Council adopts common position of LEONARDO DA VINCI programme The Council of the European Union has adopted a Common Position with a view to adopting the Council Decision, establishing the second phase of the Community vocational training action programme LEONARDO DA VINCI. The programme will be implemented between 1 January 2000 and 31 ... The Council of the European Union has adopted a Common Position with a view to adopting the Council Decision, establishing the second phase of the Community vocational training action programme LEONARDO DA VINCI. The programme will be implemented between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2006. The aim of the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme is to contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by developing a European area of cooperation in the field of education and vocational training. It should support Member States' policies on life-long learning and the building up of the knowledge, skills and competence likely to foster active citizenship and employability. The Decision sets out the objectives of the programme, which says that it should aim to develop the quality, innovation and European dimension in vocational training systems and practices through transnational cooperation. These objectives should be pursued by means of the following measures: - Support for the transnational mobility of people undergoing vocational training, especially young people, and for those responsible for training; - Support for pilot projects based on transnational partnership designed to develop innovation and quality in vocational training; - Promotion of language competences, including less widely used and taught languages, and understanding of different cultures in the context of vocational training; - Support for the development of transnational cooperation networks facilitating exchange of experience and good practice; - The development and updating of reference material through support for surveys and analyses, comparable data, the observation and dissemination of good practices and the comprehensive exchange of information. The Decision also states that access to this programme shall be open to all public and/or private bodies and institutions involved in vocational training, and in particular: - Vocational training establishments, centres and bodies at all levels, including universities; - Research centres and bodies; - Undertakings, particularly SMEs and the craft industry, or public or private sector establishments, including those involved in vocational training; - Trade organisations, including chambers of commerce; - Social partners; - Local and regional bodies and organisations; - Non-profit-making organisations, voluntary bodies and NGOs. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2000 to 2006 will be 1,150 million euro. The Decision came into force on 22 February 1999.
