Implementation at a European Level
Decision-making in the Bologna Process is carried out ‘intergovernmentally’. It is not administered by the European Commission. Decisions are reached by the consensus of the Ministers for higher education of the 40 signatory countries involved. This approach acknowledges the diversity in Europe’s higher education systems.
The most important forum in the decision-making process is the two-yearly ministerial review of Bologna, where the Ministers in charge of higher education in each of the signatory countries meet to assess progress and to plot the course for the near future. The next ministerial summit will take place in Bergen in 2005, following on from those in Prague in 2001 and Berlin in 2003.
The ministerial meetings are in turn supported by two groups: The Bologna Follow-Up Group and the Bologna Process Board. They are organised and administered by the Bologna Secretariat.
The Bologna Follow-Up Group is made up of ministerial representatives from all Bologna signatory countries and representatives of other European-level organisations including: the European Commission; European University Association (EUA); European Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA); National Union of Students in Europe (ESIB); European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE); and the Council of Europe. Its role is to follow up on the recommendations made at the ministerial meetings. The Group produces a Work Programme which constitutes a series of conferences relevant to all involved in the Process. Countries are also free to pursue their own follow-up activities according to the ministerial communiqué.
The Bologna Board is smaller. It consists of the hosting countries of the previous and forthcoming ministerial summits, and representatives of the acting, previous and succeeding EU Presidencies. Also involved again are the European Commission, the organisations listed above and representatives of two countries from outside the EU. The Group is chaired by the host country of the next ministerial meeting which, at the moment, is Norway.