1999/51/EC: Council Decision of 21 December 1998 on the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship

COUNCIL DECISION of 21 December 1998 on the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship (1999/51/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 127 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (3),
(1) Whereas the Treaty gives the Community the task of implementing a vocational training policy which supports and supplements the action of Member States while fully respecting their responsibility, in particular by promoting the mobility of persons in training, but excluding any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States;
(2) Whereas the Council, in its Decision 63/266/EEC (4), adopted the general principles and set a number of fundamental objectives for implementing a common vocational training policy; whereas by Decision 94/819/EC (5) it adopted the Leonardo da Vinci programme for the implementation of a vocational training policy of the European Community;
(3) Whereas the Florence European Council asked the Commission to make a study of the role of apprenticeship in the creation of jobs; whereas the Commission stressed the importance of apprenticeship in its communication 'Promoting apprenticeship training in Europe`;
(4) Whereas the Council resolution of 18 December 1979 on linked work and training for young persons (6) advocates that the Member States should encourage the development of effective links between training and work experience;
(5) Whereas the Council resolution of 15 July 1996 (7) calls on the Member States to promote the transparency of vocational training certificates;
(6) Whereas the conclusions adopted by the Council on 6 May 1996 on the Commission's White Paper 'Teaching and learning: towards the learning society` (8) stress the need for cooperation between schools and the business sector; whereas the 1998 employment guidelines (9), and the 1999 employment guidelines, ask Member States to improve the employment prospects for young people by equipping them with skills relevant to market requirements; whereas in that context the Council invited the Member States to set up or develop apprenticeship training where appropriate;
(7) Whereas training establishments on the one hand and the business sector on the other can be complementary fora for the acquisition of general, technical, social and personal knowledge and skills; whereas in this connection, work-linked training, including apprenticeship, makes a significant contribution to a more effective social and occupational integration into working life and the labour market; whereas it can benefit various target groups and various levels of teaching and training, including higher education;
(8) Whereas the Council resolution of 5 December 1994 (10) on the quality and attractiveness of vocational education and training stresses the importance of work-linked training and the need to encourage periods of vocational training in other Member States and to integrate those periods into national vocational training programmes;
(9) Whereas, in order to promote this mobility, it is desirable to establish a document known as the 'EUROPASS Training` document to record at Community level the period or periods of training in another Member State;
(10) Whereas it is important to ensure the quality of such periods of transnational mobility; whereas Member States have a particular responsibility in this area; whereas the Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, should establish a procedure for exchanging information and coordinating the activities and arrangements developed by Member States to implement this Decision;
(11) Whereas the Extraordinary European Council on Employment held in Luxembourg acknowledged the decisive role played by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as regards the creation of sustainable jobs;
(12) Whereas work-linked training, including apprenticeship, in micro-enterprises, SMEs and the crafts sector is an important aid to employability; whereas their specific requirements in that area should be taken into account;
(13) Whereas trainees should be properly informed as to the relevant provisions in force in the host Member State;
(14) Whereas the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers acknowledges the importance of combating all forms of discrimination, especially those based on sex, colour, race, opinions and beliefs;
(15) Whereas the Council, in its recommendation of 30 June 1993 on access to continuing vocational training (11), encourages access for, and effective participation by, women in continuing vocational training; whereas it is therefore important to make sure that due account is taken of equal opportunities in participation in European pathways and appropriate measures must be taken to that end;
(16) Wheres the Commission is required in cooperation with the Member States, to ensure overall consistency between the implementation of this Decision and Community programmes and initiatives in the fields of education, vocational training and youth;
(17) Whereas it is necessary to ensure continuous monitoring of the implementation of this Decision; whereas the Commission is therefore invited to submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee thereon and to put forward any necessary proposals for the future;
(18) Whereas three years after this Decision is adopted an assessment should be made of its impact and of the experience gained, so that any corrective measures needed can be adopted;
(19) Whereas a financial reference amount within the meaning of point 2 of the Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995 is included in this Decision with a view to facilitating the introduction of the EUROPASS measure without prejudice to the powers of the budget authority as defined by the Treaty; whereas Community financial support is limited to an introductory stage between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004;
(20) Whereas in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out in Article 3b of the Treaty, the objectives of the action envisaged for the establishment of the 'EUROPASS Training` document require coordinated action at Community level, by reason of the diversity of training systems and structures in the Member States; whereas this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives,