WRITTEN QUESTION E-0294/02

by Marie Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE) and Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 2002)

Subject: Participation of central and eastern European countries in Community education programmes

Young people in the EU are participating more and showing greater interest in Community training and education programmes such as Socrates, Youth and Leonardo da Vinci. By promoting cultural exchanges and the establishment of a common educational area, these programmes form the basis of a shared European identity and awareness, thus furthering mutual understanding and a sharing of common practices.

With a view to EU enlargement, these three Community programmes have been extended to the central and eastern European countries (CEEC), the EFTA/EEA associated countries and Turkey.

The planned enlargement, which is now underway, is defining a new eastern border for the EU which neighbours the Republics of Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Although these countries are not yet official applicant countries they undeniably form part of the European area and share European identity and EU eligibility, currently being claimed by Ukraine, and already claimed by the leaders and governments of Belarus and Moldova.

Does this future enlargement of the EU and its increasing closeness to neighbouring third countries not necessarily and strategically imply the extension of the Socrates, Youth and Leonardo da Vinci programmes (in their entirety), as well as other programmes such as Culture 2000 and Jean Monnet Chairs, to the citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, who at present can only benefit from the very limited Tempus programme?

Does the Commission not agree that by extending the European educational area in this way, it will give added impetus to European integration and harmonisation, and encourage awareness among the younger generations of these three eastern European countries, who represent the civil society and leaders of the future?

Knowing that this extra cost will be marginal for programmes already open to over thirty countries, is the Commission prepared to grant a specific budget for each programme to benefit the three countries which takes account of and compensates for the economic differences between the inhabitants of these countries and those of Member States and associated countries?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2002)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's view of the role which education and cultural exchanges can play in bringing nations together, and the wish to increase cooperation with countries such as Ukraine, which will become immediate neighbours of the EU following its enlargement. The Commission does not, however, feel that extending the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, Youth and Culture 2000 programmes to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe is an avenue that should be pursued in the case of countries which are not recognised as applicants for EU membership.

Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, Youth and Culture 2000 are internal Community programmes which are above all intended to promote cooperation between the Member States; they have been opened up to other countries only in the specific context of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) or the pre-accession strategy. The members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which are EEA member countries, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe linked to the EU by Europe Agreements recognising their status as applicant countries, as well as Cyprus, Malta or Turkey, are thus eligible to participate fully in all aspects of the Community's various internal programmes on the basis of the particular relationships linking them (inseparable rights and obligations within the EEA, status of applicant country preparing for accession by gradually adopting the Community acquis). It is for this reason that decisions of the Parliament and the Council establishing programmes do not provide for these to be opened up to third countries. The aim behind the policy of opening up Community programmes to the applicant countries not just education programmes but all Community programmes is not the same as in assistance or cooperation programmes; it is to familiarise these countries with Community methods and procedures. This opening-up implies a pre-enlargement, and the applicant countries are also required to contribute to the Community budget in order to take part in these programmes.

However, other more appropriate instruments are available for developing cooperation with the countries referred to by the Honourable Member (Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova) and the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe which are not official applicant countries.

Unlike the Community's internal programmes, the Tempus programme is specifically geared to cooperation with these countries and is easily adaptable to changes in their situation. The programme was very much appreciated by the applicant countries which benefited from it for a number of years before joining the Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci programmes as part of the pre-accession strategy, and it proved to be a very effective means of responding to their various needs: aid for restructuring, assistance in developing curricula, establishing contacts between universities and education sectors, student mobility, institution building and gradual realignment of priorities in keeping with the developing relationship with the Community. This programme's potential should be exploited to the full for the benefit of the countries for which it is intended.

In addition, the Youth programme comprises measures specifically aimed at encouraging cooperation with third countries. In this connection, the Commission has designated as priority regions the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which are not recognised as applicant countries but will shortly become the immediate neighbours of an enlarged EU (European countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and south-eastern Europe). This form of cooperation, which is directed at young people outside formal education, is in fact an effective channel for promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and bringing civil societies together.

Finally, the Jean Monnet project which the Honourable Member mentioned is, unlike a programme for internal purposes such as Socrates, open to universities throughout the world. The projects selected in 2001 included one European module in Ukraine and one in Belarus.