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Education and training : grants to bodies active at European level, 2004-2006 action programme

2003/0114(COD)

This report is presented under Article 8 of Decision No 791/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 establishing a Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities in the field of education and training. It requires the Commission to submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the achievement of the programme's objectives. This report must be based, inter alia, on an external evaluation. Such an evaluation was conducted in 2007 in the form of the "Final Evaluation of the Community's action programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities in the field of education and training". The present report sets out the Commission's position on the main conclusions and recommendations of the Final Evaluation.

The report concludes that in view of the Commission's priorities and in line with the evaluation results, the Commission draws the following conclusions from the implementation of the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities in the field of education and training.

Action 1 – Support for the specified Institutions:

  • Institutions specialising in European Integration Studies: the Commission considers that continuing support for the College of Europe, the European University Institute, the European Institute of Public Administration and the Academy of European Law is essential to provide the European population as well as the administrations and policy makers of the Member States and the EU with the benefit of high-quality education, vocational training, research and/or policy-relevant reflection that is the result of cooperation in a truly trans-European framework and environment. For the period between 2007 and 2013, support for these institutions has been integrated into the Jean Monnet programme of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
  • The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation: in light of the priority attached by the EU to the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide, the Commission considers that it is essential to continue supporting the uniquely transnational European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, in particular for the European Master's degree Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation. For the period between 2007 and 2013, support for the EIUC is integrated into the financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide.
  • The European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education: the Commission considers that the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education fulfils a highly relevant task as a European platform for collaboration and innovation on special needs education and finds that continuing support for this institution is essential. For the period between 2007 and 2013, support for the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education has been integrated into the Jean Monnet programme of the Lifelong Learning Programme.

Action 2 – Support for European Associations active in Education and Training:the Commission considers it useful to continue support for the creation and consolidation of lasting networks and structures between various stakeholder groups in education and training with a view to promoting the EU's education and training priorities. For the period between 2007 and 2013, such support is integrated into the Jean Monnet programme of the Lifelong Learning Programme. In light of the priority to bring citizens closer to the EU, the Commission considers it useful to extend the scope of the call for proposals under this heading, in particular to European associations active in education and training on the topic of European integration.

Action 3A – The Jean Monnet Action:the Commission considers it essential to continue support for teaching, research, debate and reflection on European integration at higher education institutions worldwide with the aim of increasing awareness and knowledge of the EU among European citizens, increasing the EU's visibility in the world, and allowing policymakers and civil society to benefit from academic reflection on current topics of European integration. For the period between 2007 and 2013, such support is integrated into the Jean Monnet programme of the Lifelong Learning Programme. The Commission considers that the Jean Monnet network of experts in European integration should continue to grow, both within and outside the EU.

Action 3B – Support for the Open method of Coordination in Education:the Commission considers it useful to continue support for cooperation activities between national authorities at European level, including the open method of coordination, with a view to promoting the EU's education and training priorities. For the period between 2007 and 2013, such support is integrated into the transversal programme of the Lifelong Learning Programme.

Action 3C – Training for National Judges:given the important role that national judges are playing in the enforcement of EU law in general and EU competition law in particular, and the objective need for further training and networking among national judges in these fields, the Commission considers it essential to continue support for the training of national judges in competition policy. For the period between 2007 and 2013, such support is integrated into the specific programme 'Civil Justice' as part of the general programme 'Fundamental Rights and Justice'.