Amended proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multi-annual programme (2004-2006) for the effective integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education and training systems in Europe (eLearning Programme) (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty)
Date: 2003-04-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, education policy, educational system, information technology, programmed learning

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 29.4.2003
COM(2003) 245 final

2002/0303 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

adopting a multi-annual programme (2004-2006) for the effective integration of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education and training
systems in Europe (eLearning Programme)

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2)
of the EC Treaty)

2002/0303 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

adopting a multi-annual programme (2004-2006) for the effective integration of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education and training systems
in Europe (eLearning Programme)

1. 

BACKGROUND

Transmission of the Proposal to the to the EP and the Council
(document COM(2002) 751 final - 2002/0303 (COD)):

19 December 2002

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee:

26 March 2003

Opinion of the Committee of Regions:

Opinion of the European Parliament - first reading:

10 April 2003

8 April 2003

2. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

The  objective  of  the  proposal  is  to  promote  and  facilitate  the  effective  integration  of
information and communication technologies in European education and training systems, as
a contribution to improving their quality and as an essential element of their adaptation to the
needs  of  the  knowledge  society  and  of  the  European  model  of  social  cohesion.  The  term
e-learning has become a shorthand to designate this integration, which should be understood
as  a  new  tool  for  education,  complementing  and  enhancing  existing  ones.  The  programme
proposal seeks to exploit the potential of e-learning for enhancing the European dimension in
education and to facilitate  a more structured  co-operation  in  the  field  of  e-learning  between
the diverse Community programmes and instruments and Member States actions;

3. 

COMMISSION OPINION ON THE AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE PARLIAMENT

The Commission can accept fully or in the essence 24 of the 27 amendments adopted by the
Parliament

3.1. 

Amendments fully accepted by the Commission

As  regards  the  scope  of  the  programme,  there  is  a  series  of  amendments  stressing  the
importance of teacher training for the overall objectives of the eLearning programme, and of
the e-twinning action area as a tool for « in-service » teacher training in the use of ICT and in
European  cooperation.  Amendments  24  and  25  specify  that  the  action  will  concern  both
primary and secondary schools (The term « schools » used on the proposal covers both levels;
the reason for this amendment is to avoid confusions with the Barcelona Council conclusions,
which refer specifically to secondary schools). Amendments 3 and 14 call for a proficient use
of Internet, in a pedagogical, critical and responsible sense.

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A  second  series  of  amendments  introduce  references  to  specific  target  groups,  such  as  the
disabled, rural areas, or immigrants, and to  gender issues. These  are amendments 2, 5 (only
for the English version), 8, 10, 20 and 21.

As regards financing,  amendments 1  and 7,  call  for  keeping  the  programme’s  budget  at  the
same  level  as  preparatory  actions  and  can  be  accepted.  Amendment  17,  a  compromise
amendment changes the Commission proposal, allocating a higher share of funding to the e-
twinning schools in Europe  action line  and  reducing  consequently  the  percentage  for  action
line 1 « e-learning for fighting the digital divide ». This change is in line with the discussion
on  the  programme’s  priorities  at  the  Council,  at  the  European  Social  and  Economic
Committee, and at the Committee of the Regions, and the Commission is willing to accept it.

Amendment  9,  adding  to  the  programme’s  objectives  the  promotion  of  the  development  of
high quality multimedia European software, contents and services, can also be accepted.

The  same  can  be  said  for  amendments  18  and  19,  calling  for  simplification  of  the
programme’s management, and going in the same line as suggested by the Council.

Amendment  27  develops  the  concept  of  international  cooperation,  calling  for  attention  to
known good e-learning practice, namely to that of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. While
this reference is not necessary, the Commission can accept the proposal of the rapporteur.

3.2. 

Amendments accepted in part or principle by the Commission

On the scope of the programme, amendment 11 develops the teacher training aspects of  the
schools twinning action, with a particular emphasis in the exchange of good practice and the
development  of  cooperation  at  teacher  level.  While  there  is  agreement  in  the  essence,  the
proposed  wording  of  the  amendment  is  very  long  and  has  a  repetitive  sentence  on  good
practice. It is proposed to shorten it and to eliminate this repetition. It is also proposed to take
away the reference to « virtual training rooms », a concept that would present a problem for
some Member States.

Commission suggests to reword as follows:

e-twinning  of  schools  in  Europe  and  promotion  of  teachers'  training:  Actions  in
this area will support and further develop existing schools and networking, to make
it possible for all schools in Europe to build pedagogical partnerships with a school
elsewhere  in  Europe ;  to  promote  innovative  cooperation  methods  and  transfer
quality  educational  approaches  and  reinforce  language  learning  and  intercultural
dialogue; Actions in this  area will also address  teachers' and trainers'  skills in the
pedagogical  and  collaborative  use  of  ICT  through  an  exchange  of  good  practices
and the setting up of transnational and multidisciplinary projects.

Amendment  6,  introducing  in  the  recitals  a  call  for  fast  European  action  concerning  virtual
campuses, in particular in the context of mobility programmes, is acceptable in the essence.
However,  it  is  proposed  to  delete  the  reference  to  ”programmes  existing  or  in  the  pipeline
such as Erasmus Mundus” as this would presuppose the adoption of the said programme and
to reword the reference to "curricula" for which the Commission has no competence.

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The first part of amendment 12, including the objective of promoting the development of high
quality  multimedia  European  software,  contents  and  services  within  “Action  area  d)
transversal  actions”  can  be  accepted.  However,  it  is  proposed  to  delete  the  second  part,
referring  to  the  “promotion  of  research,  development,  distribution  and  marketing”  as
commercial actions are beyond the scope of education and training programmes.

Amendment 13, adding an explanation of sustainability can be accepted, but it is proposed to
reduce it to the essence, to avoid unnecessary complication of the text. Proposed wording is as
follows “beyond the end of the programme”.

Amendment  15,  on  gender  strategy,  can  be  accepted  in  the  essence,  but  it  is  suggested  to
reword it, to ensure the coherence of policy levels, as follows :

(b)  seek  synergies  with  other  Community  programmes  and  actions  in  the  field  of
education, research, social policy (including the strategy on gender mainstreaming)
and regional development;

Amendment 22, adding the word common to the trans-national diplomas proposed in action
area 2 virtual campuses is not strictly necessary, as this is the essence of the action, but it can
be accepted.

Amendment  26,  asking  for  the  development  of  new  technologies  related  to  translating  and
interpreting  languages  addresses  a  cannot  be  accepted  verbatim,  as  it  refers  to  research
activities. It is suggested to reword it as follows:

d  a)  Support  of  projects  for  the  test  and  evaluation  of  new  technologies  related  to
translating  and  interpreting  languages  for  use  in  disseminating  knowledge  and  in
training

3.3. 

Amendments not accepted by the Commission

Amendment  4  states  the  importance  of  digital  television,  and  calls  for  guaranteeing
interoperability  in  accordance  with  Article  18  of  the  Directive  on  a  common  regulatory
framework  for  electronic  communications  networks  and  services  (Framework  Directive).
While fully agreeing with the essence of the amendment, the actions called for are beyond the
competences of education and training programmes. This amendment is therefore rejected.

Amendment 16 proposes an augmentation of the total budget from 36 Meuro to 54 Meuro, in
agreement  with  the  spirit  of  amendments  1  and  7.  However,  at  this  stage,  the  Commission
must stay with its original proposal. 

Amendment  23  asking  for  « European  teacher  training  programmes »  cannot  be  accepted.
Teacher training is an exclusive competence of Member States.

3.4. 

Amended proposal

Having  regard  to  Article  250,  paragraph  2,  of  the  EC  Treaty,  the  Commission  modifies  its
proposals as indicated above.

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