Evaluation and continuation of TEMPUS programme Following the interim evaluation of the TEMPUS trans-European cooperation programme in higher education, the European Commission has published a proposal to extend the current phase of the programme to 30 June 2000. The current phase started on 1 July 1994 and was due to end o... Following the interim evaluation of the TEMPUS trans-European cooperation programme in higher education, the European Commission has published a proposal to extend the current phase of the programme to 30 June 2000. The current phase started on 1 July 1994 and was due to end on 30 June 1998. The evaluation found that the TEMPUS programme has made a significant impact, and continues to do so, on the reform and improvement of higher education. Three different groups of participating countries could be identified. The most advanced are the PHARE countries which have signed Europe Agreements with the EU and have participated in TEMPUS since 1990. Two groups have less advanced participation. These are the PHARE countries which do not have a Europe Agreement and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (TACIS states) which have only participated since 1993. Since each country is at a different stage in the development of its higher education policies, TEMPUS must adapt to each of the partner countries. In particular, the distinction between accession candidate countries and others is great. The evaluation points to the need for TEMPUS to assist in the transition to membership of the EU and to complement other Community actions and programmes, such as SOCRATES and PHARE. As well as extending the TEMPUS programme to 2000, the proposed Decision would allow for projects which assisted in the development of strategic planning and restructuring at university management level. The programme's extension is only proposed for two years, since the funding programmes for PHARE and TACIS will run out in 1999 and the countries which have Europe Agreements should have moved much closer to full participation in other programmes by that stage. Countries Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Belarus, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
