No L 199/56 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 7. 85 COUNCIL DECISION of 16 July 1985 on the comparability of vocational training qualifications between the Member States of the European Community (85/368/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 128 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 63/266/EEC of 2 April 1963 laying down general principles for imple- menting a common vocational training policy (*), and in particular the eighth principle thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, as amended on 17 July 1984, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parl- iament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas the eighth principle of Decision 63/266/EEC is to make it possible to achieve the mutual recogni- tion of certificates and other documents confirming completion of vocational training ; Whereas the Council resolution of 6 June 1974 (*) on the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications requires lists of such qualifications recognized as being equivalent to be drawn up; Whereas the absence of the said mutual recognition is a factor inhibiting freedom of movement for workers within the Community, insofar as it restricts the possi- bility for workers seeking employment in one Member State to rely on vocational qualifications which they have obtained in another Member State ; Whereas there is a very substantial degree of diversity in the vocational training systems in the Community ; whereas these systems are constantly requiring adapta- tion to the new situations brought about by the impact of technological change on employment and job content ; Whereas the Council resolution of 11 July 1983 concerning vocational training policies in the Euro- () OJ No 63, 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63. () OJ No C 77, 19. 3. 1984, p. 11. () O] No C 35, 9. 2. 1984, p. 12. () OJ No C 98, 20. 8. 1974, p. 1. pean Community in the 1980s (%) affirmed the need for a convergence of policies in the vocational training field, whilst recognizing the diversity of training systems in the Member States, dnd the need for Community action to be flexible ; Whereas it has been possible for the Commission to establish as a reference point, with the help of the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training, a struc- ture of levels of training which represents a first step towards the achievement of the aims laid down in the eighth principle of Decision 63/266/EEC, but whereas this structure does not reflect all the training systems being developed in the Member States ; Whereas for the skilled-worker level within this struc- ture, and for selected priority groups of occupations, it has been possible to arrive at practical job descriptions and to identify the corresponding vocational training qualifications -in the various Member States ; Whereas consultation with the vocational sectors concerned has provided evidence that these results can provide firms, workers and public authorities with valuable information concerning the comparability of vocational training qualifications ; Whereas the same basic methodology could be applied ~ to other occupations or groups of occupations on advice from the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training and with the collaboration of employers, workers and the public authorities in the vocational sectors concerned ; Whereas it is therefore essential to make rapid progress towards the comparability of vocational training qualifications for all skilled workers, and to extend the work to other levels of training as quickly as possible ; Whereas it is advisable to have all the necessary opinions, in particular that of the Advisory Committee for Vocational Training, and the technical assistance of the European Centre for the Development of Voca- tional Training, and to enable the Member States and the Commission to act in accordance with existing procedures ; () OJ No C 193, 20. 7. 1983, p. 2.