WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590/98

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: School trips within the European Union

At present, school trips within the European Union made by classes which include pupils who are not nationals of an EU Member State entail a disproportionate degree of bureaucracy and expense.

When a secondary school class from Dornbirn was planning a trip to other EU States, a list of pupils first had to be drawn up and passports and visas checked.

Those pupils from non-EU countries who did not have their own passports with valid visas had to provide an up-to-date photograph. The completed EU pupil travel forms, accompanied by photographs, had to be checked again by computer at the local authority offices and certified against payment of a fee.

1. Has the Commision previously been made aware of complaints about the disproportionate bureaucracy involved in school trips within the EU? What has already been done regarding this issue?

2. What proposals are on the table and what initiatives has the Commission undertaken or does it intend to take?

3. Would a certificate issued by the school management not be sufficient for cross-border travel within a united Europe?

4. When can schools in the EU expect to see a simplification of this bureaucracy?

Answer given by Ms Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 1998)

In a decision dated 30 November 1994 the Council adopted a joint action, pursuant to the second paragraph of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, in order to facilitate the movement of schoolchildren who were nationals of a non-EU country but resident in a Member State (1). The aim is to abolish the requirement whereby pupils from non-EU countries who are legally resident in a Member State must be in possession of a visa if they wish to take part in school trips to one or more Member States other than the Member State of residence. However, the formalities cannot entirely be relaxed in every case and there is provision so that the movements of pupils on school trips can be monitored by means of the travel form mentioned by the Honourable Member, a copy of which is contained in the annex to the joint action.

As regards the administrative costs, which the Honourable Member deems to be disproportionate and excessive, these arise from the national measures passed to implement the joint action, since the latter contained no financial provisions.

The Commission would point out that the system introduced by the joint action, despite its flaws, has rendered school trips easier than was hitherto the case. Previously, every pupil from a non-EU country was required to apply personally to the consular authorities of the Member State of destination for individual travel papers, and sometimes also a visa. The length of time taken by the authorities to process the visa applications often meant that visas were not issued in time for the pupils to take part in the school trips.

As this matter comes under the cooperation arrangements laid down in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, the usual mechanisms for verifying the application of Community law cannot be applied. For this reason, no complaint regarding the implementation of this joint action has been lodged directly with the Commission.

(1) OJ L 327, 19.12.1994.