Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008) amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2003-11-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, cooperation policy, higher education, teaching quality, third country

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 11.11.2003
COM(2003) 694 final

2002/0165 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament's amendments
to the Council's common position regarding the
proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the
promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries
(Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008)

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION
pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty

2002/0165 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament's amendments
to the Council's common position regarding the
proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the
promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries
(Erasmus Mundus) (2004-2008)

1.

INTRODUCTION

Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty provides that the Commission is
to  deliver  an  opinion  on  the  amendments  proposed  by  the  European  Parliament  at  second
reading.  The  Commission  sets  out  its  opinion  below  on  the  7  amendments  proposed  by
Parliament.

2.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

3.

BACKGROUND

Transmission of the Commission proposal (COM(2002) 401 final 2002/0165 (COD))
to the European Parliament and to the Council: 18 July 2002

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee: 26 February 2003.

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions: 9 April 2003.

Opinion of the European Parliament (first reading): 8 April 2003.

Adoption  of  the  Commission  amended  proposal  (COM(2003)  239  final  2002/0165
(COD)) pursuant to article 250, paragraph 2 of the Treaty: 29 April 2003.

Adoption of the Council common position: 16 June 2003.

Adoption of the Parliament’s amendments in second reading: 21 October 2003.

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL

Based on Article 149, the proposal seeks to establish a Community programme whose overall
aim  is  to  enhance  quality  education  by  improving  the  perception  of  European  higher
education world-wide and by fostering co-operation with third countries in order to improve
the  development  of  human  resources  and  to  promote  dialogue  and  understanding  between
peoples  and  cultures.  The  proposal  provides  a  response  to  the  challenges  faced  by  European
higher education today, in particular the need to stimulate the process of convergence of degree
the
structure  and  enhance  attractiveness  world-wide.  These  are 

themes  central 

to 

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Sorbonne/Bologna/Prague  processes  and  to  national  reform  in  higher  education  in  Member
States.

4.

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  BY  THE  EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT

Total number of amendments: 7

Amendments accepted in full: 7

Amendments accepted by the Commission

The Commission accepts six amendments that contribute to clarifying and reinforcing certain
aspects of the text:

–  Amendment 1, adds a reference clarifying that higher professional training is part of higher
education; amendment 2, introduces a new recital referring to the  renewal of the  existing
programmes  and  the  promotion  of  access  to  Erasmus  Mundus  for  European  students;
amendments  3  and  6,  reinforce  the  notion  of  Erasmus  Mundus  Masters  Courses  being
selected  on  the  basis  of  course  quality  and  quality  of  the  hosting  arrangements;  and
amendments  4  and  7,  reinforce  references  to  the  learning  and  use  of  two  languages
(without prejudice to the language of instruction) already covered in the annex.

The Commission also accepts amendment 5, which proposes a budget of € 230 million for the
programme; this amount is adequate for a flagship programme like Erasmus Mundus and is in
line with the Commission’s financial programming for the enlarged European Union.

5.

CONCLUSION

Pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out
above.

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