European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)

The European Parliament adopted by 576 votes to 68, with 21 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 337/75.

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Objectives and tasks: Cedefop’s objective shall be to support the promotion, development and implementation of Union policies in the field of vocational education and training as well as skills and qualifications policies by working together with the Commission, the Member States and the social partners. 

To that end Cedefop shall enhance and disseminate knowledge, provide evidence and services for the purpose of policy making, including research-based conclusions, and shall facilitate knowledge sharing among and between Union and national actors.

The Agency shall also be tasked to:

• analyse trends in vocational education and training, skills and qualification policies and systems and analyse labour market trends in relation to skills and qualifications, and vocational education and training; 
• analyse and contribute to developments related to the design and award of qualifications, their organisation into frameworks, and their function in the labour market, and in relation to vocational education and training;
• contribute, in particular through evidence-based information and analyses, to the implementation of reforms and policies at national level;
• establish a strategy for relations with third countries and international organisations.

Cedefop may conclude cooperation agreements with other relevant EU agencies to facilitate and promote cooperation with them.

Management Board: this shall also provide for the participation of an independent expert appointed by the European Parliament.

Members of the Management Board and their alternates shall be designated and appointed on the basis of their knowledge in the field of safety and health at work, taking into account their relevant skills such as managerial, administrative and budgetary skills and expertise in the area of EU-OSHA's core tasks, in order to carry out an effective oversight role.

Each member and alternate shall sign a written statement at the time of taking office declaring that he or she is not in a situation of conflict of interests. EU-OSHA shall publish the statements and updates on its website.

The Management Board shall also provide the strategic orientations for Cedefop's activities and adopt each year, by a majority of two-thirds of members with the right to vote and Cedefop’s programming document, containing the Centre’s multiannual work programme and its annual work programme for the following year.

Programming: the Executive Director shall present to the Management Board a draft programming document containing an annual and multiannual work programme. Following approval by the Management Board, the draft programming document shall be submitted to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council by 31 January each year at the latest. The Management Board shall adopt the programming document taking into account the Commission’s opinion.

Executive Director: the Executive Director shall be responsible for the overall management of the Centre in accordance with the strategic direction set out by the Management Board.

The Executive Director shall also be responsible for:

• ensuring the day-to-day administration of Cedefop, including exercising the powers entrusted to him or her in respect of staff matters;
• taking decisions with regard to the management of human resources;
• taking into account the needs relating to the Centre’s activities and sound budgetary management;
• setting up an effective monitoring system to ensure that regular evaluations are carried out;
• drawing up the draft financial rules and drawing up the draft estimates of the Centre's revenue and expenditure;
• ensuring gender balance within the agency;

• establishing an office in Brussels as a liaison office to further Cedefop's cooperation with the relevant Union institutions.

Budget: in order to ensure its full autonomy and independence and to enable it properly to carry out its objectives and tasks in accordance with this Regulation, Cedefop should be granted an adequate and autonomous budget with revenue stemming mainly from a contribution from the general budget of the Union. The Union budgetary procedure should be applicable to Cedefop as far as the Union contribution and any other subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the Union are concerned. Cedefop’s accounts should be audited by the Court of Auditors.