European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training ECDVT (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 337/75)

PURPOSE : to amend Regulation 337/75/EEC on the European Centre for the development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), with particular reference to the management and functioning of the Board and the Bureau. PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation. CONTENT : Cedefop is an Agency of the EU. It has a tripartite Management Board and a Bureau. It provides services for the European Commission, the EU Member States and the social partners as well as for the associated countries of Norway and Iceland. The candidate countries also participate in selected activities. Cedefop provides policy makers, researchers and practitioners with information to promote a clearer understanding of developments in vocational training and so enable them to take informed decisions for future action. Cedefop assists the European Commission in encouraging, at Community level, the promotion and development of vocational education and training. An external evaluation of Cedefop was carried out in 2001. This advised certain changes in order to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of Cedefop and of its management structures. The European Parliament has also called upon the Commission to review the composition and working methods of agencies' boards and to put forward appropriate proposals. The Commission, therefore, proposes changes to the basic Regulation of Cedefop, with a view to increasing effectiveness and cost efficiency. Similar changes are proposed for Eurofound and EU-OSHA. The proposed changes concern mainly co-operation with the European Training Foundation (ETF), the inclusion of provision for adoption by the Board of medium-term priorities for the Cedefop and the governance and functioning of the Board. For the latter, the Commission proposes to maintain the national tripartite representation in the Board, acknowledging that this is a key element of success. The main changes are as follows: - the proposal formalises the existence of the three groups, namely government, employers and employees representatives and of the function of a co-coordinator within each group; - the Board will meet in principle once every year and take all strategic decisions such as the medium-term priorities, the annual work programme and the budget. This shift from administrative to strategic tasks is reflected in the modification of the denomination of the Board from Management Board to Governing Board; - the proposal gives formal recognition to the existing Bureau and formalises the relationship between the Board and the Bureau; - the Bureau will be composed of eight members, namely the chairman, the three vice-chairmen of the Board, the three co-coordinators, and one more representative of the Commission. It will have powers to supervise the work of Cedefop, monitor the preparation and execution of the medium-term priorities and of the annual work programme, prepare the Board meetings and Board decisions and, upon delegation by the Board, take certain decisions on its behalf. The proposed size and composition of the Bureau will ensure efficiency while reflecting the interests of the different groups represented on the Board. The Bureau would not vote but have a consensus-based decision-making process; - in addition, in accordance with Article 3 of the Treaty, provisions are added to encourage a balanced representation of men and women in the Board of Cedefop.�