CELEX: 51990PC0467
Language: en
Date: 1990-11-09
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION CONCERNING AN ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PREPARATION FOR ADULT AND WORKING LIFE

21. 12. 9 0                                              Official J o u r n a l of t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                                       N o C 322/21
comply w i t h this Directive n o t later t h a n 3 1 December                                  M e m b e r States shall lay d o w n t h e m a n n e r in which such
1992.                                                                                           reference shall b e m a d e .
W h e n t h e M e m b e r States a d o p t such provisions they shall
                                                                                                                                     Article 12
contain a reference t o this Directive o r shall b e ac­
c o m p a n i e d b y such a reference o n official publication. T h e                          T h i s Directive is addressed t o t h e M e m b e r States.
                     Proposal for a Council Decision concerning an action programme for the vocational qualification
                                              of young people and their preparation for adult and working life
                                                                            CC>M(90) 467 final
                                                    (Submitted       by the Commission              on 15 October           1990)
                                                                                ( 9 0 / C 322/05)
T H E COUNCIL OF T H E EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                                                    w h e r e a s t h e Commission h a s submitted a n evaluation
                                                                                                r e p o r t o n t h e p r o g r a m m e ; w hereas t h e Council, by
H a v i n g regard t o t h e T r e a t y establishing t h e E u r o p e a n                     Decision 9 0 / 2 6 8 / E E C ( 4 ), extended t h e p r o g r a m m e u p t o
E c o n o m i c C o m m u n i t y , a n d in p a r t i c u l a r Article 128                    3 1 December 1991 w i t h a view t o t a k i n g a decision later o n
thereof,                                                                                        a n overall Commission p r o p o s a l concerning initial vo­
                                                                                                cational training including follow-up of t h e y o u n g w o r k e r s
                                                                                                exchange p r o g r a m m e ; a n d whereas it is t h e responsibility
H a v i n g regard t o t h e p r o p o s a l f r o m t h e Commi s s i on,                      of t h e M e m b e r States, u n d e r Article 5 0 of t h e T r e a t y , t o
                                                                                                encourage, w ithin t h e f r a m e w o r k of a joint p r o g r a m m e ,
H a v i n g regard t o t h e opinion of t h e E u r o p e a n Parliament,                       t h e exchange of y o u n g w o r k e r s ;
H a v i n g regard t o t h e o p i n i o n of t h e E c o n o m i c a n d Social
Committee,
                                                                                                W h e r e a s t h e C o m m u n i t y C h a r t e r of t h e f u n d a m e n t a l social
W h e r e a s t h e f u n d a m e n t a l objectives of t h e c o m m o n                       rights of w o r k e r s , a d o p t e d a t t h e E u r o p e a n Council in
vocational training policy set d o w n in t h e second principle                                Strasbourg o n 9 December 1989 by t h e H e a d s of State a n d
in Council Decision 6 3 / 2 6 6 / E E C ( J ) refer, in particular t o                          G o v e r n m e n t s of 11 M e m b e r States, declares in p o i n t 2 3
t h e need t o g u a r a n t e e a d e q u a t e vocational training f o r all                  t h a t , 'following t h e end of compulsory education, y o u n g
a n d t o avoid a n y h a r m f u l interruption between completion                             people m u s t b e entitled t o receive initial vocational training
of general education a n d c o m m e n c e m e n t of vocational                                of a sufficient d u r a t i o n t o enable t h e m t o a d a p t t o t h e
training;                                                                                       requirements of their f u t u r e w o r k i n g life; f o r y o u n g
                                                                                                w o r k e r s , such training should t a k e place d u r i n g w o r k i n g
                                                                                                hours';
W h e r e a s t h e t e n t h principle in Decision 6 3 / 2 6 6 / E E C states
t h a t special measures m a y b e t a k e n in respect of special
p r o b l e m s concerning specific sectors of activity o r specific
categories of p e r s o n s ;
                                                                                                W h e r e a s t h e conclusions of t h e Council a n d Ministers of
                                                                                 2              Education, meeting within t h e Council of 14 December
W h e r e a s t h e Council, by Decision 8 7 / 5 6 9 / E E C ( ),
                                                                                                1989 ( 5 ), stressed t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e issues a t stake in
a d o p t e d a n action p r o g r a m m e f o r t h e vocational training
                                                                                                technical a n d vocational education a n d initial training a n d
of y o u n g people a n d their p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a d u l t a n d
                                                                                                asked t h e Commission t o p r o p o s e w a y s in w h i c h cooper­
w o r k i n g life (Petra), f o r a period of five years c o m m e n c i n g
1 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 8 ; w h e r e a s t h e Commi s s i on h a s presented a n                ation c a n b e achieved in this a r e a ;
interim r e p o r t o n t h e implementation of this Decision;
W h e r e a s t h e Council, by Decision 8 4 / 6 3 6 / E E C ( 3 ),
a d o p t e d a third joint p r o g r a m m e f o r t h e exchange of y o u n g                 W h e r e a s t h e E u r o p e a n Parliament a d o p t e d , o n 15 M a r c h
w o r k e r s in t h e C o m m u n i t y u p t o 3 1 December 1 9 9 0 ;                         1989, a resolution o n t h e social dimension of t h e internal
(!) OJ N o 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63.
( 2 ) OJ N o L 346, 10. 12. 1987, p. 31.                                                        (4) OJ N o L 156, 21. 6. 1990, p. 8.
( 3 ) OJ N o L 331, 19. 12. 1984, p. 36.                                                        (5) OJ N o C 27, 6. 2. 1990, p. 4.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 322/22                                             Official J o u r n a l of t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                                      21. 12. 9 0
m a r k e t ( ! ) in which it emphasizes t h e need t o encourage                               regions a n d target g r o u p s by ensuring a balanced
transnational vocational training initiatives;                                                  development of t h e m e a s u r e s ;
                                                                                                W h e r e a s t h e Commission h a s a d o p t e d a m e m o r a n d u m o n
W h e r e a s t h e E u r o p e a n Parliament, in its resolution of                            t h e rationalization a n d coordination of vocational training
16 F e b r u a r y 1990 o n C o m m u n i t y education a n d training                          p r o g r a m m e s a t C o m m u n i t y level,
p r o g r a m m e s ( 2 ), expressed concern a b o u t t h e fact t h a t
y o u n g people d o n o t have equal opportunities in this area
since existing C o m m u n i t y p r o g r a m m e s a r e geared mainly
t o university students r a t h e r t h a n y o u n g people a t school o r                     HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
following vocational training courses, w h o are in t h e
majority;
                                                                                                                                       Article 1
Whereas, b y their joint opinion of 2 6 J a n u a r y 1990, t h e
social p a r t n e r s , in t h e f r a m e w o r k of t h e Social Dialogue,
emphasized t h e i m p o r t a n c e of high-quality educat on a n d                            Decision 8 7 / 5 6 9 / E E C is hereby a m e n d e d a s f o l l o w s :
initial vocational training leading t o recognized qualifi­
cations a s a n essential a n d irreplaceable condition f o r
                                                                                                1. Article 1 is replaced b y t h e f o l l o w i n g :
successful integration of y o u n g people i n t o w o r k i n g a n d
economic life;
                                                                                                      'Article 1
Whereas, in response t o t h e requests of b o t h t h e Council
a n d t h e E u r o p e a n Parliament, there is a need t o strengthen                                1. A p r o g r a m m e is hereby a d o p t e d f o r a three-year
a n d extend t h e C o m m u n i t y ' s experience in t h e field of                                 period f r o m 1 J a n u a r y 1992 t o s u p p o r t a n d supplement,
initial vocational training w i t h t h e a i m of s upport i ng t h e                                t h r o u g h measures a t C o m m u n i t y level, t h e policies a n d
development of national policies in, a n d of a d d i n g a                                           activities of t h e M e m b e r States in d o i n g their u t m o s t t o
E u r o p e a n dimension t o , this f i e l d ;                                                      ensure t h a t all y o u n g people in t h e C o m m u n i t y w h o s o
                                                                                                      wish receive t w o o r m o r e years' vocational training
                                                                                                      leading t o recognized vocational qualifications, in
W h e r e a s there is a need t o stimulate exchange of experience                                    addition t o their full-time compulsory education.
between Member.States, a n d diversified f o r m s of practical
transnational cooperation between training institutions,
including periods of training o r w o r k experience a b r o a d , a s                                2.     T h e p r o g r a m m e is also intended t o :
a contribution t o t h e achievement of t h e internal m a r k e t
a n d t h e elimination of barriers t o t h e f r e e m o v e m e n t of                              (a) raise t h e s t a n d a r d s a n d quality of technical a n d
p e r so n s in t h e C o m m u n i t y , a n d t o t h e creation of trans-                                vocational education a n d initial training, diversify
E u r o p e a n n e t w o r k s in a frontier-free E u r o p e ;                                            vocational training provision s o a s t o o f f e r choice f o r
                                                                                                            y o u n g people w i t h different levels of ability, a n d
                                                                                                            enhance t h e capacity of vocational training systems
W h e r e a s th e r e is a need t o respond t o n e w challenges facing                                    t o a d a p t t o rapid economic, technological a n d social
initial vocational education a n d training, in particular by                                               change;
raising its status, a d a p t i n g its cont ent , increasing its
coherence a n d flexibility, stimulating cooperation between
                                                                                                      (b) a d d a C o m m u n i t y dimension t o vocational qualifi­
its providers, strengthening apprenticeship a n d w o r k -
                                                                                                            cations, t a k i n g account of t h e need t o p r o m o t e
based training, improving vocational guidance a n d
                                                                                                            comparability of these qualifications between t h e
attracting m o r e girls a n d y o u n g w o m e n i n t o technical a n d
                                                                                                            M e m b e r States;
scientific fields;
                                                                                                      (c) stimulate a n d s u p p o r t practical cooperation a n d t h e
W h e r e a s this action p r o g r a m m e should b e organized in                                         development of training partnerships, b o t h t r a n s ­
such a w a y t h a t it interacts w i t h t h e tasks a n d actions of the                                  n a t i o n a l ^ a n d within each M e m b e r State, between
E u r o p e a n Social F u n d ( 3 ) a s well a s with t h e o t h e r                                      training providers, industry a n d o t h e r p r o m o t e r s of
vocational training p r o g r a m m e s ;                                                                   local a n d regional development, s o a s t o achieve a
                                                                                                            m o r e effective use of training resources, improv e t h e
                                                                                                            transfer of experience a n d increase awareness of t h e
W h e r e a s this action p r o g r a m m e should, in its implemen­                                        E u r o p e a n aspects t o b e t a k e n into account in t h e
tation, t a k e a c c o u n t of t h e specific p r o b l e m s of t h e different                          development of initial vocational t r a i n i n g ;
                                                                                                       (d) develop opportunities f o r y o u n g people in technical
(!) OJ N o C 96, 17. 4. 1989, p. 61.                                                                        a n d vocational education o r o t h e r f o r m s of initial
(2) OJ N o C 68, 19. 3. 1990, p. 175.                                                                       training, a n d f o r y o u n g w o r k e r s , t o benefit f r o m
(3) OJ N o L 185, 15. 12. 1988, p. 9.                                                                       periods of training o r w o r k experience in o t h e r
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         M e m b e r States, s o a s t o a d d a E u r o p e a n dimension                            3. technical-assistance, a s necessary, in t h e implemen­
         t o their training a n d t o increase their mobility a t                                           tation of this p r o g r a m m e , c o m p a r a t i v e studies o n
         C o m m u n i t y level;                                                                           vocational education a n d training issues, including
                                                                                                            surveys o n t h e effectiveness of y o u t h training
                                                                                                            p r o g r a m m e s , a n d review of t h e e v o l u t i o n of
    (e) in tr o d u c e a E u r o p e a n dimension i n t o t h e systems                                   vocational qualifications.
         a n d processes of vocational i n f o r m a t i o n a n d guidan­
         ce.'
                                                                                                            T h e Commission shall implement t h e p r o g r a m m e in
                                                                                                            accordance w i t h t h e provisions set o u t in t h e A n n e x .
2. Articles 3 a n d 4 a r e replaced by t h e f o l l o w i n g :
                                                                                                            T h e Commission shall d r a w u p o n t h e assistance of
                                                                                                            t h e E u r o p e a n C e n t r e f o r t h e D e v e l o p m e n t of
                                                                                                            Vocational T r a i n i n g in t h e implementation of this
   'Article 3
                                                                                                            p r o g r a m m e , subject t o t h e conditions laid d o w n in
                                                                                                            Council Regulation (EEC) N o 3 3 7 / 7 5 of 10 Feb­
   In o r d e r t o achieve t h e objectives stated in Article 1 a n d                                      r u a r y 1975 establishing a E u r o p e a n C e n t r e f o r t h e
   t o s u p p o r t a n d c o m p l e m e n t t h e activities of t h e M e m b e r                        Development of Vocational T r a i n i n g (*).
   States referred t o in Article 2, t h e Commi s s i on shall
   m a k e a c o n t r i b u t i o n b y m e a n s of t h e f o l l o w i n g
   measures, which a r e aimed a t a d d i n g a C o m m u n i t y                                          (*) O J N o L 39, 13.2.1975, p . 1.
   d i m e n s i o n t o t h e design a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of
   vocational training policies in t h e M e m b e r States:
                                                                                                      Article 4
   1. s u p p o r t f o r t r a n s n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n
        initiatives of t h e k i n d set o u t in Article 2, including                                1. T h e results of t h e measures t a k e n p u r s u a n t t o
        specific assistance t o t hos e involving y o u n g people in                                Article 3 shall be subject t o objective external assess­
        their p la n n in g , organization a n d implementation,                                     m e n t , consisting o f :
        which encourage the personal and vocational
        development of y o u n g people in vocational a n d                                           (a) a n interim evaluation d u r i n g 1994, a n d
        technical education o r o t h e r f o r m s of initial training,
        a n d of y o u n g w o r k e r s , w h o h a v e left t h e education
        a n d training system, t h r o u g h cooperative o r in­                                      (b) a final evaluation d u r i n g 1995.
        tegrated vocational education, training a n d gui­
        d a n c e measures. Such cooperation shall in particular                                     2. Before 3 0 J u n e 1993 a n d before 3 0 J u n e 1995, t h e
        p r o m o t e within t h e C o m m u n i t y :                                               M e m b e r States shall send t o t h e C o m m i s s i o n a r e p o r t
                                                                                                     o n t h e steps t a k e n t o implement t h e c o m m o n f r a m e ­
                                                                                                     w o r k of guidelines laid d o w n in Article 2, including
        — vocational training o r w o r k experience place­                                          i n f o r m a t i o n o n current arrangements t o p r o m o t e initial
             m e n t s a b r o a d f o r y o u n g people in initial training                        vocational training.
             and young workers,
                                                                                                     3. T h e Commission shall present a n interim r e p o r t
       — joint training of trainers, a n d                                                           b e f o r e t h e end of 1993 a n d a final r e p o r t b e f o r e t h e end
                                                                                                     of 1995, i n c l u d i n g a n overall e v a l u a t i o n of t h e
                                                                                                     implementation of this p r o g r a m m e , t o t h e Council a n d
       — joint development of E u r o p e a n training modules,                                      t h e E u r o p e a n Parliament, as well a s t o t h e Economic
             a n d of qualifications a n d certificates related t o                                  a n d Social C o m m i t t e e a n d t o t h e Education C o m m i t t e e
             them;                                                                                   set u p u n d e r t h e Resolution of 9 F ebruary 1976 of t h e
                                                                                                     Council a n d of t h e Ministers of Education, meeting
                                                                                                     within t h e Council (**).
   2. s u p p o r t f o r m e a s u r e s a i m e d a t i n t r o d u c i n g a
        E u r o p e a n dimension i n t o t h e processes a n d systems
        of vocational i n f o r m a t i o n a n d guidance, in p a r ­
        ticular b y :                                                                                {**) O J N o C 38, 19.2.1976, p . 1.'
                                                                                                3. T h e following Articles 5 a n d 6 a r e a d d e d :
       — su p p o r tin g n a t i o n a l cont act p o i n t s o r centres, t o
             create a n e t w o r k f o r t h e exchange of guidance
             d a t a , a n d t o explore effective m e t h o d s f o r t h e
                                                                                                     'Article 5
             t r a n s f e r of u p - t o - d a t e g u i d a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n
             throughout the Community,
                                                                                                     As f r o m t h e 1992 budgetary year, t h e a p p r o p r i a t i o n s
                                                                                                     necessary t o finance t h e C o m m u n i t y contribution t o t h e
       — p r o v id in g t r a i n i n g f o r gui dance counsellors/                                actions provided f o r in Article 3 , including measures t o
             specialists o n E u r o p e a n aspects of g u i d a n c e ;                            ensure technical assistance a t central o r decentralized
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 322/24                                       Official J o u r n a l of t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s                                      21. 12. 9 0
   level, continuing m o n i t o r i n g a n d evaluation, a n d o t h e r                     (c) questions relating t o t h e overall balance of t h e
   supplementary measures concerning i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e                                 p r o g r a m m e , including t h e b r e a k d o w n between t h e
   p r o g r a m m e a n d concertation w i t h policy m a k e r s a n d                             various actions.
   t h e social p a r t n e r s , shall b e authorized in t h e a n n u a l
   budgetary procedure.
                                                                                               3 . T h e c o m m i t t e e shall deliver its opinion o n t h e d r a f t ,
                                                                                               w ithin a t i m e limit which t h e c h a i r m a n m a y lay d o w n
   Article     6                                                                               according t o t h e urgency of t h e m a t t e r , if necessary by
                                                                                               t a k i n g a vote.
   1. T h e C o m m ission shall b e assisted by a committee
   of a n advisory n a t u r e c o m p o s e d of t w o representatives                        T h e opinion shall b e recorded in t h e m i n u t e s ; in
   f r o m each M e m b e r State a n d chaired b y a representative                           addition, each M e m b e r State shall h a v e t h e right t o ask
   of t h e Co m m ission. T w e l v e representatives of b o t h                              t o h a v e its position recorded in t h e minutes.
   sides of industry, a p p o i n t e d by t h e Commi s s i on o n t h e
   basis of p r o p o s a l s f r o m t h e organizations representing
   b o t h sides of industry a t C o m m u n i t y level, shall                                T h e Commission shall t a k e t h e u t m o s t account of t h e
   participate in t h e w o r k of t h e committee a s observers.                              question delivered b y t h e committee. It shall i n f o r m t h e
                                                                                               c o m m i t t e e of t h e m a n n e r in w h i c h its opinion h a s been
   2. T h e representative of t h e Commi s s i on shall s u b m i t                           taken into account.'
   t o t h e committee a d r a f t of t h e measures concerning:
   (a) t h e general guidelines governing t h e p r o g r a m m e ;
                                                                                                                                Article 2
   (b) t h e general guidelines o n t h e financial assistance
         provided b y t h e C o m m u n i t y (amounts, d u r a t i o n a n d
         recipients of assistance);                                                       T h i s Decision shall t a k e effect o n 1 J a n u a r y 1992.
                                                                               ANNEX
                    COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME O N THE VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OF YOUNG
                              PEOPLE A N D THEIR PREPARATION FOR ADULT A N D WORKING LIFE (PETRA)
                                                                        INTRODUCTION
                  1. This Annex sets out the measures required in Article 2 of the Decision, in particular for the consolidation of
                  the existing Community action programme, known as 'the Petra programme', which was set up under Council
                  Decision 87/569/EEC of 1 December 1987 and which shall be extended until 31 December 1994.
                  These measures are to be implemented at Community level by the Commission, respecting the principle of
                  subsidiarity, to support and complement initial vocational training policies in the Member States and to add a
                  Community dimension to their activities in this field. They are of two kinds:
                  A. Support for transnational and transfrontier training projects;
                  B. Support for measures aimed at introducing a European dimension into the processes and systems of
                      vocational information and guidance;
                  In addition, the Commission will take the complementary measures and provide the technical assistance which
                  are required to implement the programme.
                  The Commission's support for the measures mentioned above, and for the technical assistance, will be financed
                  from its specific budget for education, vocational training and youth policy.
 ---pagebreak--- 21. 12. 90                                     Official Journal of the European Communities                                              N o C 322/25
                                                                       ACTION A
                      I. S U P P O R T F O R T R A N S N A T I O N A L A N D T R A N S F R O N T I E R T R A I N I N G P R O J E C T S
            1.1. Scope
            2. T h e Community will extend its financial a n d technical support for transnational and transfrontier
            cooperation between initiatives implemented in the field of initial vocational training which, in accordance with
            the objectives set o u t in Article 1 of the Decision, aim t o :
            (a) raise the standards and quality of technical a n d vocational education a n d initial training, diversify
                 vocational training provision so as t o offer choice f o r young people with different levels of ability, and
                 enhance the capacity of vocational training systems t o a d a p t t o rapid economic, technological a n d social
                 change;
            (b) a d d a Community dimension t o both the supply o f , a n d demand f o r , vocational qualifications, taking
                 account of the need t o p r o m o t e comparability of these qualifications between the M e m b e r States of the
                 Community;
            (c) stimulate a n d support practical cooperation and the development of training partnerships, b o t h
                 transnationally a n d within each M e m b e r State, between training providers, industry and other promoters of
                 local a n d regional development, so as t o achieve a m o r e effective use of training resources, improve the
                 transfer of experience and increase awareness of the European aspects t o be taken into account in the
                 development of initial vocational training;
           (d) develop opportunities f o r young people in technical and vocational education o r other f o r m s of initial
                training, a n d f o r young workers, t o benefit f r o m periods of training o r w o r k experience in other M e m b e r
                States, so as t o a d d a European dimension t o their training and t o increase their mobility a t Community
                level;
           (e) introduce a European dimension into the systems and processes of vocational information a n d guidance.
           In the implementation of these objectives a n d of these actions, specific problems of the different regions a n d
           target groups will be taken into account through ensuring a balanced development of the programme. In this
           perspective, particular attention will be given t o actions:
           — promoting equal opportunities f o r young women by reinforcing girls' and young w o m e n ' s access t o
                vocational training in industrial, technical and scientific fields,
           — improving training opportunities f o r disadvantaged young people,
           — ensuring a balance in the f l o w of exchanges of young people between the M e m b e r States of the Community.
           3. In accordance with the different systems in the M e m b e r States, the term initial vocational training shall
           refer t o :
           (a) all f o r m s of vocational training, below university level, following the completion of the period of full-time
                compulsory education, o r general education a t (upper) secondary level, a n d providing a structured training
                programme, p a r t of a p r o g r a m m e o r complementary elements t o it, in order t o enable young people t o gain a
                recognized vocational qualification;
           (b) complementary action, including the provision of practical w o r k experience, t o improve the preparation of
                young people f o r working and adult life, motivating and enabling them t o develop their competences in a n
                active w a y a n d t o practise their skills, a n d fostering their sense of enterprise a n d initiative.
           4. Such training can be offered in different f o r m s (full-time o r part-time) and by different providers
           (education, training o r other authorities in the M e m b e r States; f i r m s ; other private o r public training bodies),
           involving in particular:
           (a) technical a n d vocational schools, o r colleges;
           (b) training centres o r training w o r k s h o p s ;
           (c) apprenticeship o r systems of alternance-based training;
           (d) programmes offering practical w o r k experience f o r young people, related t o the vocational field in which
                they are being, o r have been, trained;
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 322/26                                    Official Journal of the European Communities                                          21. 12. 90
            (e) other training a n d vocational preparation measures, including youth initiative projects which provide an
                 alternatively structured, participative learning context, a n d in which young people themselves are actively
                 involved in the planning, organization a n d implementation.
           5. T h e transnational a n d transfrontier cooperation supported under the programme shall be aimed a t the
           following target g r o u p s :
           — young people in technical o r vocational education, apprenticeships, o r other f o r m s of initial training leading
                 t o a recognized qualification,
           — young workers u p t o the age of 25, i.e. young people w h o are already in employment a n d w h o wish t o
                 complement their initial training with a period of w o r k experience a b r o a d .
           T h e p r o g r a m m e does n o t concern young job seekers a n d young unemployed as they represent m a j o r target
           groups f o r actions implemented within the f r a m e w o r k of the Community's structural policies and, in
           particular, the European initiative.
           1.2. Activities
            6.    T h e Community's support is aimed a t stimulating transnational cooperation in particular t h r o u g h :
           — training o r w o r k experience placements abroad f o r young people in initial training a n d their trainers, a n d
                 f o r young workers,
           — joint training of trainers, a n d
           — joint development of European training modules, a n d of qualifications a n d certificates related t o them.
           Training initiatives participating in the programme will be working in o n e o r more of these activity fields. T h e
            training o r w o r k experience placements abroad constitute the m a j o r p a r t of action A of the programme as they
            absorb 7 0 % of the financial contribution foreseen f o r this action.
            1.2.1. Training or work experience placements           for young people abroad
            7. In the case of young workers, the implementation of training a n d w o r k experience placements in another
            M e m b e r State shall build o n the experience of the third joint p r o g r a m m e f o r exchange of young workers. In
            particular, these placements shall provide new vocational o r training experience f o r the participants which will:
           — develop their vocational knowledge a n d enrich their practical experience,
           — p r o m o t e their awareness of the problems of the working world, a n d
           — bring them into contact with the working environment of the host country.
            T h e placements shall also provide the participants with the opportunity t o improve their knowledge of life,
            w o r k and society in the host country a n d t o learn more a b o u t the objectives of the European Community a n d
            the w a y in which it functions.
            T h e duration of such placements shall normally be three months, b u t they may last u p t o o n e year where, by the
            nature of the w o r k experience a n d its training objectives, a longer period is required.
            8. In the case of young people w h o are still in the vocational training system, training o r w o r k experience
           placements a b r o a d shall normally f o r m a n integral and recognized p a r t of their training process, a n d must
           embody clear training objectives which have been mutually agreed between the trainee a n d the sending a n d the
           hosting organizations. T h e duration of such placements should n o t be less than three weeks, in order t o meet
           these objectives. In order t o facilitate the integration of such placements into the training process, they should be
           based o n specific vocational sectors which relate t o the training needs of participants.
            Particular emphasis shall be placed o n ensuring t h a t each placement involves a significant added training value,
            e.g. experience of new training methods o r equipment, new content, new f o r m s of training partnerships, etc., so
            as t o maximize the benefits of exchanges within the Community a n d t o foster the transfer of innovation k n o w -
            h o w a n d good practice.
 ---pagebreak--- 21. 12. 9 0                                  Official Journal of the European Communities                                         N o C 322/27
            9. It is the responsibility of the training institutions/initiatives or, in the case of young workers, the young
            people themselves o r their employers, t o organize their exchanges/placements. Member States shall make the
            necessary arrangements t o assist in the identification of potential partners o r placements, t o help match supply
            and demand and t o ensure adequate preparation, organization and 'on-the-spot' support. Each Member State
            shall designate one (or more) competent agency (agencies) responsible for coordinating and implementing this
            part of the programme a t national level, in accordance with specific guidelines agreed at Community level.
            1.2.2. Joint training of trainers
             10. Community assistance shall be granted t o support bilateral o r multilateral transnational partnerships
            aimed at the training or retraining of trainers, and teachers in the field of technical o r vocational education, o n
            aspects of common concern. Such partnerships shall be established with regard to the aims set o u t in
            paragraph 2 above and could involve, for example, joint training seminars, exchanges o r joint development of
            training material.
            I.2.3. Joint development      of European training modules, and of qualifications and certificates related to them
            I I . Community assistance shall be granted, in the first place, for training institutions or projects wishing t o
            engage, o n a bilateral o r multilateral basis, in medium or long-term cooperation o n the development and
            implementation of European training, especially the development of new qualifications and vocational profiles,
            involving:
            — training units (modules or courses) and methods of assessment which can be adapted for use by, o r
                  integrated into, existing training provision in different Member States, or
            — training units to form distinct components of integrated transnational training programmes, i.e.
                  programmes in which certain complementary elements of a total training course are provided by (a) training
                  institution(s) in another (or several) Member State(s).
            1.3. Community financial contribution
            12. For the implementation of training o r work experience placements abroad, the Commission will provide
            financial aid t o the individual Member States, as a Community contribution towards covering:
            — subsistence costs for young people during the placement abroad,
            — justified travel costs, u p to 7 5 % ,
            — the costs of preparatory language training,
            — the cost incurred for the preparation, organization, monitoring and publicizing of placement programmes in
                  each Member State.
            13. In calculating the aid t o each Member State, quantitative objectives will be assigned in relation t o the
            number of young people f r o m 15 t o 25 years in its population. Inspired by models applied in the Erasmus and
            Comett programmes and taking into consideration the need t o ensure a balanced flow of exchanges in the
            Community, the calculation will also take account o f :
            — the gross domestic product of each Member State,
            — the geographical distance between Member States.
            14. Applications f o r grants shall normally be received and processed by the designated agencies in the
            Member States.
            15. For other cooperative training activities, the Commission will provide a financial contribution, normally
            f o r t w o years, averaging ECU 30 000 per year, towards the costs incurred by each individual training institution
            involved in a transnational or transfrontier partnership o n :
            — preparatory activities,
            — joint training of trainers,
            — joint development of European training modules.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 322/28                                   Official Journal of the European Communities                                               21. 12. 90
                                                                     ACTION B
            II. S U P P O R T F O R MEASURES A I M E D A T I N T R O D U C I N G A E U R O P E A N D I M E N S I O N I N T O T H E
                        PROCESSES A N D SYSTEMS O F V O C A T I O N A L I N F O R M A T I O N A N D G U I D A N C E
           II.1. Scope
            16. T h e Community will support links and active cooperation between M e m b e r States' services f o r
           vocational information a n d guidance of young people, aimed a t ensuring:
           — that all young people receive suitable information, practical advice and, if necessary, individual counselling
                 a n d help, t o m a k e them aware of the vocational training options available t o them, enable them t o assess
                 their strengths a n d make informed choices, motivate them t o strive f o r vocational qualifications a n d
                 facilitate their access t o initial training,
           — that, as p a r t of this process, all young people a n d their parents are given the means t o obtain up-to-date
                 information o n training opportunities a n d guidance services available in other M e m b e r States, a n d t h a t they
                 are encouraged a n d helped t o use this information.
           T h e Commission will ensure close coordination with relevant ongoing w o r k of Cedefop a n d other Community
           initiatives in this field; especially with a view t o linking European guidance activities f o r young people with
           those aimed a t adults.
           II.2 Activities
            17. T h e Community's contribution is aimed at developing materials, methods a n d procedures which can
           facilitate practical cooperation between the guidance services, especially t h r o u g h :
           — networking the exchange of European guidance d a t a . T h i s involves, in particular, the establishing of a
                 European network of national contact points o r centres which will develop and update d a t a f o r use by
                 guidance services in all M e m b e r States,
           — providing support f o r the training of guidance counsellors/specialists, o n European aspects of guidance.
                 Such training could take the f o r m of bilateral o r multilateral training seminars, initially involving trainers of
                 guidance personnel f r o m different M e m b e r States.
            II.3. C o m m u n i t y financial contribution
            18. T h e Commission will provide financial support t o projects proposed by the M e m b e r States, u p t o a total
           of ECU 1,4 million in 1992, a n d u p t o ECU 1,7 a n d 2 million in 1993 a n d 1994, respectively. T h e allocation of
           project grants shall be decided by the Commission after individual assessment of suitable proposals.
                                                        C O M P L E M E N T A R Y MEASURES
            19. T h e Commission will take the necessary complementary measures. This will include information o n the
            programme a n d the dissemination of its results, by means of publications, seminars, etc., as well as the
            continuation of support f o r transnational cooperation in studies o n specific issues in initial vocational training.
            In addition, the Commission will provide the technical support required f o r the implementation of the
            programme and the coordination and evaluation of the actions supported under it. As necessary, the services of
            specialized institutions a n d organizations will be called o n t o provide technical support, both within the
            M e m b e r States and a t Community level.