CELEX: 51983PC0482
Language: en
Date: 1983-09-07
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON THE COMPARABILITY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS BETWEEN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

4.10. 83                             Official Journal of the European Communities                            N o C 264/5
                                                            II
                                                    (Preparatory Acts)
                                               COMMISSION
               Proposal for a Council Decision on the comparability of vocational training qualifications
                                between the Member States of the European Community
                           (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 20 September 1983)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN                                     employment in one Member State can rely on
COMMUNITIES,                                                    vocational qualifications obtained in another;
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the                    Whereas there is a very substantial degree of diversity
European Economic Community, and in particular                  in the vocational training systems in the Community,
Articles 128 and 155 thereof,                                   which themselves are constantly requiring adaptation
                                                                to the new situations brought about by the impact of
                                                                technological change on employment and job
Having regard to the Decision of the Council of                 content;
2 April 1963 ('), laying down general principles for
implementing a common vocational training policy,
and in particular the eighth principle thereof,                 Whereas the resolution of the Council of 3 June
                                                                 1983, concerning vocational training policies in the
                                                                European Community in the 1980's, affirmed the
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,              need for a convergence of policies in the vocational
                                                                training field, whilst recognizing the diversity of
                                                                training systems in the Member States, and the need
Having regard to the opinion of the European
                                                                for Community action to be flexible;
Parliamant,
                                                                Whereas it has been possible to define a Community
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                 structure of levels of training, as a first step towards
Social Committee,                                                the achievement of the aims laid down in the eighth
                                                                 principle;
Whereas the prime concern of the eighth of the
 general principles for implementing a common                    Whereas for the skilled worker level within this
vocational training policy, established by the Council           structure, and for selected priority groups of occu-
 Decision of 2 April 1963 ('), is to make it possible to         pations, it has been possible to arrive at job
 achieve the mutual recognition of certificates and              descriptions and to identify the corresponding
 other documents confirming completion of vocational             vocational training qualifications in the various
 training;                                                       Member States;
 Whereas the Resolution of the Council of 6 June                 Whereas consultation with the sectors concerned has
  1974 (2), on the mutual recognition of diplomas, cer-           provided evidence that the results of this work can
 tificates and other evidence of formal qualifications,           provide firms, workers and public authorities with
 requires lists of such qualifications recognized as              valuable information concerning the comparability of
 being equivalent to be drawn up;                                 vocational training qualifications;
 Whereas the absence of mutual recognition of                     Whereas the same basic methodology could be
  diplomas, certificates or other evidence of formal              applied to other occupations or groups of occupations
  qualifications is a factor inhibiting freedom of                at the skilled worker level, or at other levels in the
  movement for workers within the Community, insofar              Community structure of levels of training, on advice
  as it restricts the extent to which workers seeking             from the Advisory Committe for Vocational Training,
                                                                  and with the collaboration of employers, workers and
  C) OJ No 63, 20. 4. 1963.                                       the public authorities in the occupational sectors
  (2) OJ No C 98, 20. 8. 1974.                                    concerned,
 ---pagebreak--- No C 264/6                            Official Journal of the European Communities                                4. 10.83
Taking into account the preparatory work                          The European system for the international clearing of
undertaken by the Commission and its Advisory                     vacancies and applications for employment register
Committee for Vocational Training, with the                       (SEDOC), used in connection with the Community-
technical assistance of the European Centre for the               wide system for the notification of employment
Development of Vocational Training, (in accordance               vacancies and applications for employment, shall be
with Article 2.2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No                   used as the common frame of reference with regard
337/75 of 10 February 1975, establishing that                     to occupational classifications.
Centre), and the substantial contribution of national
experts in the fields concerned, who were appointed
on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee,                                          Article 4
Taking into account the opinion delivered by the
Advisory Committee for Vocational Training at its                 The following working procedure, based on six
meeting on 18 and 19 January 1983,                                successive and complementary stages, shall be
                                                                  employed by the Commission in establishing the
                                                                  comparability of vocational training qualifications:
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION,
                                                                  — selection of the relevant occupations or groups of
                          Article 1                                   occupations in the sector under consideration;
The       comparability, of         vocational     training       — drawing up agreed Community job descriptions
qualifications in the European Community requires                     for those occupations;
progressive common action by the Member States, to
enable workers to use their qualifications in particular          — matching the vocational training qualifications
for the purposes of obtaining employment in another                   recognized in the various Member States with
Member State.                                                         those job descriptions;
Each Member State shall, within its existing                      — establishing comparative tables incorporating
established procedures or by such additional measures                 information on the SEDOC and national occu-
as may be appropriate in its particular case, ensure                  pational classification codes, the level of
that this general aim is realized, in accordance with                 vocational training according to the Community
this Decision, and with the advice of the competent                   structure of levels of training, and for each
Community bodies, and the collaboration of                             Member State the occupational title and
employers and workers in the various occupational                     corresponding vocational training qualifications,
sectors concerned.                                                    the organizations and institutions responsible for
                                                                       dispensing vocational training, and the authorities
                          Article 2                                    and organizations competent to issue or to
                                                                      validate diplomas, certificates, or other documents
A Community structure of levels of training,                           confirming completion of vocational training; .
 comprising five separate and distinct levels of
 vocational training — corresponding broadly to                   — publication of the agreed Community job
 semiskilled, skilled, technician, higher technician and               descriptions and the comparative tables in the
 full university levels respectively — together with the               Official Journal of the European Communities;
 criteria for access to training at each level, is hereby
 established (Annexe 1).                                           — dissemination of information on the established
                                                                       comparabilities to all appropriate bodies at
                          Article 3                                    national, regional and local levels, as well as
                                                                       throughout the occupational sectors concerned.
 The Commission shall undertake work to establish
 the comparability of vocational training qualifications                                   Article 5
 between the various Member States, in respect of
 specific occupations or groups of occupations. This
 work shall, in the first instance, concentrate upon               Each Member State shall designate a national coordi-
 level two (skilled worker) of the structure of levels of          nation office, based wherever possible on existing
 training mentioned in Article 2.                                  structures, which shall be responsible for ensuring —
                                                                 , in close collaboration with the social partners and the
 The scope of this Decision may subsequently be                    occupational sectors concerned — the proper
  extended to permit work to be undertaken at other                dissemination of information to all interested parties,
  levels of the structure of levels of training, upon a            provide the necessary intersectoral coordination, and
  proposal from the Commission.                                    act as the focal point in their country for contacts
 ---pagebreak--- 4.10. 83                                 Official Journal of the European Communities                                    N o C 264/7
with the coordination offices in other Member States,                  — periodically review and update the community job
and with the Commission.                                                   descriptions and the comparative tables relating to
                                                                           the     comparability        of    vocational     training
The national coordination offices shall also be                            qualifications;
responsible for establishing appropriate reception and
information arrangements with regard to vocational                     — process the periodic national reports provided for
training for their own nationals wishing to work in                        in Article 7, and where necessary formulate
other Member States, and for incoming workers from                         proposals for a more efficient operation of the
other Member States, and for the issue on request of                       system;
certificates (based on the model in Annexe 2)
attesting the comparability of vocational training                     — where necessary assist in the case of technical
qualifications.                                                            difficulties between the national authorities or
                                                                           specialist bodies concerned;
The Commission will give national coordination
                                                                       — where necessary, promote and implement any
offices all necessary assistance and advice concerning
                                                                           other measure likely to facilitate the observance of
the preparation and implementation of the certi-
                                                                           comparability of vocational training qualifications.
fication arrangements, including the adaptation,
revision and checking of the relevant technical
documents.                                                                                         Article 7
                           Article 6                                   Each Member State shall, every three year's, submit to
                                                                       the Commission an national report on the practical
The Commission, in close liaison with the designated                   implementation of these arrangements and the results.
national coordination offices in the Member States,
shall:                                                                 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
                                                               ANNEX 1
                                              STRUCTURE OF TRAINING LEVELS
                                                                LEVEL 1
                   Training giving access to this level: compulsory education and introductory vocational training
              This training is acquired either at a school, or through training schemes not connected with
              schooling, or on the job. The amount of theoretical knowledge and practical skills required is very
              limited.
              This qualification, which is aimed at relatively simple work, can be acquired in a fairly short time. ,.
                                                                LEVEL 2
                          Training giving access to this level: compulsory education and vocational training
                                                       (including apprentceship)
              At this level a full qualification is obtained for a clearly defined activity, with the ability to use the
              relevant tools and techniques.
              This activity mainly involves practical work, which can be carried out without supervision, at least
               in respect of those techniques which have been learnt.
                                                                LEVEL 3
               Training giving access to this level: compulsory education and either vocational training and
                additional technical training and qualification or school or other technical training at secondary level
               This involves more technical knowledge than the preceding level. This level involves mainly
               practical work which may be carried out without supervision, and/or which includes other
               responsibilities such as planning and coordination.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 264/8                          Official Journal of the European Communities                                 4.10. 83
                                                           LEVEL 4
            Training giving access to this level: secondary education (general or vocational) and post-secondary
                                                       technical training
            This is technical training at a high level acquired either in schools or elsewhere. The qualification
            acquired as a result of this training includes knowledge and abilities which belong to a higher level
            but does not generally demand a mastery of scientific principles in the various fields concerned.
            These skills and knowledge permit in particular the assumption in a generally autonomous or
            independent manner of responsibility for conceptual planning and/or administration and/or
            management.
                                                           LEVEL 5
            Training giving access to this level: secondary education (general or vocational) and full higher
                                             education and/or professional training
            This generally enables its recipient to exercise a professional activity, whether salaried or self-
            employed, independently and implies mastery of the scientific bases of the profession.
 ---pagebreak--- 4. 10. 83                            Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                  N o C 264/9
                                                              ANNEX       2
                                                               MODEL
                                                           CERTIFICATE
                             for attesting the comparability of vocational training qualifications
          This is to certify that:
          Mr/Mrs/Miss
          Date of birth
          Resident at
          holds one of the vocational training qualifications for the occupation of:
          SEDOC occupational classification code
          National occupational classification code
          which appears in the comparative table of qualifications for skilled workers in that occupation,
          published in the Official Journal of the European Communities No                           of
          and which meets the agreed Community job description for the occupation concerned, published in
          the same issue of the Official Journal.
                         Date and place of issue                                            Signed and stamped
                                                                                  on behalf of the competent issuing body
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 264/10                           Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s           4. 10. 83
                                                                ANNEX       3
             Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training on the establishment of a Community
                          method to ensure the comparability of certificates of occupational qualification
            T H E ADVISORY C O M M I T T E E O N VOCATIONAL TRAINING,
             at its plenary session held in Brussels on 18 and 19 January 1983,
             having regard to the Council Decision laying down general principles for implementing a common
            vocational training policy ('), and in particular to the eighth principle thereof, concerning the
            progressive approximation of levels of training and the mutual recognition of certificates and other
            documents confirming completion of vocational training;
            having regard to the fact that this aim was emphasised when the European Centre for the
             Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) was established (2), and was one of the specific
            priority tasks assigned to it;
            having regard to the results of the work accomplished since 1975 by the Advisory Committee's
            working group on the approximation of levels of training, and since 1978 in cooperation with
            CEDEFOP, and the substantial contribution of national experts in the fields concerned, appointed
            on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee;
            whereas the essentially practical approach applied to the work carried out so far, on the basis of a
            Community structure of levels of training and concentrating on skilled workers in the first instance,
            has facilitated the process of arriving at descriptions of practical job requirements and of identifying
            the associated certificates and titles in the various Member States, enabling comparability of certi-
            ficates awarded on completion of training and occupational requirements, thus contributing towards
             meeting the objectives foreseen in the Council Decision referred to above;
            whereas consultation with the sectors concerned at national level has shown that the results of the
            work already carried out in respect of certificates of occupational qualification for a group of
             occupations in the electrical trades sector, can provide firms, workers and public authorities with
            valuable information for assessing the comparability of occupational qualifications, and in this way
             contribute to the freedom of movement for workers within the Community;
            whereas comparability could be established by the Commission, on the basis of a mandate from the
             Council, for other occupations or groups of occupational activities at level 2 (skilled worker),
             utilizing the same basic methodology, and on the basis of continuing advice from the Advisory
             Committee, and with the collaboration of CEDEFOP and of employers and workers in the occu-
             pational sectors concerned;
             IS OF T H E O P I N I O N T H A T :
             1.     There is agreement on the basic methodology for establishing comparability of certificates of
             occupational qualification, based on the description of practical occupational requirements, and the
             agreed comparability of the related certificates awarded on completion of training. The existence of
             such comparability infers that the bearer of a certificate of occupational qualification has received
             training which satisfies the practical occupational requirements involved, which have been defined
             on the basis of the methodology developed by the Commission on the advice of the Advisory
             Committee for Vocational Training, and would not prejudice any additional conditions which may
             be applied in a national context;
             2.     This basic methodology provides a suitable framework to permit work to be carried out to
             establish comparability of certificates of occupational qualification at level 2 (skilled worker) for
             other occupational sectors, in collaboration with the interested sectors. Such work may also be
             carried out at the specific request of the sectors (employers/workers) concerned;
             (*) OJ N o 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63.
              O O J N o L 3 9 , 13.2. 1975, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak--- 4.10.83                          Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s        N o C 264/11
        3.    Suitable arrangements should be made for information on such comparability to be
        systematically disseminated in the Member States to all appropriate bodies and persons at national,
        regional and local levels, as well as throughout the occupatonal sectors concerned. Appropriate
        agencies would be designated by each Member State, based on existing structures, to act as focal
        points of contact between themselves, the Commission and CEDEFOP, whilst allowing a reasonable
        time for any necessary and appropriate adaptation of these structures and procedures;
        4.    The Commission, drawing on the assistance of CEDEFOP as appropriate, and in close liaison
        with the designated national agencies in the Member States, should:
        — on the request of the Member States, give the appropriate national services all the necessary
            assistance and advice regarding technical measures concerning the preparation and dissemination
            of information relating to comparability between certificates of occupational qualification,
            including the adaptation and checking of the relevant technical documents;
        — take the necessary steps to ensure a periodic review and updating of the technical information
            relating to the comparability of qualifications for the sectors concerned, to take account of
            changes in job requirements and in qualifications;
        — process periodic national reports concerning practical implementation and its results and, where
            necessary, formulate proposals for a more efficient operation of the system;
        — where necessary assist in the case of technical difficulties between the national authorities or
            specialist bodies concerned;
        — where necessary, promote and implement any other agreed measure likely to facilitate the
            observance of comparability between certificates of occupational qualification.