The Council of Europe’s contribution to the Bologna process

Reply to Written question | Doc. 12839 | 23 January 2012

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1131st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (18 January 2012) 2012 - First part-session

Reply to Written question

: Written question no. 606 (Doc. 12769)

Thesaurus

1. The Committee of Ministers recognises the important role played by the Council of Europe in the field of higher education and the quality of its expertise. It also gives the necessary attention to continued co‑operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union in the context of the Bologna Process and the establishment of a European Higher Education Area.

2. The reform of the intergovernmental structures is essential in order to rationalise the use of resources, give greater focus to our priorities and in this way strengthen the impact of the Organisation. In this context, the Ministers’ Deputies, in November 2011, set up the Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice (CDPPE). This committee’s main tasks include proposing “reforms of education systems and policies to further democratic competences and participation and to develop the European Higher Education Area”.

3. In this connection, governments are invited to designate two representatives, at the most senior level possible, to take part in the activities of this committee, representing (1) general education and (2) higher education, as considered appropriate by each State. They should be appointed by governments and by the competent body or bodies representing universities or other higher education institutions, in order to cover satisfactorily the general education and higher education sectors.