WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2065/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Reform of fine arts academies to convert them into higher education institutes
Date: 1998-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: Italy, approximation of laws, art education, competence of the Member States, education policy, equal treatment, equivalence of diplomas, fine arts, higher education, recognition of studies

C 31/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.2.1999

(1999/C 31/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2065/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(7 July 1998)

Subject: Reform of fine arts academies to convert them into higher education institutes

In the countries of the European Union, with the apparent exception of Italy, a diploma from a fine arts academy
is equivalent to a degree. In April 1989, in response to this anomaly, the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved a
programme commiting the government to reform these academies and to bring them into the university sector so
as to bridge the gap between Italian and European legislation in this area. Finally, in March 1997, the Chamber of
Deputies unanimously adopted Decree Law 2881, converting the academies into higher educational institutes.
Since then, the law has been pending before the Senate(cid:146)s committee on culture, while Article 21(11) of Law 59/97
(known as the Bassanini Act after its sponsor) relegates the academies to the status of secondary education
institutes, in breach inter alia of Article 33 of the Constitution.

The Commission:

1.

Is the it aware of this anomaly, which penalizes students of these academies?

2. What is its opinion on this de facto discrimination which prevents Italian graduates from these academies
securing recognition of their diplomas in other EU countries as equivalent to the qualifications of their
European counterparts?

3. What measures will it take vis-(cid:224)-vis the Italian authorities to speed up the passage of the bill through the
Senate so as to bridge the gap once and for all between Italian and European legislation on this matter (as was
done for students of the ISEF)?

4. Does it not consider that the trade union action undertaken over a number of weeks by students of the fine
arts academies is a legitimate attempt to uphold rights which should be enjoyed under the newly-established
European citizenship?

(1999/C 31/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2341/98

by Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE), Ombretta Colli (PPE), Cristiana Muscardini (NI),
Maria Colombo Svevo (PPE), Carlo Secchi (PPE), Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE), Marco Formentini (NI),
Claudio Azzolini (PPE), Monica Baldi (PPE), Umberto Scapagnini (PPE),
Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE), Biagio De Giovanni (PSE)
and Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Reform of the Academies of Fine Art in Italy and recognition at European level of the diplomas they

award

Students at Academies of Fine Art in Italy have set up a National Committee and started a campaign aimed at
obtaining recognition for their diploma as equivalent to a university degree, as is the case in all the other countries
of the European Union. The current regulations in this area discriminate against Italian students compared with
their European colleagues because at the end of their studies they can only be awarded a diploma, which
effectively penalizes them in the pursuit of their profession within and outside their country.

The most recent law passed by the Italian state (Law 59/97) on the autonomy of secondary schools effectively
confirms this situation. This law includes Academies of Fine Art in Article 21(11) thereby denying them the
status of post-diploma schools and consequently also funding that reflects their role. Furthermore, a bill granting
university status to Academies of Fine Art (No 2881) has been blocked by the senate(cid:146)s committee on culture since
last year.

What is the Commission(cid:146)s opinion of the fact that Italian Fine Art students are penalized in relation to their
European colleagues as regards participation in public-sector open competitions and in the pursuit of their
profession because their qualification has less (cid:145)currency(cid:146) in Italy and the rest of Europe?

Does the Commission not think it would be advisable to approach the Italian government and to press for the
adoption of Bill No 2881 in order to ensure the full recognition of the right of students at Academies of Fine Art to
have their qualification accepted as equivalent to a university degree, thereby ending the disparity between
national and European law?