Advisory Committee on Vocational Training

Established to assist the Commission in implementing a Community vocational training policy, the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training consists of three members per Member State, representing the interests of the national government, trade unions and employers' organisations respectively.

ACT

Council Decision 2004/223/EC of 26 February 2004 laying down the rules of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training.

SUMMARY

Over the 40 years since its creation, the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training has provided the Commission with opinions on vocational training issues, including Commission communications and other strategic documents, specific undertakings such as the establishment of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and the preparation, evaluation and optimisation of Community action programmes in the field of vocational training.

Taking account of the social, political and institutional changes which have taken place since the creation of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training, the new rules adopted require each Member State to provide three members: representing the interests of its government, trade unions and employers' organisations respectively. These representatives, appointed for a three-year term of office (renewable), meet within the Committee and form three interest groups.

The Committee is chaired by the Director-General in charge of vocational training at the Commission. It meets at least twice a year and delivers reasoned opinions, adopted by an absolute majority of the votes validly cast. The following persons may attend Committee meetings as observers: the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the Director of the European Training Foundation (or representatives), and interest group representatives from the member countries of the European Economic Area. The Commission provides secretarial services for the Committee.

Last updated: 02.05.2007