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RS 0.414.91 Agreement of 9 October 1991 between the Swiss Confederation and the European Economic Community establishing cooperation in the field of education and training under the ERASMUS programme (with annexes)

Original Language Title: RS 0.414.91 Accord du 9 octobre 1991 entre la Confédération suisse et la Communauté économique européenne instituant une coopération en matière d’éducation et de formation dans le cadre du programme ERASMUS (avec annexes)

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0.414.91

Original text

Agreement

Between the Swiss Confederation and the European Economic Community establishing cooperation in the field of education and training under the ERASMUS programme

Conclu October 9, 1991
Entered into force by exchange of notes on 1 Er November 1991

The Swiss Confederation, hereinafter referred to as "Switzerland", and the European Economic Community, hereinafter referred to as "the Community",

Hereinafter referred to as "Contracting Parties",

Whereas the Community has adopted the Community action programme on student mobility, hereinafter referred to as 'ERASMUS';

Having regard to the mutual interest of the contracting parties to cooperate in this field, within the framework of the wider cooperation between the Community and the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in the field of education and training Professional in order to contribute to dynamic and homogeneous development in this field;

Whereas, in particular, cooperation between the Community and Switzerland with a view to pursuing the objectives set for ERASMUS, in the context of a network of inter-university cooperation involving the Community and the EFTA countries in They will enrich the impact of ERASMUS actions and thus strengthen the level of qualification of human resources in the Community and Switzerland;

Whereas the Contracting Parties hope, therefore, to derive a mutual benefit from the participation of Switzerland in ERASMUS;

Whereas fruitful cooperation in this field implies a general commitment by both parties to make complementary efforts to boost student mobility,

Agreed to the following provisions:

Art. 1

Cooperation shall be established between the Community and Switzerland in the field of inter-university cooperation and mobility in the context of the implementation of ERASMUS. The actions of the ERASMUS programme are set out in Annex 1.

Art. 2

For the purposes of the agreement, the term 'university' shall cover all types of post-secondary education and training institutions which confer, where appropriate, in the context of advanced training, qualifications or qualifications of that level, which Their respective names in the Contracting Parties.

Students enrolled in these institutions, irrespective of the field of study, may apply for assistance under the ERASMUS programme up to the doctoral level included, provided that the period of study conducted in The host university, compatible with the curriculum of the university of origin, is integrated into the vocational training of the student.

The ERASMUS programme does not cover research and technological development activities.

Art. 3

Except as otherwise provided in this Article, references to the Member States of the Community set out in Annex 1 to this Agreement shall also cover Switzerland for the purposes of this Agreement.

As regards the various ERASMUS actions, the participation of the universities of Switzerland in ERASMUS activities shall be subject to the specific conditions and rules laid down in this Article.

Action 1: Establishment and operation of a European university network

2. Action 2: ERASMUS programme of scholarships for students

Action 3: Measures to promote mobility through the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study

4. Action 4: Complementary measures to promote mobility of students in the Community

The content and objectives of this Action are those set out in Action 4 of Annex I to this Agreement.

The institutions and bodies concerned of Switzerland may take part in the measures in the framework of this action and shall benefit from them on the same basis and under the same conditions as the institutions and similar bodies of the Member States of The Community.

Art. 4

Switzerland shall make an annual contribution to the financing of the ERASMUS programme, beginning in the calendar year following the entry into force of this Agreement up to and including the calendar year in which the last school year begins Application of this Agreement.

This annual financial contribution from Switzerland shall be established in proportion to the total annual budget devoted to the ERASMUS programme.

3. The distribution key governing the contribution of Switzerland shall be determined by the ratio of its gross domestic product (GDP) to market prices and the sum of the gross domestic products at market prices of the Member States of the Community and of Switzerland. This report is calculated annually on the basis of the latest statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

At the beginning of each year, the Commission shall inform Switzerland of the amount of the appropriations available to the Community budget for this year in respect of the ERASMUS programme. Changes in this amount during the year shall be communicated to Switzerland by the Community.

5. In addition to the annual contribution referred to in s. 1, Switzerland shall, at the latest on the entry into force of this Agreement, pay an initial contribution of ECU 131 900 to cover the costs of the previous preparatory work carried out by the Commission in connection with the implementation of the Agreement.

6. The rules governing Switzerland's financial contribution to the development of the ERASMUS programme are set out in Annex II to this Agreement,

Art. 5

Subject to the special requirements of Art. 4 of this Agreement concerning the participation of the universities of Switzerland, the terms and conditions for the submission and evaluation of applications and the terms and conditions for awarding and concluding contracts under the ERASMUS programme shall be those and Those applicable to Community universities.

Art. 6

1. A Joint Committee shall be established.

2. The Committee shall be responsible for the implementation of this Agreement.

The Community delegation shall take appropriate measures to ensure coordination between the implementation of this Agreement and the decisions taken by the Community for the implementation of ERASMUS.

4. For the purposes of the proper implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall exchange information and, at the request of either, shall consult within the Committee.

5. The Committee may issue opinions and develop guidelines for the implementation of the ERASMUS programme with regard to the participation of Switzerland.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

The Committee shall consist of representatives of the Community, of the one part, and representatives of Switzerland, of the other part.

8. The Committee acts by mutual agreement.

The Committee shall meet, at the request of either Contracting Party, in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules of procedure.

Art. 7

Decisions concerning the selection of projects described in Annex I (Actions 1, 3 and 4) shall be taken by the Commission of the European Communities.

Decisions concerning the allocation of ERASMUS scholarships to exchange students of Swiss universities (action 2) are taken by the competent authorities of Switzerland in close cooperation with the participating universities. Guidelines will be provided for this purpose to the competent authorities referred to above by the Commission of the European Communities.

Art. 8

The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to facilitate the freedom of movement and residence of students, teachers and officials of universities travelling between Switzerland and the Community for the purpose of participating in covered activities By this Agreement.

Art.

In order to assist in the preparation of its annual report on ERASMUS and a report on the experience gained in the application of the programme, Switzerland shall send to the Commission a contribution describing the national measures taken by the Commission. Switzerland in this respect. A copy of these reports shall be transmitted to Switzerland.

Art. 10

For the application procedure, the contracts, the reports to be submitted and the other administrative provisions concerning the ERASMUS programme, the languages used are the official languages of the Community.

Art. 11

This Agreement shall apply to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community is applicable and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty, on the one hand, and on the territory of the Swiss Confederation, of the other part.

Art. 12

This Agreement shall be concluded for a period covering the five school years following its entry into force; it may be renewed for another five-year period by mutual agreement between the Contracting Parties. A review of this Agreement shall take place before the end of the third school year following its entry into force.

2. If the Community carries out a review of the ERASMUS programme, this Agreement may be renegotiated or terminated. Switzerland shall be informed of the exact content of the revised programme within one week of its adoption by the Community. Within three months of the adoption of the decision by the Community, the Contracting Parties shall inform each other of their willingness to renegotiate or denounce the Agreement. In the event of denunciation, the practical arrangements applicable to the undertakings in progress shall be the subject of negotiations between the contracting parties.

3. Any Contracting Party may request at any time a revision of the Agreement. To this end, it shall send an application to the other Contracting Party. The Contracting Parties may give a mandate to the Joint Committee to examine the application and, where appropriate, to make recommendations, in particular with a view to the opening of negotiations.

Art. 13

This Agreement shall be approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with the procedures in force for each of them. Provided that the Contracting Parties have notified the completion of the necessary procedures to that effect, it shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following that notification. However, if the notification did not take place at the end of September of one year, the provisions of this Agreement shall not enter into force before the second school year following that notification.

Art. 14

This Agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in the German, French, Italian, English, Danish, Spanish, Greek, Dutch and Portuguese languages, all texts being equally authentic.

Done at Brussels, on 9 October, nine hundred and ninety-one.

Annex I

Action 1 Establishment and operation of a European university network

The Community will continue to develop the European university network established in the framework of the ERASMUS programme and aimed at stimulating student exchanges at Community level.

The European University Network will consist of universities which, within the framework of the ERASMUS programme, have concluded agreements and organise programmes for exchanges of students and teachers with universities in other Member States and Ensuring full recognition of the periods of study performed outside the university of origin.

The main objective of inter-university agreements is to give students of a university the opportunity to follow in at least one other Member State a period of fully recognised studies, as an integral part of their degree or Their academic qualification. Such joint programmes could include, if necessary, an integrated period of preparation in the foreign language, as well as cooperation between teachers and administrative staff with a view to preparing the necessary conditions for Exchange of students and mutual recognition of periods of study abroad. To the extent possible, preparation in a foreign language should begin in the country of origin before departure.

Priority will be given to programmes involving the completion of an integrated study period and fully recognised in another Member State. For each joint programme, each participating university will receive aid up to an annual ceiling of ECU 25 000 for a maximum period of three years, subject to periodic review.

2. Aid will also be granted for the exchange of teachers for the purposes of integrated teaching tasks in other Member States.

3. Support will also be granted for projects to develop joint studies programmes between universities in different Member States, in order to facilitate academic recognition and to contribute through an exchange of experience to the Innovation and course improvement processes at the community level.

4. In addition, aid of up to ECU 20 000 will be granted to universities which organise intensive short-term education programmes for students from several different Member States. This action will be complementary.

5. The Community will also provide assistance to teaching staff and administrators of universities to enable them to carry out visits to other Member States, to draw up integrated study programmes with universities Member States and to increase their mutual knowledge of aspects relating to the training of higher education systems in other Member States. Scholarships will also be awarded to allow teachers to give a series of specialised conferences in several member states.

Action 2 Student bursary system under the ERASMUS programme

The Community will continue to develop a system of direct financial assistance for students attending universities, as defined in Art. 1, para. 2 1 , who carry out a period of study in another Member State. In determining the overall expenditure relating to Actions 1 and 2 respectively, the Community shall take account of the number of students to be exchanged within the framework of the European University Network as it develops.

2. Student scholarships under the ERASMUS programme shall be managed by the competent authorities of the Member States. In view of the development of the European university network, a minimum amount of ECU 200 000 (equivalent to about 100 scholarships) will be allocated to each Member State; the balance will be allocated to the different Member States according to the total number of Member States. Students attending universities, as defined in s. 1, para. 2 2 , as well as the total number of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 in the different Member States, the average cost of travel between the country in which the university of the country of origin of the student is located and that of the host university and the difference Between the cost of living in the country of the university of origin of the student and that of the host university.

In addition, the Commission will take the necessary measures to ensure a balanced participation between the different disciplines, to take account of the demand for programmes and the flow of students and to address specific problems, In particular the financing of certain scholarships which, because of the structure of the exceptional programmes concerned, cannot be managed by national bodies. The share devoted to these measures may not exceed 5 % of the overall annual budget for student grants.

3. The competent authorities of the Member States responsible for granting scholarships shall grant scholarships up to a maximum of ECU 5 000 per student for a period of one year, subject to the following conditions:

(a)
The grants are intended to offset the additional costs due to mobility, i.e. travel expenses, the preparation required in a foreign language and the higher cost of living in the host country (including, where applicable, the Additional costs due to the expulsion of the student from the country of origin). They are not intended to cover all study costs abroad;
(b)
Priority will be given to students taking courses in the European University Network under Action 1, as well as to students participating in the Community credit transfer system European Commission (ECTS) for action 3. Scholarships may also be awarded to other students attending courses for which special arrangements are made outside the network in another Member State, provided that they fulfil the criteria Eligibility;
(c)
Scholarships will only be awarded in cases where the period of study completed in another Member State will be fully recognised by the student's university of origin. However, grants may be awarded on an exceptional basis in cases where the period of study to be performed in another Member State will be fully recognised by the university granting the diploma in that Member State, provided that this Arrangement forms part of an inter-university agreement funded under Action 1;
(d)
The host university will not impose registration fees on students from another Member State; if so, the scholars will continue to pay the fees to the university of their country;
(e)
Scholarships will be awarded for a significant period of academic studies completed in another Member State, ranging from three months to a full academic year or more than 12 months in the case of highly integrated programmes. Normally, they will not be granted for the first year of university education;
(f)
Scholarships or loans available to students in their own country will continue to be paid for in full during the period of study they perform at the host university and for which they receive a bursary under the ERASMUS programme.

Action 3 Measures to promote mobility through the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study

The Community shall, in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States, undertake the following measures to promote mobility through the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study carried out in another Member State:

1)
The promotion of the European Community credit transfer system (ECTS), on an experimental and voluntary basis, with a view to enabling the students who follow or have completed a teaching and training cycle To obtain credits for such training carried out in universities in other Member States. A limited number of annual grants of up to ECU 20 000 will be allocated to universities participating in the pilot scheme;
2)
Measures to promote the exchange of information at Community level on the recognition of diplomas obtained and the periods of study completed in another Member State, in particular through the further development of the Community network of national information centres on academic recognition of diplomas; annual grants of up to ECU 20 000 will be allocated to the centres in order to facilitate the exchange of information, in particular by means of A computerized data exchange system.

Action 4 Complementary measures to promote student mobility in the Community

The additional measures are intended to finance:

-
Aid granted to associations and consortia of universities, teachers, administrators and students, in particular with a view to raising awareness within the Community of initiatives taken in areas of training Specific,
-
Publications designed to raise awareness of opportunities to study and teach in other Member States or to draw attention to important achievements and innovative models in the field of university cooperation Within the Community,
-
Other initiatives aimed at promoting inter-university cooperation within the Community in the field of vocational training,
-
Measures to facilitate the dissemination of information on the ERASMUS programme,
-
The ERASMUS prices of the European Community intended to be awarded to students, teachers, universities or ERASMUS projects which have made a remarkable contribution to the development of inter-university cooperation in The Community.

2. The cost of the measures adopted under Action 4 shall not exceed 5 % of the annual appropriations provided for the ERASMUS programme.


1 Decision 87 /327/EEC, as amended by Decision 89 /663/EEC.
2 Decision 87 /327/EEC, as amended by Decision 89 /663/EEC.


Status November 5, 1999

Annex II

Financial rules

Art. 1

The current Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities shall apply, in particular for the management of appropriations.

Art. 2

At the beginning of each year or whenever the ERASMUS programme is the subject of a revision entailing an increase in the amount charged to the Community budget for its implementation, the Commission shall send to Switzerland a call for funds corresponding to its Contribution to costs under this Agreement.

This contribution shall be expressed in ecus and paid in ecus to a bank account of the Commission.

Switzerland shall pay its contribution to the annual costs under the agreement in accordance with the call for funds and no later than one month after the notification of the latter. Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall result in the payment of interest by Switzerland on the balance owing by the due date. The interest rate is that applied by the European Monetary Cooperation Fund (Fecom), for the month of maturity, to these operations in ecus 1 , plus 1.5 percentage points.


1 Rate published each month in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities.



RO 1992 924


Status November 5, 1999