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

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 166(4) and Article 165(4),

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),

Whereas:

(1) The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 (3) to assist the Commission in encouraging, at Union level, the promotion and development of vocational training and of in-service training.

(2) Since it was established in 1975, Cedefop has played an important role in supporting the development of a common vocational education and training policy. At the same time, the concept and significance of vocational training has evolved under the influence of changing labour markets, technological developments, particularly in the digital area, and increasing labour mobility. Those factors add to the challenge of better matching competencies and qualifications with a constantly evolving demand. Vocational training policies have evolved accordingly and encompass a variety of instruments and initiatives, including those related to skills and qualifications and the validation of learning, which necessarily go beyond the traditional boundaries of vocational education and training. The nature of Cedefop's activities should therefore be clearly defined in order better to reflect its current activities, which go beyond vocational education and training and include work on skills and qualifications, and the terminology used to describe the objectives and tasks of Cedefop should be adapted to reflect those developments.

(3) The 2013 Cedefop evaluation report concluded that Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 should be amended to include Cedefop's work on skills as one of its tasks and to integrate more clearly its work on policy reporting and common European tools and initiatives.

(4) Supporting the implementation of a vocational education and training policy will require a focus on the interface between education and training and the world of work in order to ensure that the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired support lifelong learning, integration and employability in changing labour markets and are relevant to the needs of citizens and society.

(5) Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 has been amended several times. Since further amendments are to be made, that Regulation should be repealed and replaced in the interest of clarity.

(6) The rules governing Cedefop should, to the extent possible and taking into account its tripartite nature, be established in accordance with the principles of the Joint Statement of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on decentralised agencies of 19 July 2012.

(7) As the three tripartite agencies, namely Cedefop, the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound) and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), address issues related to the labour market, the working environment, vocational education and training, and skills, close coordination among them is required. Close coordination with the European Training Foundation (ETF) is also required. In its work, Cedefop should therefore complement the work of ETF, Eurofound and EU-OSHA where they have similar fields of interest, while favouring tools that function well, such as memoranda of understanding. Cedefop should exploit ways to enhance efficiency and synergies and, in its activities, avoid duplication with those of ETF, Eurofound and EU-OSHA and of the Commission. In addition, where relevant, Cedefop should seek to cooperate efficiently with the in-house research capacities of the Union institutions and of external specialised bodies.

(8) The Commission should consult the main stakeholders including members of the Management Board and members of the European Parliament during the evaluation of Cedefop.

(9) The tripartite nature of Cedefop, Eurofound and EU-OSHA is a highly valuable expression of a comprehensive approach based on the social dialogue between the social partners and Union and national authorities, which is extremely important for the purpose of finding joint and sustainable social and economic solutions.

(10) In order to streamline the decision-making process of Cedefop and to contribute to enhancing efficiency and effectiveness, a two-level governance structure should be introduced. To that end, the Member States, the national employers' and employees' organisations and the Commission should be represented on a Management Board vested with the necessary powers, including the power to adopt the budget and approve the programming document. In the programming document, containing Cedefop's multiannual work programme and its annual work programme, the Management Board should lay down the strategic priorities of Cedefop's activities. Moreover, the rules adopted by the Management Board for the prevention and management of conflicts of interests should include measures for detecting potential risks at an early stage.

(11) In order for Cedefop to function properly, the Member States, the European employers' and employees' organisations and the Commission should ensure that persons to be appointed to the Management Board have appropriate knowledge in the field of vocational education and training, skills and qualifications with a view to making strategic decisions, and to overseeing Cedefop's activities.

(12) The Executive Board should be set up with the task of preparing the meetings of the Management Board in an appropriate manner and supporting its decision-making and monitoring processes. In assisting the Management Board, it should be possible for the Executive Board, where necessary, for reasons of urgency, to take certain provisional decisions on behalf of the Management Board. The Management Board should adopt the rules of procedure of the Executive Board.

(13) The Executive Director should be responsible for the overall management of Cedefop in accordance with the strategic direction set by the Management Board, including day-to-day administration as well as financial and human resources management. The Executive Director should exercise the powers entrusted to him or her. It should be possible to suspend those powers in exceptional circumstances, such as conflicts of interests or a serious failure to comply with obligations under the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union (Staff Regulations).

(14) The principle of equality is a fundamental principle of Union law. It requires that equality between women and men must be ensured in all areas, including employment, work and pay. All parties should aim to achieve a balanced representation between women and men on the Management Board and the Executive Board. That aim should also be pursued by the Management Board with regard to its Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons taken together, as well as by the groups representing the governments and the employers' and employees' organisations on the Management Board with regard to the designation of alternates to attend the meetings of the Executive Board.

(15) Cedefop operates a liaison office in Brussels. The possibility of operating that office should be maintained.

(16) The financial provisions and provisions for programming and reporting relating to Cedefop should be updated. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 (4) provides that Cedefop is to carry out

ex ante

and

ex post

evaluations of those programmes and activities that entail significant spending. Those evaluations should be taken into account by Cedefop in its multiannual and annual programming.

(17) In order to ensure its full autonomy and independence and to enable it properly to carry out its objectives and tasks in accordance with this Regulation, Cedefop should be granted an adequate and autonomous budget with revenue stemming mainly from a contribution from the general budget of the Union. The Union budgetary procedure should be applicable to Cedefop as far as the Union contribution and any other subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the Union are concerned. Cedefop's accounts should be audited by the Court of Auditors.

(18) The translation services required for Cedefop's functioning should be provided by the Translation Centre of the Bodies of the European Union (Translation Centre). Cedefop should work together with the Translation Centre to establish indicators for quality, timeliness and confidentiality, to identify clearly Cedefop's needs and priorities, and create transparent and objective procedures for the translation process.

(19) Provisions concerning Cedefop's staff should be in line with the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Union (Conditions of Employment of Other Servants) laid down by Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 (5).

(20) Cedefop should take the necessary measures to ensure the safe handling and processing of confidential information. Where required, Cedefop should adopt security rules equivalent to those set out in Commission Decisions (EU, Euratom) 2015/443 (6) and (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 (7).

(21) It is necessary to lay down transitional budgetary provisions and transitional provisions with regard to the Management Board and staff to ensure the continuation of Cedefop's activities pending the implementation of this Regulation,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

CHAPTER I

OBJECTIVES AND TASKS

Article 1

Establishment and objectives

1.   The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) is hereby established as a Union Agency.

2.   Cedefop's objective shall be to support the promotion, development and implementation of Union policies in the field of vocational education and training as well as skills and qualifications policies by working together with the Commission, the Member States and the social partners.

To that end Cedefop shall enhance and disseminate knowledge, provide evidence and services for the purpose of policy making, including research-based conclusions, and shall facilitate knowledge sharing among and between Union and national actors.

Article 2

Tasks

1.   Cedefop shall have the following tasks with respect to the policy areas referred to in Article 1(2), while fully respecting the responsibilities of the Member States:

(a) analyse trends in vocational education and training, skills and qualification policies and systems, and provide comparative analyses thereof across countries;

(b) analyse labour market trends in relation to skills and qualifications, and vocational education and training;

(c) analyse and contribute to developments related to the design and award of qualifications, their organisation into frameworks, and their function in the labour market, and in relation to vocational education and training, with a view to enhancing their transparency and recognition;

(d) analyse and contribute to developments in the field of validation of non-formal and informal learning;

(e) carry out or commission studies and carry out research on relevant socioeconomic developments and related policy issues;

(f) provide forums for exchange of experiences and information between the governments, the social partners and other stakeholders at national level;

(g) contribute, including through evidence-based information and analyses, to the implementation of reforms and policies at national level;

(h) disseminate information with a view to contributing to policies and to raising awareness and understanding of the potential of vocational education and training in promoting and supporting the employability of people, productivity and lifelong learning;

(i) manage and make available tools, datasets and services for vocational education and training, skills, occupations and qualifications to citizens, companies, policy makers, the social partners and other stakeholders;

(j) establish a strategy for relations with third countries and international organisations in accordance with Article 29 concerning matters for which Cedefop is competent.

2.   Where new studies are needed, and before taking policy decisions, the Union institutions shall take into account Cedefop's expertise and any studies that it has conducted in the area concerned or that it is able to conduct, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8).

3.   In its activities, Cedefop shall take into account the links which exist between vocational education and training and the other sectors of education and training.

4.   Cedefop may conclude cooperation agreements with other relevant Union agencies in order to facilitate and promote cooperation with them.

5.   In carrying out its tasks, Cedefop shall maintain a close dialogue particularly with specialised bodies, working on vocational education and training and skills and qualifications policies, whether public or private, national or international, with public authorities and educational institutions, with employers' and employees' organisations, and with national tripartite bodies where they exist. Without prejudice to its objectives and purposes, Cedefop shall cooperate with other Union agencies, in particular the ETF, Eurofound and EU-OSHA, promoting synergies and complementarity with their activities, while avoiding any duplication of efforts.

CHAPTER II

ORGANISATION OF CEDEFOP

Article 3

Administrative and management structure

Cedefop's administrative and management structure shall comprise:

(a) a Management Board;

(b) an Executive Board;

(c) an Executive Director.

SECTION 1

Management Board

Article 4

Composition of the Management Board

1.   The Management Board shall be composed of:

(a) one member, representing the government, from each Member State;

(b) one member, representing the employers' organisations, from each Member State;

(c) one member, representing the employees' organisations, from each Member State;

(d) three members representing the Commission;

(e) one independent expert appointed by the European Parliament.

Each of the members referred to in points (a) to (d) shall have the right to vote.

The Council shall appoint the members referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) on the basis of candidates designated, respectively, by the Member States and European employers' and employees' organisations.

The Commission shall appoint the members referred to in point (d).

The responsible committee of the European Parliament shall appoint the expert referred to in point (e).

2.   Each member of the Management Board shall have an alternate. The alternate shall represent the member in the member's absence. The alternates shall be appointed in accordance with paragraph 1.

3.   Members of the Management Board and their alternates shall be designated and appointed on the basis of their knowledge in the field of vocational education and training, skills and qualifications, taking into account their relevant skills such as managerial, administrative and budgetary skills and expertise in the area of Cedefop's core tasks, in order to carry out an effective oversight role. All parties represented on the Management Board shall endeavour to limit the turnover of their representatives in order to ensure continuity of its work. All parties shall aim to achieve a balanced representation between women and men on the Management Board.

4.   Each member and alternate shall sign a written statement at the time of taking office declaring that he or she is not in a situation of conflict of interests. Each member and alternate shall update his or her statement in the case of a change of circumstances with regard to any conflict of interests. Cedefop shall publish the statements and updates on its website.

5.   The term of office of members and alternates shall be four years. That term shall be renewable. Upon expiry of their term of office or in the event of their resignation, members and alternates shall remain in office until their appointments are renewed or until they are replaced.

6.   On the Management Board, the representatives of the governments, of the employers' organisations and of the employees' organisations shall each form a group. Each group shall designate a coordinator in order to enhance the efficiency of deliberations within and between the groups. The coordinators of the employers' and of the employees' groups shall be representatives of their respective European organisations and may be designated from among the appointed members of the Management Board. Coordinators who are not appointed members of the Management Board in accordance with paragraph 1 shall take part in Management Board meetings without the right to vote.

Article 5

Functions of the Management Board

1.   The Management Board shall:

(a) provide the strategic orientations for Cedefop's activities;

(b) adopt each year, by a majority of two thirds of members with the right to vote and in accordance with Article 6, Cedefop's programming document, containing Cedefop's multiannual work programme and its annual work programme for the following year;

(c) adopt, by a majority of two thirds of the members with the right to vote, Cedefop's annual budget and exercise other functions in respect of that budget pursuant to Chapter III;

(d) adopt a consolidated annual activity report together with an assessment of Cedefop's activities, submit them by 1 July each year to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors and make the consolidated annual activity report public;

(e) adopt the financial rules applicable to Cedefop in accordance with Article 16;

(f) adopt an anti-fraud strategy, proportionate to fraud risks taking into account the costs and benefits of the measures to be implemented;

(g) adopt rules for the prevention and management of conflicts of interests in respect of its members and independent experts, as well as of seconded national experts and other staff not employed by Cedefop as referred to in Article 19;

(h) adopt and regularly update the communication and dissemination plans based on an analysis of needs and reflect this in Cedefop's programming document;

(i) adopt its rules of procedure;

(j) exercise, in accordance with paragraph 2, with respect to Cedefop's staff, the powers of the Appointing Authority conferred by the Staff Regulations and the Authority Empowered to Conclude a Contract of Employment conferred by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (the ‘appointing authority powers’);

(k) adopt appropriate implementing rules to give effect to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations;

(l) appoint and, where relevant, extend the term of office of the Executive Director or remove him or her from office, in accordance with Article 18;

(m) appoint an Accounting Officer, subject to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, who shall be fully independent in the performance of his or her duties;

(n) adopt the rules of procedure of the Executive Board;

(o) monitor adequate follow-up to findings and recommendations stemming from the internal or external audit reports and evaluations, as well as from investigations of the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF);

(p) authorise the establishment of cooperation arrangements with the competent authorities of third countries and with international organisations in accordance with Article 29.

2.   The Management Board shall adopt, in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations, a decision based on Article 2(1) of the Staff Regulations and on Article 6 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, delegating relevant appointing authority powers to the Executive Director and setting out the conditions under which this delegation of powers can be suspended. The Executive Director shall be authorised to sub-delegate those powers.

Where exceptional circumstances so require, the Management Board may temporarily suspend the delegation of the appointing authority powers to the Executive Director and those sub-delegated by the Executive Director. In such cases the Management Board shall delegate them, for a limited period, to one of the representatives of the Commission whom it nominates or to a staff member other than the Executive Director.

Article 6

Multiannual and annual programming

1.   Each year, the Executive Director shall, in accordance with point (e) of Article 11(5) of this Regulation, draw up a draft programming document containing a multiannual and an annual work programme in accordance with Article 32 of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013.

2.   The Executive Director shall submit the draft programming document referred to in paragraph 1 to the Management Board. Following approval by the Management Board, the draft programming document shall be submitted to the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council no later than 31 January each year. The Executive Director shall submit any updated versions of that document in accordance with the same procedure. The Management Board shall adopt the programming document taking into account the Commission's opinion.

The programming document shall become definitive after final adoption of the general budget of the Union and, if necessary, shall be adjusted accordingly.

3.   The multiannual work programme shall set out overall strategic programming including objectives, expected results and performance indicators avoiding programming overlaps with other agencies. It shall also set out resource programming including multiannual budget and staff. It shall include a strategy for relations with third countries and international organisations in accordance with Article 29, the actions linked to this strategy, and a specification of associated resources.

4.   The annual work programme shall be consistent with the multiannual work programme referred to in paragraph 3 and shall comprise:

(a) detailed objectives and expected results including performance indicators;

(b) a description of the actions to be financed, including planned measures that aim to increase efficiency;

(c) an indication of the financial and human resources allocated to each action, in accordance with the principles of activity-based budgeting and management;

(d) possible actions for relations with third countries and international organisations in accordance with Article 29.

It shall clearly indicate actions that have been added, changed or deleted in comparison with the previous financial year.

5.   The Management Board shall amend the adopted annual work programme where a new activity is assigned to Cedefop. The Management Board may delegate the power to make non-substantial amendments to the annual work programme to the Executive Director.

Any substantial amendment to the annual work programme shall be adopted in accordance with the same procedure as the initial annual work programme.

6.   The resource programming shall be updated annually. The strategic programming shall be updated where appropriate, and shall, in particular address the outcome of the evaluation referred to in Article 27.

The assignment to Cedefop of a new activity for the purpose of fulfilling the tasks laid down in Article 2 shall be taken into account in its resource and financial programming, without prejudice to the powers of the European Parliament and the Council (the ‘budgetary authority’).

Article 7

Chairperson of the Management Board

1.   The Management Board shall elect a Chairperson and three Deputy Chairpersons as follows:

(a) one from among the members representing the governments of the Member States;

(b) one from among the members representing the employers' organisations;

(c) one from among the members representing the employees' organisations; and

(d) one from among the members representing the Commission.

The Chairperson and the Deputy Chairpersons shall be elected by a majority of two thirds of members of the Management Board with the right to vote.

2.   The term of office of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairpersons shall be one year. Their term of office shall be renewable. Where their membership of the Management Board ends at any time during their term of office, their term of office shall automatically expire on that date.

Article 8

Meetings of the Management Board

1.   The Chairperson shall convene meetings of the Management Board.

2.   The Executive Director shall take part in the deliberations, without the right to vote.

3.   The Management Board shall hold one ordinary meeting a year. In addition, it shall meet on the initiative of its Chairperson, at the request of the Commission or at the request of at least one-third of its members.

4.   The Management Board may invite any person whose opinion may be of interest to attend its meetings as an observer. Representatives of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) may attend the meetings of the Management Board as observers where the EEA Agreement provides for their participation in Cedefop's activities.

5.   Cedefop shall provide the secretariat for the Management Board.

Article 9

Voting rules of the Management Board

1.   Without prejudice to points (b) and (c) of Article 5(1), the second subparagraph of Article 7(1) and Article 18(7), the Management Board shall take decisions by a majority of members with the right to vote.

2.   Each member with the right to vote shall have one vote. In the absence of a member with the right to vote, his or her alternate shall be entitled to exercise his or her right to vote.

3.   The Chairperson shall take part in the voting.

4.   The Executive Director shall take part in the deliberations, without the right to vote.

5.   The Management Board's rules of procedure shall establish more detailed voting arrangements, in particular the circumstances in which a member may act on behalf of another member.

SECTION 2

Executive Board

Article 10

Executive Board

1.   The Management Board shall be assisted by an Executive Board.

2.   The Executive Board shall:

(a) prepare decisions to be adopted by the Management Board;

(b) monitor, together with the Management Board, adequate follow-up to the findings and recommendations stemming from the internal or external audit reports and evaluations, as well as from investigations of OLAF;

(c) without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Executive Director, as set out in Article 11, advise him or her, where necessary, in the implementation of the decisions of the Management Board, with a view to reinforcing supervision of administrative and budgetary management.

3.   Where necessary, for reasons of urgency, the Executive Board may take certain provisional decisions on behalf of the Management Board, including on the suspension of the delegation of the appointing authority powers in accordance with the conditions referred to in Article 5(2) and on budgetary matters.

4.   The Executive Board shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Management Board, the three Deputy Chairpersons, the coordinators of the three groups referred to in Article 4(6) and one representative of the Commission. Each group referred to in Article 4(6) may designate up to two alternates to attend the meetings of the Executive Board in the event that a member appointed by the relevant group is absent. The Chairperson of the Management Board shall also be the Chairperson of the Executive Board. The Executive Director shall take part in the meetings of the Executive Board without the right to vote.

5.   The term of office of members of the Executive Board shall be two years. That term shall be renewable. The term of office of a member of the Executive Board shall end on the date on which his or her membership of the Management Board ends.

6.   The Executive Board shall meet three times a year. In addition, it shall meet on the initiative of the Chairperson or at the request of its members. Following each meeting, the coordinators of the three groups referred to in Article 4(6) shall use best efforts to inform members of their own group of the content of the discussion in a timely and transparent manner.

SECTION 3

Executive Director

Article 11

Responsibilities of the Executive Director

1.   The Executive Director shall be responsible for the management of Cedefop in accordance with the strategic direction set by the Management Board and shall be accountable to the Management Board.

2.   Without prejudice to the powers of the Commission, the Management Board, and the Executive Board, the Executive Director shall be independent in the performance of the duties and shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or any other body.

3.   The Executive Director shall report to the European Parliament on the performance of his or her duties where invited to do so. The Council may invite the Executive Director to report on the performance of his or her duties.

4.   The Executive Director shall be the legal representative of Cedefop.

5.   The Executive Director shall be responsible for the implementation of the tasks assigned to Cedefop by this Regulation. In particular, the Executive Director shall be responsible for:

(a) the day-to-day administration of Cedefop, including exercising the powers entrusted to him or her in respect of staff matters in accordance with Article 5(2);

(b) implementing decisions adopted by the Management Board;

(c) in accordance with the decision referred to in Article 5(2), taking decisions with regard to the management of human resources;

(d) taking into account the needs relating to Cedefop's activities and sound budgetary management, deciding on Cedefop's internal structures including, where necessary, deputising functions which may cover Cedefop's day-to-day management;

(e) preparing the programming document and submitting it to the Management Board after consulting the Commission;

(f) implementing the programming document and reporting to the Management Board on its implementation;

(g) preparing the consolidated annual report on Cedefop's activities and presenting it to the Management Board for assessment and adoption;

(h) establishing an effective monitoring system to enable the regular evaluations referred to in Article 27 to be carried out and a reporting system to summarise their results;

(i) preparing draft financial rules applicable to Cedefop;

(j) preparing Cedefop's draft statement of estimates of revenue and expenditure, as part of Cedefop's programming document; and implementing Cedefop's budget;

(k) preparing an action plan following-up conclusions of internal or external audit reports and evaluations, as well as investigations by OLAF and reporting on progress twice a year to the Commission and regularly to the Management Board and the Executive Board;

(l) aiming to ensure gender balance within Cedefop;

(m) protecting the financial interests of the Union by applying preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by recovering amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by imposing effective, proportionate and dissuasive administrative and financial penalties;

(n) preparing an anti-fraud strategy for Cedefop and presenting it to the Management Board for approval;

(o) where relevant, cooperating with other Union agencies and concluding cooperation agreements with them.

6.   The Executive Director shall also be responsible for deciding whether it is necessary for the purpose of carrying out Cedefop's tasks in an efficient and effective manner to establish a liaison office in Brussels to further Cedefop's cooperation with the relevant Union institutions. That decision shall require the prior consent of the Commission, the Management Board and the relevant Member State. That decision shall specify the scope of the activities to be carried out by that liaison office in a manner that avoids unnecessary costs and any duplication of Cedefop's administrative functions.

CHAPTER III

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Article 12

Budget

1.   Estimates of all revenue and expenditure for Cedefop shall be prepared each financial year and shall be shown in Cedefop's budget. The financial year shall correspond to the calendar year.

2.   Cedefop's budget shall be balanced in terms of revenue and of expenditure.

3.   Without prejudice to other resources, Cedefop's revenue shall comprise:

(a) a contribution from the Union entered in the general budget of the Union;

(b) any voluntary financial contribution from the Member States;

(c) charges for publications and any service provided by Cedefop;

(d) any contribution from third countries participating in the work of Cedefop as provided for in Article 29.

4.   The expenditure of Cedefop shall include staff remuneration, administrative and infrastructure expenses and operational expenditure.

Article 13

Establishment of the budget

1.   Each year, the Executive Director shall draw up a provisional draft estimate of Cedefop's revenue and expenditure for the following financial year, including the establishment plan, and send it to the Management Board.

The provisional draft estimate shall be based on the objectives and expected results of the annual programming document referred to in Article 6(1) and shall take into account the financial resources necessary to achieve those objectives and expected results, in accordance with the principle of performance-based budgeting.

2.   The Management Board shall, on the basis of the provisional draft estimate, adopt a draft estimate of Cedefop's revenue and expenditure for the following financial year, and shall send it to the Commission by 31 January each year.

3.   The Commission shall send the draft estimate to the budgetary authority, together with the draft general budget of the Union. The draft estimate shall also be made available to Cedefop.

4.   On the basis of the draft estimate, the Commission shall enter in the draft general budget of the Union the estimate that it considers necessary for the establishment plan and the amount of the contribution to be charged to the general budget, which it shall place before the budgetary authority in accordance with Articles 313 and 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

5.   The budgetary authority shall authorise the appropriations for the contribution from the general budget of the Union to Cedefop.

6.   The budgetary authority shall adopt Cedefop's establishment plan.

7.   Cedefop's budget shall be adopted by the Management Board. It shall become definitive following final adoption of the general budget of the Union and, if necessary, shall be adjusted accordingly. Any modification to Cedefop's budget, including the establishment plan, shall be adopted in accordance with the same procedure.

8.   For any building project likely to have significant implications for Cedefop's budget, Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 shall apply.

Article 14

Implementation of the budget

1.   The Executive Director shall implement Cedefop's budget.

2.   Each year the Executive Director shall send to the budgetary authority all information relevant to the findings of evaluation procedures.

Article 15

Presentation of accounts and discharge

1.   Cedefop's accounting officer shall send the provisional accounts for the financial year (Year N) to the Commission's Accounting Officer and to the Court of Auditors by 1 March of the following financial year (year N + 1).

2.   Cedefop shall send a report on the budgetary and financial management for year N to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors by 31 March of year N + 1.

3.   The Commission's accounting officer shall send Cedefop's provisional accounts for year N, consolidated with the Commission's accounts, to the Court of Auditors by 31 March of year N + 1.

4.   On receipt of the Court of Auditors' observations on Cedefop's provisional accounts for year N, pursuant to Article 246 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, the accounting officer shall draw up Cedefop's final accounts for that year. The Executive Director shall submit them to the Management Board for an opinion.

5.   The Management Board shall deliver an opinion on Cedefop's final accounts for year N.

6.   Cedefop's accounting officer shall, by 1 July of year N + 1, send the final accounts for year N to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, together with the Management Board's opinion.

7.   The final accounts for year N shall be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

by 15 November of year N + 1.

8.   The Executive Director shall send to the Court of Auditors, by 30 September of year N + 1, a reply to the observations made in its annual report. The Executive Director shall also send the reply to the Management Board.

9.   The Executive Director shall submit to the European Parliament, at the latter's request, any information required for the smooth application of the discharge procedure for year N, in accordance with Article 109(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013.

10.   On a recommendation from the Council acting by a qualified majority, the European Parliament shall, before 15 May of year N + 2, give a discharge to the Executive Director in respect of the implementation of the budget for year N.

Article 16

Financial rules

The financial rules applicable to Cedefop shall be adopted by the Management Board after consulting the Commission. They shall not depart from Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 unless such a departure is specifically required for Cedefop's operation and the Commission has given its prior consent.

CHAPTER IV

STAFF

Article 17

General provisions

1.   The Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants and the rules adopted by agreement between the Union institutions for giving effect to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants shall apply to Cedefop's staff.

2.   The Management Board shall adopt appropriate implementing rules to give effect to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations.

Article 18

Executive Director

1.   The Executive Director shall be a member of staff and shall be engaged as a temporary agent of Cedefop under point (a) of Article 2 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants.

2.   The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Management Board, from a list of candidates proposed by the Commission, following an open and transparent selection procedure.

The selected candidate shall be invited to make a statement before the European Parliament and to answer questions from Members of Parliament. That exchange of views shall not unduly delay the appointment.

For the purpose of concluding the contract with the Executive Director, Cedefop shall be represented by the Chairperson of the Management Board.

3.   The term of office of the Executive Director shall be five years. Before the end of that period, the Commission shall carry out an assessment that takes into account an evaluation of the Executive Director's performance and Cedefop's future tasks and challenges.

4.   The Management Board may, taking into account the assessment referred to in paragraph 3, extend the Executive Director's term of office once for no more than five years.

5.   Where the term of office of an Executive Director has been extended, he or she shall not participate in another selection procedure for the same post at the end of the overall period.

6.   The Executive Director may be removed from office only upon a decision of the Management Board. In its decision, the Management Board shall take into account the Commission's assessment of the Executive Director's performance, as referred to in paragraph 3.

7.   The Management Board shall reach decisions on appointment, extension of the term of office or removal from office of the Executive Director on the basis of a two-thirds majority of members with the right to vote.

Article 19

Seconded national experts and other staff

1.   Cedefop may make use of seconded national experts or other staff not employed by Cedefop.

2.   The Management Board shall adopt a decision laying down rules on the secondment of national experts to Cedefop.

CHAPTER V

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 20

Legal status

1.   Cedefop shall be a Union agency. It shall have legal personality.

2.   In each of the Member States, Cedefop shall enjoy the most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons under national law. It may, in particular, acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property and be party to legal proceedings.

3.   Cedefop shall have its seat in Thessaloniki.

4.   Cedefop may establish a liaison office in Brussels to further its cooperation with the relevant Union institutions in accordance with Article 11(6).

Article 21

Privileges and immunities

Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union shall apply to Cedefop and its staff.

Article 22

Language arrangements

1.   The provisions laid down in Council Regulation No 1 (9) shall apply to Cedefop.

2.   The translation services required for Cedefop's functioning shall be provided by the Translation Centre.

Article 23

Transparency and data protection

1.   Cedefop shall carry out its activities with a high level of transparency.

2.   Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10) shall apply to documents held by Cedefop.

3.   The Management Board shall, within six months of the date of its first meeting, adopt the detailed rules for applying Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.

4.   The processing of personal data by Cedefop shall be subject to Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (11). The Management Board shall, within six months of the date of its first meeting, establish measures for the application of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 by Cedefop, including those concerning the appointment of a Data Protection Officer. Those measures shall be established after consulting the European Data Protection Supervisor.

Article 24

Combating fraud

1.   In order to facilitate the fight against fraud, corruption and other illegal activities under Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (12), Cedefop shall, by 21 August 2019, accede to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the Commission of the European Communities concerning internal investigations by the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) (13) and shall adopt appropriate provisions applicable to all its employees using the template set out in the Annex to that Agreement.

2.   The Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and of on-the-spot inspections, over all grant beneficiaries, contractors and subcontractors who have received Union funds from Cedefop.

3.   OLAF may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant agreement or grant decision or a contract funded by Cedefop, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and in Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 (14).

4.   Without prejudice to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, cooperation agreements with third countries and international organisations, contracts, grant agreements and grant decisions of Cedefop shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct such audits and investigations, in accordance with their respective competences.

Article 25

Security rules on the protection of classified and sensitive non-classified information

Cedefop shall adopt security rules equivalent to the Commission's security rules for protecting European Union Classified Information (EUCI) and sensitive non-classified information, set out in Decisions (EU, Euratom) 2015/443 and (EU, Euratom) 2015/444, where required. Cedefop's security rules shall cover, inter alia, and where appropriate, provisions for the exchange, processing and storage of such information.

Article 26

Liability

1.   Cedefop's contractual liability shall be governed by the law applicable to the contract in question.

2.   The Court of Justice of the European Union (Court of Justice) shall have jurisdiction to give judgment pursuant to any arbitration clause contained in a contract concluded by Cedefop.

3.   In the case of non-contractual liability, Cedefop shall, in accordance with the general principles common to the laws of the Member States, make good any damage caused by its departments or by its staff in the performance of their duties.

4.   The Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction relating to compensation for damage as referred to in paragraph 3.

5.   The personal liability of its staff towards Cedefop shall be governed by the provisions laid down in the Staff Regulations and in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants.

Article 27

Evaluation

1.   In accordance with Article 29(5) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013, Cedefop shall carry out

ex ante

and

ex post

evaluations of those programmes and activities that entail significant spending.

2.   By 21 February 2024, and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall ensure that an evaluation is carried out in accordance with the Commission guidelines to assess Cedefop's performance in relation to its objectives, mandate and tasks. The Commission shall consult members of the Management Board and the other main stakeholders during its evaluation. The evaluation shall, in particular, address the possible need to amend the mandate of Cedefop, and the financial implications of any such amendments.

3.   The Commission shall report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Management Board on the findings of the evaluation. The findings of the evaluation shall be made public.

Article 28

Administrative inquiries

The activities of Cedefop shall be subject to the inquiries by the European Ombudsman in accordance with Article 228 TFEU.

Article 29

Cooperation with third countries and international organisations

1.   In so far as is necessary in order to achieve the objectives set out in this Regulation, and without prejudice to the respective competences of the Member States and of the Union institutions, Cedefop may cooperate with the competent authorities of third countries and with international organisations.

To that end, Cedefop may, subject to the authorisation of the Management Board and after the approval of the Commission, establish working arrangements with the competent authorities of third countries and with international organisations. Those arrangements shall not create legal obligations incumbent on the Union or the Member States.

2.   Cedefop shall be open to the participation of third countries that have entered into agreements with the Union to that effect.

Under the relevant provisions of the agreements referred to in the first subparagraph, arrangements shall be developed specifying, in particular, the nature, extent and manner in which the third countries concerned are to participate in the work of Cedefop, including provisions relating to participation in the initiatives carried out by Cedefop, financial contributions and staff. As regards staff matters, those arrangements shall, in any event, comply with the Staff Regulations.

3.   The Management Board shall adopt a strategy for relations with third countries and international organisations concerning matters for which Cedefop is competent.

Article 30

Headquarters Agreement and operating conditions

1.   The necessary arrangements concerning the accommodation to be provided for Cedefop in the host Member State and the facilities to be made available by that Member State together with the specific rules applicable in the host Member State to the Executive Director, members of the Management Board, staff and members of their families shall be laid down in a Headquarters Agreement between Cedefop and Member State where the seat is located.

2.   Cedefop's host Member State shall provide the necessary conditions to ensure Cedefop's functioning, including multilingual, European-oriented schooling and appropriate transport connections.

CHAPTER VI

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 31

Transitional provisions concerning the Management Board

The members of the Governing Board established on the basis of Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 shall remain in office and exercise the functions of the Management Board as referred to in Article 5 of this Regulation until the appointment of the members of the Management Board and of the independent expert pursuant to Article 4(1) of this Regulation.

Article 32

Transitional provisions concerning the staff

1.   Cedefop's Director, appointed on the basis of Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 337/75, shall, for the remaining periods of his or her term of office, be assigned to the responsibilities of the Executive Director as provided for in Article 11 of this Regulation. The other conditions of his or her contract shall remain unchanged.

2.   In the case of an ongoing selection and appointment procedure of the Executive Director at the time of the entry into force of this Regulation, Article 6 of the Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 shall apply until the finalisation of that procedure.

3.   This Regulation shall not affect the rights and obligations of staff engaged under Regulation (EEC) No 337/75. Their employment contracts may be renewed under this Regulation in accordance with the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants.

Any liaison office of Cedefop which is operational at the time of entry into force of this Regulation shall be maintained.

Article 33

Transitional budgetary provisions

The discharge procedure in respect of the budgets approved on the basis of Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 shall be carried out in accordance with Article 12a of that Regulation.

CHAPTER VII

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 34

Repeal

Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 is repealed and all references to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation.

Article 35

Maintenance in force of the internal rules adopted by the Governing Board

Internal rules adopted by the Governing Board on the basis of Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 shall remain in force after 20 February 2019, unless otherwise decided by the Management Board in the application of this Regulation.

Article 36

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 16 January 2019.

For the European Parliament

The President

A. TAJANI

For the Council

The President

G. CIAMBA

(1)  

OJ C 209, 30.6.2017, p. 49

.

(2)  Position of the European Parliament of 11 December 2018 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 20 December 2018.

(3)  Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of the Council of 10 February 1975 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (

OJ L 39, 13.2.1975, p. 1

).

(4)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 of 30 September 2013 on the framework financial regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 208 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (

OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, p. 42

).

(5)  

OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1

.

(6)  Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/443 of 13 March 2015 on Security in the Commission (

OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 41

).

(7)  Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (

OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53

).

(8)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (

OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1

).

(9)  Council Regulation No 1 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community (

OJ 17, 6.10.1958, p. 385

).

(10)  Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (

OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43

).

(11)  Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (

OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39

).

(12)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (

OJ L 248, 18.9.2013, p. 1

).

(13)  

OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 15

.

(14)  Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (

OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2

).