Work programme of the Bologna Follow-Up Group 2003-2005

The activities of the Bologna Follow-Up Group

The Berlin Communiqué describe the new Follow-up structure: the Follow-Up Group, the Board and the Secretariat.

Content for Bologna Expert - 19/05/2005

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Meetings of the BFUG

Ministers entrust the implementation of all the issues covered in the Communiqué, the overall steering of the Bologna Process and the preparation of the next ministerial meeting to a Follow-up Group, which shall be composed of the representatives of all members of the Bologna Process and the European Commission, with the Council of Europe, the EUA, EURASHE, ESIB and UNESCO/CEPES as consultative members. This group, which should be convened at least twice a year, shall be chaired by the EU Presidency, with the host country of the next Ministerial Conference as vice-chair.

The Follow-up Group has met once under each of the successive chairmanships of Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands, and three times during the chairmanship of Luxembourg (the last meeting being held on 18 May 2005 in Bergen). Norway has been Vice-Chair in the whole period from Berlin to Bergen.

The Board of the Bologna Follow-up Group

A Board also chaired by the EU Presidency shall oversee the work between the meetings of the Follow-up Group. The Board will be composed of the chair, the next host country as vice-chair, the preceding and the following EU Presidencies, three participating countries elected by the Follow-up Group for one year, the European Commission and, as consultative members, the Council of Europe, the EUA, EURASHE and ESIB. The Follow-up Group as well as the Board may convene ad hoc working groups as they deem necessary.

The Berlin Ministerial Conference decided that a Board chaired by the EU Presidency shall oversee the work between the meetings of the Follow-up Group. The Board is composed of the Chair, the next host country as Vice-Chair, the preceding and the following EU Presidencies, three participating countries elected by the Follow-up Group for one year, the European Commission and, as consultative members, the Council of Europe, the EUA, EURASHE and ESIB. For the first period after Berlin, Austria, Belgium and Finland were elected Board members, and for the second period, Latvia, Malta and Slovenia.

The BFUG Board was given a more detailed mandate by the BFUG meeting in Rome on 14 November 2003. The Board shall support the BFUG in its activities and provide efficiency to the management of the Bologna Process, at the same time assuring its continuity. As such, the responsibilities of the Board consist in coordinating and monitoring the effective implementation of the Work Programme. The BFUG may also delegate to the Board to carry out tasks which it deems to be appropriate and necessary to achieve the objectives of the Bologna Process. In line with these responsibilities, the Board shall prepare matters for discussion in the BFUG. If urgent decisions have to be taken on specific issues, the Board will consult the BFUG members by e- mail before taking any decision.

The BFUG Board met on 15 November 2003 in Rome, 29 January 2004 in Oslo, 14 June 2004 in Dublin, 13 September 2004 in The Hague, 9 December 2004 in Oslo (Ask), 25 January 2005 in Brussels, 11 April 2005 in Mondorf, 26 April 2005 in Brussels and 18 May 2005 in Bergen.

The BFUG Secretariat

The overall follow-up work will be supported by a Secretariat which the country hosting the next Ministerial Conference will provide.

In their work between Berlin and Bergen, the Follow-up Group and the BFUG Board have been assisted by a Secretariat set up by Norway as host country of the Bergen Ministerial Conference. The Secretariat has assisted the Chair in the preparation of documents for the successive Board and BFUG meetings, and has assisted the host country in the preparations for the Bergen Conference.

Published: 19/05/2005 - Last modified: 10/08/2016