Green Paper: the obstacles to transnational mobility
1) OBJECTIVE
To analyse not only the legal and administrative obstacles but also the socio-economic, linguistic and practical difficulties which, in one way or another, hamper the transnational mobility of persons undergoing training, and to propose lines of action aimed at engendering debate with a view to finding solutions to the problems.
2) COMMUNITY MEASURE
Green Paper of 2 October 1996: Education - Training - Research: the obstacles to transnational mobility.
3) CONTENTS
The importance of transnational mobility is enshrined in the EC Treaty, whose Articles 126, 127 and 130g(d) state that it should be encouraged and should form an integral part of Community policy in the fields of education, training and research.
In spite of an unquestioned resolve to promote mobility and the numerous legal provisions adopted in connection with the single market, there are still obstacles to genuine freedom of movement for persons undergoing training and those working in the field.
The Green Paper takes into consideration nationals of a Member State of the European Community or the European Economic Area, as well as non-nationals who are legally resident in the Community on a permanent basis.
A. THE OBSTACLES TO MOBILITY
Students in vocational training are covered by Directive 93/96/EEC. They must meet the conditions laid down by the Directive, which are: to be enrolled in a recognised educational establishment for the principal purpose of following a vocational training course; to have sickness insurance cover; and to provide the competent authority, by means of a declaration or by some alternative means deemed at least equivalent, with evidence of sufficient resources to avoid becoming a burden on the host Member State.
However, a number of establishments are not "recognised" within the meaning of the Directive.
Because of their lack of specific legal status, trainees on industrial placements in another Member State, i.e. young people who are neither students nor workers/officially unemployed persons, encounter serious difficulties. If the period of training lasts for more than three months, they must apply for a residence permit, for which they must present, as appropriate, a certificate of paid employment or of enrolment in an educational or training establishment, together with evidence of adequate resources and sickness insurance cover, which may be difficult if they have ceased to be students and are on an unpaid placement.
The same problems arise in respect of voluntary workers, who have no specific status.
Each Member State applies its own rules to researchers in respect of social security contributions and direct taxation. This has a direct impact on the amount of funds actually directed into research and on the researcher's decision about where to move to, which may be overly influenced by financial rather than scientific considerations.
With regard to compulsory contributions, there is a risk of discrimination in circumstances where an individual is subject to the fiscal regime of one country and the social regime of another, since there may not necessarily be consistency between the two.
Furthermore, in view of the fact that bilateral agreements do not always exist and the countries concerned may interpret certain provisions differently, it can happen that persons engaged in training are taxed on their grants by both the country of origin and the host country.
Students are, without exception, exempt from taxation in the host country on sums received from abroad which are intended to cover their costs. However, the exemption does not apply to sums received from within the territory in which the person concerned is resident.
Regulation 1408/71 seeks to coordinate social security schemes without in any way affecting the freedom of Member States to determine their own systems. The underlying principle is that of "lex loci laboris", i.e. a person employed in the territory of a Member State is subject to the legislation of that State.
As the Regulation stands at present, students are covered only if they are insured under the social security scheme of a Member State as workers or as members of the family of a worker.
If a voluntary worker or a trainee is not insured under the social security scheme of a Member State as an employed or self-employed person or as a member of a worker's family, he or she does not fall within the scope of the Regulation.
For persons wishing to move to another country, social protection may sometimes prove inadequate.
For instance, unemployed persons taking up a transnational training or industrial placement will, in some Member States, lose the unemployed status which entitles them to social security cover and unemployment benefit.
Similarly, teachers and researchers who are members of a special scheme for civil servants are entitled to benefits in the country of the scheme to which they belong, but not in the host country.
Finally, current Community legislation on social security does not apply to third-country nationals who are legally resident in a Member State.
Outside the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) programme, which is based entirely on cooperation between universities, academic recognition, which falls within the competence of the Member States, is far from universal.
The situation is even more difficult in the field of vocational training where, even though the Commission has taken various initiatives to promote transparency and transnational recognition of vocational qualifications, recognition of training and placement periods accomplished in another Member State is still problematic.
This lack of recognition may mean that periods of training completed abroad have to be repeated and may be a barrier to finding work in the host country or upon returning home.
Where teachers are concerned, Directive 89/48/EEC introduced a general system for the recognition of diplomas. However, some Member States have not yet incorporated the Directive into their national law, or have done so only partially.
In addition, there is an element of indirect discrimination in that certain countries' legislation imposes disproportionate language requirements.
The territorially restricted nature of national grants constitutes a serious obstacle to "spontaneous" mobility in so far as it is difficult for students (with the exception of the Socrates programme), in most Member States, to transfer their grant in order to undertake a full course of study abroad.
A number of socio-economic obstacles are also pinpointed:
Differences in the organisation of Member States' schools and universities (structure of the academic year and examination periods not necessarily coinciding) cause problems for the mobility of pupils/students.
The fact that teachers/instructors are not replaced during their absence means that they must "catch up" with the subject matter on their return.
Lack of knowledge of a foreign language and of certain cultural aspects remain two of the main obstacles to mobility.
Practical obstacles, whether they arise before, during or after the stay, tend to discourage participants:
B. LINES OF ACTION
According specific status to trainees and voluntary workers:
Equal treatment for Community grant-aided research trainees:
Ensuring social protection for everyone benefiting from mobility as part of their training:
Creating a European area of qualifications:
Removing territorial restrictions on grants and national financing (as in the Community programmes).
Improving the situation of third-country nationals legally resident in the European Union with regard to training: adoption of common roles concerning their admission, grouped within a binding legal instrument.
Reducing the socio-economic obstacles:
Reducing linguistic and cultural obstacles:
Improving the information available and administrative practices:
Following the six-month consultation period during which the views of the individuals and bodies concerned will be sought (public authorities, social partners, various associations, education, training and research organisations, etc.), the Commission will draw up a summary report along with recommendations.
4) deadline for implementation of the legislation in the member states
Not applicable
5) date of entry into force (if different from the above)
6) references
Commission Green Paper COM(96) 462 finalNot published in the Official Journal
7) follow-up work
8) commission implementing measures