In accordance with the requirements of Decision n° 1298/2008/EC, the Commission presents a report on the interim evaluation of the Erasmus Mundus II Programme. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the relevance, effectiveness, sustainability and efficiency of the programme, paying particular attention to the novelties introduced in phase II of the programme. The evaluation covered all three actions over the implementation period of 2009-2011. The report puts forward the Commission’s position on the main conclusions and recommendations of the Interim Evaluation.

To recall, EM has a budget of over EUR 950 million, with around EUR 494 million allocated to Actions 1 and 3, taken from the EU’s education budget, and EUR 460 million allotted to Action 2, taken from a number of different funding instruments.

Commission’s position

The Commission shares the overall assessment of the evaluator that the programme EM II has provided strong support and made an important contribution to the internationalisation process of the European Higher Education Area.

The programme remains highly relevant in promoting excellence, international cooperation support, mobility and academic capacity building. During the first half of the EM programme (2009 – 2011), the programme has shown effectiveness in strengthening the international orientation strategy of participating institutions, providing as well sustainability to strategic networking activities. The Interim Evaluation of EM reveals a programme that has been efficiently implemented with a very good cost/benefit ratio.

The 3 programme Actions have provided outstanding outcomes for HEIs, students and scholars from EU MS and third countries.

Action 1 has contributed to improving excellence in teaching and learning and to supporting institutional networking.

Action 2 Partnerships have been relevant in supporting international cooperation in the field of higher education and quite efficient in including third country institutions as members of international partnerships supporting academic mobility.

Action 3 has been effective in giving coherence and sustainability to the whole programme.

EM II was designed to include 4 novelties to overcome several deficiencies, shortcomings and weakness observed in the previous phase (2004 – 2008). These are as follows:

· extending Joint Programmes to the doctoral level;

· offering scholarships for European students;

· integrating the “External Cooperation Window” scheme into the EM programme as Action 2 and widening its scope;

· allowing third country higher education institutions to participate in the EM Joint Programmes.

Even if the novelties need further improvements, the overall result is highly positive , notably in the integration of the new Action 2, the more active participation of third country partners in consortia and in the scholarships offered for European Union students.

The Commission notes the findings of the evaluation in favour of further improvements , which could be made in the second half of the programme.

Reinforcing relevance by strengthening links between EM and other EU programmes in the field of higher education: this recommendation very much reflects the preferred option identified in the impact assessment on the international dimension of the Higher Education Actions of the future Integrated Programme for the period 2014-2020 . That option aims to strengthening objectives and impact through concentration and streamlined architecture. The use of this option in the design of the future integrated programme should create the necessary links within internal programmes (between Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus) and between external and internal policies and programmes in the higher education field (Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, EDULINK, Alfa, Atlantis, etc.). It is also expected to reinforce links between mobility and partnerships (including capacity building and policy support measures) and provide support to increase the overall quality and relevance of higher education, enhancing the links between policies and programmes, accompanying universities in their internationalisation strategy and the modernisation of higher education in non-EU countries together with the development of their human capital.

Improving the effectiveness of the programme : the evaluation recommendations are addressed to the following main issues: (i) employability; (ii) programme balance between objectives for excellence, capacity building and geographical participation; (iii) involving employers; (iv) helping the visa process; and (v) mapping best practices.

The Commission wants to improve effectiveness by

· allowing for a better balance between excellence and capacity building (notably linking the financial allocations to each action with clearly identified policy objectives, reflecting different world regions' needs);

· further involving employers-good practices for involving employers should be fostered, and outreach activities in candidate and potential candidate countries are needed; and

· helping to improve – as far as possible – the visa process.

Sustainability : recommendations on sustainability are related to a better use of the limited EU funding. Sharing good practices and a more integrated programme may be useful as well. The Commission states that it has already been supporting sustainability through different initiatives, such as the establishment of the Erasmus Mundus brand name and the implementation of a cluster regrouping all the best sustainability practices under Erasmus Mundus.

Efficiency: the evaluation recommends improving the monitoring and evaluation of future projects by better balancing quantitative and qualitative assessment and by involving field experts in the monitoring visits and project evaluation. It also suggests streamlining programme promotion across different Actions under the post-2013 programme, while maintaining the current institutional framework that involves the Executive Agency, the National Structures and the EU Delegations.

The Commission agrees on the need to improve the monitoring and evaluation of projects and to streamline the programme's promotion This will be done in the framework of the future integrated programme, using the tools produced in its current phase, notably under the EM Quality Assessment Project.

The Commission presents a report on the impact certain Decisions modifying the legal bases of the European Programmes in the areas of Lifelong Learning , Culture , Youth and Citizenship .

It recalls that in December 2008, the European Parliament and the Council adopted four decisions amending the legal bases of the programmes in these areas. These decisions removed from the advisory procedure described in Council Decision 1999/468/EC certain selection decisions taken by the Commission for the award of grants within those programmes. The purpose was to simplify the procedures and shorten the time required for making decisions affecting directly the beneficiaries, in the interests of a quicker implementation of the programmes.

Under the original legal bases, it had been compulsory to consult within restrictive delays the European Parliament and the programme committees before the Commission could make the formal award decisions. Sometimes recess periods would add to the scrutiny periods, causing further delays in the implementation.

With the entry into force of the amending decisions, the advisory procedure has been replaced by an information procedure . The Commission is obliged to inform the European Parliament and the programme committees within two working days of the selection decisions it has taken. The information needs to include a description and an analysis of the applications received, a description of the assessment and of the selection procedure, and lists of both the projects proposed for funding and those rejected.

In addition to these decisions, Decision n°1298/2008/EC establishing the Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 action programme also requires the Commission to inform the European Parliament and the programme committee within two working days of the selection decisions it has taken.

Although the decision establishing the Erasmus Mundus action programme does not contain a reporting requirement, the Commission has decided, in the interest of transparency, to include in this report the impact of the new information procedure on the implementation of this programme as well. In this way, a single report covers the impact of all five decisions.

The report notes that for all programmes, the time taken for the selection process from the submission deadline to the adoption of the grant award-decision and the notification of the beneficiaries has been considerably shortened .

Lifelong Learning programme : in 2009 grant award decisions in the actions that can be compared were notified to the beneficiaries on average 123 days after the submission deadline, with an average gain was of 37 days in comparison to 2008 and of 32 in comparison to 2007. In one case (Leonardo de Vinci – Transfer of Innovation), the period in 2009 was slightly longer than in 2008 due to the need to examine thoroughly a specific case that involved the protection of the financial interests of the EU.

Culture programme : notification in 2009 occurred on average 152 days after the submission deadline, with an average gain of 54.5 days when in comparison to 2008 and of 117 in comparison to 2007.

Youth in Action programme : the average time gain was more than 40 days compared to 2008 and of more than 75 in comparison with 2007. Grant-award decisions and the subsequent notification of beneficiaries occurred at the latest 3.5 months after the submission deadline, whereas under the consultation procedure, the average selection time was of 5.5 months.

Europe for Citizens programme : the gain was, on average, 22 days compared to 2008 and 12 days compared to 2007. However, two actions present an exception: no time was saved for actions 1.4 and 1.5 between 2009 and 2008. These projects ("Citizens' projects and "Support measures") are more complex and larger in scale than other more traditional projects such as town twinning. However, this had no impact on beneficiaries as they were notified of the result of the selection in time for the projects to start as scheduled.

Erasmus Mundus scholarships : the reduction was of 27 days in comparison with the 2007 scholarships and of 10 in comparison with 2008. For the joint programmes the reduction was of 74 days, despite the fact that 2009 was also the first year in which, in addition to the Masters' courses, PhDs were funded by the programme. In all cases the information to the European Parliament and programme committees was provided within the set delay of two working days. The amount of information transmitted has not changed compared to the comitology procedure, but the removal of the formalities associated with the advisory procedure, concerning for example the launch of written procedures and the upload in the registry, has resulted nonetheless in a significant reduction of the administrative burden.

Conclusion : the information procedure replacing the formal advisory procedure under the Comitology Decision has been successfully implemented in all five programmes. All the necessary information required in the decisions has been systematically transmitted by the Commission to the European Parliament and the programme committees within the compulsory deadline of two working days. The Commission has not received any reactions or complaints from the European Parliament or the programme committees on the information transmitted or on the procedure itself. Several beneficiaries have instead expressed their satisfaction with the reduced time taken for selection decisions as a result.

The substantial shortening of the delays has increased the efficiency of the programmes by enabling the applicants to be informed on the selection decisions further in advance, with positive effects on the sustainability of the partnerships implementing the projects, and therefore on the quality of the projects themselves. For all programmes, the new procedure has enabled the increased effectiveness of project management.

PURPOSE: to establish the second phase of the ERASMUS MUNDUS programme for the period 2009‑2013.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 1298/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013 action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries.

CONTENT: having reached agreement at first reading, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a Decision establishing the second phase of the ERASMUS MUNDUS programme from 1 January 2009 until 31 December 2013.

The aims of the programme shall be:

the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries; the sustainable development of third countries in the field of higher education.

The Parliament insisted that the programme should be implemented in compliance with the objectives of academic excellence , while taking into account a geographical representation of beneficiaries that is as balanced as possible.

Aims and specific objectives : the aims of the programme are to promote European higher education, to help improve and enhance the career prospects of students and to promote intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries, in accordance with EU external policy objectives.

The specific objectives of the programme are to:

promote structured cooperation between higher education institutions and to promote an offer of high quality in higher education with a distinct European added value, attractive both within the European Union and beyond its borders, with a view to creating centres of excellence; develop the qualifications of men and women so that they possess appropriate skills , particularly as regards the labour market , and are open-minded and internationally experienced; contribute towards the development of human resources and the international cooperation capacity of higher education institutions in third countries through increased mobility streams between the European Union and third countries; improve accessibility and enhance the profile and visibility of European higher education in the world, as well as its attractiveness for third-country and European nationals.

The Commission shall ensure that no group of third country or European nationals is excluded or disadvantaged.

The aims and specific objectives of the programme shall be pursued by means of the following actions:

Action 1 : Erasmus Mundus joint programmes ( masters and doctoral programmes ) of outstanding academic quality, including a scholarship scheme; Action 2 : Erasmus Mundus partnerships between European and third-country higher education institutions as a basis for structured cooperation, exchange and mobility at all levels of higher education, including a scholarship scheme; Action 3 : promotion of European higher education through measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination and a centre of excellence at world level.

Further details of these actions are set out in the Annex.

The programme also provides for the compliance with certain specific criteria for the implementation of the programme, including: (i) support for the development of high-quality joint educational programmes and cooperation networks facilitating the exchange of experience and good practice; (ii) enhanced support for mobility of people in the field of higher education selected on the basis of academic excellence, particularly from third countries to European countries; (iii) promotion of language skills, providing students with the possibility of learning at least two of the languages spoken in the countries in which the higher education institutions are situated; (iv) support for pilot projects based on partnerships with an external dimension designed to develop innovation and quality in higher education; (v) support for the analysis and follow-up of trends in, and the evolution of, higher education in an international perspective.

Moreover, the programme provides for technical support measures including studies, meetings of experts as well as information and publications directly linked to the achievement of the objectives of the programme.

Website : the Commission shall ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on activities and developments in the programme, mainly through the Erasmus Mundus website .

Funding : the overall budget for the entire programming period (2009-2013) for Action 1 and Action 3 (joint masters and doctoral programmes, including scholarships, and attractiveness projects) amounts to EUR 493.69 million . Action 2 (co-operative partnerships with HEIs in specific third countries, including mobility) is funded through external co-operation instruments, in accordance with the rules, procedures and objectives laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 , Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 , Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 , Regulation (EC) No 1934/2006 , the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement and the Internal ACP-EC Agreement.

Scholarships: details of all the terms and conditions for access to scholarships for all academic levels can be found in the Annex to the Decision. The Decision also specifies that the flat-rate amounts for the scholarships shall take into consideration the level of tuition fees and the estimated expenditure for the studies. Moreover, the Decision clearly defines the types of potential scholars in line with their level of education (first, second and third cycle students, doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers).

Horizontal issues : in implementing the programme, due regard shall be paid to ensuring that it contributes fully to furthering the horizontal policies of the Community, in particular by: (i) enhancing the European knowledge-based economy and society and contributing to creating more jobs in line with the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy; (ii) fostering culture, knowledge and skills for peaceful and sustainable development in a Europe of diversity; (iii) promoting an awareness of the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity within Europe, as well as of the need to combat racism and xenophobia; (iv) making provision for students with special needs; (v) promoting equality between men and women and contributing to combating all forms of discrimination ; (vi) promoting the development of third countries.

Note that, in its evaluation of the programme, the Commission should pay particular attention to its potential brain drain effects (particularly for participants from developing countries).

Arrangements for implementation : details of the arrangements for the implementation of the programme are also set out in the Decision, as well as:

the persons and bodies eligible; the tasks of the Commission and of the Member States; the arrangements for the implementation of the programme (in particular, the means of funding through other relevant Community programmes); the terms for the participation of third countries in the programme: ERASMUS MUNDUS shall be open to the participation of EFTA countries which are members of the EEA, the candidate countries which have a pre-accession strategy, the countries of the Western Balkans and Switzerland; the terms for monitoring and evaluating the programme.

Consistency and complementarity : the Commission shall ensure overall consistency and complementarity with other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions, in particular with the Lifelong Learning Programme, the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, development policy, external cooperation programmes, the ACP Association Agreements and the European Fund for the Integration of third country nationals.

Reports : the Commission shall submit (i) an interim evaluation report on the results achieved and on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of the programme by 31 March of the second year following the actual start of the new courses set up under the programme; (ii) a communication on the continuation of the programme by 30 January 2012; (iii) an ex post evaluation report by 31 December 2015.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20/12/2008. Transitional provisions are provided for to ensure consistent follow-up of activities initiated during the first phase of ERASMUS MUNDUS.

The European Parliament adopted, by 623 votes to 56 with 5 abstentions, a legislative resolution amending the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2009-2013). The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Marielle DE SARNEZ (ALDE, FR), on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education.

The amendments were the result of a compromise between Parliament and Council.

The main amendments - adopted under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure - were as follows:

Academic excellence and geographical representation : the programme should be implemented in line with the objectives for academic excellence while taking into account a geographical representation of beneficiaries that is as balanced as possible.

Information : the Commission must ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on activities and developments in the programme, mainly through the Erasmus Mundus website. It must keep its delegations in the third countries concerned regularly informed of all useful public information on the Erasmus Mundus programme.

Programme actions : these are clarified as follows :

Action 1: Erasmus Mundus joint programmes (masters and doctorates) of outstanding academic quality, including a scholarship scheme; Action 2: Erasmus Mundus partnerships between European and third-country higher education institutions as a basis for structural co-operation, exchange and mobility at all levels of higher education, including a system of scholarships; Action 3: promotion of European higher education through measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination and a centre of excellence at world level.

Details of these actions are set out in the Annex. The excellence objectives will be pursued through Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes (Action 1) and Action 2, while the development objectives will be covered exclusively by Action 2.

Funding : the financial framework for the implementation of Actions 1 and 3 of the programme and related technical support measures for the 2009-2013 period is set at EUR 493 690 000. The financial framework for the implementation of Action 2 and technical support measures related to those is set in accordance with the rules, procedures and objectives laid down in Regulations (EC) No 1085/2006, 1638/2006, 1905/2006 (DCI) and 1934/2006 and Decisions 599/2005/EC and 608/2006/EC (Decision No 1/2006 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers).

For the purpose of the programme, and in conformity with the legal base from which the funding is derived, Erasmus Mundus partnerships (Action 2) will organise exchanges of students, selected on the basis of academic excellence at all levels of higher education (from bachelor students to postdoctoral researchers). Parliament did not stipulate that under DCI funding or the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, actions shall only benefit institutions, academics or other persons from developing countries.

Visas: a new recital states that in order to ensure that the beneficiaries of the programme enjoy a high quality welcome and stay, the Member States should endeavour to simplify their visa procedures. The Commission should ensure that all the Member States' relevant websites and useful information concerning contact persons is available on the Erasmus Mundus site. In addition, Parliament specified that Member States must take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of the programme at Member State level, including endeavours to adopt such measures as may be deemed appropriate to remove all legal and administrative barriers linked specifically to exchange programmes between European countries and third countries.

Non-discrimination : Parliament's text gives instances of the types of approaches which may be used. These include enhanced support for mobility of people in the field of higher education selected on the basis of academic excellence, particularly from third countries to the Community, taking into account the principles of gender equality and the wish to have a geographic representation that is as balanced as possible, while facilitating access in accordance with the principle of equal opportunities and non-discrimination. Horizontal issues stress the promotion of equal opportunities for all.

Implementing measures : all measures necessary for the implementation of Action 2 shall be governed by the procedures set out in Regulations (EC) No 1085/2006, 1638/2006, 1905/2006 and 1934/2006 and Decisions (EC) No 599/2005 and 608/2006 (Decision No 1/2006 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers). Other measures necessary for the implementation of the programme and of the other actions of the Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the management procedure in accordance with the principles, general guidelines and selection criteria laid down in the Annex. Parliament did not specify that implementing measures be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny.

Tuition fees : establishments shall be free to decide whether or not to establish tuition fees, in accordance with their national legislation and the agreement concluded between partners. The Commission's proposal had stated that the programmes shall establish a joint tuition fee regardless of the actual place of study of the students within the masters' programme.

Brain drain : Erasmus Mundus partnerships, in the case of measures funded under Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 or the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement must encourage nationals of third countries to return to their countries of origin on the expiry of their periods of study or research to allow them to contribute to the economic development and welfare of those countries. Parliament did not insert an element of compulsion. In its evaluation of the programme, the Commission should pay particular attention to its potential brain-drain effects.

Language requirements : Parliament accepted the Commission's approach and the text now states that, without prejudice to the language of instruction, programmes provide for the use of at least two European languages spoken in the Member States where the higher education institutions involved in the programme is situated and, as appropriate, offer language preparation and assistance for students.

Scholarships : in order to make the programme more attractive for third country nationals, the amount of the full-study scholarships will be higher for third-country master students and doctoral candidates (Category A scholarships) than for European master students and doctoral candidates (Category B scholarships).

The Committee on Culture and Education adopted a report drafted by Marielle DE SARNEZ (ALDE, FR) and made several amendments to the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2009-2013). The main amendments, recommended in first reading of codecision procedure, are as follows :

Academic excellence and geographical representation : the programme should strive to achieve a regional balance in the support provided for partnerships with third countries, as provided for in the Annex. The programme should enhance support for the mobility of people in the field of higher education selected on the basis of academic excellence, particularly from third countries to the Community, while respecting the principles of gender equality and a balanced geographical representation and taking into account the specific needs of disadvantaged or disabled people.

Programme actions : these are clarified as follows :

Action 1: Erasmus Mundus joint programmes (masters and doctorates) of outstanding academic quality, including a scholarship scheme. Action 1 is intended mainly for students from third countries; Action 2: Erasmus Mundus partnerships between European and third-country higher education institutions as a basis for structural co-operation, exchange and mobility, including a scholarship scheme. Action 2 is intended mainly for students from third countries. However, in the interests of mutual enrichment, mobility should also take a smaller proportion of European nationals to third countries. Action 3: promotion of European higher education through measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination and a centre of excellence at world level.

Language skills : the programme must promote language skills, providing students with the possibility of learning at least two of the languages spoken in the countries in which the higher education institutions are situated.

Funding: the financial framework for the implementation of Actions 1 and 3 of the programme and related technical support measures for the 2009-2013 period is set at EUR 493.69 million. The financial framework for the implementation of Action 2 and related technical support measures should allow for the mobility of a maximum number of students from third countries selected on the basis of academic excellence in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in the external cooperation and development instruments.

Members stipulate that for actions funded under Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 (DCI), the objectives shall be limited to those in conformity with that Regulation, particularly Article 2(4). This ensures that DCI funding cannot be used for objectives incompatible with DCI, especially any objectives or actions which do not fulfil the DCI provision requiring 100% of geographical programme funding to meet the OECD/DAC requirements for classification as ODA. The measures relating to Action 2 within the framework of partnerships shall be implemented in accordance with the rules established by the EDF, DCI, ENPI, IPA and ICI legal instruments. However, in the case of measures funded under Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 (DCI) or the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, actions shall only benefit institutions, academics or other persons from developing countries.

Tuition fees: the Erasmus Mundus master programmes shall be free to decide whether or not to establish tuition fees, in accordance with their national legislation and the agreement concluded in each consortium. The Commission's proposal had stated that the programmes shall establish a joint tuition fee regardless of the actual place of study of the students within the masters' programme. The committee felt it essential that the fees demanded do not de facto exclude nationals of countries such as Denmark where tuition fees do not exist or are illegal. These tuition fees should be identical for all students.

The selection board must also ensure that the tuition fees proposed do not exceed certain thresholds based on the average of the tuition fees applied across the Member States.

The Commission must make sure, when determining the flat-rate amounts for the scholarships , to take into consideration the level of tuition fees, the estimated expenditure for the studies and costs relating to the student's stay in the destination country.

Visas: the students selected should be informed of their study destination at least 6 months prior to their departure, so that they can take the necessary steps to obtain their visa within a reasonable time limit. Furthermore, a new recital states that in order to ensure that the beneficiaries of the programme enjoy a high quality welcome and stay, administrative formalities should be eased and the Member States should be encouraged to look into the introduction of a specific visa for beneficiaries of the Erasmus Mundus programme as part of the Regulation establishing a Community Code on visas currently under consideration.

Brain drain : the committee's text stresses the obligation for students to return to their country of origin, as the programme should on no account allow a brain drain from third countries.

Partnerships between universities and private firms : the programme should support public-private partnerships between universities and enterprises, with a view to fostering excellence in research, producing innovations in both sciences and humanities and achieving the innovation objectives. The Commission must ensure that the communication strategy aimed at potentially interested European parties is intensified, and partnerships between universities, the social partners and non-governmental organisations are encouraged, with a view to developing the programme.

Information portal : the Commission shall ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on activities and developments in the programme, mainly through the Erasmus Mundus information portal. It shall keep its delegations in the third countries concerned regularly informed of all useful public information on the Erasmus Mundus programme.

Comitology : the general guidelines for implementation of the programme and the selection criteria will be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. A new clause states that the Commission shall consult the European Parliament in line with the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management and Decision 1999/468/EC, in particular Article 8 thereof. The committee recalls that the agreement on the new external assistance instruments (ENPI, the Instrument for Stability - IfS, and IPA) grants the European Parliament increased scrutiny over the implementation of Community assistance. The consultation process with Parliament will operate in parallel with Parliament's rights under Council Decision 1999/468/EC and in particular of Article 8, which provides that the Parliament may pass a resolution to the effect that the Commission has exceeded the implementation powers conferred on it.

Reports : the Commission must report on the geographical distribution of funding by actions for all participating countries, providing also an assessment of the efficiency of the implementation of actions judged against programme priorities.

The Commission must present an interim evaluation report that includes gender-disaggregated data , on the results achieved and on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of the programme by 31 March 2011 (rather than 2012). It must present a communication on the continuation of the programme by 30 January (rather than June) 2012.

Evaluation : the Commission's evaluation must take account of the socio-economic background of the people concerned (both participants in the Erasmus Mundus masters courses and recipients of grants) and of potential brain-drain effects (e.g. by means of a survey carried out through the alumni network).

For actions funded under Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006, evaluation shall include follow-up with the nationals of developing countries following expiry of their periods of study or research in the Union and shall assess their subsequent contribution to the economic or social development of their country of origin.

CONTENT: to establish an action programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries ( Erasmus Mundus ) (2009-2013).

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: the current Erasmus Mundus programme (2004-2008) was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 5 December 2003 (Decision No. 2317/2003/EC). Its External Cooperation Window is based on various Council regulations, the revised Cotonou Agreement and the Internal Agreement for the period 2008 to 2013, which are the funding instruments in the field of external co-operation with specific world regions.

In the first three academic years (2004-2006), more than 2 300 students have participated in the programme and over 1 800 have just been selected to start their studies in Europe in September this year. The new Erasmus Mundus II programme builds on this by aiming to become the EU reference programme for cooperation with third countries in this area. Over a period of five years, just over EUR 950 million will be available for European and third-country universities to join forces in joint programmes or collaborative partnerships, and to grant scholarships to European and third-country students for an international study experience.

The current Erasmus Mundus programme comes to an end in 2008. According to the programme Decision, the Commission has to submit a communication on the continuation of the programme by 31 December 2007.

It is proposed that the second phase of the Erasmus Mundus programme (2009-2013) would continue the activities of the first Erasmus Mundus programme, incorporate its External Cooperation Window more directly, extend its scope to all levels of higher education, improve funding opportunities for European students and offer enhanced possibilities for co-operation with higher education institutions (HEIs) located in third countries.

CONTENT: this new proposal builds on the conclusions of an external interim evaluation of the current programme, an ex-ante impact assessment of the proposed new programme, and a broad consultation of the main stakeholders, including universities, teaching staff and students.

The overall aim of the new Erasmus Mundus programme is to enhance the quality of European higher education, to promote dialogue between and understanding for different societies and cultures through co-operation among higher education institutions and people-to-people contacts, as well as to promote EU external policy objectives and contribute to the sustainable development of third countries in the field of higher education. In that sense this proposal represents a new approach and has a wider scope in terms of policy, objectives and types of activities than the current Erasmus Mundus programme.

- Action 1 (joint programmes including scholarships) provides support for high-quality joint master and doctoral programmes offered by a group of European and possibly third-country higher education institutions. It also provides full-study scholarships to the most talented European and third-country students to follow these joint programmes, and short-term scholarships to European and third-country academics of outstanding quality to carry out research or teaching assignments as part of the joint programmes. This Action will foster co-operation between higher education institutions and academic staff in Europe and third countries with a view to creating poles of excellence and providing highly trained human resources.

- Action 2 (partnerships with third-country higher education institutions including scholarships) provides support for broad co-operative partnerships between European and third-country higher education institutions as a basis for structural co-operation in order to facilitate transfer of know-how to third-country institutions and for short- or long-term exchange of students and academics at all levels of higher education with a view to developing human resources and the international co-operation capacity of higher education institutions in third countries in line with the EU external policy with the countries concerned. It is an external cooperation action benefiting all partners involved and avoiding brain drain. It is thus fully in line with EU external policy towards the partner countries concerned with the objective of promoting their sustainable development.

- Action 3 (enhancing the attractiveness of European higher education) provides support to transnational initiatives, studies, projects, events and other activities aiming at enhancing the attractiveness, accessibility, profile and visibility of European higher education in the world.

The programme's overall aim is to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures through cooperation with third countries as well as to promote EU external policy objectives and the sustainable development of third countries in the field of higher education.

The programme's specific objectives are:

a) to foster structured cooperation between higher education institutions and academic staff in Europe and third countries with a view to creating centres of excellence and providing highly trained human resources;

b) to contribute to the mutual enrichment of societies by developing a pool of well-qualified, open-minded and internationally experienced women/men through promoting mobility for the most talented students and academics from third countries to obtain qualifications and/or experience in the European Union and for the most talented European students and academics towards third countries;

c) to contribute towards the development of human resources and the international cooperation capacity of higher education institutions in third countries through increased mobility streams between the European Union and third countries;

d) to improve accessibility and enhance the profile and visibility of European higher education in the world as well as its attractiveness for third-country nationals.

The Commission shall ensure that no group of EU citizens or third-country nationals is excluded or disadvantaged.

The objectives of the programme shall be pursued by means of the following actions:

a) Erasmus Mundus joint masters programmes and joint doctoral programmes of outstanding academic quality, including a scholarship scheme;

b) partnerships between European and third-country higher education institutions as a basis for structural co-operation, exchange and mobility at all levels of higher education;

c) measures enhancing the attractiveness of Europe as an educational destination.

As regards the budgetary implications , the overall budget for the entire programming period (2009-2013) for Action 1 and Action 3 (joint masters and doctoral programmes, including scholarships, and attractiveness projects) amounts to EUR 493.69 million. Action 2 (co-operative partnerships with HEIs in specific third countries, including mobility) is funded through external co-operation instruments according to the rules and procedures provided by these instruments. The Commission will endeavour to devote for the entire programming period (2009-2013) a global indicative amount of up to EUR 460 million for Action 2 of Erasmus Mundus II. The indicative contributions from the different external instruments and the European Development Fund are as follows:

- ENPI: EUR 140 million;

- DCI: EUR 240 million;

- ICI: EUR 20 million;

- IPA: EUR 30 million;

- 10th EDF: EUR 30 million.

Detailed programming and yearly allocations for each envelop contributing to the global indicative amount of EUR 460 million will be established at a later stage according to the rules and procedures of each instrument and the European Development Fund, but not later than 1st July 2008 for the period 2009-2010 and 1 st July 2010 for the period 2011-2013.