57 Amendments of Sabine VERHEYEN related to 2018/0191(COD)
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Title 1
Title 1
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (Text with EEA relevance) (This amendment applies throughout the text. Adopting it will necessitate corresponding changes throughout.)
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In its Communication on 'A modern budget for a Union that protects, empowers and defends - the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027'26 adopted on 2 May 2018, the Commission called for greater investment in people and a stronger “"youth”" focus in the next financial framework, notably by more than doubling the size of the 2014-2020 and recognised that the Erasmus+ Programme, has been one of the Union’s most visible success stories. The focus of the new Programme should be on inclusiveness, and toDespite that overall success, the 2014- 2020Programme remained unable to meet the high demand for funding and suffered from low project success rates. To remedy those shortcomings, it is necessary to increase the multiannual budget for the successor Programme to the 2014- 2020Programme. Moreover, the successor Programme aims to boost social inclusion by reaching more young people with fewer opportunities. This should allow more young people to move to another country to learn or work. people from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities and other special needs, and incorporates a number of new and ambitious initiatives. Therefore, it is necessary to triple the budget, in constant prices, for the successor Programme as compared to the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014-2020. _________________ 26 COM(2018) 321 final.
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The Programme should be more inclusive by improving its outreach to those with fewer opportunities, including through more flexible learning mobility formats, and by fostering participation of small organisations, in particular newcomers and community-based grassroots organisations that work directly with disadvantaged learners of all ages. Virtual formats, such as virtual cooperation, blended and virtual mobility, should be promoted to reach more participants, in particular those with fewer opportunities and those for whom moving physically to a country other than their country of residence would be an obstacle. In addition, there are major disparities between countries and cities as regards the cost of housing during temporary study or a traineeship abroad, and the allocation of grants should take better account of the diversity of housing costs.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The Programme should reinforce existing learning mobility opportunities, notably in those sectors where the Programme could have the biggest efficiency gains, to broaden its reach and meet the high unmet demand. This should be done notably by increasing and facilitating mobility activities for higher education students, school pupils and learners in vocational education and training. The opportunities for learning mobility in the border regions should receive extra support. For students in vocational education and training, in particular, opportunities for traineeships or to spend part of a course of studies abroad should be made more easily accessible so that they can familiarise themselves with the cross-border labour market. Mobility of low-skilled adult learners should be embedded in partnerships for cooperation. Mobility opportunities for youth participating in non-formal learning activities should also be extended to reach more young people. Mobility of staff in education, training, youth and sport should also be reinforced, considering its leverage effect. In line with the vision of a true European Education Area, the Programme should also boost mobility and exchanges and promote student participation in educational and cultural activities by supporting digitalisation of processes, such as the European Student Card. This initiative can be an important step in making mobility for all a reality first by enabling higher education institutions to send and receive more exchange students while still enhancing quality in student mobility and also by facilitating students' access to various services (library, transport, accommodation) before arriving at the institution abroad.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The Programme is a key component of building a European Education Area. It should be equipped to contribute to the successor of the strategic framework for cooperation in education and training and the Skills Agenda for Europe28 with a shared commitment to the strategic importance of skills and competences for sustaining and creating jobs, growth and competitiveness. It should support Member States in reaching the goals of the Paris Declaration on promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination through education29. _________________ 28 COM(2016) 381 final. 29 [Reference].
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The Pprogramme should also enhance the learning of languages, in particular through widened usneighbouring languages, in order to improve learners' position and employability on the cross-border labour market. In doing so, greater use can be made of online tools, as e-learning offers additional advantages for language learning in terms of access and flexibility.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Programme should take into account the Union work plan for sport which is the cooperation framework at Union level in the field of sport for the years […]32 . Coherence and complementarity should be ensured between the Union work plan and actions supported under the Programme in the field of sport. There is a need to focus in particular on grassroots sports, taking into account the important role that sports play in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle, social inclusion and equality. The Programme should contribute to promote European common values through sport, good governance and integrity in sport, sustainability and good environmental practices in sport, as well as education, training and skills in and through sport. _________________ 32 [Reference]. [Reference].
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) To increase the use of virtual cooperation activities, the Programme should support a more systematic use of the online platforms such as eTwinning, the School Education Gateway, the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe, the European Youth Portal and, the online platform for higher education and Blended Learning, the technological platform for distance learning.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) In order to maximise the effectiveness of European funding and policy support, it is important to foster synergies and complementarity across all relevant programmes in a coherent manner. These synergies should result in simplified application procedures at the implementation level.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The Programme should be more inclusive by improving its outreach to those with fewer opportunities, including through more flexible learning mobility formats, and by fostering participation of small organisations, in particular newcomers and community-based grassroots organisations that work directly with disadvantaged learners of all ages. Virtual formats, such as virtual cooperation, blended and virtual mobility, shcould be promotadditionally be used to reach more participants, in particular those with fewer opportunities and those for whom moving physically to a country other than their country of residence would be an obstacle. Large differences exist between Member States and cities in the cost of housing for limited periods of study or training abroad, and the award of grants should take greater account of these differences in order to facilitate relocation.
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The international dimension of the Programme should be boosted aiming at offering a greater number of opportunities for mobility, cooperation and policy dialogue with third countries not associated to the Programme. Building on the successful implementation of international higher education and youth activities under the predecessor programmes in the fields of education, training and youth, the international mobility activities should be extended to other sectors, such as in vocational education and training and sport.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The Programme should reinforce existing learning mobility opportunities, notably in those sectors where the Programme could have the biggest efficiency gains, to broaden its reach and meet the high unmet demand. This should be done notably by increasing and facilitating mobility activities for higher education students, school pupils and learners in vocational education and training. Learning mobility opportunities in border regions should be further promoted. It is precisely for vocational education and training students that the possibility of undertaking an internship or part of their training abroad should be made more accessible so as to allow them to acquaint themselves better with the cross-border labour market. Mobility of low-skilled adult learners should be embedded in partnerships for cooperation. Mobility opportunities for youth participating in non-formal learning activities should also be extended to reach more young people. Mobility of staff in education, training, youth and sport should also be reinforced, considering its leverage effect. In line with the vision of a true European Education Area, the Programme should also boost mobility and exchanges and promote student participation in educational and cultural activities by supporting digitalisation of processes, such as the European Student Card. This initiative can be an important step in making mobility for all a reality first by enabling higher education institutions to send and receive more exchange students while still enhancing quality in student mobility and also by facilitating students' access to various services (library, transport, accommodation) before arriving at the institution abroad.
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The Programme should reinforce existing learning mobility opportunities, notably in those sectors where the Programme could have the biggest efficiency gains, to broaden its reach and meet the high unmet demand. This should be done notably by increasing and facilitating mobility activities for higher education students, school pupils and learners in vocational education and training. Mobility of low-skilled adult learners should be embedded in partnerships for cooperation. Mobility opportunities for youth participating in non-formal learning activities should also be extended to reach more young people, especially newcomers. Mobility of staff in education, training, youth and sport should also be reinforced, considering its leverage effect. In line with the vision of a true European Education Area, the Programme should also boost mobility and exchanges and promote student participation in educational and cultural activities by supporting digitalisation of processes, such as the European Student Card. This initiative can be an important step in making mobility for all a reality first by enabling higher education institutions to send and receive more exchange students while still enhancing quality in student mobility and also by facilitating students' access to various services (library, transport, accommodation) before arriving at the institution abroad.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) promote learning mobility of individuals, as well as cooperation, inclusion, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training, particularly by promoting student learning mobility in vocational education and training;
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Programme should offer young people more opportunities to discover Europe through learning experiences abroad. Eighteen year olds, in particular those with fewer opportunitie under the new initiative entitled DiscoverEU. Young people who have recently completed secondary education, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with disabilities and other special needs, should be given the chance to have a first-time, short- term individual or group experience travelling throughout Europe in the frame of anas part of a non-formal or informal educational activity aimed at fostering their sense of belonging to the European Union and discovering its cultural diversityand linguistic diversity. That initiative should have a robust and verifiable learning component. The Programme should identify bodies in charge of reaching out and selecting the participants and support activities to foster the learning dimension of the experience.
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) language learning opportunities, including those supporting mobility activitiparticularly relating to neighbouring languages.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The Programme should also enhance the learning of languages, in particular through widened use languages of neighbouring countries in border regions. To this end, greater use could be made of online tools, as e-learning offers additional advantages for language learning in terms of access and flexibility.
Amendment 237 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In its Conclusions of the 14 of December 2017, the European Council called on Member States, the Council and the Commission to take forward a number of initiatives to elevate European cooperation in education and training to a new level, including by encouraging the emergence by 2024 of 'European Universities', consisting in bottom-up, excellence-driven networks of universities across the Union. The Programme should support these European Universities.
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the entire duration of the Programme which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of [reference to be updated as appropriate Point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management34 ], for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure. _________________ 34It should be ensured that, from 2021, there is a significant increase in the annual budget for the Programme, in comparison to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework, followed by linear and gradual growth in annual allocations. Such a budgetary profile will help to ensure wider access from the very beginning of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework period and avoid disproportionate increases in the final years that might be difficult to absorb. _________________ 34 OJ L […], […], p. […]. OJ L […], […], p. […].
Amendment 273 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) Within a basic envelope for actions to be managed by the national agencies in the field of education and training, a breakdown of minimum allocation per sector (higher education, school education, vocational education and training and adult education) should be defined in order to guarantee a critical mass of appropriations to reach the intended output and results in each of these sectors. The exact budget allocation by action and initiative should be laid down in the work programme.
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) In complianceGiven that the Programme is to be implemented over a seven-year period, it is necessary to provide for adequate flexibility in order to enable it to adapt to changing realities and political priorities within the Financial Regulation, the Commission should adopt work programmes and inform the European Parliament andfield of education, training, youth and sport. Therefore, this Regulation does not define in detail how initiatives are to be designed and it does not prejudge political priorities or respective budgetary priorities for the next seven years. Instead, the secondary policy choices and priorities, including details of specific initiatives, should be determined by means of work programmes in compliance with the CouFinancial thereofRegulation. The work programme should also set out the measures needed for their implementation in line with the general and specific objectives of the Programme, the selection and award criteria for grants, as well as all other elements required. Work programmes and any amendments to them should be adopted by implementing acts in accordance with the examination proceduremeans of a delegated act. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40 a (new)
Recital 40 a (new)
(40a) The Commission, in conjunction with the national agencies, should monitor and report on the implementation of the Programme, both during the Programme's lifetime and after its completion. In particular, the Commission should carry out a mid-term review of the Programme accompanied, where appropriate, by a legislative proposal to amend this Regulation.
Amendment 302 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
Amendment 324 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) 'learning mobility' means moving physically to a country other than the country of residence, in order to undertake study, training or non-formal or informal learning; It may be accompanied by measures such as language support and training and/or be complemented by online learning and virtual cooperation. In some specific cases, it may take the form of learning through the use of information technology and communications tools;
Amendment 329 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
(4a) 'virtual learning' means the acquisition of skills and knowledge through the use of information and communication tools;
Amendment 331 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4 b (new)
(4b) 'blended learning' means the acquisition of skills and knowledge through a combination of virtual education and training tools and traditional education and training methods;
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 9
(9) ‘vocational education and training learner’ means any person enrolled in an initial or continuous vocational education or training programme at any level from secondary up to post-secondary level. It includes the participation of individuals who have recently, or any person who has graduated from such a programme within the last 12 months;
Amendment 343 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10 a (new)
(10a) ‘the Seal of Excellence’ means the high-quality label awarded to projects submitted to Erasmus+ which are deemed to deserve funding but do not receive it due to budget limits. It recognises the value of the proposal and supports the search for alternative funding;
Amendment 346 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
(11) ‘adult education’ means any form of non-vocational education for adults after initial education, whether of a formal, non- formal or informal nature. The main objectives of adult education are the transfer of knowledge, competences and skills and the promotion of social inclusion, active citizenship, personal development and well-being;
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 25
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 25
(25) ‘people with fewer opportunitiefrom disadvantaged backgrounds’ means people who facinge obstacles that prevent them from having effective access to opportunities under the Programme for economic, social, cultural, geographical or health reasons, a migrant background or for reasons such as disability and educational difficultieso accessing the Programme on account of their economic or social situation;
Amendment 397 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Programme is to support the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport, in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, jobs and social cohesion and to strengthening European identity. As such, the Programme shall be a key instrument for building a European education area, supporting the implementation of the European strategic cooperation in the field of education and training, with its underlying sectoral agendasincluding automatic mutual recognition of qualifications, diplomas and learning periods abroad, advancing youth policy cooperation under the Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and developing the European dimension in sport.
Amendment 417 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The operational objectives and corresponding policy priorities shall be specified in detail in the work programme referred to in Article 19.
Amendment 424 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the mobility of adult education staff and adult education learners provided that those learners are participating in a formal adult education programme;
Amendment 430 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) language learning opportunities, particularly as regards neighbouring languages, including those supporting mobility activities.
Amendment 437 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The language learning opportunities referred to in point (e) of the first paragraph shall also be available for non- mobility actions in the form of virtual learning and blended learning.
Amendment 476 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) intergenerational exchanges between younger and older people.
Amendment 483 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) partnerships for excellence;
Amendment 504 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) not -for -profit sport events aiming, including small-scale events, aimed at further developing the European dimension of sport.
Amendment 513 #
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 4 a (new)
Chapter 4 a (new)
Amendment 514 #
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 4 a (new)
Chapter 4 a (new)
Chapter IVa Inclusion Article 13a Measures to enhance the Programme’s inclusiveness 1. The national agencies shall develop a multiannual national strategy to foster inclusion and to increase participation in the Programme among people from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as people with disabilities or other special needs. That strategy shall be made public by 30 June 2021. 2. The strategy referred to in paragraph 1 shall pay particular attention to the following elements: (a) possible grant adjustment based on applicants’ needs and precise mobility destination; (b) communication and outreach to the target groups; (c) use of user-friendly language in publicity and application materials; (d) the provision of specific advice and support services to the target groups; and (e) support to grassroots, community- based organisations working directly with the target groups. 3. In order to implement the strategy referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission may adjust or may authorise the national agencies to adjust, on the basis of objective criteria, the grants to support mobility actions under the Programme. 4. Grants for mobility actions shall always cover at least 50 % of the additional costs incurred by the beneficiary specifically as a result of participating in the Programme. 5. Funding available under the European Social Fund+ may be used to top up grants as required.
Amendment 515 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 3041 097 000 000 in constant 2018 prices (EUR 46 758 000 000 in current prices).
Amendment 548 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 5 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 5 a (new)
(5a) the remaining 22.6 % may be used to finance other actions, in particular centralised actions, in the field of education and training, with their priorities and objectives to be laid down in the work programme referred to in Article 19;
Amendment 582 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. The priorities for budgetary allocation by action as provided for in paragraph 2 shall be determined in the work programme referred to in Article 19.
Amendment 614 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
The Programme shall be implemented bysecondary policy choices and priorities, including details of specific initiatives outlined in Articles 4 to 13, shall be determined by means of a work programme as referred to in Article [1108] of the Financial Regulation. The work programme shall also set out how the Programme is to be implemented. In addition, the work programme shall give an indication of the amount allocated to each action and of the distribution of funds between the Member States and third countries associated to the Programme for the actions to be managed through the national agency. The work programme shall be adopted by the Commission by means of an implementing act. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 31Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 30 in order to supplement this Regulation by adopting the work programme.
Amendment 617 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – title
Article 21 – title
21 Evaluations, mid-term review and revision
Amendment 624 #
5. The Commission shall communicate the conclustransmit any evaluations ofand the evaluationsmid-term review, accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and to the Committee of the Regions.
Amendment 633 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 644 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The national agency and the Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency(EACEA) shall be consulted by representatives from educational institutions in order to increase insight and enhance transfer and application of knowledge from the field;
Amendment 649 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of centralised actions. It shall therefore manage all stages of grant and project applications for Programme actions listed in Chapters II, III and IV when they are submitted by Union-wide networks, European non-governmental organisations and international organisations.
Amendment 654 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The European Commission shall ensure that projects results are publicly available and widely disseminated in order to promote the exchange of best practice among national agencies, stakeholders and programme beneficiaries.
Amendment 663 #
4. Actions eligible under the Programme which have been assessed in a call for proposals under the Programme and which comply with the minimum quality requirements of that call for proposals, but which are not financed due to budgetary constraints, may be selectedawarded a Seal of Excellence to acknowledge their high quality, thereby facilitating their application for funding from other sources and/or enabling their selection for funding by the European Structural and Investment (ESI) funds without the need to submit a new application. In this case the co- financing rates and the eligibility rules based on this Regulation shall apply. These actions shall be implemented by the managing authority referred to in Article [65] of Regulation (EU)XX [CPR] in accordance with the rules set out in that Regulation and fund specific regulations, including rules on financial corrections.
Amendment 666 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Article 30 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 19 and 20 shall be conferred on the Commission until 31 December 2028.
Amendment 667 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 19 and 20 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 668 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 6
Article 30 – paragraph 6
6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 19 and 20 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 669 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31
Article 31
Amendment 675 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I
Annex I
Amendment 683 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I a (new)
Annex I a (new)