WRITTEN QUESTION E-2341/98

by Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) , Ombretta Colli (PPE) , Cristiana Muscardini (NI) , Maria Colombo Svevo (PPE) , Carlo Secchi (PPE) , Guido Podestà (PPE) , Marco Formentini (NI) , Claudio Azzolini (PPE) , Monica Baldi (PPE) , Umberto Scapagnini (PPE) , Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE) , Biagio De Giovanni (PSE) and Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Reform of the Academies of Fine Art in Italy and recognition at European level of the diplomas they award

Students at Academies of Fine Art in Italy have set up a National Committee and started a campaign aimed at obtaining recognition for their diploma as equivalent to a university degree, as is the case in all the other countries of the European Union. The current regulations in this area discriminate against Italian students compared with their European colleagues because at the end of their studies they can only be awarded a diploma, which effectively penalizes them in the pursuit of their profession within and outside their country.

The most recent law passed by the Italian state (Law 59/97) on the autonomy of secondary schools effectively confirms this situation. This law includes Academies of Fine Art in Article 21(11) thereby denying them the status of post-diploma schools and consequently also funding that reflects their role. Furthermore, a bill granting university status to Academies of Fine Art (No 2881) has been blocked by the senate's committee on culture since last year.

What is the Commission's opinion of the fact that Italian Fine Art students are penalized in relation to their European colleagues as regards participation in public-sector open competitions and in the pursuit of their profession because their qualification has less "currency" in Italy and the rest of Europe?

Does the Commission not think it would be advisable to approach the Italian government and to press for the adoption of Bill No 2881 in order to ensure the full recognition of the right of students at Academies of Fine Art to have their qualification accepted as equivalent to a university degree, thereby ending the disparity between national and European law?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-2065/98 and E-2341/98 given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 1998)

Article 126 of the EC Treaty states that the Community shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity.

It follows that each Member State is responsible for the content of its teaching and for the organisation of its own education system. There are no Community provisions making the mutual recognition of diplomas compulsory, except for certain regulated professions.

With regard to education in the arts, the situation varies considerably within the Community, or even within Member States. Some schools are considered part of the higher secondary education sector, while others are part of higher education establishments.

Italy does not appear to be an exception to this rule, as the government has identified, among the vast range of establishments providing education in the arts, 44 which rank as higher education establishments capable of participating in the Erasmus programme.