Resolution on the implementation of the Bologna process – State of play and follow-up

The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Culture and Education on the implementation of the Bologna Process, an intergovernmental initiative by 29 countries with the aim of achieving common goals through internationally agreed commitments, thus contributing to the construction of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Parliament requested that the next 2018 EHEA Ministerial Conference in Paris provide a critical assessment of the Bologna Process with a view to:

• identifying remaining obstacles, and potential solutions, and ensuring proper implementation of commitments;
• supporting countries lagging behind in implementing the key commitments of the Bologna Process through improved capacity-building, and developing specific mechanisms and procedures for addressing cases of non-compliance; and
• exploring new EHEA goals beyond 2020 and enhancing dialogue among governments, higher education institutions and research institutes;
• reporting on the implementation of the goal set by the last Ministerial Conference (Yerevan, May 2015) to complete the formation of the EHEA.

The Bologna Follow-Up Group Secretariat was asked to monitor reports that the same guidelines were implemented differently in different EHEA countries.

The resolution stressed the need to foster more inclusive mobility of students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff. Member States were asked to provide adequate public funding and to make more efficient use of such funding to ensure that students and researchers have the necessary resources to study abroad. There should be accessible and equitable mechanisms for the allocation of mobility grants and allowances. Parliament insisted that the Union, Member States and universities should establish arrangements for providing financial and administrative support to students, academics and staff with disadvantaged backgrounds through appropriate funding, including to take part in mobility schemes.

It also called for the EU and Member States to increase their education budgets in order to guarantee that public higher education is free and accessible to all, with a view to fostering lifelong learning.

Members went on to stress the importance of improving the social dimension of higher education, calling for the effective implementation of the EHEA social dimension strategy, with concrete opportunities for access to higher education for students with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds. They called on the Commission to monitor the progress of the social dimension goals of the Bologna Process.

Lastly, Parliament called on the EHEA countries to keep Belarus on the EHEA agenda, requesting the Commission to provide resources for the operations required for the implementation of the Belarus Roadmap for Higher Education Reform.