WRITTEN QUESTION E-1136/97 by Carlos Pimenta (PPE), Willy De Clercq (ELDR), Franco Malerba (UPE), Carole Tongue (PSE) and Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE) to the Council (24 March 1997)

Subject: Situation of the Brussels I European School (Uccle)

The European Communities (along with the Member States) are the Contracting Parties to the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools (see Decision 94/557/EC, Euratom ((OJ L 212, 17.8.1994, p. 1.)) and 94/558/ECSC ((OJ L 212, 17.8.1994, p. 15.)) of 17 June 1994). Moreover, the European Communities in article A-327 of the 1997 general budget, have set aside ECU 98 302 000 for the Schools, of which ECU 6 255 298 is earmarked for operating expenditure with regard to buildings, and 5,896,683 ECU for operating expenditure and equipment.

In theses circumstances, what steps does the Council intend to take in order to tackle the disturbing situation which has arisen at the Brussels I European School (Uccle), bearing in mind the following:

- The Belgian Minister for the Civil Service, along with the public works department, plans to build an annex to the Brussels I European School. This is intended to house some primary school children and will be situated at Rue Berkendael, next to the future 'Federal Centre for Clinical Observation of Sex Offenders', whose establishment is provided for in legislation on the sexual abuse of minors (Decision of the Belgian Council of Ministers of 30 August 1996) planned site of the annex.

- The parents of pupils at the European School (resolution of the General Assembly of the Parents' Association of 30 January 1997) completely refute this plan. They are annoyed that the Belgian authorities could make such a proposal and are amazed that it has been endorsed by the School's head teacher.

- The public works department is carrying out studies and other preparatory measures whilst the School's Board of Governors has still not given its opinion on the choice of the site.

- The European Institutions, in line with established precedents of the Court of Justice, are bound by a general duty to assist their staff and cannot therefore ignore the opinion shared by all parents involved, who are, for the most part, officers of the European Union.

Answer (14 July 1997)

As the Honourable Parliamentarians are aware, the Council of the European Union has no direct statutory powers in relation to the administration and organisation of the European schools. These matters are governed by an intergovernmental convention under which the Commission represents the interests of the European Communities at the level of the Board of Governors.

However, the Secretary-General of the Council, as the appointing authority, is acutely aware of the difficulties which have arisen in both Brussels schools and in relation to the delays which have occurred in building the new third European school. With these in mind and to assist his staff, many of whose children are affected by these problems, the Secretary-General, in conformity with the provisions of Article 24 of the staff regulations, has addressed letters to the competent Belgian authorities drawing their attention to the situation in both European schools.

Replies to these concerns have been received directly from the President of CISHIC, the Committee responsible for relations between Belgium and international institutions, informing the Secretary-General of the measures which have been taken so far by the Belgian authorities. Informal contacts are kept with the Secretary-General of the Governing Board and he is continuously advised of the preoccupations of Council staff in this respect.

Nevertheless, the influence of the Council in this field is extremely limited and it is suggested that the concerns of the honourable parliamentarians be taken up with the Commission services who are represented on the Board of Governors.