WRITTEN QUESTION E-3046/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 October 1997)

Subject: Amendment of the Socrates Programme

With regard to the document 'Socrates: the Community action programme in the field of education - report on the results achieved in 1995 and 1996 (doc. COM(97) 99 fin. - 97/0103 COD) ((OJ C 113, 11.4.1997, p. 14. )), (doc. CES 593/97 - 97/0103 COD), it is clear that, by extending the application of the programme to the education sector as a whole, it has been possible to promote a spirit of integration and European cooperation.

It is of the utmost importance gradually to extend the ties of cooperation between educational establishments. It is also vital to include open and distance learning.

Although the increase in budget appropriations provided for in the proposal is to be welcomed, it has to be said that the allocation is inadequate given the ambition and scale of the list of objectives and actions.

Nevertheless, the amendment is welcome and the utmost transparency is needed in allocating the Community aid.

Will the Commission and the Member States therefore introduce the mechanisms needed to ensure that all citizens who are interested in the programme and wish to take part in it have equal opportunities for access, so as to ensure that the Socrates Programme reaches as many students, teachers and establishments as possible, while preventing the aid from being monopolized by individuals or institutions?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1997)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on the Socrates programme, to make it accessible to as many participants as possible, and to ensure maximum transparency in the awarding of grants under the programme. With this in mind, it has adopted a series of measures designed to offer all Community citizens the chance to benefit from the activities supported by Socrates.

Each year, the Commission publishes in the Official Journal a call for proposals, from which potential applicants can obtain basic information on the various aspects of the programme. The 'guide for applicants' provides full information in detail, including all the relevant information on the substance of the various measures, the types of activity supported, eligibility conditions, selection criteria, priorities, and the procedures for submitting applications. The guide is available in the 11 official Community languages, in both printed form and on the Internet. The Commission also supports information activities relating to the programmes established by the national agencies in each participating Member State, so that all potentially interested establishments, including those in the most deprived and most remote regions, are informed about the possibilities offered to them by the programme.

In the case of the actions for which Decision 819/95/EC establishing the Community action programme 'Socrates' ((OJ L 87, 20.4.1995. )) makes provision for decentralised management, Community funds are distributed to the national agencies of the participating Member States. These agencies award grants to beneficiaries in accordance with the arrangements agreed with the Commission. These arrangements ensure transparency and optimum spread in the distribution of Community assistance.

In the case of centrally managed actions, decisions on grant awards are taken by the Commission on the basis of an analysis carried out by the national agencies, independent experts and evaluators from the technical assistance office. Before being adopted, the list of grants is submitted to the Commission for consultation, and the committee referred to in the Decision is asked for its opinion.