The Commission presents a report pursuant to Article 7 of the Agreements between the European Community and the United States of America signed on 4 December 2006 and between the European Community and the Government of Canada signed on 18 December 2006 in the areas of higher education, training and youth. The report puts forward the Commission position on the main conclusions and recommendations of the interim evaluation of these two Agreements.

The commission notes that unfortunately, due to budget constraints, both the U.S. and Canadian authorities decided to cancel all current and future calls for bilateral projects between now and 2013 when both Agreements will come to an end.

Actions specifically undertaken in the framework of the EU-US Agreement are:

the ATLANTIS programme with three sub-actions: (i) Transatlantic Degree Projects; (ii) Excellence in Mobility Projects (EIM); and (iii) Policyoriented Measures (POM); the Schuman-Fulbright grant scheme; the OCEANS alumni association; technical support measures, including annual Policy Forums and studies.

Actions specifically carried out under the EU-Canada Agreement are:

the EU-Canada programme consisting of higher education and training actions, notably Transatlantic Exchange Partnerships (TEP) and Transatlantic Degree Partnerships (TDP); youth actions, in particular youth roundtables; and complementary actions, notably the EU-Canada Study Tour and Internship Programmes and the OCEANS alumni association.

Funding and outputs : as a general rule, the EU provides funding for the direct use of EU institutions, scholars and students while the USA and Canada provide funding for the direct use of institutions, scholars and students from their respective countries. The EU's budget allocation for the ATLANTIS programme was EUR 23.2 million for the 2006-10 period and for the EU-Canada programme was EUR 5.1 million for the 2007-10 period. Programme financing is done on the basis of a matching-funds principle between the parties to each Agreement, meaning that the EU budgets are in the end doubled by matching funds provided by the respective US and Canadian authorities. The ATLANTIS programme has permitted so far a total of 5 034 individuals and 317 institutions to participate in 67 mobility projects.

The EU-Canada programme has permitted so far a total of 2 804 individuals and 195 institutions to participate in 37 mobility projects.

The Schuman-Fulbright grant scheme is co-funded by the EU with an amount of EUR 320 000 per year and has had so far a total of 83 participants.

The evaluators found that while more data is needed to make a full assessment of the efficiency of the programmes, in comparison to e.g. the Erasmus Mundus programme and as a result of the matching funds principle, the average EU budget per exchanged student was significantly lower under the Agreements, speaking for the cost-efficiency of the Agreements. However, the extremely small budget available in the EU-Canada case presents a significant handicap in fulfilling all of the Agreements' objectives.

Results of the evaluation : the results are generally very positive , the evaluation having analysed the degree of relevance of the Agreements to needs; the extent to which they overlap, complement or conflict with other policies and actions; the effectiveness of the Agreements in meeting their intended objectives and their added value; their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and the effectiveness of management arrangements and other operational issues such as dissemination and exploitation of project results; and the extent to which the activities that have been supported are sustainable. While the activities supported by the Agreements are comparatively small in size in the context of the volume of international cooperation routinely undertaken in this sector between the EU, the US and Canada, they are notwithstanding offering a wide range of opportunities. Only when it comes to the field of youth (Canada only), the evaluators concluded a lack of implementation which made it difficult to assess complementarity.

With regard to effectiveness , the evaluators found that the Agreements have made contributions in respect of all their intended objectives, but have made less progress than anticipated in respect of providing opportunities for policy discussion, and in Canada, in the youth field. They recommended that both these areas should be made a strategic priority in the latter half of the life of the Agreements. In Canada, a swift decision should be taken as to what extent the youth field is a strategic priority which deserves to be implemented during the last years of the current Agreement. In the event of continuing inactivity, EU budget allocated to this area should be re-allocated to other parts of the programme in order to prevent waste of resources. In response, the Commission and its Canadian interlocutors have taken steps to implement a series of actions. In light of this recent development, a re-allocation of funds seems no longer necessary, and in addition, the Commission will continue its efforts targeting in particular the federal and provincial levels in Canada.

On promotion and dissemination , the evaluators noted the importance of achieving wider effects beyond the immediate projects themselves.

However, certain obstacles in achieving this result were identified, most notably as to what concerns a presumed lack of visibility and/or renown of the programmes (with the exception of the Schuman-Fulbright grant scheme), as well as a clear brand name (Canada only). The evaluators further concluded that the publicity for the Agreements and the dissemination of the results could be improved.

The Commission shares the overall assessment of the evaluators that the Agreements are highly relevant and fulfil their broader and more specific goals, especially so in the context of the EU developing its wider role in the world. The Agreements do not overlap nor conflict in significant ways with a wide range of relevant EU initiatives and offer substantial and tangible benefits for students, faculty and institutions.

The interest from stakeholders in the Agreements is increasing steadily, with the numbers of applications substantially going up in both 2009 and 2010. Most of the activities would not have occurred without funding from both the EU and the US or Canada . As the Agreements are comparatively cost-efficient due to their bilateral funding aspect which has a significant added value at a strategic level, they stand as a model to follow for other industrialised and high-income countries, not the least due to the fact that they champion high-quality student mobility, promote the use of innovative approaches to curriculum development, transparency and portability and that they provide a means to shape the nature of international cooperation.

In view of these considerations, the Commission deplores the sudden end of the main cooperation activities implemented under both Agreements. The evaluators have made a number of suggestions to improve certain aspects of the programmes but found no major shortcomings. The Commission has already taken action with regard to some of the suggestions and will take others of them into consideration.

COM(2011)0653
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement between the EU and Canada on higher education, training and youth.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (2006/964/EC) on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada establishing a framework for co-operation in higher education, training and youth.

CONTENT: this Council Decision is the result of negotiations conducted by the Commission, on behalf of the Community, and the government of Canada on an Agreement to co-operate in higher education, training and youth.

The purpose of the Agreement is to establish a framework for co-operation in higher education, training and youth and, unless notified otherwise by either of the Parties, will remain in force for eight years. The Agreement is defined by “general”, “specific” and “operational” objectives.

The general objectives of the agreement are:

- to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the European Union and Canada including broader knowledge of their languages, cultures and institutions; and

- to improve the quality of human resources in both the European Community and Canada, by facilitating the acquisition of skills required to meet the challenges of the global knowledge-based economy.

The specific objectives of the agreement are:

- to give added value to the Community/Canadian transatlantic higher education, training and youth relationship;

- to encourage transatlantic exchanges;

- to contribute towards the development of higher education; training institutions and youth organisations;

- to promote partnerships in the field of higher education, training and youth; and

- to encourage dialogue and exchanges on youth policy and youth work.

The operational objectives of the agreement are:

- to support higher education collaboration as well as collaborations with training institutes by promoting joint study programmes and student mobility;

- to support public/private collaboration in the field of higher education, training and youth;

- to support the transatlantic mobility of professionals; and

- to support the collaboration of youth structures and organisations, youth workers, youth leaders and other youth actors.

A number of principles guide the basic actions of the Agreement including respect for both Parties legislative powers in the field of education and training; the broad participation of actors form both the EU Member States and from Canada; and recognition of the cultural, social and economic diversity of both Parties. The Agreement also sets up a Joint Committee for the purpose of reviewing, reporting and sharing information. In terms of funding, financing will be done on the basis of an overall matching of funds between the Parties.

The Agreement’s “Actions” are set out and defined in Annex to the Agreement. They have been classified as: Higher education and training action; Youth action; and Complementary action.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: The Agreement enters into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the last Party shall have so notified the other.

Decision 2006/964
OJ L 397 30.12.2006, p. 0014

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Marie-Hélène DESCAMPS (EPP-ED, FR) and approved the conclusion of the Agreement.

T6-0469/2006

A6-0338/2006

A6-0338/2006

The committee adopted the report by Marie-Hélène DESCAMPS (EPP-ED, FR) approving the conclusion of the Agreement under the consultation procedure.

PE376.787

PURPOSE : to conclude the Agreement between the European Community and the government of Canada establishing a framework for co-operation in the fields of higher education, training and youth for the period 2006-2013.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : the present proposal is set against the dual background of the European Union higher education agenda and EU/Canada relations which call, respectively, for higher education to become a world reference for relevance and excellence and for broader education cooperation.

The proposed Agreement seeks to extend an existing EU-Canada Agreement on higher and vocational education, which ran out at the end of 2005 (refer to CNS/2000/0264 ). In 2005, the Council authorised the Commission to re-negotiate an Agreement, based partly on positive responses from independent evaluators. This independent evaluation concluded that the programme is a powerful tool for establishing long lasting partnerships and synergies in higher education and vocational training over the

Atlantic and that this has contributed to improving mutual understanding and the quality of human resource development.

The Agreement sets out general, specific and operational objectives.

The general objectives of this Agreement shall be to:

§ promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the European Union and Canada including broader knowledge of their languages, cultures and institutions;

§ improve the quality of human resources in both the European Community and Canada, by facilitating the acquisition of skills required to meet the challenges of the global knowledge-based economy.

The specific objectives of the Agreement shall be to:

§ reinforce a European Community and a Canadian value-added dimension to transatlantic cooperation in higher education, training and youth;

§ contribute to transatlantic exchanges between citizens of both the European Union and Canada;

§ contribute to the development of higher education and training institutions, as well as youth structures and organisations;

§ promote and/or enhance partnerships among stakeholders active in the areas of higher education, training and youth in the European Community and Canada;

§ contribute to the professional development of individuals while achieving the general objectives of the Agreement;

§ develop opportunities for dialogue and exchanges on youth policy and youth work.

The operational objectives of the Agreement shall be to:

§ support collaboration between higher education and training institutions with a view to promoting and developing joint study and/or training programmes and student mobility;

§ improve the quality of transatlantic student mobility by promoting transparency, mutual recognition of qualifications and periods of study and training, and where appropriate portability of credits;

§ support collaboration among public and private organisations active in the areas of higher education, training and youth with a view to encouraging discussion and exchange of experience on policy issues;

§ support transatlantic mobility of professionals (including professionals-in-training) with a view to improving mutual understanding, and expertise, of issues relevant to European Union/Canada relations;

§ support collaboration among youth structures and organisations as well as youth workers, young leaders and other youth actors with a view to promoting exchanges of good practices and developing networks.

Description of the intervention : the agreement would pursue its objectives through the following actions:

§ higher education and training actions : this action will respond to two specific objectives, namely, contributing to the development of higher education and vocational training institutions and organisations as well as increasing the mobility of staff, students and trainees. This type of project would largely consist of a continuation of the type of joint projects currently funded. Consortia projects would focus on priority fields which are key to EU/Canada cooperation, to be identified in consultation with the Canadian authorities. Also under this action, projects that prove to be of outstanding quality could receive further financial support at the end of the initial 3 or 4-year period, granted exclusively to fund additional opportunities for student mobility;

§ youth action : the target public for this measure would be a) youth structures, organisations and youth workers and the focus on activities aimed at facilitating a dialogue and an exchange of best practices as well as the sharing of tools on youth work methodology among policy makers, youth work practitioners, youth organisations, and other structures responsible for youth matters including youth mobility. These activities would include seminars, training courses, job shadowing and study visits on targeted themes, e.g. cultural diversity, volunteering and recognition of non-formal learning; b) building sustainable new multilateral partnerships and networks with a view to further cooperation and youth mobility among the participating organisations, through meetings, internet platforms, sharing of information etc;

§ complementary action : these measures would pursue the specific objective of enhancing collaboration between the EU and Canada as regards the development of higher education and vocational training, focusing on priority themes. In the longer term, these measures would have an impact on policy and system development. Activities under this category could include studies, conferences, seminars, working groups, benchmarking exercises. Under this action support may be provided for the mobility of professionals, mainly from outside the academia and public administration (decision makers, social partner representatives, journalists, etc.) who want to undertake studies or training, in areas of specific relevance to the EU/Canada relationship, which would be identified in consultation with the Canadian authorities. Financial support may be provided also to an Alumni Association involving students who have participated in exchanges implemented by the EC/Canada consortia in higher education and vocational training.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

COM(2006)0274
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE : to conclude the Agreement between the European Community and the government of Canada establishing a framework for co-operation in the fields of higher education, training and youth for the period 2006-2013.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : the present proposal is set against the dual background of the European Union higher education agenda and EU/Canada relations which call, respectively, for higher education to become a world reference for relevance and excellence and for broader education cooperation.

The proposed Agreement seeks to extend an existing EU-Canada Agreement on higher and vocational education, which ran out at the end of 2005 (refer to CNS/2000/0264 ). In 2005, the Council authorised the Commission to re-negotiate an Agreement, based partly on positive responses from independent evaluators. This independent evaluation concluded that the programme is a powerful tool for establishing long lasting partnerships and synergies in higher education and vocational training over the

Atlantic and that this has contributed to improving mutual understanding and the quality of human resource development.

The Agreement sets out general, specific and operational objectives.

The general objectives of this Agreement shall be to:

§ promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the European Union and Canada including broader knowledge of their languages, cultures and institutions;

§ improve the quality of human resources in both the European Community and Canada, by facilitating the acquisition of skills required to meet the challenges of the global knowledge-based economy.

The specific objectives of the Agreement shall be to:

§ reinforce a European Community and a Canadian value-added dimension to transatlantic cooperation in higher education, training and youth;

§ contribute to transatlantic exchanges between citizens of both the European Union and Canada;

§ contribute to the development of higher education and training institutions, as well as youth structures and organisations;

§ promote and/or enhance partnerships among stakeholders active in the areas of higher education, training and youth in the European Community and Canada;

§ contribute to the professional development of individuals while achieving the general objectives of the Agreement;

§ develop opportunities for dialogue and exchanges on youth policy and youth work.

The operational objectives of the Agreement shall be to:

§ support collaboration between higher education and training institutions with a view to promoting and developing joint study and/or training programmes and student mobility;

§ improve the quality of transatlantic student mobility by promoting transparency, mutual recognition of qualifications and periods of study and training, and where appropriate portability of credits;

§ support collaboration among public and private organisations active in the areas of higher education, training and youth with a view to encouraging discussion and exchange of experience on policy issues;

§ support transatlantic mobility of professionals (including professionals-in-training) with a view to improving mutual understanding, and expertise, of issues relevant to European Union/Canada relations;

§ support collaboration among youth structures and organisations as well as youth workers, young leaders and other youth actors with a view to promoting exchanges of good practices and developing networks.

Description of the intervention : the agreement would pursue its objectives through the following actions:

§ higher education and training actions : this action will respond to two specific objectives, namely, contributing to the development of higher education and vocational training institutions and organisations as well as increasing the mobility of staff, students and trainees. This type of project would largely consist of a continuation of the type of joint projects currently funded. Consortia projects would focus on priority fields which are key to EU/Canada cooperation, to be identified in consultation with the Canadian authorities. Also under this action, projects that prove to be of outstanding quality could receive further financial support at the end of the initial 3 or 4-year period, granted exclusively to fund additional opportunities for student mobility;

§ youth action : the target public for this measure would be a) youth structures, organisations and youth workers and the focus on activities aimed at facilitating a dialogue and an exchange of best practices as well as the sharing of tools on youth work methodology among policy makers, youth work practitioners, youth organisations, and other structures responsible for youth matters including youth mobility. These activities would include seminars, training courses, job shadowing and study visits on targeted themes, e.g. cultural diversity, volunteering and recognition of non-formal learning; b) building sustainable new multilateral partnerships and networks with a view to further cooperation and youth mobility among the participating organisations, through meetings, internet platforms, sharing of information etc;

§ complementary action : these measures would pursue the specific objective of enhancing collaboration between the EU and Canada as regards the development of higher education and vocational training, focusing on priority themes. In the longer term, these measures would have an impact on policy and system development. Activities under this category could include studies, conferences, seminars, working groups, benchmarking exercises. Under this action support may be provided for the mobility of professionals, mainly from outside the academia and public administration (decision makers, social partner representatives, journalists, etc.) who want to undertake studies or training, in areas of specific relevance to the EU/Canada relationship, which would be identified in consultation with the Canadian authorities. Financial support may be provided also to an Alumni Association involving students who have participated in exchanges implemented by the EC/Canada consortia in higher education and vocational training.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

COM(2006)0274
EUR-Lex