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Proposals for new EU education, training and youth programmes from 2000

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the implementation of the new generation of programmes in the field of education (SOCRATES), training (LEONARDO DA VINCI) and youth. These new programmes would start on 1 January 2000 and run until 31 December 2004. For the im...

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the implementation of the new generation of programmes in the field of education (SOCRATES), training (LEONARDO DA VINCI) and youth. These new programmes would start on 1 January 2000 and run until 31 December 2004. For the implementation of these programmes the Commission proposes an overall budget of ECU 3,000 million of which ECU 1,400 million would go to the second phase of the SOCRATES programme, ECU 1,000 million would go to the second phase of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme, and ECU 600 million for the implementation of the Community Action Plan "Youth". This represents an overall increase of 60%, in comparison to the budget allocations for the present programmes. The proposal would involve a genuine reshaping of the current programmes and is characterized by a concentration of Community interventions around a limited number of objectives, as well as simplified operational procedures. In line with the communication "Towards a Europe of knowledge" and the recommendations contained in Agenda 2000, the focus of the proposal is on the necessity to ensure lifelong opportunities for every European citizen. The proposals aim to integrate three main objectives: - The promotion of employment, following the decisions of the European Council in Luxembourg, by developing competencies and skills; - To increase the potential of knowledge, in order to create the social and technical conditions for future European competitiveness; - To guarantee citizens access to a certain number of values, which enhance their feeling of belonging to a common social and cultural area.