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Law No. 172 Of 2 October 1998

Original Language Title:  LEGE nr. 172 din 2 octombrie 1998

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LEGE no. 172 172 of 2 October 1998 on the ratification of the Convention on the recognition of attestations obtained in higher education in the states of the Europe region, adopted in Lisbon on 11 April 1997
ISSUER PARLIAMENT
Published in OFFICIAL MONITOR no. 382 382 of 7 October 1998



The Romanian Parliament adopts this law + Article UNIC The Convention on the Recognition of Attestations obtained in Higher Education in the States of the Region of Europe, adopted in Lisbon on 11 April 1997 under the aegis of the Council of Europe and UNESCO This law was adopted by the Senate at the meeting of May 11, 1998, in compliance with the provisions of art 74 74 para. (2) of the Romanian Constitution. p. SENATE PRESIDENT, CRISTIAN DUMITRESCU This law was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies at the meeting of September 3, 1998, in compliance with the provisions of 74 74 para. (2) of the Romanian Constitution. p. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES PRESIDENT, PAULA IVANESCU + Annex Council of Europe UNESCO CONVENTION on the recognition of attestations obtained in higher education in the states of the European region *) Lisbon, 1997 ------------ Note * *) Translation. The Parties to this Convention, aware that the right to education represents a human right, and higher education, contributing to the progress and flourishing of knowledge, represents a huge cultural and scientific good for both individuals and society, considering that higher education must play a vital role in promoting peace, mutual understanding and tolerance, and in forging mutual trust between people and peoples, considering that the great diversity of educational systems in the states of the region of Europe reflects the cultural, social, political, philosophical, religious and economic differences, a good price that must be fully respected, wishing to offer the peoples of these states the opportunity to fully benefit from this diversity by facilitating the access of the inhabitants of each state and students of the educational institutions of each party to the educational resources of the other parties shall, in particular, facilitate their efforts to continue their training or to conclude their periods of studies in the higher education institutions of the other parties, considering that the recognition of studies, certificates, diplomas and degrees, obtained in another country in the region of Europe, is an important step in promoting academic exchanges between the Parties, attaching great importance to the principle of institutional autonomy and being aware of the need to maintain and protect this principle, convinced that the correct recognition of attestations is an essential element of the right to education, as well as a liability of society, Having regard to the Council of Europe and UNESCO conventions on the recognition of university titles in Europe: -European Convention on the equivalence of diplomas allowing access to university institutions (ETS 15, 1953), as well as the Protocol thereto (ETS 49, 1964); -European Convention on the equivalence of periods of university studies (ETS 21, 1956); -European Convention on the Academic Recognition of University Qualifications (ETS 32, 1959); -Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Studies and Diplomas in the States of the Region of Europe (1979); -The European Convention on the general equivalence of the periods of university studies (ETS 138, 1990), Having regard also to the International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Grades in Higher Education in the Neighbouring Arab and European States with the Mediterranean Sea (1976), adopted at UNESCO, covering, partly, academic recognition in Europe, aware that the present Convention should also be taken into account in the context of the UNESCO Conventions and the International Recommendation concerning other regions of the world, as well as the need to improve the exchange of information between these regions, aware of the important changes that have taken place in higher education in the region of Europe after the adoption of these conventions, which have led to great diversity both within and between national higher education systems, as well as the need to adapt legal instruments and practices so as to reflect these new developments, conscious of the need to find common solutions to the concrete recognition problems in the states of the region of Europe, aware of the need to improve the current recognition procedures, which must become more transparent and better adapted to the current state of higher education in the states of the Europe region, confident in the beneficial effect of a convention drawn up and adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe and UNESCO, providing support for the future development of recognition procedures in the region of Europe, aware of the importance of creating permanent implementation mechanisms, aimed at ensuring the implementation of the principles and provisions of this Convention, have decided as follows: + Section I Definitions + Article 1 Under this Convention the terms listed shall read as follows: * access (to higher education)-the right of candidates who meet the conditions to register and to take an admission exam; * admission (in higher education institutions and programs)-the action or system allowing candidates who meet the conditions to continue their studies in higher education in certain institutions and/or within certain programs; * evaluation (institutions or programmes)-the process of establishing the educational quality of an institution or a higher education programme; * assessment (individual attestations)-assessment or evaluation in writing by a competent body of attestations obtained by a person abroad; * the competent authority for the recognition-body officially designated to take final decisions in matters concerning the recognition of attestations obtained abroad; * higher education-all types of cycles of studies or sets of cycles of studies, vocational training or post-secondary level research training, which are recognised by the competent authorities of a party as part of its higher education system; * institution of higher education-an institution which provides university-level studies, recognised by the competent authority of a party as belonging to its higher education system; * higher education programme-a cycle of studies, recognised by the competent authority of a party as part of its higher education system, at the end of which the graduate is awarded a higher education attestation; * the period of studies-any component of a higher education programme, which has been assessed and proven by acts and which, although not a complete study programme, offers the possibility of acquiring knowledge and a qualification. Attested: A. Attested university-any degree, diploma or other type of certificate, issued by a competent authority, certifying the successful conclusion of a higher education program. B. Attestations allowing access to higher education-any diploma or other type of certificate issued by a competent authority attesting the successful completion of an education programme and entitling its holder to be examined for admission to higher education (as defined by access). C. Recognition-official recognition by a competent authority of the value of an attestation issued by a foreign educational institution, in order to allow access to educational activities and/or employment. Requirements: A. General requirements-the conditions to be met, in all cases, in order to have access to higher education or to a certain level of education or to acquire a higher education attestation of a certain level. B. Special requirements-the conditions to be met, in addition to the general requirements, to be admitted to a certain higher education program or to acquire a certain higher education attestation in a specific field of study. + Section II Competent authorities + Article 2.1 1. If the central authorities of a party are empowered to carry out the recognition, that party shall be obliged to comply with the provisions of this Convention and to take the necessary measures to ensure the implementation of these provisions on its territory. If it is for the entities of a party to decide on the issues of recognition, the party must remit to one of the depositaries of the convention a short account of its constitutional situation or structure, in the moment of signature or when the act of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession is submitted or at any time thereafter. In such a situation, the competent authorities of the party's entities, designated to deal with such cases, shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the provisions of this Convention are implemented in their territory. 2. If it is within the competence of each institution of higher education or other entities to decide on recognition issues, each party, in accordance with its constitutional situation or structure, shall transmit the text of this conventions of these institutions or entities and will do everything possible to encourage its favorable reception and application of its provisions. 3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of the Parties in accordance with the following Articles of this Convention. + Article 2.2 When they sign or when they submit the act of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or at any time thereafter, each State, the Vatican or the European Community shall inform any of the depositaries of this Convention with look at the authorities that are competent to take different decisions on recognition cases. + Article 2.3 None of the provisions of this Convention shall be without prejudice to any other more favourable provision concerning the recognition of attestations issued in one of the Parties, contained in/or arising from an existing or future treaty to which the any signatory to this Convention is/or will become a party. + Section III Basic principles related to assessment of attestations + Article 3.1 1. Attestation holders issued by one of the parties shall be granted access, on the basis of a request to the competent institution, to the assessment of these attestations. 2. No discrimination shall be made between candidates on the grounds of sex, race, color, disability, language, religion, political or other opinions, national origin, ethnic or social, association with a national minority, property, lineage or other status or other reasons not related to the value of the attestation to be recognised. In order to ensure this right, each party undertakes to take the necessary measures to assess an application for recognition of attestations only on the basis of knowledge and qualifications acquired. + Article 3.2 Each Party shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the procedures and criteria used in the assessment and recognition of attestations are transparent, unitary and correct. + Article 3.3 1. The decisions on recognition will be taken on the basis of appropriate information on the attestations for which recognition is requested. 2. The liability for the provision of appropriate information lies primarily with the applicant, who will in good faith provide this information. 3 3. Notwithstanding the liability of the applicant, the institutions which issued the respective attestations are required to provide, at its request and within reasonable limits, information essential for use by the holder of his attestation of to the institution or competent authorities of the country in which recognition is sought. 4. The parties shall instruct or encourage, as necessary, all educational institutions in their educational system to satisfy any reasonable request for information necessary for the evaluation of attestations obtained at the respective institutions. 5. The responsibility for demonstrating that an application does not meet the essential requirements lies with the institution making the assessment. + Article 3.4 Each Party shall ensure, in order to facilitate the recognition of attestations, that adequate and correct information on its own education system has been provided. + Article 3.5 The recognition decisions shall be taken within a reasonable period of time specified by the authorities empowered to carry out the recognition and calculated from the moment when all the information on that case has been provided. If the recognition is not possible, the reasons for the refusal will be specified, giving information on the measures the applicant may take to obtain recognition later. If no recognition is made or any kind of judgment is made, the applicant will be able to make a return within a reasonable period of time. + Section IV Recognition of attestations allowing access to higher education + Article 4.1 Each Party shall recognise the attestations issued by the other Parties which meet the general requirements for access to higher education in those Parties in order to allow access to programmes belonging to its education system higher, provided that there are no substantial differences proven between the general access requirements of the part where the attestation has been obtained and the part where the recognition is sought. + Article 4.2 1. Similarly, it will be sufficient for a party to allow the holder of an attestation issued by one of the other parties to obtain an evaluation of that attestation, at the request of the holder. 2. Provisions of art. IV.1 will apply, mutatis mutandis, in such a case. + Article 4.3 If an attestation allows access only to certain types of institutions or higher education programs from the part where the attestation was obtained, each of the other parties will allow the holders of such attestations access to similar programmes in institutions belonging to their higher education systems, provided that there are no proven substantial differences between the access requirements of the part where the attestation was obtained and the part in which it is requested its recognition. + Article 4.4 Where admission to certain higher education programmes depends on the fulfilment of special requirements, in addition to the general order, the competent authorities of the interested party may impose the same additional requirements on holders of attestations obtained elsewhere or may assess whether applicants holding attestations obtained elsewhere meet the equivalent requirements. + Article 4.5 If in the part where a school graduation certificate has been obtained, it will allow access to higher education only in combination with additional attestation exams, the other parties may condition access to the fulfilment. these requirements or may provide an alternative for the fulfilment of such additional requirements within their own education systems. Any State, the Vatican or the European Community may, either at the time they sign or deposit the instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or at any time thereafter, inform any of the depositaries of this conventions that the provisions of this Article shall be used, nominating the parties to which they wish to apply this article, and the reasons for doing so. + Article 4.6 Without prejudice to the provisions of art. IV.1-IV.5, admission to a particular higher education institution or to a particular program within such an institution may be restrictive or selective. If admission to an institution and/or a higher education program is selective, admission procedures will be established so as to guarantee that the evaluation of foreign attestations is carried out in accordance with the principles of correctness and non-discrimination described in section III. + Article 4.7 Without prejudice to the provisions of art. IV.1-IV.5, admission to a particular higher education institution may be subject to proof by the applicant that he has mastered the language or languages used in the training process in that institution or other specifically designated languages. + Article 4.8 In parts where access to higher education takes place on the basis of non-traditional attestations, similar attestations obtained elsewhere will be assessed as non-traditional attestations obtained in the part where recognition is sought. + Article 4.9 For the purposes of admission to higher education programmes, each party may condition the recognition of attestations issued by foreign educational institutions operating within its territory of certain requirements of national law or of certain agreements agreed with the home side of such institutions. + Section V Recognition of study periods + Article 5.1 Each party will recognize the periods of studies concluded under a higher education program from a different part. This recognition will include those periods of studies carried out with a view to concluding a higher education programme in the part where recognition is sought, provided that there are no considerable differences proven between periods of studies concluded elsewhere and the part of the higher education programme which it would replace in the part where recognition is sought. + Article 5.2 In the same way, it will be sufficient for a party to allow a person, who has completed a period of studies in a higher education programme in another part, to obtain the evaluation of that period of studies (at the request of the person concerned). In this case, provisions of art. V. 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis. + Article 5.3 Each Party shall facilitate the recognition of periods of studies, in particular where: a) there was an earlier agreement between the higher education institution or the competent authority responsible for the period of relevant studies, on the one hand, and the higher education institution or the competent authority, responsible for the recognition required, on the other hand; and b) the higher education institution in which the period of studies was completed has issued a certificate or a copy of the university documents, stating that the student has successfully fulfilled the requirements established for the period of studies That. + Section VI Recognition of higher education attestations + Article 6.1 To the extent that a judgment on recognition is based on knowledge and skills certified by the higher education attestation, each party will recognise higher education attestations granted by another party, provided that it does not there are considerable differences proven between the attestation of which recognition is sought and the corresponding attestation on the part where recognition is sought. + Article 6.2 Similarly, it will be sufficient to allow the holder of a higher education attestation, issued in one of the parties, to obtain the evaluation of that attestation, at the request of the holder. In this case, provisions of art. VI.1 shall apply mutatis mutandis. + Article 6.3 Recognition in a part of a higher education attestation issued in another party will determine: a) access to postgraduate courses, including the relevant examinations and/or the preparation for the doctorate, under the same conditions that apply to the attested holders of the party in which recognition is requested; b) the use of a university title, in accordance with the laws and regulations that exist on the territory of the party or on a territory under the jurisdiction of that party in which recognition is sought. In addition, recognition may facilitate access to the labour market, in accordance with the laws and regulations existing in the territory of the Party or on a territory under the jurisdiction of that Party in which recognition is sought. + Article 6.4 The assessment by a part of a higher education attestation issued in another part may be carried out in the following forms: a) Recommendation for employment; b) recommendation to an educational institution, for the purpose of admission to its programs; c) recommendation to another competent authority for recognition. + Article 6.5 Any party may condition the recognition of higher education attestations issued by foreign educational institutions operating within its territory of certain national law requirements or certain agreements concluded with the origin of such institutions. + Section VII Recognition of attestations held by refugees, displaced persons and persons in refugee situation + Article 7 Each party will take all possible and fair measures within its education system, in accordance with its constitutional, legal and regulatory provisions, to develop the procedures necessary for a fair and rapid assessment of fulfilment by refugees, displaced persons and by persons in refugee situation, essential requirements for access to higher education, post-graduate education programmes or employment, even if the attestations obtained in a particular part cannot be probed with evidence. + Section VIII Information on the evaluation of institutions and higher education programmes + Article 8.1 Each Party shall be obliged to provide appropriate information about any type of institution belonging to its higher education system and of any programme offered by these institutions, enabling the authorities empowered to the other parties determine whether the quality of attestations issued by these institutions may be recognised in the part where the recognition is sought. Such information may include: a) in the case of parties having a system for the official evaluation of institutions and higher education programmes: information on the methods and results of such an assessment, as well as information on the quality standards of the to each type of higher education or programmes leading to a higher education attestation; b) in the case of parties which do not have a system for the official evaluation of higher education institutions and programmes: information on the recognition of the various attestations obtained in any higher education institution or within the framework of any higher education programme, which is part of the higher education systems of those parties. + Article 8.2 Each Party shall take the necessary measures to develop, bring up to date and provide the following information: a) a description of the different types of higher education institutions forming part of its higher education system, with all the characteristics of each type of institution; b) a list of recognized institutions (state and private), which are part of its higher education system, indicating their possibilities to grant different types of attestation, as well as the conditions to be met for have access to each type of institution and programme; c) a description of the higher education programmes; d) a list of educational institutions, located outside the territory of the Party, which it considers as belonging to its education system. + Section IX-a Information on recognition issues + Article 9.1 In order to facilitate the recognition of attestations regarding higher education, the Parties undertake to create transparent systems for the complete presentation of attestations obtained. + Article 9.2 1. Aware of the need for relevant, accurate and current information, each of the parties will create or maintain a national information center and announce on one of the convention's depositaries about its creation or any change occurred in relation to that centre. 2. In each of the parties, the national information centre shall: a) to facilitate access to official and accurate information on the higher education system and attestations issued in the country in which it is located; b) facilitate access to information on the higher education system and attestations which may be obtained elsewhere; c) to give recommendations or information on issues related to the recognition and evaluation of attestations, in accordance with national laws and regulations. 3. Each national information centre shall have at its disposal the means necessary for the performance of its tasks. + Article 9.3 The Parties shall support, through their information centres or other means, the use by higher education institutions of the Parties of the document entitled 'UNESCO/Council of Europe Diploma Supplement' or any other document of this Gender. + Section X Implementing mechanisms + Article 10.1 The following bodies are intended to supervise, promote and facilitate the implementation of this Convention: a) the Convention Committee on the recognition of attestations obtained in higher education in the states of the European region; b) The European Network of National Information Centres on Mobility and University Recognition (ENIC), created on the basis of the decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on 9 June 1994, and of the UNESCO Regional Committee for Europe, 18 June 1994. + Article 10.2 1. The Committee of the Convention on the recognition of attestations obtained in higher education in the states of the region of Europe, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, is hereby established. It will have in its composition a representative from each side. 2. In application of this Article, the period shall not apply to the European Community. 3. At the meetings of the committee may participate, as observers, the states mentioned in art. XI.1.1 and the Vatican, if they are not parties to this Convention, as well as the European Community and the President of the ENIC Network. They can also be invited as observers to the meetings of the committee and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, which work in the field of recognition of attestations in the states of the 4. The President of the UNESCO Regional Committee for the Application of the Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Studies and Diplomas in the States of the Region of Europe will also be invited, as an observer, to the committee meetings. 5. The Committee shall promote and supervise the implementation of the provisions of this Convention. To this end, he may adopt, with the majority vote of the parties, recommendations, statements, protocols and best practice models for the guidance of the parties ' empowered authorities in the application of the Convention as well as in the analysis requests for recognition of higher education attestations. Although the parties are not bound by these texts, they will endeavour to apply them, to make them known to the competent authorities and to promote them. The Committee shall take into account the opinion of the representatives of the ENIC Network before taking any different decisions. 6. The Committee will report to the relevant bodies of the Council of Europe and UNESCO. 7. The Committee will keep in touch with the UNESCO Regional Committees for the application of conventions on the recognition of studies, diplomas and university titles, adopted by UNESCO. 8. Most of the parties will constitute a quorum. 9. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. He will meet in ordinary sessions at least once every 3 years. The Committee shall meet for the first time no later than one year after the entry into force of this Convention. 10. The Secretariat of the Committee will be entrusted to both the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Director General of UNESCO + Article 10.3 1. Each Party shall designate as a member of the European Network of National Centers for Information on Mobility and University Recognition (ENIC), its national centre of information created or maintained according to art. IX.2. If there is or is created more national information centres on the territory of a party, according to art. IX.2, all of which will become members of the ENIC Network, but will only have one vote. 2. The ENIC Network (in its limited composition to the National Intelligence Centres of the Parties to this Convention) shall support the implementation of the provisions of this Convention by the national authorities. The ENIC network will meet at least once a year in plenary session. She will elect her president and executive office, in line with her own duties. 3. The Secretariat of the ENIC Network will be entrusted to both the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Director-General of UNESCO. 4. The Parties will cooperate, through the ENIC Network, with the national information centres of the other parties, allowing them, in particular, to collect all the information that is necessary for the activities aimed at recognizing and university mobility. + Section XI-a Final clauses + Article 11.1 1. This Convention shall be open for signature by: Member States of the Council of Europe; b) the Member States of the European UNESCO region c) any other signatory or contracting state or party to the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe and/or to the UNESCO Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Studies and Diplomas in the States of the Region of Europe (1979), which were invited to the diplomatic level conference aimed at the adoption of this Convention. 2. These states, as well as the Vatican may express their consent by: a) signature without reservation, in respect of ratification, consent or approval; b) signature, subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or c) accession. 3. The signing will take place in front of one of the depositaries. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession will be deposited with one of the depositaries. + Article 11.2 This Convention will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of one month from the expression of the consent of five States to be bound by the Convention, of which at least three States shall be members of the Council of Europe and/or of the European region For each of the other states, the convention will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of the one-month period from the date on which they gave their consent to be bound by the convention. + Article 11.3 1. After the entry into force of this Convention, any other state, outside those defined in art. XI.1, may require adherence to this Convention. Any request to this effect will be addressed to one of the depositaries, who will transmit it to the Contracting States at least 3 months before the meeting of the Convention Committee on the recognition of attestations obtained in higher education in European countries. The depositary will inform about this Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Executive Office of UNESCO. 2. The decision to invite a State which has expressed its wish to accede to the Convention shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the parties. 3. After the entry into force of this Convention, the European Community will be able to accede as a result of a request made by the Member States to one of the depositaries. In this case, provisions of art. XI.3.2. does not apply. 4. For any of the States applying to join or for the European Community, the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of one month after the deposit of the instrument of accession to one of the depositaries. + Article 11.4 1. Parties to this Convention, which are also parties to one or more of the following conventions: -European Convention on the equivalence of diplomas allowing access to university institutions (ETS 15, 1953), as well as the Protocol thereto (ETS 49, 1964); -European Convention on the equivalence of periods of university studies (ETS 21, 1956); -European Convention on the Academic Recognition of University Qualifications (ETS 32, 1959); -International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Grades in Higher Education in the Neighbouring Arab and European States with the Mediterranean (1976); -Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Studies and Diplomas in the States of the Region of Europe (1979); -The European Convention on the general equivalence of the periods of university studies (ETS 138, 1990), a) will apply the provisions of this Convention in their mutual relations; b) will continue to implement the above-named conventions to which they are parties in their relations with other states-parties to these conventions, but which are not parties to this Convention. 2 2. The Parties to this Convention undertake not to become parties to any of the Conventions referred to in paragraph 1, to which they are not already parties, except the International Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Grades of higher education in the neighbouring Arab and European states with the Mediterranean (1976). + Article 11.5 1. Any State may, at the time of signature or deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, specify the territory or territories on which this Convention will apply. 2. Any State may, at a later date, by a declaration addressed to one of the depositaries, extend the application of this Convention to any other territory specified in the declaration. For such a territory, the convention will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of the one-month period from the date of receipt by the depositary of such a declaration. 3. Any statement made on the basis of the two previous paragraphs, with regard to a territory, may be withdrawn by a notification addressed to one of the depositaries. The withdrawal will take effect on the first day of the month following the expiry of the deadline from the date of receipt of the notification by the + Article 11.6 1. Any Party may, at any time, denounce this Convention, by addressing a notification to one of the depositaries. 2. Denunciation shall take effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of 12 months from the date of receipt of the notification by the depositary. Such denunciations, however, will not affect the recognition decisions, previously taken, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention. 3. The cessation or suspension of this Convention, as a result of the violation by a part of a provision essential for the fulfilment of its purpose or object, must be made in accordance with international regulations. + Article 11.7 1. Any State, the Vatican or the European Community may declare, at the time of signature or deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, that it reserves the right not to apply, in part or in its entirety, one or more many of the following articles of this Convention: art. IV.8, art. V. 3, art. VI.3, art. VIII.2 and art. IX.3. No other reservation can be made. 2. Any Party, which has made a reservation in accordance with the preceding paragraph, may withdraw it, by addressing a notification to one of the depositaries. The withdrawal will take effect from the date on which the depositary received the notification. 3. A party that has made a reservation in connection with a provision of this Convention may not require another party to apply that provision; if the restriction is partial or conditional, it may nevertheless request the application of that provision. provisions to the extent that she accepted it herself. + Article 11.8 1 1. The draft amendments to this Convention may be adopted by the Convention Committee on the recognition of attestations obtained in higher education in the states of the region of Europe, by a majority of two thirds of the votes cast by the parties. Any draft amendment, adopted in this manner, will be introduced in a protocol of this Convention. The protocol will specify the ways in which it will enter into force, but in any case, it will require the consent of the parties to join it. 2. No amendments shall be allowed under Section III of this Convention, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1. 3. Any proposal for amendments shall be communicated to one of the depositaries, who shall forward it to the parties at least 3 months before the meeting of the committee. The depositary will also inform the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, as well as the Executive Office of UNESCO. + Article 11.9 1. The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, as well as the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization shall be the depositaries 2. The depository of any document, notification or communication shall notify the Parties to this Convention, as well as to other states of the Council of Europe and/or of the European UNESCO a) any signing; b) the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession; c) any entry into force of this Convention, in accordance with the provisions of art. XI.2 and XI.3.4; d) any reserve made under the provisions of art. XI.7, as well as any withdrawal of reserves formulated by virtue of art. XI.7; e) any denunciation of this Convention on the basis of art. XI.6; f) any declaration made in accordance with the provisions of art. II.1 or art. II.2; g) any declaration made in accordance with the provisions of art. IV.5; h) any request for accession made in accordance with the provisions of art. XI.3; i) any proposal made in accordance with the provisions of art. XI.8; j) any other document, notification or communication relating to this Convention. 3. The depositary receiving a communication or sending a notification in connection with the provisions of this Convention shall inform, immediately, of this fact, the other depositary. In consideration of the above, the undersigned, having full powers for this purpose, have signed this Convention. Concluded in Lisbon on 11 April 1997, in two copies, in English, French, Russian and Spanish, the four texts being equally authentic, one of which will be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe and the other in the archives of the Organization The United Nations for Education, Science and Culture. A certified copy will be sent to each of the states referred to in art. XI.1, as well as the Vatican, the European Community and the United Nations Secretariat. -------------