Article III-282 (#)

1. The Union shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation
between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and complementing their action. It shall
fully respect the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation
of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity.
The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of
the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational
function.
Union action shall be aimed at:
(a) developing the European dimension in education, particularly through the teaching and
dissemination of the languages of the Member States;
(b) encouraging mobility of students and teachers, inter alia by encouraging the academic
recognition of diplomas and periods of study;
(c) promoting cooperation between educational establishments;
(d) developing exchanges of information and experience on issues common to the education systems
of the Member States;
(e) encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socioeducational
instructors and encouraging the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe;
(f) encouraging the development of distance education;
(g) developing the European dimension in sport, by promoting fairness and openness in sporting
competitions and cooperation between bodies responsible for sports, and by protecting the
physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen, especially young sportsmen and
sportswomen.
2. The Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the
competent international organisations in the field of education and sport, in particular the Council of
Europe.
3. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in this Article:
(a) European laws or framework laws shall establish incentive measures, excluding any
harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States. They shall be adopted after
consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee;
(b) the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt recommendations.

Article III-283 (#)

1. The Union shall implement a vocational training policy which shall support and complement the
action of the Member States, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the
content and organisation of vocational training.
Union action shall aim to:
(a) facilitate adaptation to industrial change, in particular through vocational training and retraining;
(b) improve initial and continuing vocational training in order to facilitate vocational integration and
reintegration into the labour market;
(c) facilitate access to vocational training and encourage mobility of instructors and trainees and
particularly young people;
(d) stimulate cooperation on training between educational or training establishments and firms;
(e) develop exchanges of information and experience on issues common to the training systems of
the Member States.
2. The Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the
competent international organisations in the sphere of vocational training.
3. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in this Article:
(a) European laws or framework laws shall establish the necessary measures, excluding any
harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States. They shall be adopted after
consultation of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee;
(b) the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt recommendations.