2002/601/EC: Council Decision of 27 June 2002 amending Decision 1999/311/EC adopting the third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000 to 2006)
Date: 2002-06-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, cooperation policy, higher education

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 27 June 2002

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

(2002/601/EC)

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 (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

their perception of each other. It stresses the essential
nature of the development of human resources, both as
regards the 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 part-
nership and as an essential factor for greater under-
standing and closeness between peoples.

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (3),

(5)

Having consulted the Committee of the Regions,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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 (4).

The Mediterranean region constitutes a priority area for
the Community and the political, economic and social
development of the Mediterranean partners is a chal-
lenge of ever increasing proportions.

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.

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 the Mediterranean peoples closer,
promoting understanding between them and improving

(1) OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002, p. 118.
(2) Opinion delivered on 14 May 2002 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(3) OJ C 149, 21.6.2002, p. 36.
(4) OJ L 189, 30.7.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

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

Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in higher education is
an indispensable instrument to achieve the key objec-
tives set out in the Barcelona declaration and in partic-
ular
to develop human resources, promote under-
standing between cultures and rapprochement of the
peoples in the Euro-Mediterranean region as well as to
develop free and flourishing civil societies.

On 29 April 1999 the Council adopted Decision 1999/
311/EC adopting the third phase of the trans-European
cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III)
(2000 to 2006) (5).

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 educa-
tion structures in the eligible countries.

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-
Mediterranean region.

(6)

(7)

(8)

(5) OJ L 120, 8.5.1999, p. 30. Decision as last amended by Regula-

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

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(9)

(10)

It is appropriate to extend the period covered by the
Tempus III programme by six months to 31 December
2006 without adjusting the financial provision, since
that period corresponds to that of the financial perspec-
tives as well as that of the other major Community
education and training programmes.

The measures necessary for the implementation of the
Tempus III programme should be adopted in accordance
with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999
laying down the procedures for the exercise of imple-
menting powers conferred on the Commission (1).

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

accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision 1999/311/EC is hereby amended as follows:

1. Articles 1 and 2 shall be replaced by the following:

‘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.

Article 2

Eligible countries

Tempus III shall concern the countries which are
1.
beneficiaries under Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000
of 5 December 2000 on assistance for Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (*), and
the new independent States of the former Soviet Union and
Mongolia referred to in Council Regulation (EC, Euratom)
No 99/2000 of 29 December 1999 concerning the provi-
sion of assistance to the partner States in eastern Europe
and central Asia (**), and Mediterranean non-member
countries and territories listed in Council Regulation (EC)
No 1488/96 of 23 July 1996 on financial and technical
measures to accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic
and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediter-
ranean partnership (***). These countries and territories are
hereinafter referred to as “eligible countries”.

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,
shall agree with the eligible countries
concerned whether they should participate in Tempus III,
and the nature and conditions of their participation. The

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

conditions of Article 10(1) will apply to eligible countries
that do not participate in Tempus III.

(*) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1. Regulation as

last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 2415/2001 (OJ L
327, 12.12.2001, p. 3).
(**) OJ L 12, 18.1.2000, p. 1.
(***) OJ L 189, 30.7.1996, p. 1. Regulation as

last
amended by Regulation (EC) No 2698/2000 (OJ L
311, 12.12.2000, p. 1).’

2. Articles 5, 6 and 7 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 5

Aim

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 there-
from, the development of the higher education systems
in the eligible countries
through the most balanced
cooperation possible with partners from all the Member
States.

2. More specifically, Tempus III shall:

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

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

eligible

(i) issues relating to the development and reshaping

of curricula in the priority areas;

(ii) reform and development of higher education
structures and establishments and their manage-
ment;

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

particularly

(iv) the contribution of higher education and training
to citizenship and the strengthening of democ-
racy.

The Commission shall, when pursuing the aim of
3.
Tempus III, observe the Community's general policy on
equal opportunities for men and women. The Commis-
sion 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 priori-
ties and objectives for the role of Tempus III, on the
basis of the programme's aim and the provisions of the
Annex, and in conformity in particular with:

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

Article 2(1);

In this case, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall apply;’

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

eligible country;

3. Articles 9 and 10 shall be replaced by the following:

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

‘Article 9

Article 7

Committee

implement Tempus

in
1.
The Commission shall
accordance with the provisions of
the Annex, on the
basis of detailed guidelines to be adopted annually and
following the detailed priorities and objectives agreed
with the competent authorities in each eligible country,
as provided for in Article 6.

III

The Committee referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5
2.
shall,
in particular, assist the Commission in the imple-
mentation of the scheme having regard to the aim set
out in Article 5 and shall coordinate its work with that
of other programme committees established in the field
of education (Socrates) and training (Leonardo).

3.
The measures necessary for the implementation of
this Decision relating to the subject matters referred to
below shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure
set out in paragraph 4:

(a) the general guidelines governing Tempus III;

(b) the selection procedures and general guidelines for the
Community's financial assistance (amounts, duration
and beneficiaries);

(c) questions relating to the overall balance of Tempus
including the breakdown between the various

III,
actions;

(d) the detailed priorities and objectives to be agreed with
the competent authorities in each eligible country;

(e) the

arrangements

for monitoring

and evaluating

Tempus III.

4.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/
468/EC shall be set at one month.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

In addition,

5.
the
Committee on any other matter concerning the imple-
including the annual report.
mentation of Tempus III,

the Commission may consult

Links with other Community actions

if applicable,

this Decision and,

In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
the procedure
7(4) of
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 established by the annual budgetary
decisions, the Commission shall ensure consistency and,
where necessary, complementarity 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

1.
The Commission shall organise appropriate coordi-
nation 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 applic-
able, participation in Tempus III projects.

This participation may take a variety of

2.
including one or more of the following:

forms,

(a) participation in Tempus III projects on a co-financing

basis;

(b) use of the opportunities available under Tempus III to
funding;

channel exchange actions receiving bilateral

(c) coordination between Tempus III and national

initia-
tives which have the same aims but which are funded
and managed separately;

(d) mutual exchange of information on all relevant initia-

tives in this field.

(*) 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 participa-
tion relates to projects with the non-associated coun-
tries of central and eastern Europe eligible under the
PHARE programme and such other countries
the
subsequently decide to include.’;
Community might

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4.

in Article 12, the second paragraph shall be replaced by the following:

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

5.

in the Annex, the text under the heading ‘Individual grants’ shall be replaced by the text in the
Annex to this Decision.

This Decision shall take effect from the day of its adoption.

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 2

Done at Luxembourg, 27 June 2002.

For the Council

The President

M. ARIAS CAÑETE

ANNEX

‘Individual grants

In addition to the JEPs and the structural and/or complementary measures, the Community will also support the provi-
sion 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.’