WRITTEN QUESTION No. 7/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Further training of primary school teachers who have graduated from teacher-training colleges
Date: 1998-01-29
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: European Social Fund, Greece, allowances and expenses, continuing education, employment aid, pay, recognition of diplomas, teacher training

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/81

(98/C 223/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Further training of primary school teachers who have graduated from teacher-training colleges

The further training of primary school teachers in Greece is important for their professional status as it puts the
qualifications of college-trained teachers on a par with those of their university-graduate colleagues. It is funded
from  Action  1.3.a  of  the  (cid:145)General  and  Technical  Education(cid:146)  subprogramme  under  the  (cid:145)Education  and  Initial
Vocational Training(cid:146) programme. There are, however, problems in the implementation of the measure in terms
of the small number of teachers who undergo the training, the travelling and expenses involved.

1.  Since seminars are given at the end of teaching, could there not be more decentralized training centres to

reduce the distance to be travelled; some participants have to travel more than 100 km?

2.  Could financial compensation be provided for those undergoing training or those who have to travel long

distances, particularly for unemployed college-trained teachers?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1998)

According to the structural funds regulations, the responsibility for the execution of the various actions belongs
to  the  national  authorities.  Nevertheless,  the  Commission  would  like  to  inform  the  Honourable  Member  that
training seminars are decentralised to the degree that the universities, responsible implementing agencies for this
action, consider necessary and feasible, taking into consideration the quality of the training offered.

Although both the remuneration and the travel costs of the trainees are eligible expenditure according to Article 2
of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2084/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European social fund (1) only travel
costs are covered by the programme in this action. The main reason for that is the high cost of the operation,
resulting from the number of the trainees (about 16 000) and the hours of training (different categories according
to their practical experience).

(1)  OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(98/C 223/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0008/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Construction of hydroelectric plants in Arcadia

The Ministries of Agriculture and Development have decided to give over an area of 1.8 hectares along the River
Lousio  in  Arcadia  for  the  construction  of  two  hydroelectric  plants.  Both  the  authorities  and  inhabitants  of
Arcadia fear for the imminent destruction of an environment of exceptional beauty, for the survival of a rare
species  of  trout  that  lives  in  the  waters  of  the  river,  the  numerous  monuments  from  the  Byzantine  and
post-Byzantine  eras  in  the  region,  the  ruins  of  two  sanctuaries  from  the  5th  and  4th  centuries  B.C.  and
hydroelectric installations of the pre-industrial period. A recent decision by the Ministry of Culture designated
the area an (cid:145)integral archaeological site(cid:146) while the EU has provided funds for an open-air water-power museum.

Have environmental studies been carried out for this specific hydroelectric project which take account of the
special historical and environmental significance of the area?