1999/51/EC: Council Decision of 21 December 1998 on the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship
Date: 1998-12-21
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: action programme, apprenticeship, vocational training

22. 1. 1999

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 21 December 1998

on the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including
apprenticeship

(1999/51/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

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

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

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

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

(2) Whereas

the Council,

in its Decision 63/
266/EEC (4), adopted the general principles and set
fundamental objectives for imple-
a number of
menting a common vocational
training policy;
whereas by Decision 94/819/EC (5) it adopted the
Leonardo da Vinci programme for the implementa-
tion of a vocational training policy of the European
Community;

(1) OJ C 67, 3. 3. 1998, p. 7.
(2) Opinion delivered on 29 April 1998 (OJ C 214, 10. 7. 1998,

p. 63).

(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 30 April 1998 (OJ C
152, 18. 5. 1998, p. 48), Council Common Position of 29
June 1998 (OJ C 262, 19. 8. 1998, p. 41) and Decision of the
European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (OJ C 359, 23. 11.
1998).

(4) OJ 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63.
(5) OJ L 340, 29. 12. 1994, p. 8.

(3) Whereas the Florence European Council asked the
Commission to make a study of the role of appren-
ticeship in the creation of
the
Commission stressed the importance of apprentice-
ship in its communication ‘Promoting apprentice-
ship training in Europe';

jobs; whereas

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

(5) Whereas the Council resolution of 15 July 1996 (7)
calls on the Member States to promote the trans-
parency of vocational training certificates;

(6) Whereas the conclusions adopted by the Council
on 6 May 1996 on the Commission’s White Paper
‘Teaching and learning: towards the learning soci-
ety' (8) stress the need for cooperation between
schools and the business sector; whereas the 1998
employment guidelines (9), and the 1999 employ-
ment guidelines, ask Member States to improve the
employment prospects for young people by equip-
ping them with skills relevant to market require-
ments; whereas in that context the Council invited
the Member States to set up or develop apprentice-
ship training where appropriate;

(6) OJ C 1, 3. 1. 1980, p. 1.
(7) OJ C 224, 1. 8. 1996, p. 7.
(8) OJ C 195, 6. 7. 1996, p. 1.
(9) OJ C 30, 28. 1. 1998, p. 1.

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

levels of

a

(8) Whereas the Council resolution of 5 December
1994 (1) on the quality and attractiveness of voca-
tional eduction and training stresses the impor-
tance of work-linked training and the need to
encourage periods of vocational training in other
Member States and to integrate those periods into
national vocational training programmes;

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

area; whereas

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

the Commission,

to implement

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

(SMEs) as

regards

(12) Whereas work-linked training, including appren-
ticeship, in micro-enterprises, SMEs and the crafts
sector is an important aid to employability; whereas
their specific requirements in that area should be
taken into account;

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

(14) Whereas the Community Charter of the Funda-
mental Social Rights of Workers acknowledges the
importance of combating all forms of discrimina-
tion, especially those based on sex, colour, race,
opinions and beliefs;

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

(16) Wheres the Commission is required in cooperation
with the Member States, to ensure overall consis-
tency between the implementation of this Decision
and Community programmes and initiatives in the
fields of education, vocational training and youth;

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

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

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

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

coordinated

require

action

(1) OJ C 374, 30. 12. 1994, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 181, 23. 7. 1993, p. 37.

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HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Objectives

This Decision established a document known as the
1.
‘EUROPASS Training' on the basis of the common prin-
ciples defined in Article 3. It is intended as a record at
Community level of the period or periods of training
which a person undergoing work-linked training,
including apprenticeship, has followed in a Member State
other than that in which his/her training is based (known
as ‘European pathway(s)').

The use of this record and participation in a ‘Euro-
2.
pean pathway'
is voluntary and does not impose any
obligations or confer any rights other than those defined
below.

Article 2

Definitions

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

1.

2.

3.

4.

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

in vocational

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

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

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

including apprenticeship,

5.

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

Article 3

Content and common principles

The following conditions shall apply to the EUROPASS
Training:

1. each European pathway shall form part of the training
followed in the Member State of provenance, according
to its own legislation, procedures or practices;

2. the body responsible for organising the training in the
Member State of provenance and the host partner shall
agree within the context of the partnership on the
content, objectives, duration and the practicalities of
the European pathway;

3. the European pathways shall be monitored and super-

vised by a mentor.

Article 4

EUROPASS Training

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

2.

The EUROPASS Training document shall:

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

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

(c)

identify the content of
the European pathway,
providing relevant details of any work experience or
training followed during the pathway and, where
appropriate, the skills acquired and the method of
evaluation used;

(d) indicate the duration of the European pathway or-
ganised by the host partner during the work experi-
ence or training;

(e)

identify the host partner;

(f)

identify the mentor’s function;

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

form an integral part of

Article 5

Consistency and complementarity

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

Article 6

Support measures and accompanying measures

1.
the
The Commission shall be responsible for
production and appropriate dissemination and moni-
toring of the EUROPASS Training in close cooperation
with the Member States. To that end, each Member State
responsible for
shall designate one or more bodies
ensuring implementation at natioanl
in close
level,
cooperation with the social partners and, where appro-
priate, with representative organisations for work-linked
training.

2.

(a)

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

facilitate access
disseminating appropriate information;

to the EUROPASS Training by

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

(c) facilitate equal opportunities, in particular by raising

awareness among all relevant actors.

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

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

Article 7

Financing

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

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

Article 8

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2000.

Article 9

Evaluation

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

including

training,

Article 10

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 December 1998.

For the Council

The President

M. BARTENSTEIN

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ANNEX

‘EUROPASS TRAINING'

Description of the document

The document is in the form of an A5 booklet.

It comprises 12 pages in addition to the cover.

The outside front cover will bear:
— the words ‘EUROPASS Training',
— the logo of the European Community.

Inside front cover:

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

‘This Community record, known as the “EUROPASS Training”, is established in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/51/EC on the implementation of European pathways in work-linked training, including
apprenticeship (OJ L 17, 22. 1. 1999, p. 45). Its purpose (in accordance with Article 1 of the Decision) is to
provide a Community record of the period(s) of training which a person in work-linked training,
including apprenticeship, has completed in a Member State other than the one in which his/her training
is based.

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

(Date and signature)'

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

Particulars of the holder:

— name,
— first name,
— signature.

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

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

European pathway 1

(a) vocational training followed;

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

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

(d) duration of the European pathway;

(e) details of the host partner;

(f) name and function of the mentor;

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

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

European pathway 1

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

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Page 4 (in the language of the holder):

European pathway 1

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

Pages 5, 6 and 7:

European pathway 2 (if appropriate)

Pages 8, 9 and 10:

European pathway 3 (if appropriate)