Education, training and youth: action plan 2000-2006 for a Europe of knowledge

The report by Roy PERRY (EPP, UK) on the Commission communication "For a Europe of Knowledge", which was adopted under the consultation procedure by the Committee, seeks to emphasise Parliament's priorities in this area. The report puts forward traditional demands of Parliament, such as the need for more resources and a clearer targeting of objectives, the importance of not focusing purely on privileged groups in the economic and educational spheres and the need for life-long learning as well as the inclusion of a European dimension in school syllabuses (not solely through language-learning). The committee also highlights two other key points. Firstly, the need to continue distinct programmes under their current names (Socrates, Leonardo, Youth for Europe and the European Voluntary Service). Then, on the same lines, the need to set up a programme for young people separate from the education and training programmes. While distinctions must be preserved, there is a need for greater coordination, in particular between Socrates and Leonardo, and certain measures might even be merged. The report also stresses the importance of creating "bridges" between all these programmes and RTD programmes. Lastly, the report mentions the importance of encouraging the acquisition of a basic level of knowledge of EU languages, in the particular the most widespread ones, while also acknowledging the need to preserve Europe's rich linguistic diversity.�