Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Commission proposal for a Council Decision modifying Decision 1999/311/EC of 29 April 1999 adopting the third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006)'
Date: 2000-05-24
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU programme, cooperation policy, higher education

C 204/68

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

18.7.2000

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Commission proposal for a Council
Decision modifying Decision 1999/311/EC of 29 April 1999 adopting the third phase of the trans-
European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006)’

(2000/C 204/15)

On 5 May 2000, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262
of the Treaty instituting the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for External Relations was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, In
the course of its work, the Economic and Social Committee appointed Ms Florio as Rapporteur-General
(Rules 20 and 50 of the Rules of Procedure).

At its 373rd plenary session (meeting of 24 May 2000), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the
following opinion by 81 votes in favour and 1 abstention.

1.

Introduction

1.1. The Tempus programme

The Tempus programme establishing a trans-Euro-
1.1.1.
pean mobility scheme for university studies was launched
under Decision No 90/233/EEC of 7 May 1990. At that time
the beneficiary countries included the countries participating
in motion a more
in the Phare programme, which set
systematic policy to support socio-economic reform in the
countries of central and eastern Europe.

Council Decision No 311/1999 of 29 April 1999. This new
phase is planned to start on 1 July 2000, for a period of six
years (2000-2006).

2.2.
Article 2 of the Council Decision defines the countries
to receive financial aid, viz: the non-associated countries of
central and eastern Europe eligible under Regulation (EEC)
No 3906/89 (Phare programme) and the new Independent
States of the former Soviet Union, as laid down in Council
Regulation (EC/Euratom) No 1279/96 (Tacis programme).

The programme entered into a second phase in
1.1.2.
1993, with Council Decision 93/246/EEC covering the period
1994-1998. During this second phase (Tempus II), funding
was extended to the Tacis programme countries, i.e. the New
Independent States of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia.

3. Proposed Decision

1.1.3.
Higher education and training, and reform and
restructuring in this sector, have therefore been identified as
one of the priorities of international cooperation to bring the
partner countries closer to the EU. In the countries concerned,
the joint action has acted as a catalyst for strategical planning
and institutional development focusing on reform of specific
aspects of education.

1.1.4.
The adoption of the successive phases and extension
of the programme to new countries in central and eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union are consistent with socio-
economic changes in the partner countries and conducive to
balanced international relations.

3.1.
A footnote was inserted in Article 2, specifying the
non-associated countries which are ‘at present’ eligible to
participate in the programme on the basis of the above
Regulation and referring solely to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina
and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Developments

in international

relations and the
3.2.
changes that have already taken place in some countries, and
are to be hoped for in others, have suggested the possibility of
extending the new phase of the Tempus programme to other
countries in the region.
In particular it was considered
important to include Croatia among the countries eligible to
benefit from the Tempus programme, in the light of its recent
democratic progress.

2. Tempus III

2.1.
A further phase of the trans-European cooperation
scheme for higher education (Tempus III) was adopted by

3.3.
The Commission has therefore raised the question of
revising the earlier text and presented a proposal for a Council
Decision seeking to amend the content of Article 2 of Decision
No 311/1999 by deleting the footnote which, given the
present circumstances, has proved too restrictive and in effect
rules out the inclusion of Croatia.

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 204/69

4. Comments

Bearing in mind that universities can play a key role in
4.1.
the process of reshaping society as a whole and in promoting
cooperation between populations, and looking ahead to the
far-reaching socio-economic reforms that Croatia will need to
face in the process of rapprochement with the EU,
the
Committee supports its inclusion among the programme’s
beneficiary countries.

The inclusion of Croatia in the Tempus III programme is not
only important in strengthening the ties between the European
Union and its neighbours but can also be a major factor in
rebuilding the vital network of constructive relations in the
Balkan region so brutally disrupted during the recent conflict.

4.2.
From the angle of future EU policies, the extension of
the Tempus programme is vital in helping countries to attain
their specific priorities, defined jointly by the European

Commission and the national authorities, and thereby con-
tributing to the ongoing processes of economic reform and
democratic consolidation. The value of this contribution is
particularly evident in cases where the new phase of the
Tempus programme can be expected to foster links outside
the university environment, with civil society and business
circles.

4.3.
Further, the aims of the Tempus programme include
the restructuring of both the curricula and the organisation
and management of higher education systems; it can therefore
prove especially useful to identify examples of best practice in
the official administrative bodies responsible for dispensing
learning.

4.4.
Once again the Committee would draw attention to
the productive results achieved in the previous phases of the
Tempus programme; it hopes that the amendment to the text
of Council Decision 1999/311/EC, required to include Croatia
among the beneficiary countries will be speedily incorporated
into the new programme.

Brussels, 24 May 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI