Eurydice Network
Encyclopedia
The Eurydice Network is the Education Information Network in Europe. It consists of a coordinating European Unit and a series of national units; its aim is to provide policy makers in the European Union Member States with up-to-date and reliable information on which to base policy decisions in the Education field.
in 1980, following a request by the then European Community Ministers of Education in their resolutions of 1976.
In those early days of Education policy within the European Community
there was considerable suspicion among some Ministers of Education of what the European Commission
might do; their original action programme thus limited actions at European level to those that could not impinge on national sovereignty: this included the exchange of information and documentation. The Commission established the European Eurydice Unit directly; and following some years' negotiations, the network held its first meeting in 1980.
This structure has continued: the addition of more EU Member States with successive enlargements of the European Union
has in each case been preceded by participation of the new country within the Eurydice network. In addition, the European Economic Area
countries also participate. At the end of 2006 there were 35 'national' units in 31 countries. Swiss participation is expected in 2008, along with its participation in the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme.
The Eurydice European Unit's publications list may be downloaded here http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/eurydice/pdf/catalogue_2003/catalogue_2003_EN.pdf.
); in education, however, it had no legal competence, and the European Community Member States were at that stage keen that it should not acquire any. Secondly, a European Community Agency
– the "European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
", generally known by its French Acronym "CEDEFOP" already existed. In the early years of the Eurydice Network, many Ministries of Education had no responsibility for vocational training and those who did in were generally responsible only for initial vocational training (i.e., during the obligatory schooling period); so this separation of functions worked well: Eurydice dealt with Ministries of Education and CEDEFOP dealt with Ministries of Labour or Employment. However, with the development of policies towards Lifelong Learning it has become necessary for Eurydice, CEDEFOP and the European Training Foundation
to work more closely together, and there have been a number of joint publications.
supported the Eurydice Network through a grant to the European Cultural Foundation
. While this was administratively simple, it led to some confusion of roles and to questions about the identification of the network with the Commission and the European Community. The Commission therefore decided to incorporate the funding of the Eurydice network into its main education action programme. The network thus became an "action" of the SOCRATES programme
until 2006; as of 2007 it is an action of the EU's
Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013.
Origins
The Eurydice Network is the Education Information Network in Europe. It was established by the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in 1980, following a request by the then European Community Ministers of Education in their resolutions of 1976.
In those early days of Education policy within the European Community
Education in the European Union
In the European Union education is the responsibility of Member States; European Union institutions play a supporting role. According to Art. 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Community through actions such as promoting the mobility of citizens, designing joint study...
there was considerable suspicion among some Ministers of Education of what the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
might do; their original action programme thus limited actions at European level to those that could not impinge on national sovereignty: this included the exchange of information and documentation. The Commission established the European Eurydice Unit directly; and following some years' negotiations, the network held its first meeting in 1980.
Structure
The network consisted originally of a European Unit and one or more units set up by Education Ministries in each of the then 9 Member States. These national units were normally located within Ministries responsible for Education, although in some cases (e.g., England) they were outsourced to research or documentation bodies. In federal countries (such as Germany or Belgium) the more than one unit was needed to respond to the structure of education in the country: thus, in Germany one national Eurydice Unit was established inside the documentation service of the Federal Ministry for Education; and another in the Conference of State Ministers of Education, which brings together the Education Ministers of the federal states.This structure has continued: the addition of more EU Member States with successive enlargements of the European Union
Enlargement of the European Union
The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...
has in each case been preceded by participation of the new country within the Eurydice network. In addition, the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
countries also participate. At the end of 2006 there were 35 'national' units in 31 countries. Swiss participation is expected in 2008, along with its participation in the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme.
Areas of Work
The network, under the coordination of the European unit, works in a number of permanent fields as well as where requested by Education Ministers or the European Commission. Apart from preparing basic and readily comparable information on the education systems of participating countries, the network's areas include:- school measures for the children of migrants
- changes in the structure of higher education linked to the Bologna process
- the evaluation of schools
- the teaching profession
- key competencies in compulsory education
- information and communication technologies in education
- foreign language teaching in schools
- the contribution of education systems to lifelong learning
- the funding of schools
- financial support for students in higher education
- private education and the role of the public authorities
- reforms in higher education since 1980
The Eurydice European Unit's publications list may be downloaded here http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/eurydice/pdf/catalogue_2003/catalogue_2003_EN.pdf.
Coordination with other bodies
The Eurydice network was conceived as dealing solely with Education, excluding training. There were two reasons for this: first, the European Community had specific legal competence in the field of vocational training (cf Article 150 of the Treaty of RomeTreaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany...
); in education, however, it had no legal competence, and the European Community Member States were at that stage keen that it should not acquire any. Secondly, a European Community Agency
Agencies of the European Union
An agency of the European Union is a decentralised body of the European Union , which are distinct from the institutions. Agencies are established to accomplish specific tasks. Each agency has its own legal personality...
– the "European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training is an agency of the European Union.Established in 1975, Cedefop is located in Thessaloniki, Greece...
", generally known by its French Acronym "CEDEFOP" already existed. In the early years of the Eurydice Network, many Ministries of Education had no responsibility for vocational training and those who did in were generally responsible only for initial vocational training (i.e., during the obligatory schooling period); so this separation of functions worked well: Eurydice dealt with Ministries of Education and CEDEFOP dealt with Ministries of Labour or Employment. However, with the development of policies towards Lifelong Learning it has become necessary for Eurydice, CEDEFOP and the European Training Foundation
European Training Foundation
The European Training Foundation is an agency of the European Union. Established in 1990, operational since 1994, the European Training Foundation is located in Turin, Italy....
to work more closely together, and there have been a number of joint publications.
Funding
Initially the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
supported the Eurydice Network through a grant to the European Cultural Foundation
European Cultural Foundation
The European Cultural Foundation is an independent foundation based in the Netherlands that has been operating across Europe for nearly 60 years. The ECF supports arts and culture in Europe via its activities, programmes, grants and online platforms...
. While this was administratively simple, it led to some confusion of roles and to questions about the identification of the network with the Commission and the European Community. The Commission therefore decided to incorporate the funding of the Eurydice network into its main education action programme. The network thus became an "action" of the SOCRATES programme
Socrates programme
The SOCRATES programme was an educational initiative of the European Commission; 31 countries took part. The initial Socrates programme ran from 1994 until 31 December 1999 when it was replaced by the Socrates II programme on 24 January 2000, which ran until 2006...
until 2006; as of 2007 it is an action of the EU's
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013.