Council Decision of 26 April 1999 establishing the second phase of the Community vocational training action programme ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ (1999/382/EC)

1. Mobility U.K.

Support for transnational mobility projects for people undergoing vocational training, especially young people, and for trainers. U.K.

Community support will be provided for the following actions:

(a)

preparation and implementation of transnational placement projects for:

• people undergoing initial vocational training (placements of normally three weeks to nine months in vocational training institutions and undertakings; these placements form an integral part of the vocational training programme for the people concerned),

• students (placements of three to twelve months in undertakings),

• young workers and recent graduates (placements of two to twelve months in vocational training institutions and undertakings);

Whenever possible, these placements should involve the validation of skills and competences acquired during the placement, according to the practices of the country of origin.

These placements may also include projects which are part of ‘European pathways for work-linked vocational training and apprenticeship’ within the meaning of Decision 1999/51/EC(1).

The transnational placement projects for people undergoing vocational training which involve SMEs and craft industry as host bodies will receive special financial support under the conditions described below.

(b)

The organisation of transnational projects of exchanges

• between undertakings, on the one hand, and vocational training organisations or universities, on the other, targeting human resources managers in the business sector, and vocational training programme planners and managers, particularly trainers, and occupational guidance specialists,

• for trainers and mentors in the area of language competences (between the business sector, on the one hand, and the specialised language vocational training establishments, including universities, or vocational training bodies on the other).

Exchanges for these target groups will last between one week and a maximum of six weeks.

(c)

Study visits for those responsible for vocational training on the themes proposed by the Commission can be provided by the cedefop.

The transnational placement and exchange projects may last up to two years. For the implementation of placement and exchange projects, measures for specific help for disabled participants are to be elaborated by the Committee referred to in Article 7 of the Decision.

Funding U.K.

The Community's financial contribution to the transnational placement and exchange projects defined under this measure may not exceed EUR 5 000 per beneficiary for a placement or an exchange - the maximum amount of this contribution corresponding to the maximum duration indicated in (a) and (b). This maximum amount may be exceeded in the case of participants with a disability.

For this measure, the Commission will allocate to each Member State an annual global grant the amount of which will be defined in accordance with the procedures described in Annex II.

Up to 10 % of this allocation will be set aside, in accordance with procedures agreed upon with the management structure concerned to help:

• SME promoters submitting their first application to the programme. The sum may not exceed EUR 500 per promoter,

• all promoters preparing the target group mentioned under (a). The sum allowed for the pedagogic, cultural and linguistic preparation of that target group, may not exceed EUR 200 per placement of less than three months duration or EUR 500 per placement of more than three months duration, with a ceiling of EUR 25 000 per promoter.

This amount is on top of that set aside for the sending organisation for the management and monitoring of transnational placement projects.

Any unused part of this allocation may be redeployed by the management structure elsewhere within this measure. The reasons for the redeployment must be communicated to the Commission.

(1)

OJ L 17, 22.1.1999, p. 45.