The Committee unanimously approved the draft recommendation on the common position of the Council on the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education ·Socrates·, submitted for second reading by Doris PACK (PPE, D).
The most important amendment adopted concerns the increase of funding from 1,550m euro proposed in the common position to 2,500m euro for the period 2000-2006. Furthermore, the original 27% minimum funding for Comenius is maintained to take better account of measures and projects favouring mobility of trainees.
Other amendments call on Universities and higher education institutions to cooperate more between themselves by recognising credits and qualifications obtained elsewhere. When awarding grants attention should be paid not only to qualifications but also to the socio-economic situation of candidates. Finally, an evaluation report is requested from the Commission by 31 December 2002.�