89/663/EEC: Council Decision of 14 December 1989 amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community action scheme for the mobility of university students (Erasmus)

COUNCIL DECISION of 14 December 1989 amending Decision 87/327/EEC adopting the European Community action scheme for the mobility of university students (Erasmus) (89/663/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 128 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas the fundamental objectives of the common vocational training policy set down in the second principle of Decision 63/266/EEC (3) aim in particular at enabling every person to reach the highest possible level of vocational training which is  necessary for his professional activity, and refer also to broadening vocational training to meet requirements arising from technical progress, linking the different forms of vocational training to social and economic developments;
Whereas on the basis of the sixth principle of that Decision it is the Commission's responsibility to encourage direct exchanges of vocational training specialists in order to enable them to acquaint themselves with and study the achievements and new  developments in the other countries of the Community;
Whereas by its Decision 87/327/EEC (4) the Council established the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Erasmus) and whereas Article 7 thereof provides for the possibility of adapting the Erasmus programme;
Whereas the Council has adopted measures with a view to strengthening technological cooperation at Community level and providing the necessary human resources for this purpose, notably through its Decision 89/27/EEC adopting the second phase of the  programme on cooperation between universities and industry regarding training in the field of technology (Comett II) (1990 to 1994) (5);
Whereas the Council has adopted measures to stimulate cooperation and interchange between European research scientists, notably through Decision 88/419/EEC (6)
establishing the Science programme and Decision 89/118/EEC (7) establishing the SPES programme; whereas it is therefore not appropriate that such activities should also be covered by the Erasmus programme;
Whereas, in the light of the Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Communities of 30 May 1989, the situation should be clarified by laying down that the Erasmus programme, henceforth, falls exclusively within the scope of the common  vocational training policy as provided for in Article 128 of the Treaty;
Whereas as a follow-up to the 'People's Europe' report approved by the European Council (28 to 29 June 1985), which called for exchanges by a significant section of the student population, the Commission's aim, in line with the European Parliament's  wish (8), is that by 1992 around 10 % of all students in the Community will be following a university course organized by universities in more than one Member State;
Whereas the Council on 28 July 1989 adopted Decision 89/489/EEC (9) establishing the Lingua programme to promote training in foreign languages as well as the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the European Community;
Whereas the Council on 21 December 1988 adopted Directive 89/48/EEC on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years' duration (10);
Whereas the annual reports on the application of the Erasmus programme in 1987 and 1988, as well as the report on the experience acquired in the implementation of the programme in the years 1987 to 1989, have shown that the programme is an appropriate  means of increasing student mobility via effective inter-university cooperation within the Community;
Whereas the commitment entered into at Community level as regards the stimulation of student mobility also involves the participation of the Member States, which are called upon to make their contribution to the effort which is necessary for the  objectives of Erasmus to be attained,