1792-(162)

II SÉRIE-A — NÚMERO 62

SECTION X Implementation mechanisms

Article X.l

The following bodies shall oversee, promote and facilitate the implementation of the Convention:

a) The Committee of the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region;

b) The European Network of National Information Centres on academic mobility and recognition (the ENIC Network), established by decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 9 June 1994 and the UNESCO Regional Committee for Europe on 18 June 1994.

Article X.2

1 — The Committee of the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region (hereafter referred to as «the Committee») is hereby established. It shall be composed of one representative of each Party.

2 — For the purposes of article x.2, the term «Party» shall not apply to the European Community'.

' 3 — The States mentioned in article xi.l, 1, and the Holy See, if they are not Parties to this Convention, the European Community and the President of the ENIC Network may participate in the meetings of the Committee as observers. Representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations active in the field of recognition in the Region may also be invited to attend meetings of the Committee as observers.

4 — The President of the UNESCO Regional Committee for the Application of the Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the Europe Region shall also be invited to participate in the meetings of the Committee as an observer.

5 — The Committee shall promote the application of this Convention and shall oversee its implementation. To this end it may adopt, by a majority of the Parties, recommendations, declarations, protocols and models of good practice to guide the competent authorities cf the Parties in their implementation of the Convention and in their consideration of applications for the recognition of higher education qualifications. While they shall not be bound by such texts, the Parties shall use their best endeavours to apply them, to bring the texts to the attention of the competent authorities and to encourage their application. The Committee shall seek the opinion of the ENIC Network before making its decisions.

6 — The Committee shall report to the relevant bodies of the Council of Europe and UNESCO.

7 — The Committee shall maintain links to the UNESCO Regional Committees for the Application of Conventions on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education adopted under the auspices of UNESCO.

8 — A majority of the Parties shall constitute a .quorum.

9 — The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure. It shall meet in ordinary session at least every three years. The Committee shall meet for the first time within a year of the entry into force of this Convention.

10 — The Secretariat of the Committee shall be entrusted jointly to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and to the Director-General of UNESCO.

Article X.3

1 — Each Party shall appoint as a member of the European network of national information centres on academic mobility and recognition (the ENIC Network) the national information centre established or maintained under article ix.2. In case in'which more than

one national information centre is established or maintained in a Party under article ix.2, all these shall be members of the Network, but the national information centres concerned shall dispose of only one vote.

2 — The ENIC Network shall, in its composition restricted to national information centres of the Parties to this Convention, uphold and assist the practical implementation of the Convention by the competent national authorities. The Network shall meet at least once a year in plenary session. It shall elect its President and Bureau in accordance with its terms of reference.

3 —The Secretariat of the ENIC Network shall be entrusted jointly to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and to the Director-General of UNESCO.

4 — The Parties shall cooperate, through the ENIC Network, with the national information centres of other

Parties, especially by enabling them to collect all information of use to the national information centres in their activities relating to academic recognition and mobility.

SECTION XI Final clauses

Article XI. 1

1 — This Convention shall be open for signature by:

a) The member States of the Council of Europe;

b) The member States of the UNESCO Europe Region;

c) Any other signatory, contracting State or party to the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe and/or to the UNESCO Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the Europe Region;

which have been invited to the Diplomatic Conference entrusted with the adoption of this Convention.

2 — These States and the Holy See may express their consent to be bound by:

a) Signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or

b) Signature, subject to ratification, acceptance or

approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or

c) Accession.

3 — Signatures shall be made with one of the depositories. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with one of the depositories.