ECML statutes

Resolution (98)11 confirming the continuation of the European Centre for Modern Languages

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 2 July 1998, at the 638th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Representatives on the Committee of Ministers of the States members of the Enlarged Partial Agreement establishing the European Centre for Modern Languages: Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland. Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia";

Having regard to Statutory Resolution (93) 28 of the Committee of Ministers on Partial and Enlarged Agreements;

Having regard to Resolution (94) 10 of the Committee of Ministers of 8 April 1994, establishing the European Centre for Modern Languages for an initial period of three years, at the end of which the functioning of the Centre was to be reviewed with a view to deciding on the continuation of its operation after that date;

Having regard to the decision of the Committee of Ministers to extend the initial period of the European Centre for Modern Languages until 31 December 1998;

Considering the conclusions of an external evaluation of the activities and the functioning of the Centre, carried out by a committee of five independent experts designated by the governing board;

Bearing in mind the different functions of the Modern Languages Section of the CDCC and the European Centre for Modern Languages, and the complementarity which has to be implemented between the two instances;

Having regard to the opinion and the recommendations of the Governing Board of the Centre formulated at its Sixth meeting on 23-24 February 1998 in favour of the continuation of the European Centre for Modern Languages;

Convinced that the continuation of the activities of the European Centre for Modern Languages will contribute significantly and specifically, within the framework of cultural co-operation and respecting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe;

Resolve to confirm the continuation of the activities of the European Centre for Modern Languages by means of an Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe. The European Centre for Modern Languages will be governed by the appended Statute. The services and activities of the Centre will be assessed at regular intervals, in accordance with the conditions and the calendar laid down by the governing board. The evaluation reports will be forwarded to the Committee of Ministers.

APPENDIX TO RESOLUTION (98) 11
Statute of the European Centre for Modern Languages
Article 1

Within the framework of cultural co-operation and respecting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe, the Centre has as its mission:

  • the implementation of language policies;
  • the promotion of innovative approaches to the learning and teaching of modern languages.

The strategic objectives of the Centre are:

  • to focus on the practice of the learning and teaching of modern languages;
  • to promote dialogue and exchange among the various actors in the field;
  • to train multipliers;
  • to support programme-related networks and research projects.

In order to implement its strategic objectives, the Centre sets itself the following operational objectives:

  • to collect and disseminate examples of good practice in the field of modern language learning and teaching;
  • to organise meetings (workshops, colloquies, etc.) between multipliers such as teacher trainers, textbook authors, experts in the area of the development of curricula, educational standards and methods of evaluation and certification, researchers and educational policy makers from all over Europe, specialists in new technologies;
  • to focus on dissemination and follow-up activities and to further develop the Centre’s documentation and resources.
Article 2
  1. Any State which is a member of the Council of Europe or a Party to the European Cultural Convention may join the Enlarged Partial Agreement at any time by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
  2. The Committee of Ministers, in its composition restricted to the States members of the Enlarged Partial Agreement (hereafter referred to as the Committee of Ministers), may decide to invite any other non-member State to join the Enlarged Partial Agreement, following consultation of the non-member States already participating.
Article 3
  1. The Governing Board of the Centre shall be composed of one representative in respect of each member of the Enlarged Partial Agreement. A representative of the Austrian association referred to in Article 7.3 may attend the work of the Governing Board as an observer.
  2. The Governing Board shall elect from its members a Bureau composed of a Chair, two Vice-Chairs and two other members appointed for a period of two years.
Article 4
  1. The Governing Board shall:
    • adopt the medium-term framework programme of activities of the Centre;
    • monitor the implementation of the programme of activities and the management of the Centre’s finances;
    • adopt and forward to the Committee of Ministers an annual report on the activities of the Centre, containing also an outline of its future activities, including their budgetary implications.
  2. Decisions by the Governing Board shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. Procedural matters shall be settled by a majority of the votes cast.
  3. The Governing Board shall meet at least once a year, in Strasbourg or in Graz.
  4. The Governing Board shall adopt its Rules of Procedure, as well as any other rules governing the operation of the Centre.
Article 5
  1. The Bureau shall:
    • monitor the execution of the medium-term programme adopted by the governing board;
    • adopt the annual programme of activities and monitor its implementation;
    • prepare the meetings of the governing board;
    • carry out the tasks which the Governing Board entrusts it with.
  2. The Bureau shall meet two or three times a year.
Article 6
  1. Expenditure related to the implementation of the programme or activities and common secretariat expenditure shall be covered by a partial agreement budget funded by the member States and non-member States participating in the Enlarged Partial Agreement.
  2. The budget and the scale of contributions shall be adopted annually by an organ composed of the Representatives on the Committee of Ministers of the member States participating in the Enlarged Partial Agreement and, where appropriate, the Representatives of the participating non-member States, who shall thus be entitled to vote.
  3. In addition, the Centre may accept voluntary and other contribution which shall be paid into a special account opened under the terms of Article 4.2 of the Financial Regulations of the Council of Europe. Such contributions can be earmarked for a particular purpose.
  4. The Financial Regulations shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the adoption and management of the budget of the Centre.
Article 7
  1. The Republic of Austria shall put a seat and a local secretariat at the disposal of the Centre free of charge.
  2. Expenditure relating to the local secretariat and to the running of the Centre shall be borne by the Republic of Austria.
  3. The Republic of Austria may entrust the execution of its obligations under the present article to an association under Austrian law set up for this purpose.
Article 8
  1. The Secretariat of the Centre, under the responsibility of a director, shall be provided by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
  2. The director may call on well-known institutions and independent experts in the teaching and learning of modern languages.
  3. The staff provided by the Austrian authorities at the seat of the Centre shall not belong to the staff of the Council of Europe.
  4. The seat of the Centre shall be in Graz.
Article 9

The Committee of Ministers may adopt amendments to this Statute by the majority foreseen in Article 20.d of the Statute of the Council of Europe.