THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2006

FACT SHEET

United States and European Union Renew Education Agreement

The United States and the European Union renewed a 1995 agreement to promote transatlantic higher education and vocational training cooperation.

At a meeting during the U.S.-EU summit in Vienna U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and European Union Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner signed the agreement extending transatlantic educational cooperation for eight more years. The agreement continues higher education and vocational training cooperation between the U.S. and the EU by fostering educational exchanges, strengthening the Fulbright-Schuman exchange program and encouraging collaboration between university and vocational institutions.

The U.S. and the EU plan to support joint consortia projects, provide follow-up financial support for students in transatlantic programs, address comparative higher education and vocational training policies and award Fulbright-Schuman scholarships to highly-qualified professionals for study or practicum experience on the other side of the Atlantic.

The U.S. and the EU have sponsored a cooperative program In higher education and vocational training since 1995. The program encourages curriculum development and student exchanges in a wide range of disciplines such as international education development, environment, agriculture, engineering, health sciences and international business.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program provides funding for students, scholars, teachers and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. The flagship international education program sponsored by the U.S. Government, the Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.