Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Communication from the Commission — Making a European area of lifelong learning a reality"
Date: 2002-05-15
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: education, in-service training, vocational training

C 278/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

14.11.2002

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Communication from the Commission —
Making a European area of lifelong learning a reality’

(2002/C 278/08)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission — Making a European area of lifelong
learning a reality (COM(2001) 678 final);

having regard to the European Commission Decision of 22 November 2001 to consult it under the first
paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

having regard to the Decision taken by its Bureau on 6 February 2002 to instruct Commission — Culture
and Education — to draw up an opinion on this subject;

having regard to the Commission’s memorandum (SEC(2000) 1832);

having regard to the Committee of the Regions’ Opinion on that memorandum (CdR 19/2001 fin) (1);

having regard to the presidency conclusions of the summits in Lisbon 23-24 March 2000, Feira 19-
20 June 2000 and Stockholm 23-24 March 2001;

having regard to the Commission’s 1995 White Paper (COM(95) 590 final) and the Commission’s
Communication (COM(97) 563 final);

having regard to the Committee of the Regions’ Opinion (CdR 244/94 fin) (2) on the proposal for a
decision establishing 1996 as the European Year for Lifelong Learning;

having regard to e-learning: the Commission Communication (COM(2000) 318 final) and the Committee
of the Regions’ Opinion (CdR 212/2001 fin) (3);

having regard to education systems: the Commission report on the concrete future objectives of education
systems (COM(2001) 59 final) and the Committee of the Regions’ Opinion (CdR 89/2001 fin) (4);

having regard to the sixth framework programme: the Commission report (COM(2001) 94 final) and the
Committee of the Regions’ Opinion (CdR 283/2001 fin) (5);

having regard to the European agreement concluded between ETUC, UNICE and CEEP on an action plan
for vocational training as part of lifelong learning;

having regard to the presidency conclusions of the European Council meeting held in Barcelona on 15-
16 March 2002;

having regard to the draft Opinion (CdR 49/2002 rev.) adopted by Commission — Culture and Education
— on 22 March 2002 (rapporteur: Mrs Christina Tallberg, 1st vice-chairman of Stockholm county
council (S/PES),

adopted the following opinion at its 44th plenary session on 15 and 16 May 2002 (meeting of 15 May).

The Committee of the Regions’ views and recommen-
dations

1.
The Committee of the Regions welcomes the Com-
mission communication ‘Making a European area of lifelong
learning a reality’ as a further milestone in developing this
European area.

2.
The CoR agrees with the Commission’s view that this
process is not new and there is no intention to harmonise
legislation or other provisions.

( 1) OJ C 357, 14.12.2001, p. 36.
( 2) OJ C 210, 14.8.1995, p. 74.
( 3) OJ C 19, 22.1.2002, p. 26.
( 4) OJ C 19, 22.1.2002, p. 23.
( 5) OJ C 107, 3.5.2002, p. 111.

The CoR notes with satisfaction that the Commission
3.
views it as a major partner in cooperation, as reflected for
instance in the Commission’s update of specific tasks for the
CoR.

4.
The CoR observes that the broad definition on which the
concept of lifelong learning is based has met with widespread
approval in the consultation processes. The CoR welcomes
this approach to learning from earliest childhood all through
life and the fact that the lifelong learning dimension takes
account of formal, non-formal and informal learning.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 278/27

5.
One important area of action is to promote participation
in society, active citizenship and awareness of our individual
rights and duties as members of society. It is important not to
create further gaps but to give everyone an opportunity to
participate actively in working life and as a member of the
community. The wide variety of problems with which people
with disabilities and other vulnerable persons have to contend
require individual solutions, easy access and a well-developed
infrastructure to satisfy differing needs.

6.
The CoR would stress that the strategy for lifelong
learning concerns the local and the regional level closely as it
often shoulders political and economic responsibility for the
education and training sector in the Member States. Frequently
local and regional authorities act, alongside the social auth-
orities, as coordinator for development and growth with
responsibility for public welfare and infrastructure. They also
exercise the role of employer, and are responsible for, as well
as having an interest in, upgrading the skills of their workforce.
However, the CoR considers that the Communication does not
properly recognise the fundamental role played by regional
and local authorities in designing and implementing strategies
for lifelong learning and local learning partnerships.

7.
The Committee of the Regions has taken note of the
European agreement on an action plan for vocational training
as part of lifelong learning, which was recently concluded
between ETUC, UNICE and CEEP. The approach which charac-
terises the agreement is in line with what the CoR is now
advocating. The CoR plays a part in this action plan through
the cooperation of the CEEP.

8.
The CoR welcomes the Commission’s recommendation
that consultation networks on lifelong learning should be built
on at all
to support
levels (national, regional and local)
implementation. It regrets, however, that the Communication
does not specifically mention regional and local authorities
when it states that Member States, the European Economic
Area and candidate countries should prolong, strengthen and
expand established interministerial coordination structures to
promote internal policy coherence.

9.
The CoR endorses the communication’s structure, includ-
ing ‘coherent and comprehensive lifelong learning strategies’,
‘priorities for action’ and ‘driving forward the agenda’. How-
ever, strategies at European, national and regional/local level
must be conducted in tandem and an outdated ‘top-down’
hierarchical approach to implementation must be avoided.
Greater account now needs to be taken of the key role
that local and regional authorities will play in the future
development of a European area of lifelong learning.

10.
The CoR is pleased to note that one of the cornerstones
of the Commission’s strategy is the building up of partnerships
at local level, to include local authorities, schools, universities,
further education institutions and other education service
providers, the business sector, employment offices and local
associations. This will result in new forms of networking.
Contacts between schools and the workplace can profitably be
extended to encompass other forms than traditional study
visits and traineeships. Especially as businesses in the new
knowledge-based economy are keen to stimulate curiosity,
entrepreneurship and an overall view in pupils rather than the
narrow application of unconnected elements. Students can
also contribute by bringing their knowhow into businesses.
However, the CoR believes that partnerships at regional level
are also essential and should be specifically mentioned in the
Communication.

11.
The CoR considers that partnerships can help foster a
new, more open learning environment in schools and business-
es. Schoolwork will less and less be a closed activity targeted
solely on full-time students. Instead it will operate in closer
contact with local businesses. The learning environment will
also change as a result of greater emphasis on virtual input. In
addition, the role of libraries in providing open learning
environments for all members of society should be supported.

12.
The new, more open learning environment that will be
typical of the school of the future requires support for teacher
training and in-service training and local learning centres so
as to develop the teacher’s role. The CoR welcomes the
Commission’s proposal for targeted support measures for such
action — for instance, channelled through the European
Investment Bank. To cope successfully with the teaching role
in lifelong learning, it is also necessary to encourage teachers
to feel constantly responsible for their own development.

13.
The CoR would stress that the new vision and approach
focusing on learning in a variety of forms — as opposed to
instruction — will make demands on colleges, further edu-
cation institutions and research institutions in the shape of
education and research in lifelong learning.

14.
Learning requirements can be ascertained in different
ways on the basis of the views expressed by individuals,
groups, the workplace and civil society organizations. In a
knowledge-based Europe this debate on educational needs will
have to be conducted on a local and regional basis.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

14.11.2002

15.
The CoR would also stress the importance of pursuing
a forward-looking discussion taking heed of the messages
emitted locally/regionally by society, by the workplace and
different businesses, varying from innovative and more
growth-oriented sectors with modern working structures to
more traditional firms/sectors whose working methods have
not changed.

flexible learning opportunities which are quite different from
more traditional distance education. It is also important to
enable those who so need or wish to move ahead in the
company of others, to the potential benefit of both the learning
process and social harmony.

16.
Alongside what are more traditionally considered to be
basic skills, the CoR would highlight a number of other
aspects, such as understanding, respect and empathy for our
fellow citizens, regardless of ethnical background, language or
religion, combined with an appreciation of the value of
Europe’s linguistic, cultural and natural diversity.

Some other major skills in meeting the challenges of

17.
today are:

— an overview of one’s own learning,

— the capacity to operate and work together with others,

— the capacity to understand different viewpoints,

— the capacity to deal with complex issues and a flood of

information,

— the capacity to present oneself, speak in public and

express viewpoints.

18.
The CoR shares the Commission’s view that increased
investment in education must fit into strategies framed at local
level. It also insists that investment in education must take
account of strategies at regional level. A debate is needed on
the respective responsibility of society and entrepreneurs for
education.

The CoR considers that special support must be made
19.
available for accessing various forms of
‘second chance’
educational opportunities. Increasingly demand is focused on
education or training at college or post-secondary level. Hence
those who so wish must have access to education at this level
without being held back by geographical, social, private finance
or other obstacles.

21.
The CoR agrees on the need to develop a positive
learning culture. As the platform for lifelong and life-wide
learning, perhaps the most important task of primary and
secondary schools and adult education institutions is con-
stantly to stimulate curiosity and the desire to learn. Particular
emphasis must be placed on encouraging persons who have
less positive memories of their schooldays or who are other-
wise lacking in motivation. In particular, it is important to
improve the learning opportunities for young school drop-outs
and immigrants so as to provide them with the prerequisites
necessary for lifelong learning.

22.
In future a major feature of local and regional lifelong
learning infrastructure will be the evaluation of knowledge and
skills — regardless of whether they have been acquired through
formal, non-formal or informal learning. The CoR would stress
the importance of steering clear of complicated technical
assessment systems or systems where individuals are regarded
as objects rather than being given the support they need to get
their skills recognised and documented. Such systems can be
expected to frighten people off and prove counterproductive.
It is therefore necessary to see the individual as an information
carrier. The CoR urges that it be involved in continued efforts
in this area of action. The Central European Language Portfolio,
already in use in many countries, is an example of this.

23.
The CoR would like to stress that it must be allowed to
play an active role in promoting lifelong learning at local and
regional
level. The prospects for developing existing town
twinning system schemes and fostering new contacts are
favourable. By making full use of new information and
communication technologies, further opportunities will be
created for building bridges between different forms of learning
in different parts of Europe. The CoR looks forward to
working with the Commission to find new innovatory ways of
identifying best practice in lifelong learning at local and
regional level.

Further,

local/regional authorities and other players
20.
must be equipped to operate and develop local
lifelong
learning facilities at times, in places and at a pace which
suit different individuals.
Information and communication
technologies continue to gain ground and to create new,

24.
The CoR welcomes the Commission’s resolve to provide
support in different forms for the networking of regions and
cities with successful lifelong learning strategies. It is keen to
cooperate in such action with a view to building on experiences
and good practice.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 278/29

25.
The Commission announces the framing of European
recommendations regarding quality evaluation in education.
is important for such tools to be
In the CoR’s view,
developed to support various players in their drive for constant
improvement
in meeting fixed targets, expectations and
demands — but not as a central system of checks based on
rigid routines.

it

local and regional level throughout the EU in lively dialogue
and discussion of programmes of action. The Committee
suggests that there should be a substantial number of local and
regional representatives on any planned or possible future
bodies, in order to ensure that consultation and formulation
of proposals with respect to lifelong learning are of the highest
quality.

26.
The CoR welcomes the development of a limited
number of indicators but feels that it is vital to draw on the
lessons learned in the context of the OECD’s work. The CoR
would willingly participate in this process.

27.
The CoR feels that one prerequisite for maintaining the
momentum of a lifelong learning process is to involve the

28.
Future efforts to make lifelong learning a reality must
involve the CoR, as the representative of the local and regional
level in Europe. The Commission’s communication has speci-
fied a large number of practical tasks. It is important for these
to be regularly updated with the CoR. This could be done —
as we have already pointed out in our Opinion on the
Commission’s memorandum on lifelong learning — through
a Commission-CoR joint committee.

Brussels, 15 May 2002.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on:

— the ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on alternative fuels for
road transportation and on a set of measures to promote the use of biofuels’,

— the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion

of the use of biofuels for transport’, and

— the ‘Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 92/81/EEC with regard to the
possibility of applying a reduced rate of excise duty on certain mineral oils containing
biofuels and on biofuels’

(2002/C 278/09)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on alternative fuels for road
transportation and on a set of measures to promote the use of biofuels, the Proposal for a Directive of
the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of biofuels for transport, and
the Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 92/81/EEC with regard to the possibility of
applying a reduced rate of excise duty on certain mineral oils containing biofuels and on biofuels
[COM(2001) 547 final — 2001/0265 (COD)];

having regard to the Council decision of 18 January 2002, under Article 175(1) of the Treaty establishing
the European Community, to consult the Committee on this matter;