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

In adopting the report by Mrs Johanna BOOGERD-QUAAK (ELDR, NL) amending the Regulation establishing the European Training Foundation, the European Parliament took the view that the Foundation should assist the Commission in promoting, developing and modernizing the vocational training systems in the countries eligible with a view to facilitating their transition to a market economy and thereby strengthening their democratic institutions, the social dimension, respect for human rights and equal opportunities. Stressing the importance of promoting a common approach to vocational training issues and transferring best practices for this purpose, Parliament called for: - the Foundation to provide information about and analyses of the specific needs and latest vocational training developments in the eligible countries, and provide appropriate technical assistance in the field of training, particularly by cooperating with the appropriate bodies in the eligible countries, - the Foundation to implement, at the request of the Commission or of the countries concerned, vocational training programmes using multidisciplinary teams of specialists and drawing on the experience of Community vocational training programmes, - priority to be given, in the Foundation's selection of projects, to innovative projects which relate directly to the Union's policy priorities. In particular, the Foundation should help applicant countries to bring their vocational training systems into line with the requirements of the single market, - representatives of the two sides of industry who were already working with the Commission in the field of vocational training to be involved in the work of the Foundation. At the same time, Parliament suggested that the director of the Foundation be appointed by means of an open selection procedure for a term of office of five years which could be extended once for a maximum of five years. Parliament also called for the establishment of a procedure to monitor the experience gained by the Foundation, particularly to ascertain whether it has attained its objectives and whether measures have been implemented to ensure non-discrimination and equal opportunities. To this end, a report should be forwarded to Parliament and the Council by 31.12.2000 concerning the results of this procedure. Parliament called for the projects and activities in the Foundation's programme of work to be drawn up in such a way as to take account of budgetary constraints in the year concerned. The budget should also state the number, grade and category of the staff employed by the Foundation. Lastly, Parliament called for the establishment of an Advisory Forum, to be divided into three working groups representing, respectively, the countries eligible for TACIS, the PHARE countries and the MEDA countries.�