CELEX: 51996PC0198
Language: en
Date: 1996-05-08
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 93/246/EEC of 29 April 1993 adopting the second phase of the trans-european cooperation scheme for higher education (TEMPUS II) (1994 to 1998)

Avis juridique important

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51996PC0198

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 93/246/EEC of 29 April 1993 adopting the second phase of the trans-european cooperation scheme for higher education (TEMPUS II) (1994 to 1998)  /* COM/96/0198 FINAL - CNS 96/0133 */  

Official Journal C 207 , 18/07/1996 P. 0008

Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 93/246/EEC of 29 April 1993 adopting the second  phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus II) (1994 to  1998)(96/C  207/06)(Text with EEA relevance)COM(96) 198 final - 96/0133(CNS)(Submitted  by the Commission on 10 May 1996)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235  thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions, 1. Whereas on 18 December 1989 the Council adopted Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89  (1) on economic aid  to the Republic of Hungary and the Polish People's Republic, which provides for aid to support the  process of economic and social reform in central and eastern European countries in areas including  training; 2. Whereas on 19 July 1993 the Council adopted Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 2053/93  (2) concerning  the provision of technical assistance to economic reform and recovery in the independent States of  the former Soviet Union and Mongolia; 3. Whereas on 29 April 1993 the Council adopted the Decision adopting the second phase of the  trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus II) for a period of four years from  1 July 1994  (3); 4. Whereas the countries of central and eastern Europe and of the former Soviet Union, which are  beneficiaries of the Phare and Tacis programmes, consider training and, in particular, higher  education, to be one of the key areas for the process of economic and social reform; 5. Whereas the European Community has concluded association agreements with six countries of  central Europe  (4) and has signed such agreements with three others  (5); 6. Whereas the Essen European Council (December 1994) established a preaccession strategy for these  associated countries, involving, notably, access to Community programmes, especially in the area of  education and training; 7. Whereas Tempus can still make an effective contribution to the structural development of higher  education required to improve occupational skills adapted to economic reform, with a view to their  incorporation into the internal market of the European Union; whereas there is no other instrument  for achieving this objective; 8. Whereas the associated countries of central Europe are required to define a particular strategy  and their specific needs in connection with Tempus, with particular regard to the new possibility  of participation in the Socrates and Leonardo programmes; 9. Whereas the European Community has signed partnership agreements with Belarus, Kazakhstan,  Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine and that it is currently negotiating  agreements with other independent States of the former Soviet Union; 10. Whereas the recent establishment of Tempus in the countries which are recipients of Tacis  assistance, whose needs are greater and whose area is more extensive, fully warrants the  continuation of the existing measures; 11. Whereas a funding plan has been drawn up for the Phare and Tacis programmes up to 31 December  1999; 12. Whereas Article 11 of the Council Decision of 29 April 1993 (93/246/EEC) stipulates that the  Commission will evaluate the implementation of the Tempus programme and will submit, before 30  April 1996, a proposal for the continuation or adaptation of the programme for the period beginning  1 July 1998; 13. Whereas the results of this evaluation confirmed the decision to adopt and further diversify  the forms of assistance in line with national needs and the priorities of the systems of higher  education; 14. Whereas this evaluation has shown the ability of Tempus to make an effective contribution in  the partner countries to the diversification of educational opportunities and to cooperation  between universities, thereby creating the right conditions for the development of scientific,  cultural and economic cooperation; 15. Whereas the results of the evaluation, as set out above, are confirmed by the assessment of the  programme by the competent authorities of the countries of central and eastern Europe and of the  Republics of the former Soviet Union, and by the opinions expressed by the users of the programme  and the facilities responsible for its organization in the partner countries and in the European  Union, and by the qualified experts and representatives reflecting the views of the university  community in Europe; 16. Whereas there exist in the European Community and in third countries regional and/or national,  public and/or private facilities which can be called upon to assist in the effective provision of  financial support in the area of training at higher-education level; 17. Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the action concerned, powers other than those of  Article 235, and the conditions for the use of that Article have been satisfied, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 Article 1 of Decision 93/246/EEC is hereby replaced by the  following: 'Duration of Tempus IIThe second phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for university  studies (hereinafter referred to as "Tempus II" is hereby adopted for a period of six years as of 1  July 1994.`Article 2 The text of the Annex referred to in Article 6 of Decision 93/246/EEC is  hereby replaced by the text annexed to this Decision. Article 3 The last two paragraphs of Article 11 of Decision 93/246/EEC are hereby amended as  follows: 'The Commission shall submit an interim report, including the results of the evaluation, before 30  April 1998. If appropriate, this report shall be accompanied by a proposal for the continuation or  adaptation of Tempus for the period beginning 1 July 2000 for the partner countries which do not  yet have the possibility of taking part in the higher education activities of the Community  programmes of education and training (Socrates - Leonardo). The Commission shall present a final report by 30 June 2004 at the latest.`. (1)  OJ No L 375, 23. 12. 1989, p. 11. Regulation last amended by Regulation  (EEC) No 1366/95 (OJ No L 133, 17. 6. 1995, p. 1).  (2)  OJ No L 187, 29. 7. 1993, p. 1.  (3)  OJ No L 112, 6. 5. 1993, p. 34.  (4) Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Romania and Bulgaria.  (5) Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.   ANNEX Joint European projects1. The European Community will provide support  for joint European projects of a maximum duration of three years. Joint European projects will comprise at least one university from a partner country, one  university from a Member State and one partner institution (university or enterprise) from another  Member State. 2. Joint European project grants may be awarded for activities according to the specific needs of  the institutions concerned and according to the priorities laid down, including: (i) joint education and training measures, notably for the establishment of new curricula, the  development and overhaul of existing curricula, the development of universities' capacities to  provide continuing education and retraining, the provision of short intensive courses, and the  development of systems of distance learning; (ii) measures for the reform and development of the higher education system and its capacities,  notably by means of the restructuring of the management of higher education institutions and  systems, the upgrading of existing facilities by the acquisition of the equipment needed to  implement a joint European project and, where appropriate, the provision of technical and financial  assistance to the competent authorities; (iii) the promotion of cooperation between universities and the socio-economic players, including  industry, through joint projects; (iv) the development of the mobility of teachers, university administrative staff and students  within the framework of joint European projects: (a) grants will be awarded to teaching/administrative staff from universities or to instructors  from enterprises, in the Member States, to carry out teaching/training assignments for periods  lasting from one week to one year in partner countries and vice versa; (b) grants will be awarded to teaching/administrative staff of universities in the partner  countries to undertake retraining and updating training in the European Community; (c) grants will be awarded to students, up to and including at doctoral level, and will be  available both to students from the partner countries carrying out periods of study in the European  Community and to students from the European Community spending study periods in the partner  countries. These grants will normally be awarded for a period of between three months and one year   (1); (d) for students participating in joint European projects, whose specific aim is to foster  mobility, priority will be given to students participating in projects in which the period of study  abroad will be granted full recognition by the student's home university  (1); (e) support will be provided for industrial or practical placements of between one month and one  year to teachers, instructors, students and graduates of the partner countries between the end of  these studies and their first employment, so that they can undertake a period of practical training  in enterprises in the European Community and vice versa  (1); (v) activities to ensure the success of a joint European project involving two or more partner  countries. Structural and/or complementary measuresGrants will be awarded for a number of  structural and/or complementary measures (including technical assistance, seminars, studies,  publications, information activities). These measures are designed to support the objectives of the  programme, notably to contribute to the development and restructuring of the higher education  systems in the partner countries. In connection with these structural measures, grants will be awarded, in order to, among other  things: - develop and strengthen the capacities for strategic planning and institutional development of  institutes of higher education at university or faculty level, - support the multiplication of cooperation measures designed to achieve the objectives of Tempus  and to ensure its duration, -  draw up a national strategy in a particular partner country for the development of a specific  aspect of higher education. Individual grantsIn addition to joint European projects and structural and/or  complementary measures, the European Community will also support the provision of individual grants  to teachers, instructors, university administrators, senior Ministry officials, education planners  and other training experts from partner countries or the European Community for visits designed to  promote the quality, development and restructuring of higher education and training in the partner  countries. These visits will cover the following areas in particular: - the development of courses and teaching material, - the development of staff, notably by periods of retraining and industrial placements, - teaching assignments, - activities for supporting the development of higher education. Support activities1. The Commission will receive the necessary technical  assistance to underpin the activities carried out in accordance with the Decision and to ensure the  necessary monitoring of the implementation of the programme. 2. Support will be provided for appropriate external evaluation of Tempus II. (1)  No mobility or support grants will be awarded for practical placements to  students from the associated countries of central Europe which are eligible for these activities  under the Community programmes of education and training (Socrates, Leonardo).