European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2019/128 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It repeals and replaces Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 which, in 1975, established the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop).
It adapts the rules concerning Cedefop to take into account as far as possible its tripartite nature. It is governed by a board comprising representatives of:
- EU countries’ governments;
- employers and workers of EU countries — social partners; and
- the European Commission.

KEY POINTS

Objective

As one of the EU’s decentralised agencies, Cedefop’s objective is to support the Commission, other EU institutions and organisations, the EU countries and the social partners in promoting, developing and implementing EU policies in the field of vocational education and training, as well as skills and qualifications policies.

It seeks to meet this objective by:

enhancing and disseminating knowledge;
providing evidence and services for the purpose of policy making, including research-based conclusions; and
facilitating knowledge sharing among and between interested parties at EU and national levels.

Tasks

While fully respecting EU countries’ own responsibilities, Cedefop:

analyses trends in vocational education and training, skills and qualification policies and systems, and provides comparative analyses thereof across countries;
analyses labour market trends in relation to skills and qualifications, and vocational education and training;
analyses and contributes to developments related to the design and award of qualifications;
analyses and contributes to developments in the field of validation of non-formal and informal learning;
studies and researches relevant socio-economic developments and related policy issues;
provides forums for sharing experiences and information between the governments, the social partners and other stakeholders at national level;
contributes to the implementation of reforms and policies at national level;
disseminates information with a view to contributing to policies and to raising awareness and understanding of the potential of vocational education and training in promoting the employability of people, productivity and lifelong learning;
manages and makes available tools, datasets and services to citizens, companies, policy makers, the social partners and other stakeholders;
establishes a strategy for relations with non-EU countries and international organisations concerning matters for which it is competent.

Organisation

Cedefop, which is based in Berlin, Germany, has a Management Board, an Executive Board and an Executive Director.

Management Board

It comprises:

1 representative from each EU country;
1 representative of the employers’ organisation for each EU country;
1 representative of the employees’ organisation for each EU country;
3 members representing the Commission;
1 independent expert appointed by the European Parliament.

The Board’s main functions are to:

provide Cedefop’s strategic direction;
adopt Cedefop’s programming document;
adopt Cedefop’s budget;
adopt rules of procedure (including those of the Executive Board), financial rules, rules on preventing and managing conflicts of interest and an anti-fraud strategy;
appoint the Executive Director.

Executive Board

The Executive Board assists the Management Board by:

preparing its decisions;
monitoring any follow-up to findings and recommendations stemming from internal or external audit reports, and OLAF investigations;
advising the Executive Director in the implementing of Management Board decisions, in order to reinforce the supervision of administrative and budgetary management.

Executive Director

The Executive Director is responsible for:

Cedefop’s management and the implementation of Cedefop’s tasks and budget;
drawing up a draft programming document containing a multiannual and an annual work programme in line with Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 on the financial rules adopted by the EU’s agencies and bodies.

Work programmes

The draft programming document is submitted to the Management Board for its approval and then submitted to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council before 31 January each year.

The multiannual work programme sets out:

overall strategic programming, including objectives;
expected results and performance indicators;
resource programming including multiannual budget and staff.

The annual work programme must be consistent with the multiannual work programme and comprises:

detailed objectives and expected results, including performance indicators;
a description of the actions to be financed, including planned measures to increase efficiency;
an indication of the financial and human resources allocated to each action;
possible actions for relations with non-EU countries and international organisations.

Both programmes must avoid overlaps with work carried out by other EU agencies. Cedefop coordinates closely with 2 other tripartite agencies: the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and the European Foundation for Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound). It also works closely with the European Training Foundation.

Budget

Estimates of all revenue and expenditure for Cedefop must be prepared each financial year and shown in Cedefop’s budget. The budget must be balanced in terms of revenue and of expenditure.

Its revenue side comprises:
- a contribution from the EU’s general budget;
- voluntary financial contributions from EU countries;
- charges for publications and any service provided by Cedefop;
- any contribution from non-EU countries involved in Cedefop’s work.
Its expenditure side includes:
- staff remuneration;
- administrative and infrastructure expenses; and
- operational expenditure.

Evaluation

By 21 February 2024, and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission must ensure that an evaluation is carried out to assess Cedefop’s performance in relation to its objectives, mandate and tasks.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 20 February 2019.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

About Cedefop (Cedefop)
European credit system for vocational education and training (ECVET) (Cedefop)
Europass (Cedefop).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2019/128 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 (OJ L 30, 31.1.2019, pp. 90-105)