Life long learning: integrated action programme comprising Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Grundtvig programmes and the Jean Monnet programme

The Council reached a partial political agreement on a decision establishing the life long learning programme, which is aimed at providing financial support for the European education sector for the period 2007-2013.

It is recalled that the new integrated programme will comprise four sub-programmes already existing within the current Socrates programme: Comenius (school education); Erasmus (higher education); Leonardo da Vinci, (vocational education and training); Grundtvig (adult education). It will also include a “transversal” programme incorporating four key activities (policy development, language learning, innovative approaches and dissemination of project results), plus a Jean Monnet programme to support action related to European integration and European institutions and associations. A single programme should permit greater synergies between the different fields of action as well as more coherent, streamlined and efficient modes of action.

Regarding the questions that were still to be solved (making project selection subject to the committee procedure and the possibility for ministries to act as agencies), it was decided to:

-accept a Presidency compromise whereby centralised projects for which the Community support proposed exceeded EUR 1 million would be subject to the management procedure;

-endorse the provision in the Commission proposal which prevents ministries from acting as national agencies.

The "partial" nature of this agreement is due to the fact that the budgetary aspects have been excluded pending the outcome of the discussions on the future Community financial framework (Financial Perspective 2007/2013). It is therefore expected that this item will return to the (Education, Youth and Culture) Council's agenda at some future date in order to finalise the budget and its final breakdown aspects.