COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 18 December 1990 on the comparability of vocational training qualifications (91/C 109/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Whereas Council Decision 85/368/EEC of 16 July 1985 on the comparability of vocational training qualifications between the Member States of the European Community (1) lays down the principles and procedures for expedited common action by the Member States and the Commission to establish the comparability of vocational training qualifications in the Community and improved information on the subject;

Whereas the Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights for Workers, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of 11 Member States at the European Council in Strasbourg on 9 December 1989, accords a particular importance to vocational training;

Whereas, in accordance with Article 2 (2) of Decision 85/368/EEC, work on the comparability of qualifications may use as a reference the structure of training levels drawn up by the Commission with the help of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training;

Whereas work on the comparability of qualifications for the various sectors of activity carried out with the assistance of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) has up to now concerned only some of the occupations pursued by skilled workers; whereas, consequently, work on the comparability of qualifications should be extended to the other occupations;

Whereas the need to expedite work on the comparability of qualifications requires the introduction of some measure of flexibility into Decision 85/368/EEC;

Whereas, with a view to the completion of the internal market, the preconditions for genuine freedom of movement for workers within the Community should be fulfilled as soon as possible,

1. (a) TAKES NOTE of the interim report submitted by the Commission on 12 June 1990 on the implementation of Decision 85/368/EEC;

(b)UNDERLINES the interest of information emerging from work on the comparability of qualifications, especially for the mobility of persons within the Community and for knowledge of national vocational training systems;

2.(a)CONSIDERS it necessary, after assessing the results of work on the comparability of qualifications and on such a basis, to decide, within three months, on the extension of work on the comparability of qualifications to the other occupations at all levels of vocational training which are involved most frequently in current instances of mobility, taking account of available national data and with the aid of the instruments already available at Community level, for example Eurostat, Sedoc and the European employment survey;

(b)CONSIDERS that in this context vocational training qualifications connected with technological innovation should be one of the priorities;

(c)WISHES:

- the Community descriptions of professional activities to reflect the practical job requirements expressed by the labour market,

-consideration to be given to the question of whether the essential differences of level and content existing between the Member States with regard to qualifications relating to the same professional activity, should be included in such descriptions;

3.(a)NOTES the need to improve the procedure laid down in Decision 85/368/EEC, with a view to encouraging more rapid progress in the work of collecting, analysing and publishing information on vocational qualifications by means of close cooperation between the Commission, the Member States and workers and employers;

(b)also NOTES the need to ensure that the work on the comparability of vocational qualifications is effective by making a sustained effort in the dissemination, exchange and utilization of information on the comparability of vocational qualifications, already established;

(c)CONSIDERS, in addition, that the Commission should, with the help of Cedefop, gradually bring into operation the database provided for in the second subparagraph of Article 3 of Decision 85/368/EEC, and a Community list of job profiles;

4.UNDERLINES the advisability of seeking ways and means of increasing the effectiveness of vocational training qualifications, while respecting the prerogatives of workers and employers;

5.(a)INVITES Member States to submit the first of the national reports provided for in Article 6 of Decision 85/368/EEC by 31 December 1991, incorporating any suggestions which they deem appropriate;

(b)INVITES the Commission to submit proposals taking account of this Resolution and of the national reports referred to in (a).

(1) OJ No L 199, 31. 7. 1985, p. 56.