WRITTEN QUESTION E-0620/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (4 March 1997)

Subject: European School in Brussels

The cost of running the European Schools is met by the Commission. Under the Treaty of Rome, the cost of building installations (sites and buildings) should be met by the Member States that host the EU institutions.

In a letter to the Parents' Association at European School No. 1 in Brussels (dated 24 January 1996), the Belgian Minister for Public Administration, Mr André Flahaut, stated that building modern premises at Berkendael - which would operate as an annex rather than a fully-fledged school, which the Belgian Government had promised for the 1998-1999 academic year - was a more expedient solution than building a new school. The original commitment by Belgium had been to build the school in the vicinity of the V.U.B. (the Flemish University), whereas the preferred solution now is to locate it in Berkendael in premises which are in need of renovation at least as they are totally unsuitable at the present time.

The hair-raising aspect of this matter is that, according to persistent reports which the Belgian Minister has effectively confirmed (on 15 October 1996), a rehabilitation centre for criminals and paedophiles is to operate next-door to the school at Berkendael.

This is an extremely serious matter in terms of the children's physical and mental health, particularly at such a sensitive time for Belgium's international image. Moreover, it appears that a Member State of the Union is not complying with its obligations under the Treaties, which begs the question whether Belgium would conduct itself in the same manner if the European Council in Edinburgh had not decided to designate Brussels as the permanent seat of the Commission.

Will the Commission say:

1. Will it refer Belgium to the European Court of Justice?

2. Will it assure the cost of the smooth and safe functioning of the schools as it is obliged to?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (1 April 1997)

The cost of the European Schools is not met by the Commission alone. According to the Statute of the European Schools of 12 April 1957, the schools' budget is provisioned from the following revenue:

- contributions paid by the contracting parties on a burden-sharing basis specified by the Board of Governors, the intergovernmental body responsible for the European Schools;

- subsidies from the institutions, such as the Commission, with which the School has signed agreements;

- donations and bequests accepted by the Board of Governors;

- school fees imposed on the parents of pupils by decision of the Board of Governors.

A special contribution for the provision and upkeep of the school buildings and for school equipment is also paid by the Member States where the schools are located, under the headquarters agreements signed by the Board of Governors with each of the Member States.

Pursuant to the headquarters agreement between the Board of Governors and Belgium, the latter undertook to build a third school in Brussels on the Plaine campus of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, the first stone of which was laid on 27 February 1997, and to renovate the two existing schools. It was in fact to facilitate the renovation of the Brussels I school that the Belgian authorities proposed making the Athénée de Berkendael available provisionally to house the pupils who will have to be evacuated during the work.

The Board of Governors was informed of the Belgian judicial authorities' intention to build a high-security centre for offenders in the immediate vicinity of the Athénée de Berkendael at its meeting on 28 and 29 January 1997. This information threw the choice of the site to house the pupils into question and prompted the Board of Governors to ask the Belgian authorities on 31 January 1997 for more precise information about the type of establishment to be built next to the Berkendael school and the measures envisaged to ensure the absolute safety of the children who would attend the school. The Board of Governors will assess the situation in the light of the information requested and then adopt a position. The Commission, which is extremely concerned that the European Schools are properly run, will ensure, as a Member of the Board of Governors, that a decision satisfactory to all parties is taken when the time comes.

If, at the end of these discussions, the Board of Governors feels that Belgium has not honoured its obligations as the host Member State, and decides to ask the Commission to refer the matter to the Court of Justice, the Commission's representative on the Board of Governors will take the necessary steps in the Commission so that an action for failure to fulfil its obligations can be instituted.

The Commission will ensure the proper functioning of the European Schools. However, under a mixed system of financing as described above, it cannot unilaterally undertake to meet the obligations of the other partners.