Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada establishing a framework for cooperation in higher education, training and youth
Date: 2006-12-05
Institutions: Canada, European Community
Subjects: Canada, cooperation agreement (EU), cooperation policy, higher education, vocational training, youth policy

30.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

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between the European Community and the Government of Canada establishing a framework for
cooperation in higher education, training and youth

AGREEMENT

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY,

on the one part, and

THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA,

on the other part,

hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘″the Parties’″,

NOTING that the Declaration on European Community-Canada Relations adopted by the European Community and its
Member States and the Government of Canada on 22 November 1990 makes specific reference to strengthening mutual
cooperation in various fields which directly affect the present and future well-being of their citizens, such as exchanges
and joint projects in education and culture, including academic and youth exchanges;

NOTING that the Canada-EU Joint Political Declaration and Action Plan adopted on 17 December 1996 states that in
order to renew their ties based on shared cultures and values, the Parties will encourage contacts between their citizens at
every level, especially among their youth; and that the Joint Action Plan attached to the Declaration encourages the Parties
to further strengthen their cooperation through the Agreement between the European Community and the Government
of Canada Establishing a Cooperation Programme in Higher Education and Training ratified in 1996;

NOTING that the EU-Canada Partnership Agenda adopted on 18 March 2004 at the EU-Canada Summit refers to the need
to seek new ways to foster links between our respective peoples, notably by broadening the scope of Canadian and Euro-
pean Community exchange programmes for young people and by exploring avenues to reinforce and broaden the scope
of EC-Canada cooperation when renewing the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of
Canada Renewing a Cooperation Programme in Higher Education and Training ratified in March 2001;

NOTING that the Joint Declaration adopted at the EU-Canada Summit on 19 June 2005 further refers to the EU and
Canadian leaders’ intention to renew, reinforce and broaden the scope of the Agreement Renewing a Cooperation Pro-
gramme in Higher Education and Training, ratified in 2001, notably through the addition of cooperation on youth, to
strengthen academic cooperation and transatlantic exchange between our citizens;

CONSIDERING the full respect for the responsibilities of the Member States of the European Community and for the
legislative powers of the provinces and territories of Canada in the fields of education and training, and the autonomy of
the higher education and training institutions;

CONSIDERING that the adoption and the implementation of the 1996 and 2001 Agreements on Higher Education and
Training realise the commitments of the EU-Canada Declarations, and that the cooperation has been highly positive for
both Parties;

ACKNOWLEDGING the crucial contribution of higher education and training to the development of human resources
capable of participating in the global knowledge-based economy;

RECOGNISING that cooperation in higher education, training and youth should complement other relevant cooperation
initiatives between the European Community and Canada;

ACKNOWLEDGING the importance of taking into account the work done in the field of higher education and training by
international organisations active in these fields such as the OECD, UNESCO and the Council of Europe;

RECOGNISING that the Parties have a common interest in cooperation in higher education, training and youth, as part of
the wider cooperation that exists between the European Community and Canada;

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EXPECTING to obtain mutual benefit from cooperation in higher education, training and youth;

RECOGNISING the need to widen access to the activities supported under this Agreement, in particular those activities in
the training and youth sectors;

DESIRING to renew the basis for continuing cooperation in higher education and training,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Purpose

This Agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in
higher education, training and youth between the European Com-
munity and Canada.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this Agreement:

1)

2)

3)

4)

‘higher education institution’ means any establishment
according to either Party’s applicable laws or practices that
offers qualifications or diplomas at higher education level,
irrespective of the designation given to it;

‘training institution’ means any type of public, semi-public
or private body, which, irrespective of the designation given
to it, in accordance with either Party’s applicable laws and
practices, designs or undertakes vocational education or
training, further vocational training, refresher vocational
training or retraining contributing to qualifications recogn-
ised by the competent authorities;

‘students’ means all those persons who follow learning or
training courses or programmes which are run by higher
education or training institutions as defined in this Article,
and that are recognised or financially supported by the com-
petent authorities;

‘youth’ means areas of activities linked to non-formal and
informal learning involving youth organisations and other
youth associations as well as youth workers, young leaders
and other actors working for, or with, young people.

Article 3

Objectives

1.

The general objectives of this Agreement shall be to:

(a) promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the
European Union and Canada including broader knowledge
of their languages, cultures and institutions;

(b)

improve the quality of human resources in both the Euro-
pean Community and Canada, by facilitating the acquisition
of skills required to meet the challenges of the global
knowledge-based economy.

2.

The specific objectives of this Agreement shall be to:

(a)

reinforce a European Community and a Canadian value-
added dimension to transatlantic cooperation in higher edu-
cation, training and youth;

(b) contribute to transatlantic exchanges between citizens of

both the European Union and Canada;

(c)

contribute to the development of higher education and train-
and
ing
organisations;

youth structures

institutions,

as well

as

(d) promote and/or enhance partnerships among stakeholders
active in the areas of higher education, training and youth
in the European Community and Canada;

(e)

contribute to the professional development of individuals
while achieving the general objectives of the Agreement;

(f) develop opportunities for dialogue and exchanges on youth

policy and youth work.

3.

The operational objectives of this Agreement shall be to:

(a)

(b)

(c)

support collaboration between higher education and train-
ing institutions with a view to promoting and developing
joint
training programmes and student
mobility;

study and/or

improve the quality of transatlantic student mobility by pro-
moting transparency, mutual recognition of qualifications
and periods of study and training, and where appropriate
portability of credits;

support collaboration among public and private organisa-
tions active in the areas of higher education, training and
youth with a view to encouraging discussion and exchange
of experience on policy issues;

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(d)

(e)

support transatlantic mobility of professionals (including
professionals-in-training) with a view to improving mutual
understanding, and expertise, of issues relevant to European
Union/Canada relations;

2.

The functions of the Joint Committee shall be to:

(a)

review the cooperation envisaged under this Agreement;

support collaboration among youth structures and organisa-
tions as well as youth workers, young leaders and other
youth actors with a view to promoting exchanges of good
practices and developing networks.

(b)

report to the Parties on the level, status and effectiveness of
the cooperation in accordance with the objectives and prin-
ciples of this Agreement;

Article 4

Principles

Cooperation under this Agreement shall be conducted on the
basis of the following principles:

1)

full respect for the responsibilities of the Member States of
the European Community and for the legislative powers of
the Provinces and Territories of Canada in the fields of edu-
cation and training, and the autonomy of the higher educa-
tion and training institutions;

2) overall balance of benefits from activities undertaken

through this Agreement;

(c)

share information on recent developments, policies, new
trends or innovative practices related to higher education,
training and youth.

3.
The Joint Committee shall endeavour to meet every sec-
ond year, with such meetings being held alternately in the Euro-
pean Union and Canada. Other meetings may be held as mutually
determined.

4.
Decisions of the Joint Committee shall be reached by con-
sensus. Minutes shall be agreed upon by those persons selected
from each side to chair the meeting jointly, and shall, together
with the report, be made available to the Joint Cooperation Com-
mittee established under the 1976 Framework Agreement on
Commercial and Economic Cooperation between the European
Community and Canada as well as appropriate Ministers of each
Party.

3) broad participation across the different Member States of the
European Community and the Provinces and Territories of
Canada;

Article 7

Monitoring and evaluation

4)

5)

recognition of the full cultural, social and economic diver-
sity of the European Community and Canada;

enhanced collaboration between the European Community
and Canada and complementarity with bilateral programmes
between the Member States of the European Community and
Canada, as well as other European Community and Canada
programmes and initiatives in higher education, training and
youth.

Cooperation shall be monitored and evaluated as appropriate on
a cooperative basis thus permitting, as necessary, the reorienta-
tion of the cooperative activities in the light of any needs or
opportunities becoming apparent
their
implementation.

in the course of

Article 8

Funding

Article 5

Cooperation

1.
Cooperation shall be subject to the availability of funds and
to the applicable laws and regulations, policies and programmes
of the European Community and Canada. Financing will be on
the basis of an overall matching of funds between the Parties.

Cooperation shall be pursued by means of the actions described
in the Annex, which forms an integral part of this Agreement.

2.

Each Party shall provide funds for the direct benefit of:

Article 6

Joint Committee

— for the European Community, citizens of one of the Euro-
pean Community Member States or persons recognised by
a Member State as having official status as permanent
residents,

A Joint Committee is hereby established. It shall comprise

1.
representatives of each Party.

— for Canada, its own citizens and permanent residents as

defined by Canadian law.

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Costs incurred by or on behalf of the Joint Committee shall
3.
be met by the Party to whom the respective member who has
incurred the cost is responsible. Costs, other than those of travel
and subsistence, that are directly associated with meetings of the
Joint Committee, shall be met by the host Party.

Article 9

Entry of personnel

Each Party shall take all reasonable steps and use its best efforts
to facilitate entry to and exit from its territory of personnel, stu-
dents, material and equipment of the other Party engaged in or
used in cooperation under this Agreement in accordance with
their respective laws and regulations.

Article 10

Other agreements

1.
This Agreement is without prejudice to cooperation which
may be taken pursuant to other agreements between the Parties.

This Agreement is without prejudice to existing or future
2.
bilateral agreements between individual Member States of the
European Community and Canada in the fields covered herein.

Article 11

Territorial application of this Agreement

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories
in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is
applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and,
on the other hand, to the territory of Canada.

Article 12

Final clauses

1.
Each Party shall notify the other in writing of its consent
to be bound by this Agreement. This Agreement shall enter into
force on the first day of the month following the date on which
the last Party shall have so notified the other.

2.
This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of eight
years, following which it may be extended by written agreement
of the Parties.

This Agreement may be amended by mutual written agree-

3.
ment of the Parties.

Amendments or extensions shall be in writing and shall

4.
enter into force on a date determined by the Parties.

5.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either
Party upon twelve months written notice. The expiration or ter-
mination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or dura-
tion of any arrangements made under it or the obligations
established pursuant to the Annex to this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Agreement.

Done at Helsinki this 5 December 2006, in two original texts in the English, French, Czech,
Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mal-
tese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, all texts being equally
authentic.

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Por la Comunidad Europea
Za Evropské společenství
For Det Europæiske Fællesskab
Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft
Euroopa Ühenduse nimel
Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα
For the European Community
Pour la Communauté européenne
Per la Comunità europea
Eiropas Kopienas vārdā
Europos bendrijos vardu
Az Európai Közösség részéről
Għall-Komunità Ewropea
Voor de Europese Gemeenschap
W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej
Pela Comunidade Europeia
Za Európske spoločenstvo
Za Evropsko skupnost
Euroopan yhteisön puolesta
För Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

Por el Gobierno de Canadá
Za vládu Kanady
For Canadas regering
Für die Regierung Kanadas
Kanada valitsuse nimel
Για την Κυβέρνηση του Καναδά
For the Government of Canada
Pour le gouvernement du Canada
Per il governo del Canada
Kanādas valdības vārdā
Kanados Vyriausybės vardu
Kanada Kormánya részéről
Għall-Gvern tal-Kanada
Voor de Regering van Canada
W imieniu Rządu Kanady
Pelo Governo do Canadá
Za vládu Kanady
Za vlado Kanade
Kanadan hallituksen puolesta
För Kanadas regering

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Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX

ACTIONS

1.

Higher education and training action

1.1. The Parties shall provide support to higher education institutions and training institutions which form joint EC/Canada

consortia for the purpose of undertaking joint projects in the area of higher education and training.

1.2. Each joint consortium must be formed by a multilateral partnership comprising institutions from at least two Mem-

ber States of the European Community and at least two provinces or territories of Canada.

1.3.

Joint consortia activities should normally involve transatlantic mobility of students in the framework of joint study
programmes, mutual credit recognition, language and cultural preparation, with a goal of parity in the flows in each
direction.

1.4. The priority and eligible subject areas for joint EC/Canada consortia cooperation shall be mutually agreed upon by

each Party’s appropriate authorities.

1.5. The Parties may provide financial support for student mobility to joint consortia of higher education and/or voca-
tional training institutions that have a proven track record of excellence in the implementation of joint projects
funded by the Parties.

2.

Youth action

The Parties may provide financial support to activities involving youth structures, organisations, youth workers,
young leaders and other youth actors. These activities may include seminars, training courses, job shadowing and
study visits, on targeted themes, e.g. citizenship, cultural diversity, community work/volunteering, and recognition
of non-formal and informal learning.

3.

Complementary action

3.1. The Parties may support a limited number of complementary activities in accordance with the objectives of the Agree-
ment, including exchanges of experience and good practices, pooling resources and e-based material in the areas of
higher education, training and youth.

3.2. The Parties may provide financial support to policy-oriented measures involving organisations active in higher edu-
cation, training and youth; these measures may include studies, conferences, seminars, working groups, professional
development workshops, benchmarking exercises and address horizontal higher education and vocational training
issues, including recognition of qualifications and the transfer of credits under the European Credit Transfer System
(ECTS).

3.3. The Parties may provide financial support for the mobility of professionals (including new graduates and professionals-
in-training) who want to undertake short duration studies, or training programmes to develop their expertise, in
areas of specific relevance to the EC/Canada relationship, which would be identified by the Parties.

3.4. The Parties may provide financial support to an Alumni Association involving students who have participated in
exchanges implemented by the EC/Canada consortia in higher education and vocational training. This Alumni Asso-
ciation may be run by one or more organisations that the Parties shall jointly designate.

1. Each Party may provide financial support for activities provided under the Agreement.

Management of the actions

2. Administration of the Actions shall be implemented by the competent officials of each Party. These tasks may comprise:

— deciding the rules and procedures for the presentation of proposals including the preparation of common guide-

lines for applicants,

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— establishing the timetable for publication of calls for proposals, submission and selection of proposals,

— providing information on activities under this agreement and their implementation,

— appointing academic advisors and experts, including for independent appraisal of proposals,

— recommending to the appropriate authorities of each Party which projects to finance,

— financial management,

— a collaborative approach to monitoring and evaluation.

3. As a rule, the European Community will provide support (including scholarships) for the use of the EC project part-

ners; Canada will provide support for Canadian project partners.

Technical support measures

The Parties shall make funds available for purchasing services to ensure optimal implementation of the Agreement; in
particular the Parties may organise seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts, conduct evaluations, produce publi-
cations or disseminate related information.