PURPOSE: to replace and repeal the Regulation establishing the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and to repeal Regulation (EEC) No 337/75.
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: the Cedefop's Founding Regulation has been amended five times, in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003 and 2004, mainly to take account of the EU enlargement or Treaty changes. However, these amendments have not significantly altered the fundamentals of the Agency. This revision will update the mandate of Cedefop as a centre for analysis, research and policy monitoring in these policy areas.
The revision also offers the opportunity to update the objectives and tasks of Cedefop since its establishment in 1975.
CONTENT: the proposed Regulation – based on Article 166(4) and Article 165(4) –aims to revise the Founding Regulation of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) from 1975.
The reasons for the revision are twofold:
- update the objectives and tasks of Cedefop;
- align certain provisions of the existing Regulation governing Cedefop with the Common Approach on Decentralised Agencies.
Cedefop’s tasks: since its establishment in 1975, the Centre has adapted its activities to the overall societal, institutional and economic developments and emerging trends in European policies in the field of vocational education and training. This includes technological developments, as vocational occupations have been increasingly relying on the use of digital technologies.
To respond to the evolution of the changing policy context, Cedefop's current activities go beyond vocational education and training and include work on qualifications, in particular the European Qualifications Framework, on skills analysis and forecasting, and the validation of non-formal and informal learning which should all be acknowledged. The new objectives and tasks will be adjusted to better reflect these developments.
This revision will define more sharply the role of Cedefop in supporting the shaping and implementation of vocational education and training, skills and qualifications policies.
Other measures related to the decentralised agencies: the revision also creates the opportunity to provide for:
- anti-fraud measures,
- conflict of interest policy,
- evaluation and review measures,
- the establishment of a headquarters agreement,
- the provisions on programming and reporting with the requirements set by the revised Framework Financial Regulation.
Organisational aspects: the revision will lead to modifying and aligning the appointment procedure of the Director (Executive Director) with the procedure provided for in the Common Approach.
The role of appointing authority will be conferred to the Management Board of the Agency.
Regarding the appointment by the Council of the Management Board members representing the employers' and employees' organisations from each Member State, it is proposed that this is done on the basis of a list submitted by the EU social partners' organisations.