Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 1999/311/EC adopting the third phase of the trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006)
Date: 2002-02-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, Mediterranean third countries, Middle East, cooperation policy, higher education

C 151 E/118

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25.6.2002

Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 1999/311/EC adopting the third phase of the
trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006)

(2002/C 151 E/03)

COM(2002) 47 final — 2002/0037(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 11 February 2002)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

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

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

Whereas:

(1) On 23 July 1996 the Council adopted Regulation (EC)
No 1488/96 on financial and technical measures to
accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic and social
structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean
partnership (1).

(2) The Mediterranean region constitutes a priority area for
the Community and the political, economic and social
development
a
the Mediterranean
challenge of ever increasing proportions.

partners

of

is

(3) It is important to pursue and intensify the cooperation
launched within the Euro-Mediterranean partnership
which was established by the Barcelona Declaration of
27 November 1995.

(4) The Barcelona Declaration recognises that the traditions
of culture and civilisation throughout the Mediterranean
region, dialogue between these cultures and exchanges at
human, scientific and technological level are an essential
factor in bringing their peoples closer, promoting under-
standing between them and improving their perception of
each other. It stresses the essential nature of the devel-
the
opment of human resources, both as
education and training of young people in particular
and in the area of culture and recognises the essential
contribution civil society can make in the process of
development of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and
for greater understanding and
as an essential
closeness between peoples.

regards

factor

(5) Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in higher education is an
indispensable instrument to achieve the key objectives set
in the Barcelona Declaration and in particular to
out
develop
understanding
between cultures and rapprochement of the peoples in
the Euro-Mediterranean region as well as to develop free
and flourishing civil societies.

resources,

promote

human

(6) On 29 April 1999 the Council

1999/311/EC adopting the third phase of
European cooperation scheme
for higher
(Tempus III) (2000-2006) (2).

adopted Decision
the trans-
education

(7) The Tempus III programme has proved an effective tool
for structural cooperation in and development of higher
education including the improvement of human resources
and occupational skills. Via universities and university
staff it can also make an effective contribution to the
development of public administration and education
structures in the eligible countries.

(8) Enlarging the geographical

scope of

the Tempus

III
programme to the Mediterranean non-member countries
and territories referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1488/96
would make it possible to build on the proven strengths
of that programme, achieve economies of scale and favour
regional cooperation around the wider Euro-Mediter-
ranean area.

(9) It is appropriate to extend the period covered by the
Tempus III programme by 6 months to 31 December
2006 without adjusting the financial provision, since
that period corresponds
financial
perspectives
the other major
as
Community education and training programmes.

to that of
that of

as well

the

(10) Decision 1999/311/EC should therefore be amended

accordingly,

(1) OJ L 189, 30.7.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

(2) OJ L 120, 8.5.1999, p. 30. Decision as last amended by Regulation

lation (EC) No 2698/2000 (OJ L 311, 12.12.2000, p. 1).

(EC) No 2666/2000 (OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1).

25.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/119

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

Decision 1999/311/EC is amended as follows:

eligible countries through the most balanced cooperation
possible with partners from all Member States.

2. More specifically, Tempus III shall:

1. Articles 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:

(a) promote understanding between and rapprochement of
cultures, develop free and flourishing civil societies; and

‘Article 1

Duration of Tempus III

The third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme
for higher education (hereinafter referred to as “Tempus III”)
is hereby adopted for the period from 1 July 2000 to
31 December 2006.

(b) facilitate the adaptation and development of higher
education to better respond to the socio-economic and
cultural needs of the eligible countries by addressing:

(i) issues relating to the development and reshaping of

curricula in the priority areas;

Article 2

Eligible countries

1.
Tempus III concerns the countries which are bene-
ficiaries under Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 (*)
and the new independent States of
the former Soviet
Union and Mongolia referred to in Council Regulation
and Mediterranean
(EC,
99/2000 (**),
non-member countries and territories
listed in Council
Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 (***). These countries and terri-
tories are hereinafter referred to as “eligible countries”.

Euratom) No

2.
On the basis of an evaluation of the specific situation
of each country the Commission, in accordance with the
procedures referred to in the Regulations referred to in
paragraph 1,
countries
agree with the
concerned whether they should participate in Tempus III,
and the nature and conditions of their participation. The
conditions of Article 10(1) will apply to eligible countries
that do not participate in Tempus III.

eligible

shall

___________

(*) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1.
(**) OJ L 12, 18.1.2000, p. 1.
(***) OJ L 189, 30.7.1996, p. 1.’

2. Articles 5 and 6 are replaced by the following:

‘Article 5

Aims

1.
The aim of Tempus III is to promote, in line with the
guidelines and general objectives of the Regulations referred
to in Article 2(1), and in complementarity with the
programmes and sectoral approaches resulting therefrom,
the development of the higher education systems in the

(ii) reform and development of higher

structures
management;

and

establishments

education
their

and

(iii) the development of training leading to such qualifi-
cations as will remedy the shortage of high-level
skills needed in the context of economic reform
and development, particularly by improving and
increasing links with industry;

(iv) the contribution of higher education and training to
citizenship and the strengthening of democracy.

3.
The Commission shall, when pursuing the objectives
of Tempus III, observe the Community's general policy on
equal opportunities for men and women. The Commission
shall also ensure that no group of citizens is excluded or
disadvantaged.

Article 6

Dialogue with the eligible countries

In agreement with the competent authorities
in each
country, the Commission shall define the detailed priorities
and objectives for the role of Tempus III, on the basis of the
programme's objectives and the provisions set out in the
Annex, and in conformity in particular with:

(a) the general objectives of the Regulations referred to in

Article 2(1);

(b) the economic, social and educational policy of each

eligible country;

(c) the need to strike an appropriate balance between the
priority areas selected and the resources allocated to
Tempus III.’

C 151 E/120

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25.6.2002

3. Articles 9 and 10 are replaced by the following:

(b) use of the opportunities available under Tempus III to
channel exchange actions receiving bilateral funding;

‘Article 9

Links with other Community Actions

In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(3)
of this Decision and, if applicable, the procedure referred to
in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000, in Article
13 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 99/2000, and in Article
11 of Regulation (EC) No 1488/96, within the limits estab-
lished by the annual budgetary decisions, the Commission
shall ensure consistency and, where necessary, complemen-
tarity between Tempus III and other Community actions
undertaken both in the Community and as part of assistance
provided to eligible countries, particularly with regard to the
activities of the European Training Foundation.

Article 10

Coordination with action taken in third countries

The Commission shall organise appropriate coor-
1.
dination with actions undertaken by third countries (*) or
by universities and the business sector in these countries in
the same field as Tempus III, including, where applicable,
participation in Tempus III projects.

This participation may take a variety of

2.
including one or more of the following:

forms,

(c) coordination between Tempus III and national initiatives
which have the same aims but which are funded and
managed separately;

(d) mutual

exchange of
initiatives in this field.

information on all

relevant

___________
(*) These countries are the members of the Group of 24,
other than the Member States of the Community, the
Republic of Cyprus and Malta, and the associated
countries of central and eastern Europe, and partici-
pation relates
to projects with the non-associated
countries of central and eastern Europe eligible under
the PHARE programme and such other countries the
Community might subsequently decide to include.’

4. In Article 12,
following:

the second paragraph is replaced by the

‘It shall submit by 30 June 2004 an interim report on the
findings of the evaluation, together with any proposals for
extending or
the period
commencing on 1 January 2007.’

adjusting Tempus

for

III

(a) participation in Tempus III projects on a cofinancing

basis;

5. The text under the heading ‘Individual grants’ in the Annex
is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

ANNEX

The text under the heading ‘Individual grants’ in the Annex to Decision 1999/311/EC shall be replaced by the following:

‘Individual grants

In addition to the JEPs and the structural and/or complementary measures, the European Community will also
support the provision of individual grants to teachers, researchers, trainers, university administrators, senior
ministerial officials, education planners, and other experts in training from eligible countries or from the
Community, for visits to promote the quality, development and restructuring of higher education and training
in the eligible countries.

These visits could inter alia cover the following areas:

— the development of courses and teaching material;

— the development of staff, particularly through periods of refresher training and in-company placements;

— teaching, research and training assignments;

— activities to support the development of higher education;

— participation in the activities of European associations, in particular university associations.’