TITLE III - INTERNAL POLICIES AND ACTION
CHAPTER V - AREAS WHERE THE UNION MAY TAKE COORDINATING, COMPLEMENTARY OR SUPPORTING
ACTION
SECTION 5 - EDUCATION, YOUTH, SPORT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
ARTICLE III-282
1. The Union shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging
cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and complementing
their action. It shall fully respect the responsibility of the Member States
for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems and their
cultural and linguistic diversity.
The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while
taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary
activity and its social and educational function.
Union action shall be aimed at:
(a) developing the European dimension in education, particularly through the teaching and dissemination of the languages of the Member States;
(b) encouraging mobility of students and teachers, inter alia by encouraging the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study;
(c) promoting cooperation between educational establishments;
(d) developing exchanges of information and experience on issues common to the education systems of the Member States;
(e) encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socio-educational
instructors and encouraging the participation of young people in democratic
life in Europe;
(f) encouraging the development of distance education;
(g) developing the European dimension in sport, by promoting fairness and openness
in sporting competitions and cooperation between bodies responsible for sports,
and by protecting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen,
especially young sportsmen and sportswomen.
2. The Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries
and the competent international organisations in the field of education and
sport, in particular the Council of Europe.
3. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in
this Article:
(a) European laws or framework laws shall establish incentive measures, excluding
any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States. They shall
be adopted after consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic
and Social Committee;
(b) the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt recommendations.
ARTICLE III-283
1. The Union shall implement a vocational training policy which shall support and complement the action of the Member States, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content and organisation of vocational training.
Union action shall aim to:
(a) facilitate adaptation to industrial change, in particular through vocational
training and retraining;
(b) improve initial and continuing vocational training in order to facilitate
vocational integration and reintegration into the labour market;
(c) facilitate access to vocational training and encourage mobility of instructors
and trainees and particularly young people;
(d) stimulate cooperation on training between educational or training establishments
and firms;
(e) develop exchanges of information and experience on issues common to the
training systems of the Member States.
2. The Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries
and the competent international organisations in the sphere of vocational training.
3. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in this Article:
(a) European laws or framework laws shall establish the necessary measures,
excluding any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States.
They shall be adopted after consultation of the Committee of the Regions and
the Economic and Social Committee;
(b) the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt recommendations.