Brussels, 06/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - At the Conference of Bergen on 19-20 May (EUROPE 8952) Eurydice, the information network on education in Europe published, with the support of the European Commission, a balance sheet of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Bologna Process in 40 participating countries. The following developments are highlighted in the report: two cycle structures: studies are now organised into two cycles (Batchelor/Masters) in 33 countries. Spain, Hungary, Romania recently introduced legislation for this system in their countries and Sweden and Portugal are preparing legal drafts to this end. Andorra and the Belgian German-speaking community have not taken any measures in this direction; theoretical training for research, often integrated into doctorates: for beginning a PhD, the candidate generally has to have a second cycle diploma (Masters). Some countries: Germany; Cyprus; Croatia; Greece; Ireland; Iceland; United Kingdom; Slovenia and Turkey accept candidates with a first cycle diploma (Batchelor). A PhD is usually for three years, with variations in certain countries (two years in Austria, Spain, Liechtenstein and Slovenia but eight years in Cyprus). All countries require students to present a project of their individual research; ECTS is increasingly used for gaining credits. It was initially devised as a way of facilitating trans-national student mobility and ECTS, European Credit Transfer System, is now used as a system for validating national level training. Among the 31 countries which have adopted it, the Vatican and Scotland are currently the only ones to use it for credit transfer objectives; the supplement to the diploma is now widespread and automatically issued: this document describes the qualification obtained with the aim of getting recognition for diplomas in Europe and is also widespread. It is issued in most of the countries which adopted in and is automatically issued freely. From 2005-06, only the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Hungary (for the English version) are only issued on request for a fee; frequent student participation in quality assessments: most countries have a national assessment or accreditation body and most are members of the European Association for Quality Higher Education. Students are often involved in the assessment process. http: //http://www.eurydice.org/Documents/FocHE2005/en/FrameSe.htm ). Jan Figel the Commissioner education said in his preface that the report clarified the considerable progress achieved in favour of the higher education systems which are more compatible and easier to compare. He also highlighted some of the efforts to be made to enable universities fully contribute to the “Europe of knowledge”. The report is available at: (http: //http://www.eurydice.org/Documents/FocHE2005/en/FrameSe.htm ).