1999/382/EC: Council Decision of 26 April 1999 establishing the second phase of the Community vocational training action programme 'Leonardo da Vinci'
Date: 1999-04-26
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU aid, Sardinia, action programme, animal plague, health control, swine

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 26 April 1999

establishing the second phase of the Community vocational training action
programme ‘Leonardo da Vinci'

(1999/382/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 establishing the European
Community stipulates that the latter’s action shall,
inter alia, contribute to the development of quality
education and vocational training;

(2) Whereas, by Decision 94/819/EC (4), the Council
established an action programme for the imple-
mentation of a European Community vocational
training policy; whereas it is appropriate, on the
basis
that
programme, to ensure its extension, taking into
account the results obtained to date;

experience

acquired

the

of

of

icies in order to enhance employability, adapt-
ability and entrepreneurship and to promote equal
opportunities;

(4) Whereas life-long learning should be provided for
persons of all ages and all occupational categories,
not only because of technological change but also
as a result of
the reduction in the number of
persons in active employment in the age pyramid;

(5) Whereas in its communication ‘Towards a Europe
of Knowledge' the Commission set out proposals
for the creation of a European education area
capable of achieving the objective of
life-long
education and vocational training, identifying the
types of measures to be developed at Community
level, all focusing on transnational cooperation and
designed to bring added value to the action taken
by the Member States, while fully respecting the
principle of subsidiarity, and in a context of simpli-
fied procedures;

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

(1) OJ C 309, 9.10.1998, p. 9.
(2) OJ C 410, 30.12.1998, p. 6.
(3) Opinion, of

the European Parliament of 5 November 1998
(OJ 359, 23.11.1998, p. 59), Council Common Position of 21
December 1998 (OJ C 49, 22.2.1999, p 65) and Decision of
the European Parliament of 23 March 1999 (not yet published
in the Official Journal).
(4) OJ L 340, 29.12.1994, p. 8.

(6) Whereas in its White Paper ‘Teaching and learning
 Towards the learning society' the Commission
states that the emergence of the learning society
entails encouraging the acquisition of new know-
ledge and to this end providing motivation to learn
at every opportunity; whereas in its Green Paper
‘Education,
the
obstacles to transnational mobility' the Commis-
sion highlighted the advantages of mobility for
people and competitiveness
in the European
Union;

vocational

research:

training,

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(7) Whereas measures under this programme should
serve the purpose of developing quality, fostering
innovation and promoting the European dimen-
sion in vocational training systems and practices
with a view to encouraging life-long learning;
whereas, in the implementation of this programme,
attention should be paid to fighting exclusion in all
its
including racism and xenophobia;
whereas special attention should be focused on
and
of
removing
inequality, inter alia for people with a disability,
and on promoting equal opportunities for women
and men;

discrimination

forms,

forms

all

(8) Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce the
added value of Community action, to ensure, at all
levels, a coherence and complementarity between
the actions implemented in the framework of this
Decision and other Community interventions;

(9) Whereas, in view of their role in the maintenance
jobs and the development of
and medium-sized enterprises
industry should be more
this

and creation of
training,
small
(SMEs) and the craft
closely involved in the implementation of
programme;

instruments and actions,

(10) Whereas the Commission, in cooperation with the
Member States, is seeking to secure coherence and
complementarity between the actions under this
programme and other relevant Community pol-
in particular the
icies,
European Social Fund, by facilitating the transfer
innovatory
and dissemination, on a wider scale,
approaches and methods developed under
this
programme; whereas the Commission, in partner-
is endeavouring to
ship with social partners,
develop cooperation between this programme and
the activities of the Community social dialogue;

(11) Whereas

the Agreement

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

(12) Whereas provision should be made to open up this
the associated
programme to participation of:
central and eastern European countries (CEEC), in
accordance with the conditions established in the
Europe Agreements, in their additional protocols

and in the decisions of the respective Association
Councils; 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; and
Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropria-
tions in accordance with the Treaty;

(13) Whereas

this programme should be regularly
monitored and evaluated in cooperation between
the Commission and the Member States in order to
allow for readjustments, particularly in the prior-
ities for implementing the measures;

(14) Whereas a financial reference amount, within the
meaning of point 2 of the Declaration by the Euro-
pean Parliament, the Council and the Commission
of 6 March 1995 (1), is included in this Decision for
the programme, without
the entire duration of
the budgetary
thereby affecting the powers of
authority as they are defined by the Treaty;

a vocational

(15) Whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsi-
diarity and the principle of proportionality as set
out in Article 3b of the Treaty, since the objectives
the proposed action concerning the imple-
of
mentation of
training policy at
Community level cannot be sufficiently achieved
by the Member States given the complexity of
vocational training partnerships; they can therefore
be better achieved by the Community owing to the
transnational dimension of the Community actions
and measures; whereas this Decision is limited to
the minimum required to achieve these objectives
and does not go beyond what
is necessary to
achieve these objectives,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the programme

This Decision establishes the second phase of the
a
training policy ‘Leonardo da

1.
action programme
Community vocational
Vinci', hereinafter referred to as ‘this programme'.

implementation of

the

for

This programme shall be implemented over the
2.
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 by developing a European area
of cooperation in the field of education and vocational
training. It shall support Member States’ policies on life-
long learning and the building up of the knowledge and
skills and competences likely to foster active citizenship
and employability.

This programme shall

4.
support and supplement
action taken by, and in, the Member States while fully
respecting their responsibility for the content and organ-
isation of vocational training, and of their cultural and
linguistic diversity.

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

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Article 2

Objectives of the programme

1. Within the framework of the objectives set out in
Article 127 of the Treaty, this programme aims at devel-
oping the quality, innovation and European dimension in
vocational training systems and practices, through trans-
national cooperation. The objectives of the programme
shall be to:

(a) improve the skills and competences of people, espe-
cially young people, in initial vocational training at all
levels; this may be achieved inter alia through work-
linked vocational training and apprenticeship with a
view to promoting employability and facilitating voca-
tional integration and reintegration;

(b) improve the quality of, and access to, continuing voca-
tional training and the life-long acquisition of skills
and competences with a view to increasing and devel-
oping adaptability, particularly in order to consolidate
technological and organisational change;

innovative counselling and guidance approaches are of
particular importance for the fulfilment of the objectives
set out in (a) and (b) and shall be given support;

(c) promote and reinforce the contribution of vocational
training to the process of innovation, with a view to
improving competitiveness and entrepreneurship, also
in view of new employment possibilities; special
attention shall be paid in this respect to fostering
cooperation between vocational training institutions,
including universities, and undertakings, particularly
SMEs.

In implementing the objectives set out in paragraph
2.
1, particular attention shall be paid to people at a disad-
vantage in the labour market, including disabled people,
to practices facilitating their access to training, to the
promotion of equality, to equal opportunities for women
and men and to the fight against discrimination.

standing of different cultures in the context of voca-
tional training (‘language competences');

(d) support

for
operation networks
experience
networks');

and

the development of

facilitating the

good

practice

transnational co-
exchange of
(‘transnational

(e) the development and updating of reference material
through support for surveys and analyses, the estab-
lishement and updating of comparable data,
the
observation and dissemination of good practices and
the comprehensive exchange of information (‘refer-
ence material').

2.
In carrying out the measures referred to in para-
graph 1, specific support for transnational actions shall be
available for the promotion and use of information and
communication technologies (ICT) in vocational training.

Article 4

Access to the programme

Under the conditions and arrangements for implementa-
tion specified in the Annexes, access to this programme
shall be open to all public and/or private bodies and
institutions involved in vocational training and, in par-
ticular:

(a) vocational training establishments, centres and bodies

at all levels, including universities;

(b) research centres and bodies;

(c) undertakings, particularly SMEs and the craft industry,
or public or private sector establishments, including
those involved in vocational training;

(d) trade organisations, including chambers of commerce,

etc.;

(e) social partners;

(f) local and regional bodies and organisations;

Article 3

(g) non profit making organisations, voluntary bodies and

Community measures

NGOs.

The objectives of this programme shall be pursued
1.
by means of
the operational
the following measures,
content and application procedures thereof which are
described in the Annexes and which may be combined:

(a) support

the transnational mobility of people
for
especially young
undergoing vocational
people, and for those responsible for training (‘Mobil-
ity');

training,

(b) support for pilot projects based on transnational part-
nerships designed to develop innovation and quality
in vocational training (‘pilot projects');

(c) promotion of

including for
language competences,
less widely used and taught languages, and under-

Article 5

Implementation of

the programme

and co-

operation with the Member States

1.
The Commission shall ensure the implementation
of the Community actions covered by this programme.

2. Member States shall:
 take the necessary steps to secure, by means of appro-
priate structures,
the coordination, an integrated
management and the follow-up for the attainment of
the objectives of this programme, involving all the
parties concerned by vocational training, in accord-
ance with national practice,

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 ensure that

relevant

information and publicity is
provided in respect of the actions of this programme,
to ensure the efficient

 take the necessary steps

running of this programme,

 endeavour, as far as possible, to adopt such measures
as they deem necessary and desirable to remove
obstacles to access to this programme.

In cooperation with Member States, the Commission

3.
shall:
 take the steps described in the Annexes to build upon
the achievements of the first phase of this programme
and the Community initiatives in the area of voca-
tional training,

 ensure the smooth transition between those actions
developed in the framework of the first phase of this
programme and those to be implemented under the
second phase.

Article 6

Joint actions

As part of the process of building up a Europe of know-
ledge, the measures contained in this programme may be
implemented,
in conformity with the procedure laid
actions with related
down in Article 7,
Community programmes and actions, particularly those
in the fields of education and youth.

joint

as

Article 7

Committee

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

The Committee shall deliver opinions on the

2.
following points:

(a) the general guidelines for the implementation of this
programme and the financial support to be supplied
by the Community;

(b) the annual plan of work for the implementation of
this programme’s actions,
the
themes for the thematic actions and the joint actions
and the Commission proposals for project selection,
including those under the joint actions;

including priorities,

(c) the annual budgets and distribution of

funding
between measures, as well as joint actions, accom-
panying measures and projects of European organ-
isations;

(d) the criteria applicable for establishing the indicative
breakdown of funds among the Member States for the
purpose of the actions to be managed according to
selection procedure A (Annex I, Section III);

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

3.
As regards the points referred to in paragraph 2, 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. The opinion shall be deliv-
ered 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.

4.

(a) The Commission shall adopt measures which

apply immediately.

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

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

from the date of

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

5.
The representative of the Commission shall consult
the Committee on other appropriate matters concerning
implementation of this 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.

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.

6.

The Committee shall draw up its rules of procedure.

in

shall

The Commission,

the
7.
Committee,
and structured
cooperation with the Committees established for the
implementation of the European Community educational
and youth programmes.

cooperation with

establish regular

8.
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,
vocational training and youth, including cooperation with
third countries and international organisations.

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Article 8

Social partners

(4) and (5),

Without prejudice to the procedures described in Article
the
7(3),
Committee on any matter concerning the application of
this Decision.

the Commission may consult

Whenever such consultation takes place, a number, equal
to that of the representatives of the Member States, of
representatives of the social partners, appointed by the
Commission on the basis of proposals from the social
partners at Community level, shall participate in the work
of the Committee as observers.

They shall have the right to request that their position be
recorded in the minutes of Committee meetings.

This programme shall be open to the participation of:
 the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the
conditions established in the EEA agreement,
 the associated central and eastern European countries
(CEEC) in accordance with the conditions established
in the Europe agreements, in their additional proto-
cols and in the decisions of the respective Association
Councils,

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

 Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropria-
tions, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

Article 9

Consistency and complementarity

Article 11

International cooperation

The Commission shall,

1.
in cooperation with the
Member States, ensure the overall consistency and
complementarity with other relevant Community pol-
icies, instruments and actions, in particular the European
Social Fund, in particular those contributing to a Europe
of knowledge, in particular in the fields of education,
research and technological
vocational
development, and innovation.

training, youth,

2.
In implementing the measures of this programme,
the 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 employ-
ment strategy.

3.
In partnership with Community social partners, the
Commission shall endeavour to develop the coordination
between this programme and the social dialogue at
Community level, including at sectoral levels.

4.
The Commission shall secure the assistance of the
European Centre for the Development of Vocational
Training (Cedefop) in implementing this programme, in
accordance with the arrangements set out in Regulation
(EEC) No 337/75 (1) establishing the Cedefop. Subject to
the same conditions and in the areas which lend them-
selves to it, coordination shall be established under the
auspices of the Commission with the European Training
Foundation as specified by Regulation (EEC) No 1360/
90 (2).

The Commission

the Advisory
shall
5.
Committee on Vocational Training regularly informed of
the progress of this programme.

keep

Article 10

Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the asso-
ciated central and eastern European countries
(CEEC), Cyprus, Malta and Turkey

(1) OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by

Regulation (EC) No 354/95 (OJ L 41, 23.2.1995, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 131, 23.4.1990, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by
Regulation (EC) No 1572/98 (OJ L 206, 23.7.1998, p. 1).

this programme, and in accordance with the
Under
procedure laid down in Article 7(2),
the
Commission shall strengthen its cooperation with third
countries and with the competent international organ-
isations.

(3) and (4),

Article 12

Funding

1.
The financial reference amount for the implementa-
tion of this programme for the period 2000 to 2006 shall
be EUR 1 150 million.

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

Article 13

Monitoring and evaluation

The Commission shall

1.
programme in cooperation with the Member States.

regularly monitor

this

This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in
paragraph 4 and specific activities.

2.
The Commission shall regularly evaluate the imple-
mentation of this programme in cooperation with the
Member States, in accordance with the procedure laid
down in Article 7(2), (3) and (4) and on the basis of criteria
devised in cooperation with the Member States. The main
objective shall be the evaluation of the effectiveness and
the impact of actions implemented in comparison with
the objectives aimed at in Article 2. The evaluation shall
also look at the dissemination of the results of actions
under this programme, of good practiced and the impact
of this programme as a whole in terms of its objectives.

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

In accordance with criteria established using the proce-
dure described in Article 7(2), (3) and (4), there shall be
regular independent external evaluations of the results of
the Community actions.

The findings of

3.
the monitoring and evaluation
should be taken into account when implementing this
programme.

implementation and effectiveness of

4. Member States shall submit to the Commission by
31 December 2003 and 30 June 2007 respectively reports
on the
this
programme and its impact on the vocational training
systems and arrangements which exist in the Member
States. The reports shall also take into account the promo-
tion of equality, and of equal opportunities, between
women and men.

The Commission shall submit

5.
to the European
Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social
Committee:

 a first interim report on the initial operational imple-
mentation of this programme by 30 June 2002,
 a second interim report on the implementation of this

 a

 a

programme by 30 June 2004,
communication on the

continuation of

this
programme by 31 December 2004; where appropriate,
that communication shall contain a suitable proposal,
this

implementation of

report on the
programme by 31 December 2007.

final

Article 14

Entry into force

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

Done at Luxembourg, 26 April 1999.

For the Council

The President

J. FISCHER

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ANNEX I

COMMUNITY ACTIONS AND MEASURES

SECTION I: GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. The objectives set out in Article 2 of the Decision will be implemented by means of transnational
partnerships which submit proposals for action on the basis of the Community measures described in
Article 3.

2. Each proposal submitted by a transnational partnership will pursue one or more of the objectives of the
programme, and will indicate the measure(s) it intends to implement in order to achieve its aims. Proposals
can be submitted for activities integrating various measures according to Article 3(1) and in a manner to be
determined by the Committee referred to in Article 7 of the Decision. With the exception of measures 1
(Mobility) and 3 (Language competences) as described in Section II, each proposal must involve partners
from at least three participating countries, of which at least one must be a Member State of the European
Union. In the case of project proposals under Measures 1 and 3, each proposal must involve partners from
at least two participating countries, of which at least one must be a Member State of the European Union.

3. Community calls for proposals will define the priorities for the objectives, the timetable, the conditions of
submission, the common eligibility criteria, particularly in terms of transnationality, project evaluation and
selection procedures. The indicative timetable will include Community annual deadlines for submission,
selection and approval of project applications.

A first call for proposals will remain valid for three years. A second call for proposals, will be drawn up in
2002 valid for two years, a third in 2004 valid for two years on, the basis of the interim reports referred to in
Article 13(5) of the Decision.

The Community calls for proposals will be published by the Commission after having sought the opinion
of the Committee referred to in Article 7 of the Decision.

4. The proposals for action must set out clearly the aims established, the methods of implementation, the
results anticipated, the mechanisms for evaluating the actual results, the plans for dissemination, the
beneficiaries and the partners associated, as well as the nature and level of participation of these partners,
including their financial contribution and the timetable of work.

5. The proposals can be sent in during the periods specified for each year by the call for proposals. Proposal
selections will take place at least once yearly in accordance with the procedures defined in Section III.

6. Member States will take appropriate steps to promote interaction between the players taking part in this

programme and in education and youth-related programmes.

7. Under no circumstances may the project partners’ own resources derive from other Community funding.

SECTION II: MEASURES

1. Mobility

Support for transnational mobility projects for people undergoing vocational training, especially young
people, and for trainers.

Community support will be provided for the following actions:

(a) preparation and implementation of transnational placement projects for:

 people undergoing initial vocational training (placements of normally three weeks to nine months
in vocational training institutions and undertakings; these placements form an integral part of the
vocational training programme for the people concerned),

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 students (placements of three to twelve months in undertakings),
 young workers and recent graduates (placements of two to twelve months in vocational training

institutions and undertakings);

Whenever possible, these placements should involve the validation of skills and competences acquired
during the placement, according to the practices of the country of origin.

These placements may also include projects which are part of ‘European pathways for work-linked
vocational training and apprenticeship' within the meaning of Decision 1999/51/EC (1).

The transnational placement projects for people undergoing vocational training which involve SMEs
and craft industry as host bodies will receive special financial support under the conditions described
below.

(b) The organisation of transnational projects of exchanges

 between undertakings, on the one hand, and vocational training organisations or universities, on the
other,
training
targeting human resources managers in the business sector, and vocational
programme planners and managers, particularly trainers, and occupational guidance specialists,
 for trainers and mentors in the area of language competences (between the business sector, on the
one hand, and the specialised language vocational training establishments, including universities, or
vocational training bodies on the other).

Exchanges for these target groups will last between one week and a maximum of six weeks.

(c) Study visits for those responsible for vocational training on the themes proposed by the Commission

can be provided by the cedefop.

The transnational placement and exchange projects may last up to two years. For the implementation of
placement and exchange projects, measures for specific help for disabled participants are to be elaborated
by the Committee referred to in Article 7 of the Decision.

Funding

The Community’s financial contribution to the transnational placement and exchange projects defined
under this measure may not exceed EUR 5 000 per beneficiary for a placement or an exchange - the
maximum amount of this contribution corresponding to the maximum duration indicated in (a) and (b).
This maximum amount may be exceeded in the case of participants with a disability.

For this measure, the Commission will allocate to each Member State an annual global grant the amount of
which will be defined in accordance with the procedures described in Annex II.

Up to 10 % of this allocation will be set aside, in accordance with procedures agreed upon with the
management structure concerned to help:

 SME promoters submitting their first application to the programme. The sum may not exceed EUR 500

per promoter,

 all promoters preparing the target group mentioned under (a). The sum allowed for the pedagogic,
cultural and linguistic preparation of that target group, may not exceed EUR 200 per placement of less
than three months duration or EUR 500 per placement of more than three months duration, with a
ceiling of EUR 25 000 per promoter.

This amount is on top of that set aside for the sending organisation for the management and monitoring of
transnational placement projects.

Any unused part of this allocation may be redeployed by the management structure elsewhere within this
measure. The reasons for the redeployment must be communicated to the Commission.

2. Pilot projects

Support for transnational pilot projects to develop and transfer innovation and quality in vocational
training, including actions aiming at the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in
vocational training.

Community support is available for the design, development, testing and assessment of transnational pilot
projects to develop and/or disseminate innovation in vocational training.

(1) OJ L 17, 22.1.1999, p. 45.

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Such transnational pilot projects may relate to the development of quality in vocational training, to the
development of new methods of vocational training and to vocational guidance in the context of lifelong
learning.

Transnational pilot projects may also aim at:

 developing the use of ICT in vocational training actions and products,
 promoting access for people undergoing vocational training to new tools, services and vocational

training products which use ICT,

 supporting the development of transnational open and distance vocational training networks through

the use of ICT (multimedia products, WEB sites, network transmission, etc.),

 designing, testing and validating new vocational training approaches arising from new work situations

(e.g. teleworking).

Community support for projects under this measure may be available for up to three years.

Thematic actions

Special support will be given to a small number of projects on themes of particular interest at Community
level, for example:

 the development of new methods of promoting transparency with an emphasis on new forms of

certification or accreditation of skills and expertise learned on the job,

 actions in support of Member States’ policies and initiatives to equip with appropriate skills those at a
disadvantage in the labour market, particularly those young people who have no qualifications or
people whose qualifications need updating,

 developing European arrangements for vocational guidance, counselling and vocational training in

business-related services.

Funding

The Community may contribute up to 75 % of eligible expenditure for the transnational pilot projects,
with a ceiling of EUR 200 000 per year and per project. For the thematic actions, the ceiling may be raised
to EUR 300 000 per year and per project, if justified by the scope of the project concerned.

3. Language competences

Support for projects to promote language and cultural competences in vocational training

Community support is available for transnational pilot projects to develop language competences in a
vocational training context. Special attention will be paid to projects on less widely used and taught
languages.

The point of these projects is to design, test and validate, assess and disseminate teaching material as well as
innovative pedagogical methods tailored to the specific needs of each occupational area and economic
sector, including through the use of language audits, and also innovatory pedagogical approaches based on
language self-tuition and the dissemination of their results.

Proposals for linguistic and cultural support may also be submitted under other actions and measures,
particularly in order to improve language and cultural competences amongst the trainers and mentors
responsible for the pedagogic supervision of people taking part in transnational mobility programmes.

Community support is also available for transnational programmes between the business sector on the one
hand and the specialised language vocational training establishments or vocational training bodies on the
other.

Community support for projects under this meaure may be available for up to three years.

Funding

The Community may contribute up to 75 % of eligible expenditure, with a ceiling of EUR 200 000 per
project and per year.

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4. Transnational networks

Support for transnational networks of European expertise and dissemination

Community support is available for the activities of multi-player vocational training networks, bringing
together in the Member States, at the regional or sectoral level, the public and private players concerned.
Those players include the local authorities, local chambers of commerce, trade organisations for employers
and employees, undertakings and research and vocational training centres - including universities - as
providers of services, advice and information on access to validated vocational training methods and
products. These activities aim at:

(i) assembling, distilling and building on European expertise and innovatory approaches,

(ii) improving the analysis and anticipation of skills requirements,

(iii) disseminating the network outputs and project results throughout the Union in the appropriate circles.

Community support for transnational networks may be available for up to three years.

Funding

The Community may contribute up to 50 % of eligible expenditure for the activities of transnational
networks, with a ceiling of EUR 150 000 per year and per network.

5. Reference material

Support for actions to establish, update and disseminate reference material

Community support is available for actions undertaken on a transnational basis on priority themes of
common interest. Such actions shall make a contribution to:

 establishing comparable data on vocational training systems and arrangements, practices and various

approaches to qualifications and competences in the Member States, or

 producing quantitative and/or qualitative information, analyses and observing best practices in support
of policies and vocational training practices for lifelong learning that cannot be made available by
Eurostat or Cedefop. Eurostat and Cedefop are closely associated with the production of statistical
instruments within the procedures currently in place notably those defined by Council Regulation (EC)
No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics (1), taking into account Council Decision
99/126/EC of 22 December 1998 on the Community statistical programme 1998 to 2002 (2).

Community support for projects under this measure may be available for up to three years.

The Commission and the Member States will ensure that such reference material is disseminated as widely
as possible, particularly in order to make it available to public and private decision-makers in vocational
training.

Funding

The Community’s financial contribution will be between 50 % and 100 % of eligible expenditure, with a
ceiling of EUR 200 000 per year and per project. If justified by the scope of the project proposed, this
ceiling could be raised to EUR 300 000.

6. Joint actions

1. For the joint actions described in Article 6 of the Decision, Community support may be provided for
joint actions with other Community actions promoting a Europe of knowledge, particularly the
Community programmes in the fields of education and youth.

(1) OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 42, 16.2.1999, p. 1.

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2. Such joint actions may be carried out by common calls for proposals for selected themes of interest in
fields of activity which are not exclusively covered by one single programme. The themes for joint
actions will be agreed by the committees concerned, in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 7(2),

(3) and (4) of the Decision.

The common calls for proposals may also respond to new demands originating during the running of
the programmes concerned.

Community support for projects under this measure may be available for up to three years.

Funding

The Community may contribute up to 75 % of eligible expenditure.

7. Accompanying measures

1. To attain the objectives set out in Article 2 of the Decision, Community support is available for:

 management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation activities by the Member States as described

in Articles 5 and 13 and of the Decision and in Section 1(6) of this Annex,

 information, monitoring, assessment and dissemination activities by the Member States and the
Commission to facilitate access to the programme and consolidate the transfer of methods, products
and tools designed, and of the results obtained by this programme, among others through data banks
accessible to a wide public,

 the transnational network of national resource centres for vocational guidance,

 cooperation activities with third countries and with relevant international organisations according to

Article 11 of the Decision.

2. Community financial assistance shall be provided to support the activities of the appropriate structures

set up by the Member States in accordance with Article 5 of the Decision.

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

4. The respective roles and operational tasks of the technical assistance organisation(s) and the national

management structures must be clearly defined, in accordance with Article 5.

SECTION III: SELECTION PROCEDURES

The proposals submitted by promoters under the calls for proposals shall be selected according to one of the
following procedures:

1. Procedure A applicable to mobility actions (measure 1);

2. Procedure B applicable to:

 pilot projects (measure 2) except for thematic actions,

 language competences (measure 3),

 transnational networks (measure 4);

3. Procedure C applicable to:

 reference material (measure 5),

 thematic actions (within measure 2),

 joint actions (measure 6),

 projects of European organisations (under all measures).

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1. Procedure A

This selection procedure consists of the following stages:

(i) The Commission will allocate a global grant to each participating country according to the procedure
defined in Annex II, after having sought the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 7 of the
Decision.

(ii) Under the rules defined in the calls for proposals, proposals are to be submitted by the promoters to

the management structure designated by the Member State.

(iii) The management structure will assess the proposals on the basis of specifications established at
Community level. The management structure will establish a list of the mobility programmes selected
and circulate this list, for information, to the Commission and the management structures in the other
Member States.

(iv) The Member States, with the assistance of the respective management structures, shall be responsible

for contracting and allocating the global grant to the individual promoters.

(v) The Member States will submit to the Commission an annual report on the results of the mobility

programmes. The report includes information inter alia on the following topics:

 the target publics of the programme,
 the contents and objectives in terms of skills and/or qualifications,
 the duration of training and/or work learning experience in a training establishment and/or

company,

 the partners associated in the other Member State or States.

2. Procedure B

This selection procedure consists of a two-step selection process:

 selection of pre-proposals;
 selection of full proposals.

(i) Under the rules defined in the call for proposals, pre-proposals are to be submitted by the promoters

to the management structure designated by the Member State.

(ii) Member States will evaluate and select the pre-proposals. The promoters will be informed of the
outcome of this selection. Only promoters of successful pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full
proposal to the management structure in the respective Member State. The promoters will also send a
copy of their full proposals to the Commission.

(iii) Member States will evaluate and rank the full proposals and submit a report to the Commission,
presenting the outcome of this pre-selection by objective and by measure, the assessment procedure,
the parties involved in this procedure as well as a descriptive and reasoned list of proposals likely to
be retained in order of priority. This report will also present the information and publicity measures
taken to facilitate participation in the programme.

(iv) The Commission, with the assistance of independent experts, will evaluate the proposals, with a view
to assessing and ensuring their transnational and innovative nature. These independent experts will be
appointed by the Commission, taking full account of the views of the Member States and the social
partners. The Commission will examine the national reports and consult accordingly with each
Member State.

(v) The Commission will submit to the Committee a proposal on the allocation of the budgetary
resources by measure and by Member State and will obtain its opinion in accordance with the
procedure set out in Article 7 of the Decision.

(vi) After receiving the opinion of the Committee, the Commission will establish the list of selected
projects per Member State and allocate the funds for the implementation of the selected projects to
each Member State.

(vii) Member States, with the assistance of the respective management structures, will be responsible for

contracting and allocating funds to the individual promoters.

(viii) The selection of pre-proposals has to be carried out within two months after the end of the period for
submission of proposals as specified in the call for proposals; the process on stages (iii) to (vi) should
not take more than five months.

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3. Procedure C

This procedure consists of a two-step selection process:
 selection of pre-proposals;
 selection of full proposals.

(i) Under the rules defined in the call for proposals, pre-proposals are to be submitted by the promoters
to the Commission. The promoters will also send a copy of their pre-proposals to the management
structure in their Member States.

(ii) The Commission will evaluate all the pre-proposals and, having sought the opinion of the programme
Committee, make a selection. The promoters will be informed of the outcome of this selection.

(iii) Only promoters of successful pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal to the Commis-
sion. The promoters will also send a copy of their full proposals to the management structure of their
Member States.

(iv) The Commission, with the assistance of independent experts, will undertake a transnational appraisal
of the proposals received and establish a short list of projects. These independent experts will be
appointed by the Commission, taking full account of the views of the Member States and the social
partners.

(v) In accordance with the procedure set out in Article 7 of the Decision, the Commission shall seek the

opinion of the Committee on this short-list.

(vi) The Commission will establish the final list of proposals selected and inform the Committee. It will
set out the conditions for monitoring these projects in conjunction with the management structures
in the Member States.

(vii) The Commission, with the appropriate technical assistance, will be responsible for contracting and

allocating funds to the individual promoters.

(viii) The selection of pre-proposals has to be carried out within three months after the end of the period
for submission of proposals as specified in the call for proposals; the process on stages (iii) to (vi)
should not take more than five months.

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ANNEX II

SECTION I: OVERALL BUDGET BREAKDOWN

1. At the beginning of the operation, and no later than 1 March every year, the Commission will submit to the
Committee an ex ante breakdown of budget resources by type of measure, by procedure and taking into
account, to this end, the objectives set out in Article 2 of the Decision and will seek its opinion. The
Commission will on this basis define an indicative budget for each Member State for the implementation of
the actions covered by selection procedure A referred to in Annex I.

2. The funds available will be broken down internally subject to the following restrictions:

(a) The funds allocated to mobility programmes may not be less than 39 % of the annual budget for the

programme.

(b) The funds allocated in support of devising, developing and testing transnational pilot projects may not
be less than 36 % of the annual budget for the programme. Within this allocation the funds allocated
in support of Thematic Action projects may not be more than 5 %.

(c) The funds allocated in support of devising, developing and testing Language Competence projects may

not be less than 5 % of the annual budget for the programme.

(d) The remaining expenditure may not be less than 15 %. Within this expenditure, the funds allocated for
the accompanying measures is not to exceed 9 %. The funds allocated for activities under Article 11 of
the Decision is not to exceed 0,2 % of the annual budget of the programme.

3. All the percentages given above are indicative and can be adapted by the Committee according to the

procedure laid down in Article 7(2),

(3) and (4) of the Decision.

SECTION II: SPECIFIC REGULATIONS FOR MOBILITY GLOBAL GRANTS

1. Before the start of the transnational exchange and placement programmes, the Commission will allocate a
global grant established on the basis of calculation criteria defined within the procedures described in
Article 7 of the Decision, taking into account:
 the population,
 the difference in the cost of living between the Member State of origin of the sending organisation and

the host Member State,

 the geographical distance and the costs of transport,
 the weight of the target public concerned in relation to the overall population, depending on the

availability of data for all Member States.

In any event, the application of these criteria cannot result in the exclusion of any Member State from
funding of the transnational placement and exchange programmes described in Annex I.

2. The overall grant is allocated to each Member State on the basis of an operational plan which must set out

clearly:
 the arrangements for managing financial support,
 the steps to be taken to assist placement and exchange organisers to identify potential partners,
 appropriate measures to be taken in the interests of sound preparation, organisation and follow-up of

placements and exchanges, also regarding the promotion of equal opportunities.

3. For the first year of programme implementation, Member States will submit this operational plan to the
Commission no later than 31 March 2000. The Commission will on this basis allocate to each Member
State an amount on the basis of which it can go ahead with transnational programmes. The amounts not
used up within this allocation at 1 October 2000 will be incorporated in the final amount of the global
grant.

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ANNEX III

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Decision and taking account of the differences which exist between the systems and
arrangements in the Member States:

(a) initial vocational training means any form of initial vocational training,

including technical and
vocational teaching, apprenticeship and vocationally oriented education, which contributes to the achieve-
ment of a vocational qualification recognised by the competent authorities in the Member State in which
it is obtained,

(b) work-linked training means vocational training, at any level including higher education. This vocational
training, recognised or certified by the competent authorities of the Member State of provenance
according to its own legislation, procedures or practices, involves structured periods of training in an
undertaking and, where appropriate, in a vocational training establishment or centre,

(c) continuing vocational training means any vocational training undertaken by a worker in the Community

during his or her working life,

(d) life-long learning means the education and vocational training opportunities offered to individuals
throughout their lives to enable them continually to acquire, update and adapt their knowledge, skills and
competences,

(e) open and distance vocational training means any form of flexible vocational training involving:

 the use of ICT techniques and services in traditional or modern form, and
 support in the form of individualised advice and mentoring,

(f) European pathways for work-linked vocational training and apprenticeship means any period which is
completed by a person in a Member State other than the one where his or her work-linked vocational
training is based, which forms part of the work-linked vocational training,

(g) vocational guidance means a range of activities such as counselling, information, assessment and advice,
to assist people to make choices relating to initial and continuing vocational education and vocational
training programmes, and to employment opportunities,

(h) undertaking means all undertakings 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,

(i) workers means all persons available on the labour market in accordance with national laws and practices,

including the self-employed,

(j) vocational training bodies means any type of public, semi-public or private establishment which, in
accordance with national laws and/or practices design or undertake vocational training, further vocational
training, refresher vocational training or retraining, irrespective of the designation given to it in the
Member States,

(k) 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,

(l) students means persons registered in universities as defined in 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,

(m) 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 the social dialogue at Community level,

(n) local and regional partners means any player in regional and local life  local authority, association,
local chambers of commerce and associations, consortia, advisory bodies, the media  participating in
local or regional cooperation activities which include vocational training,

(o) European organisations means social partners at Community level, European employers’ and trade union

federations in specific sectors, and bodies and organisations with a European status or scope,

(p) reference material means all the analyses, studies, surveys and identification of good practice which make
it possible to locate, at Community level, the relative position of the various Member States and the
progress made on a given subject or in a given area.