WRITTEN QUESTION E-0890/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2001)

Subject: Socrates programme for the years 2000 to 2006

The lack of funds to meet demand in full, the obstacles to student and teacher mobility, the difficulties in securing recognition of studies completed in another country, and the disparities in the grants awarded to students in the individual participating countries are some of the weaknesses acknowledged by the Commission in a report published a few weeks ago on implementation of the Socrates programme between 1995 and 1999.

Could the Commission specify the obstacles currently in the way of student and teacher mobility, notwithstanding the fact that, between 1995 and 1999, approximately 460 000 students were awarded a grant under the Erasmus scheme, which forms part and parcel of the Socrates programme?

As regards the period from 2000 to 2006, how will and Commission overcome the above difficulties and put right the slowness of the procedures, the inordinate time taken for payment, and the exaggerated emphasis on the financial aspects of projects at the expense of the educational aspects? Can it say what practical steps it will take to resolve the problems with the recognition of studies completed in other countries? Can it say why the grants awarded to students in the different countries are still grossly unequal, ranging from less than 100 to over 800 a month? What other measures is it drawing up at present with a view to achieving its target of enabling all European citizens to become proficient in two Community languages other than their mother tongue?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 2001)

The Erasmus mobility in Europe has existed since the academic year 1987/1988 and the number of mobile students is still increasing every year by approximately 10 %. In one year or two there will have been 1 million European students that have studied in another country in Europe. This developement has been made possible through the co-operation between Member States and Member State institutions and the Commission.

The evaluation report to which the Honourable Member refers, shows a positive global result of the first phase of Socrates. Within the framework of Erasmus, several measures have in the past been introduced which aim at decreasing barriers to mobility and the Commission will continue to develop these, for instance the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which facilitates recognition, Intensive Language Preparation Courses and other language preparation measures which contribute to counteract the barrier of language skills and information campaigns such as Socrates on the move.

Outside the programme, there are currently several initiatives supported by the Commission which addresses the issues raised by the Honourable Member: The introduction of a Diploma supplement will contribute to decrease the barriers to academic recognition. The Bologna process (Joint declaration of the European Ministers of Education, convened in Bologna on the 19 June 1999), should ultimately lead to making measures such as ECTS and Diploma supplement more widespread. Finally, the proposed Recommendation on Mobility (to be agreed at the Education Council meeting) addresses many of the issues at stake in relation to obstacles to mobility for students and teachers.

The Decision on the second phase of the Socrates programme establishes a decentralisation of the Erasmus mobility scheme. This implies that each of the participating countries manage the Erasmus mobility funds that has been allocated to them. The level of the grant thus depends on the national policy and the supplementary funding available at national level.