Work-linked training, apprenticeship: European pathways, EUROPASS-training formal recognition

In its amended proposal on European pathways for work-linked training, including apprenticeship, the Commission incorporated 26 of the 29 amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading. The main amendments incorporated include those: - seeking to highlight the role of SMEs and the craft industry in developing work-linked training and apprenticeship in Europe (the specific features of these companies mean that they have special requirements) and stressing the role of the social partners and other partners in apprenticeship; - seeking to guarantee a good flow of information and more effective support for the European pathways as they develop, particularly with regard to health, safety at work, languages, etc; - stressing that the pathways are an integral part of the period of training in the home country and that they cannot be used to replace employment there; - stressing that the pathways are voluntary and are to be implemented in such a way as to respect the diversity of situations and legislation in the Member States; - avoiding limiting the pathways to certain categories of person (age, receipt of a mobility grant under Community programmes); - stressing that the pathways do not confer any additional right or obligation on the beneficiaries; - stressing the coordination and consistency of the actions undertaken by the Commission and Member States. However, the Commission was unable to accept three amendments adopted by Parliament concerning: - the establishment of a minimum duration of 3 months for the European pathways: the Commission considers that the diversity of the systems which exist in the various Member States is such that it is not possible to lay down a minimum duration for the pathways, which would be too inflexible; - the carrying out of an annual quantitative analysis of vocational demand in the Member States: the Commission considers that this amendment calls into question the subsidiarity principle; - the percentage of the Community contribution, which Parliament wished to be at least 50%: this amendment runs counter to the Commission's proposal for implementation of the instrument.�