European Training Foundation: extension to the Mediterranean countries (2nd amend. Regul. 1360/90/EEC)

In its amended proposal the Commission accepted 8 of the 17 amendments adopted by the European Parliament at its March 1998 part-session concerning: - the insertion of recitals outlining the principles and guidelines for the European Training Foundation's activity: reform of the partner countries' vocational training systems with a view to facilitating their transition to a market economy and strengthening a number of aspects of their economic and social policies; the promotion of a common approach to vocational training issues and the transfer of best practice; - provision of a 'mission statement' for the foundation, jointly defined by the Commission and the foundation's Governing Board; - implementation by the foundation of vocational training programmes at the request of the Commission or the partner countries. These programmes should be of innovative value and, for the countries preparing for accession, should relate more closely to the Community's vocational training priorities; - duration of the mandate of the foundation's Director (five years + five-year extension); - the foundation's budget to detail by category and grade the number of staff employed in the relevant financial year; - monitoring and evaluation of the Foundation's activities by an external body, the Commission to report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee by 31 December 2000. The other amendments were not accepted (in particular those seeking to define in greater detail the Foundation's tasks vis-à-vis the candidate countries in training matters, cooperation with the social partners, the link between the work programme and the 'budgetary decision', the selection procedure for the post of director and the setting up of an advisory college).�