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

In its communication in response to the Council common position on European training pathways, the Commission considers that the Council text is acceptable, except on two major points: - finance: the Commission considers that it is not appropriate to include the indicative costs of the measure in the text of the decision, and it does not accept that financial support should be limited to an introductory phase of four years from 1 January 2000; if there is an introductory phase it should not affect the launch of preparatory activities in 1999; - the duration of the European pathways: although in view of the great diversity of systems in the Member States it does not share Parliament's view that pathways should all have a minimum duration of three months, the Commission does not accept the complete lack of any reference to their duration; it considers that a reference should be added that the duration of pathways are subject to an agreement between the responsible body and the host partner. �