CELEX: 51994PC0180
Language: en
Date: 1994-05-16
Title: Amended proposal for a EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION establishing the Community action programme - "SOCRATES"

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMVIUNITIES
                                          C0MC94) 180 final
                                          Brussels, 16.05.1994
                                          94/0001 (COD)
                       Amended proposal for a
              EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION
            establishing the Community action programme
                             SOCRATES"
    (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 A (2)
                          of the EC-Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---                                 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Further to the opinion of 22-04-94 of the European Parliament from their first reading,
the Commission, in accordance with Article 189A, paragraph 2, of the TEU, is
presenting a modified Proposal for a Dedsion to the Council. The text indudes two
main types of modification:
       one group of amendments adding helpful darifications and detail to the initial
       proposal;
       a second group of amendments reinfordng the proposal, in particular where the
       target groups of the programme are concerned.
The modified proposal of the Commission retains the same overall strudure and the
same objedives as the initial proposal, but it has been developed and gives better
focus to certain provisions.
Out of 104 amendments of the European Parliament 56 have been rejeded.
These 56 rejeded amendments cover
       the legal base on the single Artide 126 of the Treaty (amendments 1, 2,4, 5);
       The Commission upholds its position on the double legal base (Artides 126 and
       127 of the Treaty) for the reasons given under Whereas 6 of its initial proposal;
       indusion of provisions making reference to the responsibilities of the Member
       States and their internal organisation, and which thereby go against the
       prindple of subsidiarity (amendments 28, 45, 54, 58, 68);
       indusion of provisions making reference to the composition of the Advisory
       Committee or to its tasks, which are counter to the provisions of the
       "comitology" in force (amendments 38, 39, 40, 43);
       introduction of preferential treatment for regions or establishments in cohesion
       states (amendments 11, 22, 59, 8 1 , 105, 126, 76);
       The Commission considers that the fundamental basis for the SOCRATES
       programme is the quality of the activities requesting funding and that, through
       its seledion policy, it encourages all regions to participate;
       introdudion of language learning to categories which are not considered to be
       targets of the programme (amendments 41, 79, 89, 95);
       deletion of certain elements of cooperation in the field of distance education
       which would have consequences for the qualitative aspects of cooperation in
       this area (amendments 99, 100);
       introdudion of provisions to allow the opening up of the programme to other
       assodated European countries (amendments 20, 49);
                                         - Page la.
 ---pagebreak---        The Commission considers that such opening could be effeded through more
       spedfic legal instruments and not in the framework of this Dedsion;
       introdudion of research adivities which could be eligible under the Fourth
        Framework Programme for Research (amendments 37,62, 106);
        introdudion of changes to the formulae for the distribution of Community funds
        in the various Adions of the programme which puts the coherence of the text
        in jeopardy (amendments 66, 73, 74);
        introdudion of elements of very broad cooperation (university meetings) or of
        exceptions to the rules in force (minimum duration of study periods undertaken
        abroad) (amendments 52, 53);
        introdudion of a provision for automatic renewal of existing programmes
        (ERASMUS, LINGUA) or planning for an essential transition period
        (amendments 2 1 , 50);
        The Commission considers that it would be legally impossible to indude
        potential prolongation of existing programmes in a planned co-Dedsion which,
        once adopted, would render ineffective the proposal concerned. Moreover,
       the question concerning transition measures will be dedded after the adoption
       of the programme and in cooperation with the Advisory Committee;
        reduction of the minimum number of establishments partidpating in cooperation
       activities (amendment 77) or the time required for undertaking the interim
        evaluation report (amendment 48);
       The Commission upholds the provisions of the initial proposal for reasons of
       feasibility and effidency;
        indusion of a provision referring to the competence of the Commission to
       manage the programme and the possible requirement for external technical
       assistance (amendment 42)
       finally, alternative renderings of the text which do not improve the initial text and
       are therefore considered "unnecessary" (amendments 3 , 6 , 8 , 2 4 , 4 4 , 6 0 , 6 1 ,
       69, 90, 93, 94, 97, 98, 101, 102).
In addition, the Commission wishes to draw the CoundPs attention to three
amendments of the European Parliament (numbers 65,71,91) which aim to provide
names respectively for Chapter I, Action 3 (ERASMUS grants). Chapter II
(COMENIUS Programme) and Chapter III (LUIS ANTONIO VERNEI) of the Annex to
the Proposal for a Dedsion. The Commission keeps ah open mind on these three
amendments and espedally with regard to the first two. It emphasises, nevertheless,
that the takeup by the Coundl of these three amendments, in consideration with other
formulations already proposed, should not lead to a fragmentation of "SOCRATES",
which, given the concern for coherence sought by the Commission, shouldratherkeep
a unitary charader and thereby avoid any loss of visibility.
                                         -Page i-tr
 ---pagebreak---   Initial Proposai from the Commission            Amended proposal further to the opinion
                                                   of the European Parliament of 22nd April
The European Parliament and
the Council of the European Union
Having regard to the Treaty establishing
the European Community, and in particular
Articles 126 and 127 thereof
Having regard to the proposal from the
Commission1
Having regard to the opinion of the
Economic and Social Committee2
Having regard to the opinion of the
Committee of the Regions3
Whereas the treaty establishing the
European Community (hereafter "Treaty"),
as modified by the Treaty on European
Union, stipulates in its Article 3 p) that
Community action should include a
contribution to education and training of
quality; that the Treaty henceforth includes
a Chapter 3 devoted specifically to
education, to vocational training and to
youth.
Whereas by virtue of Article 126,
paragraph 1 of the Treaty, the Community
shall contribute to the development of
quality education by encouraging
cooperation between Member States and, if
necessary, by supporting and
supplementing their action, while fully
respecting the responsibility of the Member
 States for the content of teaching and the
organisation of education systems and their
 cultural and linguistic diversity.
                                             Page 1 c -
 ---pagebreak--- 3.   Whereas by virtue of Article 127,
     paragraph 1 of the Treaty, the Community
     shall implement a vocational training
     policy which shall support and supplement
     the action of the Member States, while
     fully respecting the responsibility of the
     Member States for the content and
     organisation of vocational training.
    Whereas the Council, by its Decision
    87/327/EEC4 as amended by Decision
    89/663/EEC5 based on Article 128 of the
    EEC Treaty, adopted the ERASMUS
    programme to promote the mobility of
    university students and, by its Decision
    89/489/EEC6 based on Articles 128 and
    235 of the EEC Treaty adopted the
    LINGUA programme to promote foreign
    language ability in the Community.
   Whereas the Council, by its Decision
                       7
    ../.../... of       , adopted, on the basis of
   Article 127 of the Treaty, a decision
   establishing an action programme for the
   implementation of a European Community
   vocational training policy; that it is
   appropriate to complete this first
   programme by the adoption of a second;
   taking into account the implementation of
   the ERASMUS and LINGUA programmes
   and including three types of action,
   covering specifically
               higher education
               school education and
                                                  Page 2 -
 ---pagebreak---             horizontal measures including the
            promotion of language skills in the
               Community, of open and distance
            education and learning, and the
            promotion of information.
6.  Whereas while school education constitutes
    education in the sense of Article 126 of the
    Treaty, the other measures envisaged under
    the current decision are inextricably linked
    to both education and vocational training;
    that this is especially the case in the realm
    of higher education, in so far as student
    and teaching staff mobility, or measures
    for the promotion of language skills, may
    be combined with the training of teachers;
   that it is appropriate, henceforth, to base
   the current decision on Articles 126 and
    127 of the Treaty.
7. Whereas the reports evaluating the
   ERASMUS and LINGUA programmes, the
   conclusions of which are set out in the
   Commission report on the results and
   achievements of these programmes', point
   out that cooperation in the field of
   education significantly enhances the value
   of measures taken by Member States, and
   that Community action in this field is
   therefore of great importance.
                                                 Page 3 -
 ---pagebreak---      Whereas the Commission Memorandum on
     higher education9 and the summary report
     of discussions within the Member States10,
     together with the Parliament Resolution on
     this subject11, place particular emphasis on
     the need for a Community strategy to
     promote the European dimension in
     courses followed by all students, whether
     in their own country or abroad, and on the
     catalytic role of the Community in this
     connection.
     Whereas the Council and the Ministers of
     Education have agreed guidelines for the
     introduction of the European dimension
     into educational study, particularly through
    the Resolution on the European dimension
     in education12; that the Green Paper
    presented by the Commission on this
    matter13 as well as the comments received
     from the Member States on the same
     subject, aim to introduce the European
    dimension in primary and secondary
    teaching.
10. Whereas the European Council, meeting in
    Brussels on 10-11 December 1993,
    adopted, in the light of the White Paper
    presented by the Commission, an action
    plan on growth, competitiveness and
    employment, inviting the Member States in
    particular to pay specific attention to the
    improvement of education and training
    systems.
                                                 Page 4 -
 ---pagebreak---                                                             11. Whereas the European Parliament
    11. Whereas the European Parliament has, on                 has, on its own initiative, adopted
        its own initiative, adopted ÎWQ reports on              the reports on the European
        the European dimension in education at                  dimension in education at
        university level, with the emphasis on                  university level, with the emphasis
        mobility of students and teaching staff14,              on mobility of students and
        and on education and training policy from               teaching staff (14), on education
        the standpoint of 1993'5.                               and training policy from the
                                                                standpoint of 1993 (15), and on
                                                                cultural diversity and the problems
                                                                of school education for children of
                                                                immigrants in the the European
                                                                Community, (16)
    12.  Whereas open and distance education and            12  Whereas       Liie.  Commission
         learning offers considerable new                       Memorandum on open and distance
        opportunities for enriching education and               learning (17) and the European
        for economies of scale, with an increased               Parliament's various resolutions on
         impact especially on the promotion of a                the subject pointed out that this
        European dimension in the studies at all                form of education.offers increased
        levels,                                                 opportunities for learning by
                                                                drawing on new concept? and
                                                                methods and particularly with
                                                                regard to promoting the European
                                                                dimension of studies at all levels,
                                                                and whereas it represents an
                                                                inexpensive alternative means of
                                                                access to education and offers
                                                                disadvantaged groups in particular
                                                                the opportunity of exercising their
                                                                right to education
    13.  Whereas it is necessary to simplify and
        rationalise Community actions in the field
        of education and tnrining, reinforcing those
        aspects which are most promising as
        regards added value and European impetus;
        that it is appropriate, in this matter, to
        encourage transnational projects linking
        partnersfromdifferent Member States who
        are involved in the transfer of innovation
        through exchanges, taking due respect of
        the diversity of the educational systems
        and the responsibility of the Member
        States.
                                                   - Page 5 -
(2)
 ---pagebreak---                                                        14  Whereas, in order to increase the
                                                           efficiency of Community action so
                                                           that it may perform a multiplier
                                                           function, it must also be ensured
                                                           that m e assisted structures are open
                                                           to people other than those directly
                                                           assisted, which means that they
                                                           must be so arranged that 'free
                                                           movers' may also derive maximum
                                                           benefit from Community value
                                                           added.
                                                       II  Whereas special measures are
                                                           needed tfi promote equal
                                                           opportunities for boys and girlsr
                                                           men and women so that they may
                                                           have every opportunity to develop
                                                           and the best possible chance of
                                                           participating in economic, social
                                                           and political life.
14. Whereas specific measures need to be               1&. Whereas Community action must
    taken in favour of migrant workers' and                be geared to promoting cross-
    gypsy children in order to combat                      frontier and          intercultural
    exclusion and racism: it is appropriate to             communication;
    ensure equality of opportunity as well as
    the integration into the standard education
    system of children and adolescents with
    disabilities.
                                              - Page 6 -
 ---pagebreak---          TZ  Whereas it is necessary to promote
             an intercultural dimension in
             education for all pupils in the
             European Union so as to prepare
             them to live in a society which is
             increasingly characterized hy
             cultural and linguistic diversity;
             whereas measures need to be taken
             to improve the quality of education
             for the children of migrant workers,
             children of gypsies and children, of
             occupational travellers, and {p
             combat racism and xenophobia
         IS  Whereas the Council and the
             Ministers of Education have
             adopted resolutions aimed at
             improving school provision for
             gvpsv children and children of
            occupational travellers
         12 Whereas it is necessary to ensure
            equality of opportunity as well as
            the integration into the standard
            education system of children and,
            as far as possible, adolescents with
            disabilities. and make efforts,
            where necessary, to assist them in
            special schools.
         2Q Whereas the success of mobility
            depends to a great extent on the
            social facilities provided by the
            Member States and the host
            establishments.
         21 Whereas it is to be recommended,
            since the European dimension in
            education extends bevond the
            European Union, that there he
            cooperation with the Council of
            Europe so that non-EU countries
            may also be involved.
- Page 7
 ---pagebreak--- 15. Whereas the EURYDICE network should                    22,  Whereas the EURYDICE network
    be developed and diversified in order to be                 should be developed, diversified
    able to respond to requirements for                         and made accessible to all
    qualitative and quantitative information on                 educators in order to be able to
    education.                                                  respond to requirements for
                                                                qualitative and quantitative
                                                                information on education.
    HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
    (i)     OJC66of 3.3.IW4, p. j
    (2)
    (i)
    (4)     OJLl66of25.6.l98?.p. 20
    (5)     OJL395of3o.l2.l989,p.23
    (6)     OJL239of 16.8.1989, p.24
    0)      OJL
    (8)     COM (93) 151 fmai of 5.5.1993
    C>)     COM (91) 349finalof" 5.11.1991
    (lu)    "Studies" Series Ko 2, TFRH - 1993
    (H)     OJ C 255 of 20.9.1993, p. 161
    (12)    OJC 177 of 6.7.1988, p. 5
    (13)    COM (93) 457 tinal of 29.9.1993
    (H)     OJC 48 of 25.2.1991, p. 216
    05)     OJC 150 of 15.6.1992, p. 366
                                                           (16) OJ C 42 of 15.2.1993 p. 187
                                                           (17) COM (91) 388 tinal
                         Article l
    Establishment of the Community Action
    Programme «SOCRATES"
     1.     This Decision establishes the                       This Decision establishes the
            Community Action Programme                          Community Action Programme
            "SOCRATES", hereinafter referred                    •SOCRATES', hereinafter referred
            to as "Programme SOCRATES",                         to as 'Programme SOCRATES', for
            for the period 1 January 1995 - 31                  the period 1 January 1995-31
            December 1999. The programme is                     December 1999. The programme is
            intended to contribute to the                       intended to contribute to the
            development of quality education                    development of quality eduation
            and training and of an open                         and training, accessible to all, in
            European area for education. It                     order to provide 'life-long'
            will come into force on 1 January                   education, and the creation of an
             1995.                                              open European area for education.
                                                                It will come into force on 1
                                                                January 1995.
            The education programme shall
            comprise three areas of Community
            action:
            Chapter I -          Higher education
            Chapter II - School education
            Chapter III - Horizontal activities
            in the areas of language learning, of
            open and distance education and
            learning, and information.
                                                  - Page 8 -
 ---pagebreak---                Artide_2
              Definitions
1.   In the context of this programme,
     the term "university" shall cover all
    types of higher education
    institutions which offer
    qualifications or diplomas at that
    level, whatever such institutions
    may be called;
    the term "school" shall cover all
    types of institutions at nursery,
    primary and secondary school
    levels providing general, vocational
    or technical education and,
    exceptionally, and for the
    promotion of exchanges of pupils
    within the framework of language
    projects, non-school institutions
    providing apprenticeship training;
   the term "educator" shall coyej              the term 'educator1 shall cover all
   persons whose duties involve them            persons whose duties concern them
   directly or indirectly in the                directly or indirectly with the
   educational process (teachers,               educational process;
   inspectors, educational advisers,
   elÛ;
   the term "student" is used for
   persons registered in universities
   (see definition of      this term,
   above), whatever their field of
   study, in order to follow higher
   education       studies leading to a
   degree or diploma (or equivalent),
   up to and including the level of
   doctorate;
                                       - Page 9
 ---pagebreak---         the terms "open and distance                    the terms 'open and distance
        education and learning" are used to             education and learning' are used to
        describe all forms of flexible                  describe all forms of             wni
        education, including the use of                 traditional, flexible education wJheic
        technologies and advanced facilities            teachers and learners are. in
        in information and communication,               different places and including the
        especially telematic systems, and               use of technologies and advanced
        personal educational support                    facilities in information and
        systems of an advisory and tutorial             communication;
        nature;
        the terms "information and
        communication technology" are
        used to describe the use of
        systems (technological           and
        associated facilities) of information
        (acquisition, processing, viewing,
        storage of information) and
        communication (by satellite, cable
       or Hertzian means) such as the
       multi-media tools, telematic
       facilities designed for education,
       and access to electronic information
       services, whether local (interactive
       or otherwise compact disk) or at a
       distance (knowledge             based
       systems);
                                                       the term 'pupil' is used to describe
                                                       children, adolescents, young people
                                                       and others registered for any
       Each Member State shall specify                 educational COJUSCS below
       the types of institutions referred to           university     level   (see  previous
       in this Article.                                definition)
                  Article 3
                 Objectives
The specific objectives of the programme
"SOCRATES" shall be:
                                                    i) to help to improve the quality of
i)    _to develop the European                         education and to develop the
      dimension in studies at all levels so            European dimension in studies at
      as to strengthen the spirit of                   all levels so as to strengthen the
      European citizenship, drawing on                 spirit of European citizenship,
      the cultural heritage of each                    drawing on thé cultural heritage of
      Member State;                                    each Member State;
                                           - Page 10
 ---pagebreak---                                                  ia)     to promote access to education,
                                                         particularly for the less-privileged
                                                         actively combating social exclusion.
                                                         especially with regard to
                                                         participation in mobility initiatives
                                                         organized in the framework of the
                                                         programme;
ii)  to promote knowledge of the                 ii)     to promote knowledge of the
     languages of the Community so                       languages of the Community and
     that the citizens of the Community                  promote the intercultural dimension
     may      take advantage           of                of education so that the citizens
     opportunities arising from the                      who live in the Community may
     completion of the European Union,                   take advantage of opportunities
     leading to greater understanding                    arising from the completion of the
     and interaction between the peoples                 European Union, leading to greater
     of the Community;                                   understanding and interaction;,
iii) to increase mobility for the                iii)    to increase mobility especially for
     Community's students, especially                    students in higher education, so that
     those in higher education, so that                  the Community may benefit from
     they have the opportunity to                        graduates who have completed part
     complete part of their studies in                   of their studies in another Member
     another Member State;                               State, and to achieve the goal of at
                                                         least 10% participation.
                                                 iiia) to promote cooperation between the
                                                         services responsible for social
                                                         conditions at universities, so that
                                                         mobility may be increased and in
                                                        particular, encouragement may be
                                                         given to those who study under
                                                         particularly difficult circumstances
                                                         (disabled students, students with
                                                         children and students from less
                                                        privileged backgrounds):
iv)  to promote broad and intensive
     cooperation between institutions at
     all levels of education in every
     Member State, and to realise their
     intellectual potential through the
     mobility of their teaching staff and
     other educators thus helping to
     improve the quality of teaching;
                                        - Page 11 -
 ---pagebreak---                                                   v)   to encourage the academic
v)     to encourage the academic                       recognition of diplomas and periods
       recognition of diplomas and periods             of study, in particular through the
       of study, in particular through the             introduction of academic credits
       introduction of academic credits                and modules and by the further
       and modules aimed at facilitating               development of the ECTS
       such recognition at Community                   programme (European credit
       level;                                          transfer svstenri created in the
                                                       context of ERASMUS, aimed at
                                                       facilitating such recognition at
                                                       Community level;
vi)    to develop the use of
       communication and information
       technologies as a tool and subject
       for education, including use of
       multi-media materials and
       information, and telematics at all
       levels of education;
vii)   to promote intellectual mobility of        vii) to promote mobility of knowledge
       knowhow and experience, in                      and experience, in particular
       particular through the development              through the development of open
       of open and distance education and              and distance education and learning
       learning at all levels of teaching;             at all levels of teaching:
viii)  to foster exchanges of information
       and experience with a view to
       ensuring that the Member States
       may learn and benefit from each
       other's educational systems.
                 Article 4
                Committee
The Commission shall be assisted by an
advisory committee composed of two
representatives from each Member State
and chaired by the Commission
representative.
                                           Page 12 -
 ---pagebreak---     Twelve representatives of the social
    partners, educators, parents, students and
    young people, appointed by the
    Commission on the basis of proposals from
    non-governmental organizations operating
    at European level, shall participate in the
    work of the Committee as observers.
    The Commission representative shall
    submit to the Committee plans for the
    measures to be taken. The Committee
    shall deliver its opinion on these proposals
    within a time limit which the chairman
    may lay down according to the urgency of
    the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.
    The Committee's opinion shall be recorded
    in the minutes; in addition, each Member
    State shall have the right to ask for its
    position to be recorded in the minutes.
    The Commission shall take the utmost
     account of the opinion delivered by the
     Committee, and shall inform the
     Committee of the manner in which its
     opinion has been taken into account.
                       Article S
                   Implementation
     1.     The Commission shall ensure me                 The Commission shall ensure the
            implementation of the programme                implementation of the programme
            "SOCRATES"            under the                 "SOCRATES*          under     the
            arrangements set out in the Annex.              arrangements set out in the Annex.
                                                           It shall also ensure that the
                                                           Parliament is kept fully informed
                                                            on the implementation of the
                                                            programme.
     2.     Decisions in the following areas
            shall be subject to the procedure
            defined under Article 4:
            a) priorities in the Community
                   measures described in the
                   Annex and the annual
                   workprogramme deriving
                   therefrom;
                                                 Page 13 -
(3)
 ---pagebreak---   b)    the financial support to be
        provided by the Community
        (amounts, duration       and
        beneficiaries);
  c)    the breakdown between the
        different strands;
  d)    the procedures for selection,
        evaluation, and dissemination
        and transfer of results.
            Article 6
Cooperation with Member States
  The programme "SOCRATES"
  shall support the policies adopted
  and implemented by Member States
  under their internal structures,
  having regard to the characteristics
  and scope of their educational
  systems, with the aim of achieving
  the objectives set out in Article 3.
  In terms of the development of
  linguistic skills as a fundamental
  means of communication within the
  Community, the Community shall
  support Member States' policies
  which encourage all citizens to
  learn new languages by increasing
  the opportunities for learning and
  increasing the range of languages
  offered.
  Member States shall entrust the
  implementation of the actions
  described in the Annex to the
  various competent authorities
  responsible at national level.
  The Commission shall cooperate
  closely with these authorities for
  the purposes of promoting and
  providing information on the
  actions described in the Annexe,
  and disseminating the results of the
  programme.
                                       Page 14 -
 ---pagebreak---                 Article 7
   Consistency and complementarity
1.   The Commission shall strive to
     ensure overall consistency between
     this programme and the action
     programme for the implementation
     of a Community policy on
     vocational training.
2.   The Commission, in partnership
     with the Member States, shall
     f o s t e r an e l e m e n t      of
     complementarity between the
     operation of this programme and
     the interventions of the Structural
     funds, especially Community
     initiative programmes.
3.   The Commission, in partnership
     with the Member States, shall
     encourage the coordination of
     activities between this programme
     and the Fourth Research and
     Development           Framework
     Programme.
                Article 8
      Monitoring and evaluation
1.   The programme shall be
     continuously monitored on a
     partnership basis involving the
     Community and the Member States.
     This monitoring shall permit, as
     necessary, the reorientation of the
     programme in the light of any
     needs becoming apparent in the
     course of its operation.
     Monitoring, financial management
     and control shall be implemented
     by the Commission.
                                        Page 15
 ---pagebreak--- 2.      The programme shall be subject to            2. The programme shall be subject to
        a regular evaluation on             a           a regular evaluation on a
        partnership basis between the                   partnership basis between the
        Commission and the Member                       Commission and the Member
        States_x_Ih£ results of Community               States, with the participation of the
        measures shall be evaluated by                  partjes concerned. The results of
        external bodies at regular intervals.           Community measures shall be
                                                        evaluated by external bodies at
                                                        regular intervals. The findings of
                                                        these evaluations shall be submitted
                                                        Committee provided for under
                                                        ArfirJe 4 and to the European
                                                        Parliament
        The Commission shall submit to
        the Council, the European
        Parliament, the Economic and
        Social Committee and the
        Committee of Regions, before 30
        September 1998, an interim report
        on the launch phase, and before 30
        September 2000, a final report on
        the implementation of the
        programme.
Done at
on
 For the European Parliament
 For the Council
 The President
 The President
                                              Page 16 -
 ---pagebreak---                    Annex
The purpose of the "SOCRATES"
programme is to support the transnational
actions planned in the different chapters
of the programme.
               CHAPTER I
       HIGHER EDUCATION
This chapter describes three "ERASMUS"-
type actions aimed at
        promoting the European dimension
        in higher education institutions;
        setting up European       university
        networks;
        funding student mobility grants.
                ACTION 1
   PROMOTION OF THE EUROPEAN
               DIMENSION
         IN HIGHER EDUCATION
              INSTITUTIONS
1.     Drawing on experience gained from
       the ERASMUS and LINGUA
       programmes, the Community will
       continue to encourage transnational
       cooperation between universities,
       especially through the development
       of inter-university cooperation
       programmes (ICPs). These
       programmes aim to achieve the
       gradual setting up by the
       universities of a policy to give a
       European dimension to higher
       education studies in general.
                                           Page 17-
 ---pagebreak---                                             In the framework of inter-university
 The following inter-university             cooperation programmes the
 cooperation activities may qualify         Community will provide financial
 for Community financial assistance:        support for agreed measures for
                                            the organization of the following
                                            activities:
 student mobility          providing
 university students with an
 opportunity to undertake a period
 of study in another Member State,
 accompanied by practical
 experience where appropriate, such
 periods being fully recognized as
 an integral part of their diploma or
 academic qualification
 introduction or extension of the
 ECTS course credit transfer system
which greatly enhances the
transparency of procedures for
academic recognition of diplomas
or periods of study completed
abroad;
joint development of initial or
advanced curricula geared to
facilitating academic recognition
and contributing, through
exchanges of experience, to the
process of innovation and
improvement of the quality of
education at Community level;
mobility of teaching staff for the
purpose of providing instruction
forming an integral part of the
curriculum in another Member
State, or enabling them to carry out
study visits to pave the way for
cooperation. Study visits may also
be carried out by administrative
staff of universities and by students
assisting the university in
connection with activities to
promote        inter-university
cooperation;
                                   -Page 18
 ---pagebreak--- intensive courses for students from
different        Member States,
particularly in areas of study which
do not lend themselves to long
periods abroad;
                                              provision of teaching and learning
                                              material centred on Europe and
                                              easier access to European data
                                              bases (former European reference
                                              and documentation centres).
Priority will be given to student
mobility programmes and activities
connected with their preparation
(language courses, in particular for
the lesser used languages of the
Community» information on social
and cultural aspects of the host
country etc.). Students in the first
year of their studies will not be
eligible for mobility grants.
The following conditions must be
fulfilled in order to ensure that
periods of study spent abroad are
of maximum benefit to students:
         studies abroad shall be
         carried out on a full-time
         basis and for a significant
         period of time (a rninimum
         of three months or one
         term, and a maximum of
         one academic year);
         studies undertaken in other
         Member States shall be
         fully recognized by the
         university of origin;
c.       students shall have a
         satisfactory knowledge of
         the language in which
         courses are given by the
         host university;
                                    Page 19 -
 ---pagebreak---         host universities shall not
        charge tuition fees to
        students participating in
        mobility schemes.
                                                 host universities shall endeavour to
                                                 resolve students' practical problems
                                                 (for example as regards reasonably
                                                 priced accommodation).
The Community will also
encourage universities to develop
activities designed to bring a
European dimension to all areas of
study for the benefit of each and
every student. The following
activities could receive Community
support:
-        the incorporation into
        curricula of elements
        designed to enhance
        understanding of the
        cultural, political, economic
        and social characteristics of
        other Member States as
        well as elements relating to
        European integration,
        especially through the
        creation of multi- or inter-
        disciplinary modules;
-        learning of the languages of
        the Community as an
        integral part of studies, with
        the emphasis on lesser used
        or lesser taught languages;
                                     - Page 20 -
 ---pagebreak---                                                   Universities wishing to set up the
    Universities wishing to set up the            activities with a European
    activities with a European                    dimension, described above, at
    dimension, descnbed above, at                 institutional level will be able to
    institutional level will be able to           conclude in 'institutional contract*
    conclude an "institutional contract"          with the Commission covering all
    with the Commission covering all              the activities eligible             for
    the activities eligible            for        Community assistance.          Special
    Community assistance. Community               treatment will be given to those
    financial assistance will cover a             universities which opt for the
    maximum period of three years                 'institutional contract'. Community
    initially, subject to regular reviews         financial assistance wil cover a
    of the results.                               maximum period of three years
                                                  initially, subject to regular revie-ws
                                                  of the results at least once a year.
                                                  The criteria for entering into the
                                                  above-mentioned          institutional
                                                  contracts and the terms of the
                                                  parties' common obligations shall
                                                  be laid down and widely
                                                  disseminated by the Commission
                                                  after consultation with the Advisory
                                                  Committee.
    Financial assistance may also be
    granted to groups of universities at
    regional, cross-border or other
    levels, for the purpose of
    developing jointly one or more of
    the activities mentioned in point 4
    above, in cooperation with regional
    or local communities and interested
    parties from the economic and
    social spheres.
    Member States may consider the
    possibility of using financial
    resources provided through the
    Community's Structural Funds in
    order to facilitate the development
    of activities with a European
    dimension by universities.
                                        - Page 21
(4)
 ---pagebreak---                      Action 2
        EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
                  NETWORKS
I. The Community will lend its support to the
   establishment of Community university
   networks for specific themes, disciplines or
   fields of higher studies and for any other
   joint objective. The thematic networks will
   mainly be made up of departments or
   faculties of the universities involved in
   inter-university cooperation programmes
   which will be encouraged to forge links in a
   specific area of study, providing its
   members with a framework for pan-
   European-discussion and planning which
   will enable them to exchange their
   experiences and spread their knowhow, as
   well as discuss the qualitative and
   innovatory aspects of higher education,
    improvements in teaching methods and the
   comparability of curricula.
   This sharing of the considerable intellectual
   capital existing in the universities (in terms
   of their ability to analyse and innovate, and
   as sources of expertise and knowledge) will
   thus contribute to the fulfilment of the
   objectives of the European Union.
   More specifically, the activities for which
   the thematic networks will be able to apply
   for Community support areas follows:
   -   evaluation of curricula for specific
       disciplines;
   -   design of joint programmes and
       specialised courses;
   -   scientific analysis and reflection on a
       specific area of studies;
                                               - Page 22
 ---pagebreak---    -   information     services for network
       members.
                                                    2. Network activities relating to the design
2. Network activities relating to the design of        of joint programmes and specialized
   joint programmes and specialised courses            courses should be developed between
   should be developed between several                 several universities participating in these
   universities participating in these networks.       networks; attention shall te paid to
                                                       ensuring equitable participation bv
                                                       universities in less-favoured regions.
3. One of the participating universities should
   act as a coordinator for activities in each
   network.
                                                    4  The Community shall encourage a
                                                       balanced distribution of networks
                                                       between the various disciplines, regions
                                                       and universities
                                                 23
 ---pagebreak---                       Action 3
    Financing of mobility grants for students
    The Community will continue to develop a
    system of direct financial aid to students
    who complete a period of study in another
    Member State and who fulfil the conditions
    set out in Action 1, paragraph 3 of this
    Chapter.
2.  The Community funds contributing to
    students' mobility grants will be shared out
    between the Member States accordingtothe
    following formula: subject to budget
    availability, a minimum sum of 200 000
   ECU will be allocated to each Member
    State. The remainder will be allocated
   depending on thetotalnumber of students at
   university, as defined in Article 2 of the
   Decision, and the total number of young
   people between 18 and 25 in the various
   Member States, the average cost of travel
   between the country of origin and the host
   country and the difference,in the cost of
   living between the country of origin and the
   host country.
   Furthermore the Commission will take any
   measures necessary to encourage balanced
   participation between various disciplines, to
   take account of the flows of students and
   deal with specific problems such as the
   financing of some grants which, due to the
   structure of the programme of study, cannot
   be managed by the competent authorities
   mentioned in paragraph 3 below. The funds
   set aside for these measures may not exceed
   5% of the annual budget for students' grants.
                                                 24
 ---pagebreak--- 3. The Community funds shared out as
   mentioned in paragraph 2 above and
    intended for students grants will be
    administered by the national authorities
    (NGAA - national grant awarding agencies)
    established by all the Member States in the
    framework of the ERASMUS programme.
    These authorities shall ensure coordination
    with the national systems of student
    grant/loans or other financial resources
    intended to encourage mobility of students.
    The NGAAs may, in cooperation with the
    Commission, take action to ensure an
   equitable participation of universities or
   faculties at the national or regional level.
4. The Community grants are intended to
   defray part of the additional costs incurred
   by mobility, that is, cost of travel, any
   preparatory language training which might
   be required and a higher cost of living in the
   host country. These grants may not exceed
   5 000 ECU per student for a maximum of 12
   months abroad.
5. Priority will be given to students who follow
   courses in activities supported under the
   terms of Action 1. In exceptional cases
   grants may be allocated to other students
   attending courses for which special
   provisions are made outside university
   cooperation programmes (free movers) as
   long as they satisfy the eligibility criteria
   mentioned in Action 1 paragraph 3.
6. Priority in allocating Community grants is
   given to students who require financial aid,
   bearing in mind the principle of equality of
   opportunity, particularly between men and
   women. The specific needs of disabled
   students should be taken into consideration
   when the amount of grant is determined.
                                                  25
 ---pagebreak--- As the Community's contribution only               7. As the Community's contribution only
covers part of the costs of students' mobility,        covers part of the costs of students'
Member States are invited to help provide              mobility, Member States shall help
the necessary funds. Grants or loans                   provide the necessary funds. Grants or
available to students in their own country             loans available to students in their own
should continue to be paid in full during the          country should continue to be paid in
period of study in a host Member State.                full during the period of study in a host
                                                       Member State
               CHAPTER H
        SCHOOL EDUCATION
This chapter presents three actions intended
to encourage:
-   cooperation between nursery, primary
    and secondary schools and the
    establishment of networks;
                                                      promotion ofthe intercultural dimension
    schooling of the children of migrant              of learning and improvement of the
    workers and gypsies;                              quality of education for the children of
                                                      migrant workers, children of gypsies and
                                                      children of occupational travellers;
-   updating of skills of educational staff in
    charge of teaching, guidance and/or
    psycho-pedagogical care of school
    children and their families.
These activities are based on the experience
of implementing the LINGUA Community
programme, and pilot projects undertaken in
the areas of primary and secondary
education, as well as those focusing on the
introduction of information and
communication technologies in education.
                                                26
 ---pagebreak---     They are also based on experience with
    European schools and Community activities
    to provide schooling for the children of
    migrant workers and gypsies.
2.  The Community funds aimed at promoting
    Actions l.A and 3 in Chapter II will be
    shared between the Members States
    according to the following formula:
    subjectto budget availability, a minimum of
   200 000 ECU will be allocated to each
   Member State. The remainder will be
   allocated to various Member States
   depending on the total number of children
   attending school, the number of schools, the
   number of teaching staff and the ratio
   between the gross domestic product of each
   Member State and the Community average.
3. The Community funds for Action 1 A and
   3.2 shared out according to the formula
   mentioned in paragraph 2 above will be
   managed by the national authorities
   designated in each Member State. These
   authorities may, in collaboration with the
   Commission, take action to promote
   equitable participation of schools at national
   or regional level.
                                                  27
 ---pagebreak---                                                     4. The Commission, where necessary in
                                                       cooperation with the Member States.
 The CommissioDLwill take any measures                 will take any measures necessary to
 necessary to encourage equitable                      encourage equitable participation by
 participation by schools in the Member                schools at Community, national and
 States. The funds for these measures may              regional level. The funds for these
 not exceed 5% of the annual budget for                measures may not exceed 5% of the
 financing the activities described in Chapter         annual budget for financing the
II.                                                    activities described in Chapter II.
The Community financial aid provided for
 in Chapter II is intended to defray part of the
costs deemed necessary for implementing
the projects.
Community funds are awarded according to
the principle of equality of opportunities,
especially between men and women. The
specific needs of disabled persons
participating in the activities developed in
the framework of this chapter should be
taken into consideration when the level of
grant is agreed.
                   AcnoNl
   COOPERATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS
                 A.      Partnerships
The Community shall encourage the
development of multilateral partnerships
between schools which are built around the
concept of the European Education Project
(EEP).
                                                 28
 ---pagebreak--- A multilateral partnership is a group of at
least three institutions from three Member
States; one of the institutions shall act as the
coordinator. The partnership might be
bilateral if the aim is solely to promote
knowledge of languages of the Community
which are less widely used and taught.
                                                    Consideration shall be given to cooperation
                                                    programmes for intercultural and language
                                                    teaching involving European schools and
                                                    schools within national educational systems
                                                    which are geared towards disseminating the
                                                    educational experiences of the European
                                                    schools,
A European Education Project comprises a
set of educational activities and measures
intended to promote themes of mutual
European interest. These activities, forming
an integral part of the schools' curricula and
conducted jointly by partner schools in other
Member States, may include the following,
amongst others:
                                                        the development of activities which
-   the development of activities which                 increase pupils' involvement in subjects
    increase pupils' involvement in subjects            of mutual European interest such as the
    of mutual European interest such as the             promotion of knowledge of the
    promotion of knowledge of the                       languages ofthe Community, its cultural
    languages ofthe Community, its cultural             heritage, environmental awareness and,
    heritage, protection of the environment,            in particular,       knowledge about
    artistic education, and the promotion of            protection of the environment, artistic
    scientific and technological culture;               education, and the promotion of science
                                                        and technology;
-   the mobility of school children,
    particularly for those participating in
    partnerships where the aim is to improve
    knowledge of languages;
                                                 29
 ---pagebreak---    -   joint development and distribution of
       teaching materials;
   -   development of innovatory teaching
       methods.
2. Financial aid may be allocated for visits to
   prepare partnerships and for exchanges of
   staff between schools to support
   partnerships and to develop European
   Education Projects.
   It will be granted for a maximum period of
   3 years initially, subject to periodic review.
   Financial assistance may also be given to
   groups of schools at the regional, cross-
   border or other level, which intend to
   develop jointly particular activities
   mentioned above.
                                                     1 Promotion of the inclusion of the equal
                                                       opportunities issue in education and
                                                       training curricula
                                                       Consideration shall be given to projects
                                                       which;
                                                       promote the inclusion of the equal
                                                       opportunities issue in textbooks.
                                                       updating courses and other training
                                                       programmes for teaching staff
                                                       eliminate sexual stereotypes from
                                                       textbooks and courses;
                                                  30
 ---pagebreak---                                                   aim to prepare and implement pilot
                                                  programmes on diversification of choice
                                                  pf employment and the training of boys
                                                  and girls, men and women in view of
                                                  their rôle in the family and in society;
The following priority criteria shall be used    .The following priority criteria shall be
for the disbursement of Community funds in        used for the disbursement of
support of projects submitted by the              Community funds in support of projects
partnerships:                                     submitted by the partnerships
-    the learning of the languages of the
     Community, particularly those which
     are less widely used and taught;
-    wider knowledge and understanding of
     European cultures;
-    the integration of issues of Community
     interest with a horizontal link such as
    environmental education and health
    education;
-    innovative elements aiming particularly
    to improve the level of achievement of
    all school children;
                                                 schools with a significant number of
-   schools with a significant number of         pupils disadvantaged for cultural,
    pupils disadvantaged for cultural,           geographic, or socio-economic reasons
    physical, geographic, oxsocio-economic       or concerned with the education of
    reasons.                                     disabled pupils.
                                              31
 ---pagebreak---                                                    Competitions and incentives ; The
                                                   Community shall organize competitions
                                                   for pupils in subjects relating to the
                                                   common cultural heritage, such as
                                                   modem and classical languages, history,
                                                   art and music, in agreement with the
                                                   Member States and in cooperation with
                                                   the networks, with the aim of activating
                                                   the individual's capacity for intercultural
                                                   communication. Pupils will take part in
                                                   such competitions in multinational
                                                   working groups.
B. European School networks
1. A network is a group of partnerships as
   described above, which has been formed in
   the same thematic field. The role of the
   networks is to facilitate exchange of
   experience, to contribute to improving
   teaching methods and to raise the profile of
   the partnerships' activities in order to
   multiply their effect and publicise
   theirachievements. One of the partner
   schools should coordinate the activities of
   each network.
2. Financial assistance may be allocated for
   conducting certain network activities such
   as:
   -   exchanges      of   information     and
       experience;
   -   pooling and improvement of teaching
       methods, including those using new
       information and communication
       technologies;
   -   production of teaching materials,
       including multimedia material;
   -   dissemination of good practice to
       interested persons;
                                                32
 ---pagebreak---                   ACTION 2
                                                 PROMOTION                   OF       THE
PROMOTION OF SCHOOLING OF CHILDREN               INTERCULTURAL DIMENSION OF
                                                 EDUCATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF
   OF MIGRANT WORKERS ANT2 GYPSIES
                                                WE QUAUTY OF SCHOOLING FOR
                                                CHILDREN OF MIGRANT WORKERS,
                                                CHILDREN OF GYPSIES ANH
                                                CHTLDfipVN OF OCCUPATIONAL
                                                TK A VFT fI -Ejffi
  Financial assistance may be allocated to      Financial assistance may be allocated to
  projects aiming to:                           projects aiming to :
  -  promote the integration of and equal       -   promote the intereultural dimension of
     opportunities for children of migrant          education;
     workers and gypsies;
                                                -   improve the quality of teaching for
  -  improve their schooling and the quality        children of migrant workers, children of
     of the education they receive;                 gypsies and children of occupational
                                                   travellers;
  -  meet their specific educational needs
     and exploit their potential.               -  promote equal opportunities for Jhsss
                                                   children and young people:
                                                *  contribute to overcoming the obstacles
                                                   encountered by these children and
                                                   young people in gaining access to
                                                   school:
                                                                                 âLSpecifiç
                                                                   tential;
                                                   promote     educational strajggks      to
                                                                       Ueriophohia.
                                             33
 ---pagebreak---  These projects, which may be organised
 either by individual schools or groups of
 schools at transnational level, may include:
 -   exchanging information and experience
     on all aspects mentioned above;
     design of specialised course and
     teaching material;
     updating the skills of teaching staff and
     workers particularly involved in actions
     designed to ensure the successful
     schooling and integration of these
     children.
                                                   -   innovation and/or experimentation with
                                                       regard to intercultural teaching
                                                      practices;
                                                   The Commission, in cooperation with the
                                                   Member States, shall encourage the
                                                   achievement of operational complementarity
                                                   with the measures financed under the
                                                   medium-term action programme to combat
                                                   exclusion and promote interaction,
                  ACHON3
                                                   Updating the skills of educators
UPDATING THE SKILLS OF EDUCATIONAL
                    STAEE
 Financial aid may be allocated to
 transnational projects submitted by
 institutions engaged in updating the skills of
 educational staff responsible for the
 teaching and/or guidance and psycho-
 pedagogical care of pupils.
                                                34
 ---pagebreak---      These projects are intended to promote:
    -     the exchange of information and
          experience, in particular in the area of
          information and communication
          technologies;
    -     the development of teaching methods
          and materials, especially those adding a
          European dimension to the updating or
          acquisition of certain skills for staff,
          responsible for the teaching, guidance or
          psycho-pedagogical care of school
          children and their families;
    -     the formation of partnerships and
         networks in the above fields.
2.  Projects for updating the skills of staff
    involved in education may also provide for
    a limited number of periods to be spent in
    another Member State so that staff may
    attend seminars organised jointly by the
    institutions concerned.
    The Community contribution to the travel
    costs for these staff, shared between the
   Member States according to the formula
   described in Chapter II.2, will be paid by the
   national authorities mentioned in Chapter
    II.3.
                   CHAPTER ffl
        HORIZONTAL MEASURES
   The activities described in this chapter apply
   at all levels of education. They are intended
   to promote:
                                                    35
 ---pagebreak---     -   language skills in the Community;
    -   open and distance        education and
        learning;
    -   the broader spread of information and
        the exchange of experiences in the field
        of education.
    These activities, which will be
    supplemented by those in the foregoing
    chapters, will provide a framework for and
    will constitute a coherent set of measures
    aimed at:
   -    supporting those implemented by the
        Member States;
   -    supplementing or creating synergies
        between those presented in thefirsttwo
        chapters.
2. The Commission will take any steps which
   are necessary to encourage equitable
   participation by educational institutions in
   the Member States. The funds for these
   measures may not exceed 5% of the annual
   budget forfinancingthe activities set out in
   Chapter III.
3. The Community financial aid provided for
   in Chapter III is intended to defray part of
   the estimated cost of implementing the
   projects.
4. Community aid shall be awarded according
   to the principle of equality of opportunities,
   particularly between men and women. The
   specific needs of disabled persons who
   participate in activities developed in the
   framework of this chapter should be taken
   into consideration when the amount of
   grants is agreed.
                                                  36
 ---pagebreak---                      ACTION 1
     PROMOTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
               IN THE COMMUNITY
1. The promotion of language skills is a key
    factor in establishing the open European
   area for education and for strengthening
   understanding and interaction between the
   peoples of the European Union without
   sacrificing any of their linguistic and
   cultural diversity.
   These actions will be based on the
   experience acquired in implementing the
   LINGUA Community programme.
2, Apartfromthe measures for encouragement
   set out in Chapter I, Actions 1 and 2 and in
   Chapter II, Action 1, Commumty financial
   assistance may also be allocated to those
   transnational projects aiming to undertake
   the following activities:
   a) the development of European
        Cooperation Programmes (joint design
        and creation of innovatory training
        schemes and teaching materials),
        submitted by institutions specialising in
        training language teachers and aiming to
        update, reinforce and expand the
        language and teaching skills of present
        or future language teachers;
                                                  37
 ---pagebreak---  b) immersion courses abroad for language
    teachers, for teaching staff retraining as
    language teachers and for teaching staff
    of other disciplines intending to teach in
    a foreign language. The duration of
    these courses will be between two and
     four weeks.
 c) assistantships abroad for future language
    teachers to enhance their knowledge of
    the languages which they will be
    teaching. These will last not less than 3
    months and should be spent in a
    Member State where one of the official
    languages is the language which the
    assistant will be teaching.
d) design and implementation of curricula,
    production of new teaching materials for
    all educational circles, and the
    recognition of linguistic experience.
    These projects may also involve the
    public at large as well as covering
    language preparation for students and
    pupils, whether in school or in training
    centres, to help them take part in
    mobility schemes.
Community funds set aside to promote the
activities provided for in b) and c) above
will be shared between the Member States
according to the following formula: subject
to budget availability, a minimum of
200 000 ECU will be allocated to each
Member State. The remainder will be
allocated depending on the total number of
students and language teachers, the average
cost of travel between the country of origin
and host country and the difference in the
cost of living between the country of origin
and the host country.
                                               38
 ---pagebreak--- The maximum allocation per beneficiary
 will be 1 500 ECU for immersion courses
 and 5 000 ECU for assistantships.
 Priority will be given to projects and
 activities:
 -   relating to the teaching of languages of
     the Community which are less widely
     used and taught;
 -   including the use of new educational
     technologies.
                                                 designed to promote interculruraj
                                                 learning
                  ACTION 2
   PROMOTION OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND
OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION AND
                  LEARNING
The introduction of information and
communication technologies and the
development of open and distance education
and learning are key factors enabling
citizens of the Community to take advantage
of the open area for education.
                                              39
 ---pagebreak---    These areas contribute to educational quality
   by making use of teaching innovations and
   helping to increase access to every level of
   education, especially for those who, because
   of their geographical situation or personal
   circumstances, are not in the position to
   follow the kind of teaching that requires
   their constant physical presence.
   Information and communication
   technologies, in addition to open and
   distance education and learning, is
   applicable at all levels of teaching, and the
   use of such facilities may have considerable
   multiplier effects on the development of the
   activities included in the Community action
   programme "SOCRATES".
   The following activities may benefit from
   Community financial assistance:
1•  Transnational projects aiming to: improve
   the quality of products in order to adapt
   them more precisely to the needs of their
   users; design and preparation of courses and
   materials aimed at all citizens and/or adapt
   them in the languages and to the cultures of
   the Community; widen the recognition of
   diplomas, credits and qualifications obtained
   through open and distance teaching. More
   specifically:
                                                 40
 ---pagebreak---   in the area of higher education, the
 universities will be encouraged to develop,
 through means of partnerships with
  universities specialising in open and
 distance teaching, activities aiming to bring
 a European dimension to all higher
 education subjects. A limited number of
  mobility grants will be awarded, according
 to the procedures outlined in Chapter 1,
 Action 3, to students registered on distance
 education courses in order that they may
 visit other Member States to follow
  intensive courses in the framework of
 cooperation agreements concluded between
 competent institutions.
 at school level, schools will be encouraged
 to introduce the use of information and
 communication technologies, including the
 opportunities offered through open and
 distance education and learning, in order
 that, in particular, achievements and
 experiences of partnerships may be widely
 disseminated, benefitting schools not
 directly participating in the projects. As
regards the updating of skills for all staff
 involved in education, the opportunities
offered by open and distance education are
of considerable importance, given the vast
numbers of such personnel and the need for
specific training in aspects concerning the
European dimension.
in the other fields included in this
programme, and especially for the
promotion of language skills, open and
distance education and learning may be able
to contribute most effectively to the
devising and preparation of teaching
material which is then accessible to all
citizens of the Community.
                                               41
 ---pagebreak--- Networks of resource centres for
multimedia, open and distance education
and for the introduction of the new
information technologies as applied to
education.
                 ACTION 3
  PROMOTION OF INFORMATION AND
      EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE
Information improves mutual understanding        Information improves mutual understanding
and provides a vital platform for                and provides a vital platform for
Community cooperation in education and           Community cooperation in education and
the development thereof. It also provides        the development thereof. It also provides
everybody involved in education with the         everybody involved in education with the
key to exploiting the potential and enjoying     key to exploiting the potential and enjoying
the benefits of an open European area for        the maximum benefits of an open European
education.                                       area for education, as part of an ongoing
                                                 learning process.
                                                 In the framework of SOCRATES
                                                 programme information centres set up bv
                                                 the authorities responsible in each Member
                                                 State, the Commission may support
                                                 activities giving information about the
                                                 programme at relevant levels (regional,
                                                 educational authority, orotherl.
The measures outlined below will equip
decision makers and educators with an up-
to-date and reliable information service. The
activities are based on the experience
acquired by the EURYDICE network, the
NARIC network, through the ARION
programme and Action 4 of the ERASMUS
programme.
1. Exchanges of information (EURYDICE)
Action taken in this field will ensure that
information is available on educational
systems and policy, reforms, innovations
and the results of research in education.
                                              42
 ---pagebreak---  The following activities will be eligible for
 financial assistance:
 a) pooling and production of documents,
     data and comparative analyses on
     themes of mutual interest and tools
      facilitating better comparison of
     information;
 b) dissemination of such information
     through existing public and private
     information and distribution channels
     and relays at national, regional and
     Community level;
 c) creation of Community data bases,
     development of close links between
     existing data bases and improving
     access to them;
d) use of new information processing and
     electronic technologies to ensure that
     exchanges are interactive and that there
     is more efficient sharing of resources.
    Activities attracting aid will take
     account of Community developments in
    the field of trans-European networks,
    especially telematic links between
    government departments.
e) studies to analyse trends and anticipate
    requirements in the field of education,
    and any other forward-looking study on
    education and its socio-economic
    environment (activities similar to those
    conducted by observatories).
The Member States will designate the
organisations helping to implement the
above activities. These will act as interfaces
with sources of information on education
and existing expert knowledge on education
at national level. The Community may lend
additional support to these organisations.
                                               43
 ---pagebreak--- When these activities are being
implemented close links will be developed
with comparable activities of CEDEFOP in
the field of information on vocational
training, with EUROSTAT in the field of
statistics, with the Community network of
NARICs (information centres on the
academic recognition of awards) and any
other information network in the field of
education at national European and
international level.
2. Study visits ("ARION"-type measures)
Grants may be awarded for the organisation
of multilateral study visits for all staff
involved in education. These are intended to
facilitate exchanges of information and
experience on themes of mutual interest to
the Member States, and between educators
likely to induce a multiplier effect in the
Member State.
In this context of this action, staff involved
in education means persons whose duties
 include management, assessment, training,
guidance and coordination of European
proj ects and people in responsible positions
 in the Ministries.
The Community funds set aside to help to
 organise these visits will be shared between     (n/a in English version)
 the Member States according to the formula
 described in Chapter II.2 and administered
 by the same national authorities indicated in
 Chapter II.3.
 The average grant per beneficiary is
 estimated at 900 ECU for one week.
                                               44
 ---pagebreak--- 3.  COMPLEMENTARY MEASURES
The Commission will also lend its support
to the following complementary measures
intended to further the programme
objectives:
-   projects developed at European level by        projects aimed at expanding the
    associations of teaching staff, students,      European dimension of education
    and parents of school children;                submitted by organisations responsible
                                                   for the education of adults, in order to
                                                   raise awareness of the European
                                                   dimension of certain issuesjn the widest
                                                   possible number of citizens, in particular
                                                   through supporting the promotion of
                                                   cooperation and exchange of experience
                                                   and transnational activities in this field,
                                                   and especially where these benefit those
                                                   Member States where the education of
                                                   adults is insufficiently developed.
    projects aimed at expanding the                projects developed at European level by
    European dimension of education and            associations of teaching staff, students,
    training submitted by organisations            and parents of school children:
    responsible for the education of adults, 1.
    in order to raise awareness of the
    European dimension of certain issues in
    the widest possible number of citizens;
     organisation of awareness-raising
     activities to promote cooperation in the
     field of education and training;
     activities concerned with monitoring and
     evaluation of the actions described in
     this Annex.
                                                45
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ISSN 0254-1475
                                                               COM(94) 180 final
                                                       DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                               16
                                Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-192-EN-C
                                                              ISBN 92-77-68457-7
Office for Official Publications of trie European Communities
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