The Treaty of Rome, the fundamental law of the present EU, did not
provide competence for Community action in education. Hence, the
word “education”was seen as taboo in the early years of the EC.
Nevertheless, EC leaders have talked about the educational
cooperation at European-level since 1950s, for educational issue was
linked to European economy through vocational training. In 1971, EC
ministers of education officially met for the first time. And then,
successive decisions, such as establishment of a new DG for Research,
Science and Education in 1973, creation of the first action program in
the filed of education called JSP(Joint Study Program) in 1976,
construction of European educational website, EURYDICE, in 1980 and
so forth, were made.
The success of ERASMUS program, launched in 1987, let EC leaders
take the view that education makes significant contribution to
construction of one Europe. This was to lead to establish legal basis for
education on EU treaty: Maastricht treaty Articles 126 on education and
127 on training. As a result, EU became an important player in the field
of education. Now, the European Commission participate as a virtual
leader in the Bologna process which converges national higher
education system at European-level and forms a “European Higher
Education Area”(EHEA) until 2010.
Since 1950s, there was a gradual evolution of EU policy in the field
of education. But it is too early to imagine the appearance of EU’s
common educational policy, because education is not only a means of
training skilled labour but also a means of building up national
identity. National governments will not agree to europeanize their
compulsory education in near future.
The Treaty of Rome, the fundamental law of the present EU, did not
provide competence for Community action in education. Hence, the
word “education”was seen as taboo in the early years of the EC.
Nevertheless, EC leaders have talked about the educational
cooperation at European-level since 1950s, for educational issue was
linked to European economy through vocational training. In 1971, EC
ministers of education officially met for the first time. And then,
successive decisions, such as establishment of a new DG for Research,
Science and Education in 1973, creation of the first action program in
the filed of education called JSP(Joint Study Program) in 1976,
construction of European educational website, EURYDICE, in 1980 and
so forth, were made.
The success of ERASMUS program, launched in 1987, let EC leaders
take the view that education makes significant contribution to
construction of one Europe. This was to lead to establish legal basis for
education on EU treaty: Maastricht treaty Articles 126 on education and
127 on training. As a result, EU became an important player in the field
of education. Now, the European Commission participate as a virtual
leader in the Bologna process which converges national higher
education system at European-level and forms a “European Higher
Education Area”(EHEA) until 2010.
Since 1950s, there was a gradual evolution of EU policy in the field
of education. But it is too early to imagine the appearance of EU’s
common educational policy, because education is not only a means of
training skilled labour but also a means of building up national
identity. National governments will not agree to europeanize their
compulsory education in near future.