On 23 September 2008, the European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on the Bologna Process and on student mobility. This “own initiative procedure” had been instigated by a report tabled on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education.

The EP identified the need to increase student mobility in Europe and to enhance the quality of its educational systems as its priorities for the Bologna Process beyond the magic year 2010. The resolution stresses that the first objective should touch on aspects that go beyond the scope of higher education and that the following features must be involved in particular:

• comparable and reliable statistics on student mobility and on the socio-economic profile of students;
• curricular reform with regards to both content and organisation, providing for greater flexibility;
• special assistance to students from disadvantaged groups and broader means to facilitate mobility (e.g. a single European Student Identification Card);
• easy transfer and full recognition of diplomas and qualifications throughout Europe; and
• facilitation of visa procedures and the reduction of costs for mobile students.

The resolution will be forwarded by the EP’s President to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the member states.

European Parliament