Activities of Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ related to 2018/0191(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
'Erasmus': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport (debate) ES
Amendments (54)
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 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In its Communication on Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture of 14 November 2017, the Commission put forward its vision to work towards a European Education Area by 2025, in which learning would not be hampered by borders; a Union, where spending time in another Member State for purposes of studying and learning in any form or setting would become the standard and where, in addition to one's mother tongue, speaking two other languages would become the norm; a Union in which people would have a strong sense of their identity as Europeans, of Europe's cultural heritage and its diversity. In this context, the Commission emphasised the need to boost the tried-and- tested Erasmus+ programme in all categories of learners that it already covers and to reaching out to learners with fewer opportunities. from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities and other special needs.
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 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In this context, it is necessary to establish the successor programme for education, training, youth and sport (the 'Programme') of the 2014-2020 Erasmus + programme established by Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council27. The integrated nature of the 2014-2020 programme covering learning in all contexts - formal, non- formal and informal, and at all stages of life - should be maintained to boost flexible learning paths allowing individuals to develop thosee skills and competences that are necessary to face the challenges and make the most of the opportunities of the twenty-first century. _________________ 27 Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 50).
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 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 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) It is important that the Programme deliver European added value. Therefore, actions and activities should only be eligible for funding under the Programme if they can demonstrate European added value. It should be possible to demonstrate European added value in a number of ways, in particular through the transnational character of the actions, their complementarity and synergies with other Union programmes and policies, their contribution to the effective use of Union transparency and recognition tools, their contribution to the development of Union-wide quality assurance standards, their contribution to the development of Union-wide common standards in education and training programmes, and their promotion of multilingualism and of a European sense of belonging.
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 193 #
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. 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 and sport activities by supporting digitalisation of processes,digitalising processes to facilitate application procedures and participation in the Programme, by developing user-friendly online systems based on best practice and by creating new tools 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
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Programme should encourage youth participation in Europe's democratic life, including by supporting participation projects for young people to engage and learn to participate in civic society, raising awareness about European common values including fundamental rights, bringing together young people and decision- makers at local, national and Union level, as well as contributing to the European integration process. In that regard, the Programme should foster synergies with the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment 241 #
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 theexisting 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. The Programme should also encourage the development of new online platforms to strengthen and modernise the delivery of education, training, sport and youth policy at European level.
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) The Programme should contribute to facilitating transparency and automatic mutual recognition of skills and, qualifications and diplomas, as well as the transfer of credits or unitsother proof of learning outcomes, to foster quality assurance and to support validation of non-formal and informal learning, skills management and guidance. In this regard, the Programme should also provide support to contact points and networks at national and Union level that facilitate cross-European exchanges as well as the development of flexible learning pathways between different fields of education, training, sport and youth and across formal and non- formal settings.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) The Programme should contribute to facilitating transparency and automatic mutual recognition of skills and, qualifications and diplomas, as well as the transfer of credits or unitsother proof of learning outcomes, to foster quality assurance and to support validation of non-formal and informal learning, skills management and guidance. In this regard, the Programme should also provide support to contact points and networks at national and Union level that facilitate cross-European exchanges as well as the development of flexible learning pathways between different fields of education, training and youth and across formal and non-formal settings.
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 333 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) 'grassroots sport' means organised sport practised at local level by amateur sports people, and sport for allphysical leisure activity, organised and non- organised, practised regularly at non- professional level for health, educational or social purposes;
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
(8a) ‘sport staff’ means persons involved in the direction, instruction, training and management of a sports team or individual sports people, both on a paid or voluntary basis;
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 411 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) promote learning mobility of sport coaches and staff, as well as cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies. The focus should be in particular on supporting grassroots sport.
Amendment 420 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. The Commission shall cooperate with the national agencies to ensure the quality and consistency of procedures put in place to implement this Regulation, including by developing common standards for project applications and evaluation.
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 425 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the mobility of adult learners and adult education staff;
Amendment 434 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) language learning opportunities, including those supporting of 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 451 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) online platforms and tools for virtual cooperation, including the support services for eTwinning and for the electronic platform for adult learning in Europe, as well as tools to facilitate mobility, such as the European Student Card referred to in Article 25(7b).
Amendment 456 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the support to Union tools and measures that foster the quality, transparency and recognition of competences, skills and qualifications45 , including Europass; _________________ 45 In particular the single Union framework for the transparency of qualifications and competences ; the European Qualifications Framework; the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training; the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training; the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System; the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education; the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education; the European Network of Information Centres in the European Region and National Academic Recognition Information Centres in the European Union; and the Euroguidance networks.
Amendment 469 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) support to the following institutions pursuing an aim of European interest: the European University Institute, Florence, including its School of Transnational Governance; the College of Europe (Bruges and Natolin campuses); the European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht; the Academy of European Law, Trier; the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, Odense and the International Centre for European Training, Nice, among other high-level institutions.
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 497 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
In the field of sport, the Programme shall support, under key action 1, the mobility of sport coaches and staff, staff and dual career athletes.
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 517 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework.
Amendment 518 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
(a) EUR 24 940 000 00083.14 % of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 for actions in the field of education and training, ofrom which:
Amendment 525 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 1
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 1
(1) at least EUR 8 640 000 000 should34.6 % shall be allocated to higher education actions referred to in point (a) of Article 4 and point (a) of Article 5;
Amendment 529 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 2
(2) at least EUR 5 230 000 00021 % shall be allocated to actions in vocational education and training referred to in point (b) of Article 4 and point (a) of Article 5;
Amendment 534 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 3
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 3
(3) at least EUR 3 790 000 00015.2 % shall be allocated to school education actions referred to in point (c) of Article 4 and point (a) of Article 5;
Amendment 538 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 4
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 4
(4) at least EUR 1 190 000 0004.8 % shall be allocated to adult education actions referred to in point (d) of Article 4 and point (a) of Article 5;
Amendment 545 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 5
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 5
(5) EUR 450 000 000 for1.8 % shall be allocated to Jean Monnet actions referred to in Article 7;
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 555 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) EUR 3 100 000 00010.3 % of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 for actions in the field of youth referred to in Articles 8 to 10;
Amendment 560 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) EUR 550 000 0001.83 % of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 for actions in the field of sport referred to in Articles 11 to 13; and
Amendment 564 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) at least EUR 960 000 0003.2 % of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 as a contribution to the operational costs of the national agencies.
Amendment 570 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The remaining 1.5 % that is not allocated under the indicative distribution set out in the first subparagraph may be used for programme support.
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 619 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The inmid-terim revaluationiew of the Programme shall be performed once there is sufficient information available about the implementation of the Programme, but in any event no later than four years after the start of the programme implementation. It shall also be accompanied by a final evaluation of the predecessor p30 June 2024. It shall also be accompanied by a final evaluation of the predecessor programme. The mid-term review, in addition to assessing the overall effectiveness and performance of the Programme, shall pay particular attention to the inclusion measures laid down in Article 13a, efforts made to simplify the Programme for beneficiaries and the new initiatives being implemented under the Programme.
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.