WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1125/98 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Charges to Erasmus programme exchange students
Date: 1998-04-08
Institutions: European Parliament, MATIKAINEN-KALLSTROEM
Subjects: EU programme, Finland, United Kingdom, educational exchange, free movement of persons, school fees, student

9. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 310/157

As part of the mechanisms put in place to ensure an adequate follow-up to this, there will be regular monitoring
of the implementation of the accession partnerships in the relevant (sub-)committees operating in the framework
of the Europe agreements. The Commission will present regular reports reviewing the progress made by each
applicant  country  in  the  implementation  of  the  accession  partnership,  including  the  mentioned  social  policy
issues. Moreover, the Phare management committee will ensure that financing decisions are compatible with the
accession partnerships.

(98/C 310/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/98

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission

(8 April 1998)

Subject: Charges to Erasmus programme exchange students

The basic idea of the Erasmus programme, which is funded by the European Union, is reciprocal free movement
of students in the Member States without their being charged separate tuition fees. However, I have heard of
cases in Britain, for instance, where Finnish exchange students were charged tuition fees or required to make
comparable payments under various pretexts.

What will the Commission do to ascertain how widespread such infringements of the principles underlying the
exchange  programme  are,  and  what  will  the  Commission  do  to  ensure  that  all  educational  establishments
participating in exchange programmes abide by the same rules?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(20 May 1998)

An essential condition for participation in the student mobility action of the Erasmus Chapter of Socrates is that
the student must not be charged a university fee by the host institution for the study period abroad. The student(cid:146)s
home institution is, however, permitted to continue to charge such fees during this study period.

(cid:145)University  fees(cid:146)  include  payments  for  tuition,  registration,  examinations,  access  to  laboratory  or  library
facilities.  Small  fees  may,  however,  be  charged  to  incoming  Erasmus  students  on  an  equal  basis  with  local
students for costs such as insurance, student unions, and the use of miscellaneous material such as photocopiers,
laboratory products.

The Commission pursues all cases brought to its attention in which Erasmus students claim to have been charged
university fees by their host institution. It investigates the circumstances of each case, in consultation with the
relevant  Socrates  or  Erasmus  national  agency  as  appropriate,  to  determine  whether  an  infringement  of  the
programme rules has taken place.

If the Honourable Member were able to furnish the Commission with the names and circumstances of Finnish
Erasmus students required to pay tuition fees at British universities, the Commission would examine the matter.

(98/C 310/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1415/98

by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: The right of citizens of the European Union to vote in local elections in the Member States

Citizens of the European Union are supposed to have the same opportunities to exercise citizens(cid:146) rights, such as
voting in municipal elections in the Member State where they live, even if they are not nationals of the State
concerned, on the same conditions as nationals of that State. In principle, at least, this right is a significant step
towards a stronger Citizens(cid:146) Europe. However, shortcomings have emerged in the way in which this right is
ensured in the Member States.