
educational activities, including multidisciplinary activities and the teaching of subjects in other
languages;

(c)  consolidation,  extension  and  further  development  of  the  European  credit  transfer  system

(ECTS),  which  is  designed  to  facilitate  academic  recognition.

Action  2.2:  Mobility  of  students  and  university  teachers

1.  The  Community  supports  transnational  mobility  activities  concerning:

(a)  students,  in  accordance  with  point  2;

(b) university  teachers,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  teaching  assignments  likely  to  enhance  the
European  dimension  or  extend  the  range  of  courses  offered  by  the  universities  concerned.

2.  Students  who,  after  completing  at  least  their  first  year  of  studies,  spend  3  to  12  months  in
another  Member  State  within  the  framework  of  this  action,  will  be  considered  ‘Erasmus
students’,  regardless  whether  they  have  been  awarded  financial  support  in  accordance  with
point 3. Such periods are fully recognised under the inter-university agreements forming part of
in-company  placements  where
the 
appropriate.  The  host  universities  will  not  charge  tuition  fees  to  Erasmus  students.  Students
with  special  needs  will  be  given  particular  attention.

institutional  contracts  and  may 

integrated 

include 

3.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  for:

—  the  mobility  of  students.  As  the  Community’s  contribution  covers  only  part  of  the  cost  of
students’  mobility,  Member  States  are  invited  to  help  provide  the  necessary  funds.  In  this
connection,  grants  or  loans  available  to  students  in  the  Member  State  of  origin  shall
continue  to  be  paid  during  the  period  of  study  in  a  host  Member  State,

—  the  mobility  of  university  teachers,

—  preparatory  measures,  in  accordance  with  section  IV  (B)  (4).

Action  2.3:  Thematic  networks

The  Community  promotes  the  developments  and  consolidation  of  thematic  networks,  each  enabling  a
large  grouping  of  universities  to  cooperate  on  topics  relating  to  one  or  more  disciplines  or  on  other
matters  of  mutual  interest  in  order  to  disseminate  innovation,  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  representatives  of  learned  societies,  professional  associations  and  socio-economic  circles  is  to  be
encouraged.  Special  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  dissemination  of  results.

ACTION  3:  ‘GRUNDTVIG’  —  ADULT  EDUCATION  AND  OTHER  EDUCATIONAL

PATHWAYS

1.  As a complement to action 1 (school education) and action 2 (higher education), Grundtvig seeks to
encourage  the  European  dimension  of  life-long  learning,  to  contribute  —  through  enhanced
transnational  cooperation  —  to  innovation  and  improved  availability,  accessibility  and  quality  of

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other educational pathways, and to promote the learning of languages. The action is thus addressed
to people who, at whatever stage of their life, seek access to knowledge and competences within the
framework  of  formal  or  non-formal  education  or  by  means  of  autonomous  learning,  thereby
increasing their intercultural awareness and employability and enhancing their capacity to progress
in  education  and  play  a  full  and  active  role  in  society.

2.  Community financial assistance may be awarded for transnational projects and initiatives seeking to

promote:

(a)  adults’  individual  demand  for  and  their  participation  in  life-long  learning  activities;

(b) acquisition  or  updating  of  competences  for  persons  lacking  basic  education  and  qualifications;

(c)  the  development,  exchange  and  dissemination  of  innovative  education  approaches  and  good
practice,  including  the  development  and  dissemination  of  modules  and  appropriate  teaching
material;

(d) the  development  of  information  and  support  services  for  adult  learners  and  for  providers  of

adult  education,  including  services  related  to  guidance  and  counselling;

(e)  the  development  of  tools  and  methods  for  the  assessment,  validation  or  certification  of  the
knowledge,  skills  and  competences  acquired  by  adult  learners,  including  by  means  of
experiential  or  autonomous  learning  or  through  non-formal  education;

(f)  improved  competence  in  other  Community  languages  or  enhanced  international  awareness

among  adult  learners  and  those  involved  in  the  provision  of  adult  education;

(g)  the  development  of  initial  or  in-service  training  for  educational  staff  working  in  this  sector;

(h) visits  and  exchanges,  for  persons  including  those  providing  adult  education  or  the  training  of

adult  educators;

(i)  projects  addressing  adult  learners  with  special  educational  needs.

3.  The Community encourages the creation of European networks to strengthen the links between the
various parties involved in this area to enable them to cooperate on a more stable basis on matters
of  common  interest,  and  to  enhance  their  awareness  of  the  European  dimension  of  education.

ACTION  4:  ‘LINGUA’  —  TEACHING  AND  LEARNING  OF  LANGUAGES

1.  The  aim  of  the  Lingua  action  is  to  support  transversal  measures  relating  to  the  learning  of
languages,  with  a  view  to  helping  to  promote  and  maintain  linguistic  diversity  within  the
Community,  to  improve  the  quality  of  language  teaching  and  learning  and  to  facilitate  access  to
life-long  language  learning  opportunities  tailored  to  individual  requirements.  Particular  attention  is
to  be  given  to  intensifying  transnational  contacts  in  the  language  teaching  profession  and  among
those  responsible  for  language  teaching  policies  throughout  the  Community  in  all  educational
sectors.  In  this  way,  Lingua  both  complements  and  enriches  measures  related  to  the  promotion  of
language-learning  under  other  actions  of  this  programme,  in  particular  actions  1,  2  and  3.

2.  In  this  context,  language  teaching  covers  the  teaching  and  learning  as  foreign  languages  of  all  the
official languages of the Community, together with Irish (one of the languages in which the Treaties
establishing  the  European  Communities  are  drawn  up)  and  Lëtzeburgesch  (a  language  spoken
throughout  the  territory  of  Luxembourg).

3.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  to  the  following  transnational  language-learning

projects  and  activities:

(a)  awareness-raising  activities  designed  to  draw  attention  to  the  importance  of  language-learning

and  the  availability  of  language-learning  opportunities;

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(b) activities  seeking  to  promote  and/or  spread  innovations  and  good  practice,  such  as  the  early

learning  of  languages  or  multilingual  comprehension;

(c)  the  development  and  exchange  of  curricula,  production  of  new  teaching  material  and

improvement  of  methods  and  tools  for  the  recognition  of  language  competence;

(d) exchange  of  information  and  transnational  networking  of  resource  centres;

(e)  the development of measures to promote competence in foreign languages as required in specific

situations  and  contexts,  and  in  so  far  as  these  are  not  related  to  specific  professions;

(f)  addressing  issues  related  to  the  teaching  and  learning  of  languages  arising  from  further

enlargement  of  the  Community.

ACTION  5:  ‘MINERVA’  —  OPEN  AND  DISTANCE  LEARNING, 

INFORMATION  AND

COMMUNICATION  TECHNOLOGIES  IN  THE  FIELD  OF  EDUCATION

1.  The  aim  of  this  action  is  to  support  transversal  measures  relating  to  open  and  distance  learning
(ODL) and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), including multimedia, in
the  field  of  education.  In  so  doing,  it  complements  and  enriches  the  corresponding  measures
provided  for  within  the  other  actions  of  this  programme.

These  measures  serve  a  triple  purpose:

—  to promote improved understanding among teachers, learners, educational decision-makers and
the  public  at  large  of  the  implications  of  ODL  and,  in  particular  ICT  for  education,  and  the
critical,  responsible  use  of  tools  and  methods  which  utilise  such  technologies  for  education
purposes,

—  to  support  awareness  of  the  need  to  ensure  that  pedagogical  considerations  are  given  proper

weight  in  the  development  of  ICT-based  educational  products,  notably  multimedia,  and

—  to  promote  access  to  improved  methods  and  educational  resources  and  to  results  achieved,  in

particular  through  transnational  exchange  of  information,  experience  and  good  practice.

2.  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  for  the  following:

(a)  projects and studies aimed at helping those involved in education to understand and exploit the
innovative  processes  under  way,  in  particular  those  relating  to  the  use  of  ICT  in  teaching  and
learning,  the  development  of  innovative  instruments  and  approaches,  and  methods  for
establishing  criteria  for  quality  assessment  of  ICT-based  educational  products  and  services;

(b) projects  to  develop  and  test  new  methods,  modules  and  resources  for  ODL  and  ICT;

(c)  projects for the development and interconnection of services and systems providing information
for  teachers,  decision-makers  and  other  actors  involved  in  education  and  educational  methods
and  resources  which  utilise  ODL  and  ICT;

(d) activities to support the exchange of ideas and experience relating to ODL and the use of ICT in
education, in particular the networking of resource centres, teacher training institutions, experts,
decision-makers  and  project  coordinators  on  subjects  of  common  interest.

ACTION  6:  OBSERVATION  AND  INNOVATION

This action contributes to improving the quality and transparency of education systems and furthering
the  process  of  educational  innovation  in  Europe  through  the  exchange  of  information  and  experience,

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the  identification  of  good  practice,  the  comparative  analysis  of  systems  and  policies  in  this  field,  and
the  discussion  and  analysis  of  matters  of  common  educational  policy  interest  to  be  determined  by  the
Council.

Action  6.1:  Observation  of  education  systems,  policies  and  innovation

1.  Making  optimal  use  of  existing  structures  wherever  possible,  this  action  consists  of  the  following:

(a)  collection  of  descriptive  and  statistical  data,  and  comparative  analysis  of  educational  systems

and  policies  in  the  Member  States;

(b) development  of  methods  for  evaluating  the  quality  of  education,  including  the  development  of

appropriate  criteria  and  indicators;

(c)  development  and  updating  of  databases  and  other  information  resources  on  innovatory

experiments;

(d) dissemination  of  experience  resulting  from  relevant  activities  supported  at  Community  and

Member  State  level;

(e)  facilitation  of  the  recognition  of  diplomas,  qualifications  and  periods  of  learning  at  all

educational  levels  in  other  Member  States.

2.  To  this  end,  Community  financial  assistance  may  be  awarded  for:

(a)  the  information  network  on  education  in  Europe,  ‘Eurydice’  comprising  the  European  unit  set
up  by  the  Commission  and  units  set  up  by  the  Member  States  to  enable  it  to  make  a  full
contribution to the implementation of this action. The network will in particular be called upon
to collect and exchange information on education systems and policies, to develop data bases, to
produce  comparative  studies  and  to  draw  up  indicators.  Eurydice  will  seek,  when  necessary,
relevant  support  from  external  experts;

(b) the organisation of and participation in ‘Arion’ multilateral study visits for decision-makers and
senior  managers  of  educational  institutions  in  any  sector  of  education,  designed  to  facilitate
exchanges  of  information  and  experience  on  subjects  of  mutual  interest  to  the  Member  States.
The Commission and Member States will ensure appropriate dissemination of the results of the
visits  and  promote  their  interactivity  with  other  actions  within  this  programme;

(c)  networking  of  institutes  and  other  appropriately  qualified  bodies  engaged  in  analysing
educational  systems  and  policies,  as  well  as  of  the  bodies  involved  in  the  evaluation  of
educational quality;

(d) studies,  analyses,  pilot  projects,  seminars,  exchanges  of  experts  and  other  appropriate  actions
relating to matters of common educational policy interest bringing together decision-makers on
the  priority  themes  to  be  determined  by  the  Council.  The  Commission  may  call  upon  the
services of a group of experts to assist it in ensuring the reliability of the analytical work carried
out  within  the  framework  of  these  activities.  The  arrangements  for  establishing  the  group  will
be  determined  in  accordance  with  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision;

(e)  activities  designed  to  promote  the  recognition  of  diplomas,  qualifications  and  periods  of
learning,  notably  studies,  analyses,  pilot  projects  and  the  exchange  of  information  and
experience.  The  Community  network  of  national  academic  recognition  information  centres
(NARIC)  will  make  a  full  contribution  in  this  regard.  In  particular,  it  will  collect  and
disseminate  authenticated  information  which  is  necessary  for  the  purpose  of  academic
recognition,  also  bearing  in  mind  synergies  with  the  professional  recognition  of  diplomas.

3.  In  implementing  this  action,  close  cooperation  will  be  ensured  in  particular  with  the  Statistical
Office  of  the  European  Communities  (Eurostat),  the  European  Centre  for  the  Development  of
Vocational  Training  (Cedefop),  the  European  Training  Foundation  (ETF)  and  appropriate
international  organisations,  notably  the  Council  of  Europe,  the  Organisation  for  Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO).

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Action  6.2: 

Innovatory  initiatives  responding  to  emerging  needs

In  addition  to  the  cooperation  activities  provided  for  in  the  other  actions  of  the  present  programme,
the  Community  may  support  transnational  projects  and  studies  aimed  at  helping  to  develop
innovations  in  one  or  more  specific  sectors  of  education.  The  subjects  to  be  given  priority  are  to  be
determined by the Council and reviewed regularly to enable adaptation to the new requirements which
emerge  during  the  period  covered  by  this  programme.

ACTION  7:  JOINT  ACTIONS

1.  In  accordance  with  Article  6  of  the  Decision,  Community  support  may  be  provided  within  the
framework  of  this  programme  for  joint  actions  with  other  Community  programmes  and  actions
promoting  a  Europe  of  knowledge,  in  particular  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  and  Youth  programmes.

2.  Such  joint  actions  may  be  carried  out  by  common  calls  for  proposals  on  selected  themes  of
common  interest  which  are  not  exclusively  covered  by  any  single  programme  concerned,  to  be
determined  in  accordance  with  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision  and  agreed  with  the
committees  of  the  other  programmes  and  actions  involved.

3.  Appropriate steps will be taken to promote regional and local contact and interaction between the
players  taking  part  in  this  programme  and  in  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  and  Youth  programmes.

ACTION  8:  ACCOMPANYING  MEASURES

1.  Community financial assistance may be awarded to the following initiatives aimed at promoting the
objectives  of  this  programme,  provided  that  such  initiatives  are  not  eligible  for  assistance  under
other  actions  of  the  programme:

(a)  awareness-raising  activities  to  promote  cooperation  in  the  field  of  education,  including  support
for  appropriate  competitions  and  other  events  designed  to  enhance  the  European  dimension  of
education;

(b) transnational activities carried out by associations and other non-governmental bodies active in
the  field  of  education,  as  well  as  bodies  concerned  with  educational  guidance  and  counselling;

(c)  conferences  and  symposia  on  innovations  in  the  sectors  targeted  by  the  programme;

(d) activities  aimed  at  training  persons  involved  in  the  management  of  European  cooperation

projects  in  the  field  of  education;

(e)  measures  to  optimise  and  disseminate  the  results  of  projects  and  activities  carried  out  with  the

support  of  this  programme  or  its  previous  phase;

(f)  activities  involving  cooperations  with  third  countries  and  with  the  competent  international
organisations,  in  particular  the  Council  of  Europe,  in  accordance  with  Article  1  of  the
Decision.

2.  Community  financial  assistance  will  be  provided  to  support  the  activities  of  the  Socrates  national
agencies  set  up  by  the  Member  States  in  accordance  with  Article  5  of  this  decision,  and  to  ensure
the  effective  monitoring  and  evaluation  of  this  programme.

3.  In  carrying  out  the  programme,  the  Commission  may  have  recourse  to  experts  and  to  technical
assistance  organisations,  the  financing  of  which  may  be  provided  for  within  the  overall  financial
framework  for  the  programme.  Furthermore,  the  Commission  may  organise  such  seminars,
colloquia  or  other  meetings  of  experts  as  are  likely  to  facilitate  the  implementation  of  the
programme,  and  undertake  appropriate  information,  publication  and  dissemination  actions.

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III.  SELECTION  PROCEDURES

Procedures  for  the  proposal  and  selection  of  the  activities  referred  to  in  this  Annex  are  as  follows:

1.  Decentralised actions

The  following  actions,  under  which  the  selection  decisions  are  taken  by  the  Member  States,  are  to
be  considered  ‘decentralised’:

(a)  —  action  1.1  (school  partnerships),

—  action  1.2,  point  2(a),  (b),  (c)  (mobility  actions  within  training  partnerschips  for  school

educational  staff),

—  action  3,  point  2(h)  (visits  and  exchanges  in  adult  education),

—  action  6.1,  point  2(b)  (Arion  study  visits),

—  preparatory  visits  under  all  actions.

Requests  for  financial  assistance  submitted  under  these  actions  are  to  be  submitted  to  the
Socrates national agencies designated by the Member States in accordance with Article 5 of the
Decision.  The  Member  States,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Socrates  national  agencies,  will  carry
out  the  selection  and  allocate  financial  assistance  to  the  applicants  selected  in  accordance  with
general  guidelines  to  be  established  under  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision;

(b) action  2.2,  point  3  (mobility  of  students  and  university  teachers).

The  awarding  of  the  financial  assistance  to  students  and  university  teachers  for  mobility
assignments  within  the  institutional  contracts  mentioned  in  action  2.1  and  for  the  organisation
of  the  mobility  of  students  and  university  teachers  will  be  carried  out  by  Member  States  with
the assistance of the Socrates national agencies designated pursuant to Article 5 of the Decision,
taking  into  account  the  past  performance  of  the  universities  concerned,  in  accordance  with
general  guidelines  to  be  established  under  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision.

2.  Centralised  actions

The following actions, under which the selection decisions are taken by the Commission, are to be
considered ‘centralised’:

(a)  —  action  1.2,  point  2(d),  (e)  (f),  (g)  (multilateral  cooperation  activities),

—  action  3,  point  2(a)  to  (g),  point  2(i)  (multilateral  cooperation  activities),

—  action  4  (Lingua),

—  action  5  (Minerva),

—  action  6.2  (innovatory  initiatives).

For  the  selection  of  projects  under  these  actions,  the  following  procedure  will  apply:

(i)  project coordinators will submit a project proposal to the Commission and send a copy to

the  Socrates  national  agency  designated  by  the  respective  Member  State;

(ii)  the  Commission,  with  the  assistance  of  independent  experts  will  assess  the  project
proposals.  National  agencies  may  provide  the  Commission  with  their  assessment  of  these
proposals;

(iii)  in  cases  where  the  Commission’s  assessment  is  at  variance  with  the  assessment  received
from  the  national  agency  in  the  coordinating  country  concerning  the  quality  or
appropriateness  of  the  project,  the  Commission  shall  consult  with  the  Member  State
concerned;

(iv)  the Commission will submit to the committee a proposal on the final selection (projects to
be  supported  and  amounts  to  be  awarded)  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  set  out  in
Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision;

(v)  after  receiving  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  the  Commission  will  establish  the  list  of

selected  projects  and  allocate  the  amounts  to  be  awarded.

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In  certain  cases,  owing  in  particular  to  the  scale  and  nature  of  the  activities  in  question,  a
two-phase  procedure  may  be  adopted.  In  such  cases,  the  procedure  set  out  above  is  preceded
by  the  submission  and  selection  of  pre-proposals.  The  decision  in  this  regard  and  the
arrangements for the pre-selection will be determined in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and
(5)  of  the  Decision;

(b) —  action  1.3  (networks  related  to  school  partnerships  and  the  training  of  staff  involved  in

school  education),

—  action  2.1  (European  inter-university  cooperation),

—  action  2.3  (Erasmus  thematic  networks),

—  action  3.3  (networks  in  adult  education),

—  action  6.1,  point  2(a),  (c),  (d),  (e)  (observation),

—  action  8  (accompanying  measures).

Project  proposals  under  these  actions  will  be  submitted  to  the  Commission.  The  Commission,  in
the  case  of  actions  1.3,  2.3,  and  3.3,  with  the  assistance  of  independent  experts  will  assess  the
project  proposals.  Decisions  on  the  project  proposals  will  be  taken  by  the  Commission  after
receiving  the  opinion  of  the  committee  in  accordance  with  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the
Decision.

The  two-phase  procedure  referred  to  in  the  final  paragraph  of  section  III(2)(a)  will  apply  to
actions  1.3,  2.3  and  3.3  under  the  same  conditions  as  set  out  in  that  paragraph.

3.  Joint  actions

Procedures  for  selection  under  action  7  of  the  programme  (joint  actions)  will  be  determined  in
accordance  with  Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision.  Where  appropriate,  the  procedures  set
out  above  may  be  adapted  in  order  to  meet  the  special  requirements  of  the  joint  actions  in
question.  The  Commission  will  make  every  effort  to  ensure  optimal  coordination  between  these
procedures and those adopted within the other Community programmes or actions with which the
joint  actions  in  question  are  implemented.

4.  The  Commission,  assisted  by  the  Member  States,  will  endeavour  to  ensure  that  the  selection
decisions  are  made  known  to  applicants  at  the  latest  five  months  after  the  closing  date  for
submission  of  applications  under  the  action  in  question.  For  projects  selected  in  accordance  with
the  two-phase  procedure  provided  for  under  point  2(a)  and  (b),  this  will  only  refer  to  the  second
stage  of  the  selection  (full  project  proposal).

5.  The  Commission  and,  in  the  case  of  decentralised  actions,  the  Member  States  will  seek  to  ensure
optimal  coordination  between  the  procedures  and  deadlines  for  submitting  and  selecting
applications  for  support  within  this  programme  and  the  Community  programmes  in  the  fields  of
vocational  training  and  youth  respectively.

IV.  FINANCIAL  PROVISIONS

A.  Decentralised actions

1.  The  Community  funds  intended  to  provide  financial  support  under  the  actions  identified  as
decentralised  in  Section  III,  point  1,  are  to  be  allocated  among  the  Member  States  in
accordance  with  the  following  formulas:

(a)  a  minimum  amount  to  be  determined  in  accordance  with  budgetary  availability  for  the

action  concerned  will  be  allocated  to  each  Member  State;

(b) the  remainder  will  be  allocated  to  the  various  Member  States  on  the  basis  of:

(i) 

the  difference  in  the  cost  of  living  between  the  Member  State  of  origin  and  the  host
Member  State;

(ii)  the  distance  and  cost  of  travel  between  the  Member  State  of  origin  and  the  host
Member  State  to  be  calculated  taking  into  account  the  lowest  travel  price  for  the
journey  concerned;

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(iii)  the  country’s  total  number  of:

—  pupils  and  teachers  in  school  education  for  action  1.1  (school  partnerships)  and
action  1.2,  point  2(a),  (b),  (c)  (mobility  actions  within  training  partnerschips  for
school  education  staff),

—  students  in  higher  education  for  action  2.2,  point  3  (mobility  of  students).  The
number  of  graduates  should  be  limited  in  its  scope  as  a  subsidiary  and
complementary  factor  to  be  determined  in  accordance  with  Article  7(3),  (4)  and
(5)  to  qualify,  where  appropriate,  the  allocation  tot  the  Member  States,

—  university  teachers  for  action  2.2,  point  3  (mobility  of  university  teachers).

2.  The Community funds thus distributed are to be administered by the Member States with the

assistance  of  the  Socrates  national  agencies  provided  for  in  Article  5  of  the  Decision.

3.  The  Commission,  acting  in  cooperation  with  the  Member  States,  will  take  the  necessary
measures to encourage balanced participation at Community, national and, where appropriate,
regional  level,  and,  in  the  case  of  higher  education,  across  the  various  fields  of  study.  The
proportion  allocated  to  these  measures  must  not  exceed  5 %  of  the  annual  budget  for
financing  each  of  the  actions  in  question.

4.  The  arrangements  for  the  allocation  of  funds  to  each  Member  State  for  the  mobility  activities
provided  for  in  action  3,  point  2(h)  (adult  education  visits  and  exchanges)  and  6.1,  point  2,
second indent (Arion), for the organisation of the mobility of students and university teachers
in  accordance  with  section  III(1)(b),  for  the  support  of  preparatory  visits  and  for  the
preparatory  measures  referred  to  in  section  IV(B)(4)  will  be  decided  upon  by  the  Commission
after receiving the opinion of the committee in accordance with Article 7(3), (4) and (5) of the
Decision.

B.  Other  provisions

1.  Having  due  regard  to  the  quality  and  quantity  of  applications  for  financial  support,  the
following  guidelines  will  be  taken  into  account  when  allocating  resources  in  accordance  with
Article  7(3),  (4)  and  (5)  of  the  Decision:

(a)  the resources to be committed under action 1 (Comenius) will not be less than 27 % of the

total  budget  available  for  this  programme;

(b) the resources to be committed under action 2 (Erasmus) will not be less than 51 %  of  the

total  budget  available  for  this  programme;

(c)  the resources to be committed under action 3 (Grundtvig) will not be less than 7 % of the

total  budget  available  for  this  programme;

(d) the  resources  to  be  committed  for  financial  assistance  for  the  Socrates  national  agencies
under action 8.2 and for technical assistance under action 8.3 will not exceed 4,5 % of the
total  annual  budget  available  for  this  programme.

The above percentages are indicative and may be adapted in accordance with Article 7(3), (4)
and  (5)  of  the  Decision.

2.  As a general rule, Community financial assistance granted for projects under this programme is
intended  partially  to  offset  the  estimated  cost  necessary  to  carry  out  the  activities  concerned
and  may  cover  a  maximum  period  of  three  years,  subject  to  a  periodic  review  of  progress
achieved. The Community contribution will not normally exceed 75 % of the total cost of any
specific  project,  except  in  the  case  of  accompanying  measures.  Assistance  may  be  granted  in
advance  to  enable  preparatory  visits  to  take  place  in  respect  of  the  projects  in  question.

The  amount  to  be  made  available  in  the  annual  budget  of  the  programme  for  activities  under
action  8.1(f)  shall  not  exceed  EUR  250 000.

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3.  The  specific  situation  of  persons  with  special  needs  will  be  taken  into  account  when

determining  the  amount  of  Community  financial  assistance  to  be  awarded.

4.  With  regard  to  activities  involving  the  mobility  of  persons,  Community  financial  assistance
may  be  awarded  to  help  ensure  adequate  preparation  for  the  period  to  be  spent  in  another
Member  State.  Such  preparatory  measures  may  include  in  particular  language  courses,
information  on  social  and  cultural  aspects  of  the  host  Member  State,  etc.

V.  DEFINITIONS

For  the  purposes  of  this  Decision:

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

‘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;

‘decision-makers’ means any category of staff with managerial, assessment, training, guidance and
inspection  duties  in  the  field  of  education  and  persons  responsible  for  this  area  at  local,  regional
and  national  level  and  within  ministries;

‘guidance and counselling’ means a range of activities such as information, assessment, orientation
and  advice  to  assist  learners  to  make  choices  relating  to  education  and  training  programmes  or
employment  opportunities;

‘life-long  learning’  means  the  education  and  training  opportunities  offered  to  individuals
throughout  their  lives  to  enable  them  continually  to  acquire,  update  and  adapt  their  knowledge,
skills  and  competence;

‘open  and  distance  learning’  means  any  form  of  flexible  education,  whether  or  not  involving  the
use  of  information  and  communication  technologies;

‘project’  means  transnational  cooperation  activity  developed  jointly  by  a  formal  or  informal
grouping  of  organisations  or  institutions;

7. 

‘pupil’  means  persons  enrolled  in  that  capacity  at  a  ‘school’  as  defined  in  this  Annex;

8. 

9. 

‘resource  centre’  means  a  body  engaged  in  the  production,  collection  or  dissemination  of
documentation,  materials  or  methodologies  relating  to  a  sector  of  activity  addressed  by  this
programme,  such  as  languages  or  information  and  communication  technologies  related  to
education;

‘school’  means  all  types  of  institutions  providing  general  (nursery,  primary  or  secondary),
vocational or technical education and, exceptionally, in the case of measures to promote language
learning,  non-school  institutions  providing  apprenticeship  training;

10.  ‘social  partners’  means,  at  national  level,  employers’  and  workers’  organisations  in  conformity
with  national  laws  and/or  practices  and,  at  Community  level,  employers’  and  workers’
organisations  taking  part  in  social  dialogue  at  Community  level;

11.  ‘student’ means persons registered in ‘universities’ as defined by this Annex, 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;

12.  ‘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;

13.  ‘university’  means  any  type  of  higher  education  institution,  according  to  national  legislation  or
practice,  which  offers  qualifications  or  diplomas  at  that  level,  whatever  such  establishments  may
be  called  in  the  Member  States;

14.  ‘university teacher’ means any category of personnel employed in that capacity at a ‘university’ as

defined  in  this  Annex.

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STATEMENT  OF  THE  COUNCIL’S  REASONS

I. 

INTRODUCTION

1.  On 28 August 1998 the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and to the
Council  a  proposal  for  a  decision,  based  on  Articles  126  and  127  of  the  EC  Treaty,
establishing  the  second  phase  of  the  Community  action  programme  in  the  field  of
education  (Socrates).

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

opinions  on  15  October  1998  and  19  November  1998  respectively.

3.  The  European  Parliament  delivered  its  opinion  on  5  November  1998.

4.  In  the  light  of  the  European  Parliament’s  opinion,  the  Commission  submitted  an

amended  proposal  for  a  Decision  on  3  December  1998.

5.  On  21  December  1998,  the  Council  adopted  its  common  position  in  accordance  with

Article  189b  of  the  EC  Treaty.

II.  AIM  OF  THE  PROPOSAL

The proposal aims at contributing to a ‘Europe of knowledge’ through the development of
a  European  area  of  cooperation  in  the  field  of  education  and  training  by  promoting
life-long  learning,  based  on  formal  and  informal  education  and  training,  as  well  as
supporting the building up of the knowledge, skills and competences likely to foster active
citizenship and employability.

1.  GENERAL  COMMENTS

In  its  common  position  the  Council  has  approved  the  essence  of  the  Commission
proposal  while  making  some  amendments  which  it  thought  desirable.

2.  SPECIFIC  COMMENTS

2.1.  Amendments  made  by  the  Council  to  the  Commission  proposal

2.1.1.  Duration  of  the  programme

As  far  as  duration  is  concerned,  the  Council  has  opted  for  a  seven-year
programme.  Not  only  would  this  coincide  with  the  proposed  timespan  of  the
next  phase  of  the  financial  perspective,  but  it  would  also  allow  a  greater
possibility  of  following  through  projects  and  of  evaluation.

2.1.2.  Funding  (Article  8)

The  Council  was  of  the  opinion  that  a  financial  framework  of  MEUR  1550
would  enable  the  programme  to  reach  its  objectives  over  a  seven-year  period,
including  the  expansion  of  activity  to  new  sectors,  while  reconciling  this  wish
with the Council’s duty to contribute to a fair distribution of available resources
in  a  context  of  budgetary  restraint.

2.1.3.  Breakdown  of  funds  between  actions  (Annex,  Section  IV)

The  Council  decided  that  the  resources  to  be  committed  under  action  1
(Comenius),  action  2  (Erasmus)  and  action  3  (Grundtvig)  should  not  be  less

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than  27 %,  51 %  and  7 %  respectively  of  the  overall  budget  available  for  the
programme,  and  that  the  resources  to  be  committed  for  financial  assistance  to
national  agencies  under  action  8(2)  and  for  technical  assistance  under  action
8(3)  should  not  be  more  than  4,5 %  of  the  annual  programme  budget.

2.1.4.  Committee  procedures  (Article  7)

The  Council  has  maintained  a  committee  procedure  whereby  the  powers  of  the
committee would be exercised, depending on the subject matter, under either the
management  or  the  advisory  committee  procedure.  However,  in  view  of  the
scope  and  complexity  of  many  of  the  activities  undertaken  within  the
framework of this programme, the Council was of the view that the IIB variant
was  more  appropriate  for  the  management  committee  procedure.

Provision  has  also  been  made  for  the  possibility  of  establishing  working  groups
for  certain  specific  issues.  The  draft  measures  to  be  laid  before  the  committee
under  the  management  committee  procedure  have  also  been  more  clearly
indicated.

It  has  also  been  specified  that  consideration  of  Commission  proposals  for
project  selection  concerning  joint  actions  is  to  be  provided  for  within  the
management  committee  procedure.

2.1.5.  Selection  procedures  (Annex,  section  III)

The Council has welcomed the reduction in the number of selection procedures.
However,  it  was  considered  necessary  to  distinguish  two  procedural  variants
within  the  category  of  centralised  actions,  as  well  as  to  provide  for  the
possibility of a two-phase procedure in those cases where the scale and nature of
the  activities  in  question  justified  it.

2.1.5.  Other  questions

—  establishment  of  the  programme  (Article  1)

In the light of the provisions of Articles 126 and 127 of the Treaty, the term
‘European  area  of  cooperation  in  the  field  of  education  and  training’  has
been  preferred  to  ‘European  education  area’,

—  objectives  of  the  programme  (Article  2)

The  Council  believed  that  it  was  important  to  highlight  mobility  as  an
objective  of  the  programme,

—  ‘Comenius  plan’  (action  1.1.3)

These  plans  apply  to  those  schools  participating  in  the  Comenius  action
(initially  under  action  1.1.2  as  a  ‘plan  for  inter-school  cooperation  in
Europe’).  The  Council  has  sought  to  ensure  that  they  are  unbureaucratic,
and  not  a  burden  on  the  schools  concerned,

—  action  3  (Grundtvig)

In  the  interest  of  greater  clarity  the  original  two  sub-actions  have  been
merged into one, covering all aspects of the European dimension in life-long
learning,

—  action  4  (Lingua),  action  5  (‘Minerva’:  open  and  distance  learning,
information  and  communication  technologies  in  the  field  of  education),  and
action  6  (observation  and  innovation)

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The  scope  and  content  of  these  actions  have  been  clarified,

—  ‘Arion’  study  visits  (action  6.1.2(b))

The  Council  considered  that  this  action  should  become  decentralised.

2.2.  European  Parliament  amendments

2.2.1.  Parliament  amendments  adopted  by  the  Commission

The  Commission  adopted  in  full,  in  part  or  in  essence  34  of  the  54  Parliament
amendments.

2.2.2.  Parliament  amendments  adopted  by  the  Council.

The  Council  adopted  in  full,  in  part  or  in  essence  25  of  the  amendments
proposed  by  the  Parliament  and  adopted  by  the  Commission.  Those
amendments  are  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  10,  11,  13,  20,  22,  23,  25,  27,  29,  31,  32,
33,  35,  36,  38,  39,  41  and  56.

2.2.3.  Parliament  amendments  not  adopted  by  the  Council

Apart  from  the  amendments  not  adopted  by  the  Commission,  on  which  it  was
not  possible  for  the  Council  to  reach  the  requisite  unanimity,  the  Council  did
not  accept  the  following  amendments  for  the  reasons  stated:

—  Amendment  12

O b s t a c l e s   t o   a c c e s s   t o   t h e   p r o g r a m m e

The  Council  considered  that  the  reference  to  social  security  and  health  care
regarding the obstacles to mobility in Article 5 paragraph 4 did not take due
account  of  the  principle  of  subsidiarity  and  that  it  would  be  undesirable  to
mention  these  two  areas  explicitly,  to  the  exclusion  of  others,

—  Amendment  21

T r a n s f e r   a n d   d i s s e m i n a t i o n   o f   i n n o v a t o r y   a p p r o a c h e s   a n d
m e t h o d s   t h r o u g h   t h e   s t r u c t u r a l   f u n d s   (Article  9(3))

The  Council  believed  that  it  was  inappropriate  to  enter  into  this  degree  of
specificity  concerning  future  Community  instruments,

—  Amendment  30

S c h o o l   p a r t n e r s h i p s   ( a c t i o n   1 :   C o m e n i u s )

The  Council  did  not  accept  the  reference  to  the  implementation  of
educational projects with a European dimension, this being already a general
criterion  in  the  introduction  to  the  action,  nor  could  it  accept  the  reference
to  ‘neighbouring  languages’  as  this  concept  was  insufficiently  well  defined,

—  Amendment  34

C r i t e r i o n   o f   f i n a n c i a l   n e e d   o f   a p p l i c a n t s   ( a c t i o n   2 . 2 :   m o b i l i t y
o f   s t u d e n t s   a n d   t e a c h e r s )

The  Council  considered  that  the  addition  of  this  criterion  in  the  Decision
was  not  necessary,  but  noted  the  Commission’s  intention  of  continuing  to
ensure  that  this  was  taken  into  account  in  the  implementation  of  the
programme,

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—  Amendment  37

G r u n d t v i g :   a d u l t   e d u c a t i o n   ( a c t i o n   3 . 2 )

The  Council  found  that  the  concept  of  ‘participation  in  democratic  culture’
was  unclear.  The  existing  reference  to  enhancing  the  capacity  of  people  to
‘play  a  full  and  active  role  in  society’  was  considered  sufficient,

—  Amendment  42

M i n e r v a   ( a c t i o n   5 )

The  Council  believed  that  the  ‘establishment  of  a  multilingual  European
school  television’  would  not  be  appropriate 
in  the  context  of  this
programme,  and  beyond  its  budgetary  means,

—  Amendment  44

J o i n t   a c t i o n s   ( a c t i o n   7 )

The Council has opted not to refer to the setting up of ‘European knowledge
centres’  since  this  might  create  the  impression  that  the  creation  of  new
structures  was  envisaged.  Instead,  the  Council  preferred  a  more  general
reference  to  the  promotion  of  ‘regional  and  local  contact  and  interaction
between  the  players  involved  in  this  programme  and  in  the  Leonardo  da
Vinci  and  Youth  programmes’

—  Amendment  46

F a c i l i t a t i o n   o f   a c c e s s  
p r o c e d u r e s :   i n t r o d u c t i o n )

t o   p r o j e c t s  

( A n n e x  

I I I :  

s e l e c t i o n

This  addition  to  the  introduction  to  section  III  of  the  Annex  on  selection
procedures was not considered appropriate by the Council, since it was held
to  be  self-evident,

—  Amendment  58

A c c o m p a n y i n g   m e a s u r e s   ( a c t i o n   8 )

The  amendment  concerning  the  transfer  of  the  Ortelius  data  bank  from
action  8  to  action  6  was  not  accepted,  since  the  Council  considered  that  a
specific  reference  to  this  data  bank  was  unnecessary  and  inappropriate  in
either  action.

III.  CONCLUSIONS

The  Council  considers  that  its  common  position  constitutes  a  balanced  text,  reflecting  the
need  to  develop  efforts  in  the  field  of  educational  cooperation  at  Community  level.

The text maintains the positive achievements of the past and, through innovative measures,
opens  up  the  way  ahead  for  the  fresh  challenges  of  the  future.