WRITTEN QUESTION E-1364/00 by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Lifelong training.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, vocational training

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/177

commercial purposes. It should not offend Member States. It may not as a rule be a publication. Requests
should be addressed to a member of the Commission, through Commission offices or delegations.

Alternatively, the initiative may qualify for a grant under a Community programme. In order to do so, an
application would have to be submitted in response to a call for proposals published in the Official journal
and the initiative would have to meet the selection and award criteria set out therein. The Culture 2000
programme (Decision No 508/2000/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 14 February 2000 (1)) is
the principal instrument for Community funding in the cultural field.

(1) OJ L 63, 10.3.2000.

(2001/C 46 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1364/00

by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Lifelong training

Given that continuing training and access to new technologies have been declared a priority so as to
enable every citizen to work in the (cid:145)information and knowledge society(cid:146), does the Commission intend to
introduce a Community programme to promote lifelong training?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

Lifelong learning is already being promoted through a number of Community programmes and actions.
Following the European Year of Lifelong Learning in 1996, lifelong learning has become a more articulated
aspect in the new phase of the Community programmes for education (Socrates), vocational training
(Leonardo da Vinci) and youth policy (Youth).

in order to provide digital

The Commission is currently preparing two new initiatives directly linked to lifelong learning, namely a
literacy and wide access to learning for all
communication on (cid:145)e-learning(cid:146)
citizens, and a communication on (cid:145)Lifelong learning for active citizenship in a Europe of Knowledge(cid:146). The
latter aims to provide impetus to the European process for implementing lifelong learning, particularly
following the Lisbon conclusions, to summarise achievements made in developing lifelong learning at
Member States and Community level to develop a conceptual framework identifying challenges and points
for action and to propose recommendations for action in terms of objectives, benchmarks or guidelines
underpinned by indicators and information.

In addition lifelong learning is funded by the European Social Fund, objective 3. Innovative approaches to
lifelong learning are also funded under the Community initiative EQUAL. Lifelong learning is also being
promoted through the European employment guidelines (the Luxembourg process) according to which the
Member States, in partnership with the social partners, will develop lifelong learning based on a broad
definition and followed up by concrete targets.

Promoting lifelong learning is also considered through the 3rd, 4th and 5th framework programme
research programmes, notably under the DELTA Research and technological development (RTD) pro-
gramme on learning technologies, the telematics applications for education and training and within the
Information society technologies (IST) programme area addressing education and training applications. The

C 46 E/178

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

for proposals in February 2000 specifically addressed (cid:145)the learning citizen(cid:146) and associated new
call
technologies, approaches, methods and services to facilitate motivation for and access to lifelong learning
to the population at large.

Following the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council on 23-24 March 2000, the Commission(cid:146)s
proposed action plan for the eEurope initiative includes two explicit objectives to address (cid:145)Preparing youth
for the Digital Age(cid:146) and (cid:145)Working in the knowledge-based economy(cid:146).

(2001/C 46 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1366/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Twinning in the Commission(cid:146)s work programme

(4 May 2000)

During an interview published in the Italian daily newspaper (cid:145)La Repubblica(cid:146) on 20 March 2000, Vice-
President Kinnock, speaking about the challenges and priorities for the Commission(cid:146)s future, mentioned the
question of twinning, saying that the Commission was working on twinning between cities, which was a
task it had taken on with pleasure and which its officials had always carried out well. However, the
shortage of staff meant that it had to ask itself whether twinning was one of the Commission(cid:146)s main tasks.
This last question seems to be rhetorical. Indeed, when the question is asked in this way, it is clear that
twinning cannot be seen as one of the Commission(cid:146)s main tasks. At least that is the impression given.

1.

Has the Commission already answered the question asked by its Vice-President?

Did it perhaps intend to indicate by this rhetorical question that in future neither the staff nor

2.
financial resources would be available to implement the programme currently under way?

3.
If so, does it not think that the withdrawal by the Commission of political and financial support from
twinning represents the latest in a long series of setbacks to the people(cid:146)s Europe and the involvement of
towns and cities in the Union in a measure designed to promote awareness and knowledge of the cultures
of the different peoples of Europe?

4.

Can it give formal assurances regarding its support for the programme?

(2001/C 46 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1446/00

by Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission

(3 May 2000)

Subject: Twinning of towns

On 20 March 2000, in an interview given to the Italian daily newspaper (cid:145)La Repubblica(cid:146), Commissioner
Kinnock questioned whether the Commission should continue supporting the twinning of towns and cities
in Europe, given the staff shortages in the unit concerned.

Will the Commission say whether this is indeed its policy and whether, as the Commissioner responsible
maintains, it no longer sees this measure as a priority?

Does the Commission not think that the European Parliament should be properly consulted before it
adopts a position on this matter?