WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1204/98 by Odile LEPERRE-VERRIER to the Commission. Safety in schools
Date: 1998-04-06
Institutions: European Parliament, LEPERRE-VERRIER
Subjects: action programme, child, education policy, educational institution, exchange of information, financial aid, public awareness campaign, violence

19. 11. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 354/79

(98/C 354/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1204/98

by Odile Leperre-Verrier (ARE) to the Commission

(6 April 1998)

Subject: Safety in schools

At the most recent meeting of the Council of Education Ministers, it was decided that measures would be taken
with a view to securing a higher level of safety in schools. Can the Commission state what measures are currently
being considered in order to reduce the incidence of violence in schools?

In particular, can the Commission indicate what pilot projects have been envisaged?

Reply given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1998)

On 22 September 1997 the Council adopted its conclusions on safety at school (1). Whilst pointing out that safety
impinges  on,  and  is  a  condition  for,  quality  in  education,  the  Council  recognises  in  its  conclusions  that  the
majority of Member States are increasingly confronted with issues of safety in schools. It calls upon the Member
States and the Commission to structure and step up cooperation in this field, through the exchange of information
based on experience acquired in this field and current experiments in the Member States.

In the wake of these conclusions, the (cid:145)Violence at school(cid:146) initiative was launched at the end of 1997. A group of
experts  was  appointed,  comprising  representatives  of  the  Member  States,  European  teachers(cid:146)  trade  union
organisations  and  parents(cid:146)  associations,  and  chaired  by  the  Commission.  This  group  of  experts,  which  has
already  met  on  four  occasions,  is  responsible  for  coordinating  national  activities  with  those  undertaken  at
European level. The group also ensures the exchange of information on the policies adopted in this area in the
Member States.

At the end of 1997 the Commission was able to support an initial series of pilot projects. 38 project proposals
were submitted to the Commission, requesting funding for a total amount of ECU 3.65 million. 19 transnational
projects were selected from these proposals. The total amount of funding granted amounts to ECU 558 330, or
just  under  15%  of  the  total  requested,  under  budget  heading  B3-1000  (general  cooperation  and  education
measures). These projects involve 152 institutions from 17 countries, including schools (34), universities (27),
training centres (11), local, regional or national authorities (58) and associations (22). As for the types of project,
these  include:  action  programmes  (prevention  and  intervention)  involving  schools  and  education  centres
(12 projects), development of teaching materials (2 projects), training measures for teachers, pupils and parents,
partnerships between schools and parents, the police, the judiciary, local authorities (1 project), networks for the
exchange of information and experience (1 project) and European conferences (1 project).

These  projects  are  in  their  initial  phase.  In  order  to  ensure  the  best  possible  coordination  between  all  the
activities, the Commission organised a meeting between the project coordinators at a meeting of the group of
experts.  When  this  meeting  took  place  in  Brussels  on  25  and  26  March  1998,  the  European  activities  were
presented and discussed, thereby helping to establish a wider network of cooperation.

The Commission has also just launched a second call for proposals for 1998 (2), for transnational pilot projects.
Proposals are expected which will complement current actions, particularly those concerning activities in the
area of prevention of violence and development of pro-social behaviour amongst schoolchildren.

The Commission intends to improve information on this initiative for both the general public and the experts in
this  area,  notably  through  the  Internet  site  created  on  the  Europa  server,  located  at  http://europa.eu.int/
en/comm/dg22/violence/home.html. Particular effort will be made to ensure dissemination of the most useful
practices and experience, for example in the area of prevention of violence or training of educational players.

The  activities  undertaken  within  this  initiative  will  be  reviewed  at  the  end  of  1998,  and  an  overall  report  is
planned for June 1999.

(1)  OJ C 303, 4.10.1997.
(2)  OJ C 111, 9.4.1998.