M A T R A
The Social Transition Programme for Central and Eastern Europe (MATRA) was established by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help transform former totalitarian states into pluralist, democratic and legal states. Over the past few years, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has helped the Slovak Republic in the process of integration into the European institutions through the following aid instruments:
- The Capacity Building-PCB programme for meeting economic criteria
- Programme for short-term expert missions -MATRA -NMCP/PUA
- Programme of educational programmes in the Netherlands (MATRA-CROSS/ADEPT-)
However, since 1 January 2005, both the ADEPT and MATRA programmes have been modified. Instead of the ADEPT programme, the Matra Training for European Cooperation (MTEC) programme and the MATRA Modification of Matra-flex for the new Member States of the European Union will be presented as part of the training exercise programme.
MTEC
With regard to the accession of 10 countries to the EU 1.5.2004, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided on the following changes:
As of 1 January 2007, the training activities will not be open to civil servants in the new Member States, .
In the case of accession and candidate countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Turkey), the programme will continue until their accession to the EU, while mutual relations and training activities will intensify.
The eastern and southern neighbours of the enlarged European Union (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Morocco and Jordan) will be eligible for bilateral cooperation and, in some cases, for MTEC. All MTEC training courses will be open to the participation of potential candidate countries, Serbia and Montenegro.
MTEC Academic programmes
The aim of academic programmes is to train fresh graduates of universities and young staff of public administration in areas important for good management and the establishment of long-standing networks of mutual relations between participants in these programmes.
Each programme shall consist of three components:
- academic course leading to the Master title in the field related to good governance
- a social programme aimed at getting to know the Netherlands and building long-standing networks of mutual relations between course participants
- a personal development programme aimed at developing expertise.
Programmes 2006
Title of the programme |
Date of the procedure |
Venue |
Deadline for applications |
Maximum number of participants |
MTEC Public Health |
Academic year 2006/2007 |
Maastricht |
1 july 2006 |
40 |
MTEC European Studies |
Academic year 2006/2007 |
Maastricht |
15 june 2006 |
40 |
MTEC Public Administration |
The academic year 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 |
University of Twente |
1 july 2006 |
Not yet specified |
For more information on individual academic programmes, see the following booklets:
CROSS booklet on the MTEC Public Health academic programme
CROSS brochure on the MTEC European Studies academic programme
CROSS booklet on the MTEC Public Administration academic programme
The programmes are open to candidates from the following countries: Bulgaria, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Jordan, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Participants
The eligible applicants for participation in academic programmes are those under the age of 35 who are civil servants (or employees of state agencies and organisations) or new university graduates with excellent study results. All participants must have a committee knowledge of the English language. A language test at the Dutch embassy may also be part of the admission process. The maximum number of participants may vary for each year. The basic conditions, rights and obligations for participation in MTEC programmes can be found here.
Costs
The Dutch Government will cover all direct costs such as tuition fees and participation in the social programme and personal development programme. In addition, students receive a study grant to cover all costs related to the study programme, life in the Netherlands and travel to/from the Netherlands (cost of accommodation, study materials, tickets, visas, etc.)
Applications
MTEC academics can apply via a website
http://www.cross-agency.nl/index.php?la=en&page=4
and then send his printed and completed application to the dutch embassy, to:
Steef B. van den Berg
Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Fraňa King 5
811 02 Bratislava
Applications for academic programmes: Public administration, European studies and public health are not yet available.
N.B.: Candidates applying to participate in this MATRA programme must undergo a regular university admission interview. Participants who have already been admitted to the university are sufficient to apply to participate in the programmes via the cross-agency website mentioned above.
MTEC Training Courses
The aim of the training courses is to train public officials in areas related to EU enlargement or in the case of the new Member States, how to become a fully integrated member within the political framework of the European Union. Another important objective of courses is networking by bringing people from different countries together in the Netherlands.
Each course shall consist of three parts:
- a theoretical part based on (european) legislation;
- a practical part focused on skills development such as project cycle management, SW analysis, preparation of policy documents, presentation techniques, etc.);
- excursions.
Courses in 2006
The following training courses will be organised in 2006:
Common Diseases
The Netherlands School of Public and Occupative Health (NSPOH)
11th – 26th of March, 2006
How to operate in Brussels
The Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael
18th – 30th of June 2006
19th – 30th of November 2006
Structural Funds
ECORYS
28th of May 16th of June 2006
29th of October 17th of November 2006
Communicating with the Public
Academy of Government Information and Communication, RVD
28th of October 2006
Food Safety
International Agricultural Centre, IAC
28th of October 2006
Social Affairs / Employment
The Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael
Date not yet fixed
Water management
Place and date not yet determined
Justice theme
Place and date not yet determined
Current Courses
Name of training |
Date of the procedure |
Venue |
Deadline for applications |
Maximum number of participants |
How to operate in Brussels |
20.11.2006 – 1.12.2006 |
The Hague |
6 october 2006 |
100 |
For more information on individual academic programmes, see the following booklets:
CROSS Agent Brochure on the training course How to operate in Brussels
Participants
Qualified candidates for courses are civil servants, employees of state agencies or organisations. In exceptional cases, representatives of the private or third sector may also apply if their participation helps the EU accession process or bilateral relations with the Netherlands.
All participants should have excellent knowledge of English. The maximum number of course participants is 50, except the How to operate in Brussels, which is created for 100 participants. Since the course is interactive, participants will be divided into smaller groups.
Costs
The Dutch government pays all costs (course itself, study materials, travel to the Netherlands, visa, insurance, excursions, accommodation, etc.)
Applications
MTEC course applicants can apply for courses electronically through
http://www.cross-agency.nl/index.php?la=en&page=4.
Original of application signed by the applicant and his employer with an employer stamp only by post to:
Steef B. van den Berg
Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Fraňa King 5
811 02 Bratislava
Applicants to be selected are expected to participate properly in the course. If the applicant fails to show up or cancels his participation too late (up to three weeks before the start of the course), the organiser has the right to require the applicant's employer to reimburse all costs
Matra-flex programme
The Matra-flex programme is an instrument of bilateral Dutch-Slovak cooperation following the accession of the Slovak Republic to the European Union after 1 May 2005. The programme will continue in 2006.
Programme focus:
- Finance
- Health
- Social affairs and employment
- Environment
- Education and culture
- Foreign and security policy
- Justice and Home Affairs
- Copenhagen criteria
Objectives of the programme:
- Strengthen relations between government institutions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and government institutions of the new Member States of the European Union
- To help countries implement and strengthen the acquis communautaire and to harmonise national legislation with the acquis communautaire
Conditions:
Consistency and relevance of the project proposal with the implementation, application and strengthening of the acquis communautaire. At the same time, the project should aim to exchange and pass on experience.
Programme activities:
Short-term exchange study trips, seminars, exchanges of experience between civil servants, bi- and multi-page working groups, seminars and conferences, training, analysis and advice, and a combination of these activities.
Project funding and time constraints on project duration
The average budget is EUR 100 000
The duration of projects can be from 1 week to 6 months
Submission of applications:
Health applications are submitted exclusively through the Project Unit of Foreign Assistance of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, which will submit the project proposal to the National Foreign Assistance Coordinator. Applications shall be submitted to a predefined
form ÞProject Outline Matra-flex programme linda.winklerova@health.gov.sk to 31.5.2006
Before this date it is possible to consult upcoming project plans at this address
Matra-flex line: Ms. Elsbeth Akkerman, ipsoline@info.evd.nl
Warning:
The national foreign assistance coordinator shall not recommend to the Kingdom of the Netherlands projects which do not comply with the conditions set out above, be sufficiently formal or content-based, or be accompanied by all required documents (CVs for study trips etc.) These projects will be returned to the submitter for revision.