WRITTEN QUESTION No. 670/97 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Exclusion of British ski instructors from French ski slopes
Date: 1997-02-26
Institutions: BILLINGHAM, European Parliament
Subjects: France, United Kingdom, application of EU law, freedom to provide services, professional qualifications, professional sport, recognition of diplomas, right of establishment













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91997E0670

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 670/97 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Exclusion of British ski instructors from French ski slopes  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0154 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0670/97 by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission (26 February 1997)Subject: Exclusion of British ski instructors from French ski slopesIs the Commission aware that despite recent discussions between Commission officials and the French authorities in Paris, designed to ensure that UK ski instructors' qualifications are accepted in France, the authorities in the French Alps are continuing to insist that the most highly qualified instructors from the British Association of Ski Instructors must take the 'test de capacité' before they can work?In view of the fact that UK ski instructors have already been prevented from carrying out their work during some of the best snow conditions in this year's skiing season, what action is the Commission prepared to take to prevent the French authorities continuing to breach Article 59 of the Treaty?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (9 April 1997)Great efforts have been made by the Commission in the last year to solve the problems encountered by Community ski instructors wishing to pursue their activity in France. Considerable progress has now been made and some developments have occurred recently concerning the two main issues, the freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services.As far as establishment is concerned, the French authorities have stated that they intend to amend the rules on granting authorization to holders of diplomas issued by other Member States, in order to bring their law into line with Community legislation and, in particular, with Directive 92/51/EEC on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC ((OJ L 209, 24.7.1992. )). The new regulations will come into force in the coming months.Secondly, there is the problem of the freedom to provide services, covered by Article 59 of the EC Treaty. The Commission has also been active in solving the difficulties which arose last year in the Frence Alps. Following long discussions with the French authorities, a new order (Décret) was adopted in November 1996 allowing foreign ski instructors to work in France as service providers on the basis of a declaration. Only in cases of substantial differences in the diploma or professional experience of the applicant (as regards especially responsibility for security) will the French authorities be allowed to require an aptitude test. Consequently, the Commission considers that the French legislation is now in conformity with Community law. This new procedure is intended to reconcile the freedom to provide services with the requirements of safety and appears to be a sensible solution to the traditional difficulties of recognition.