WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2250/97 by Maartje van PUTTEN to the Commission. Timber felling in Surinam
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN PUTTEN
Subjects: EU aid, Lomé Convention, Surinam, deforestation, development aid, economic development, forest conservation, forestry holding, forestry policy, management of resources

C 60/116

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25. 2. 98

(98/C 60/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2248/97

by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Reform of fine arts academies

Students at fine arts academies in Italy have formed a national committee in order to lobby vigorously for their
diplomas to be granted degree status so that on completion of their studies they may attend special schools or
enter the teaching profession as their counterparts elsewhere in Europe are able to do.

Given that the Italian Government has not yet replied to their demands, will the Commission press the Italian
Government to implement the decree adopted two years ago by the Committee on Culture of the Chamber of
Deputies dealing with university reforms for Italian academies and conservatories and designed to remove the
conditions effectively penalizing Italian students vis-a‘-vis their counterparts in other Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 1997)

Under  Article  126  of  the  EC  Treaty,  the  Community  contributes  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.

Consequently, the Member States are wholly responsible for dealing with such matters as levels of study and the
recognition or academic equivalence of diplomas.

(98/C 60/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2250/97

by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Timber felling in Surinam

The media in the Netherlands recently reported (once again) on the plundering of forests in Surinam by foreign ›
in particular, Asiatic › companies. In order to avoid having to secure permission from the National Assembly, it
appears that a few large companies operate via phantom companies and a lot of small concessions.

Is the Commission aware of these reports and, if so, does it feel that this is a problem requiring international
1.
attention, given the protocol on forests in the Lome· Agreement, Agenda 21 and the current international debate
on a forests convention?

Is the commercial exploitation of Surinam(cid:146)s forests one of the topics of the dialogue with Surinam in the

2.
context of Lome· cooperation?

If so, what is the Commission(cid:146)s opinion of the Surinam government(cid:146)s view of the plundering of forests by

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foreign firms?

4. What aid is being given by the Commission to the Surinam authorities or non-governmental organizations
to encourage sustainable forest management and to counteract illegal forms of exploitation?

5. What  opportunities  does  the  Commission  see  for  supporting  the  Surinam  government  and  private
organizations  in  taking  more  effective  action  against  the  environmentally  and/or  socially  irresponsible
exploitation of Surinam(cid:146)s forests?

Is the Commission prepared, in its cooperation with Surinam, to take the initiative in calling for a more

6.
effective approach and in working towards bringing it about?