WRITTEN QUESTION E-1365/00 by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Action following the Lisbon summit.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, competence of the Member States, recognition of vocational training qualifications, teacher training, vocational education

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/133

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The Commission is already reporting on the implementation of Obnova reconstruction programmes in the
former Yugoslavia. The last report was sent to the Parliament and the Council in January 2000.

Also, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 of 25 July 1996 relating to aid for Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (1), the Director of the European Agency for reconstruction will present a quarterly activity
report to the Parliament and the Commission will submit, on a yearly basis, to the Parliament and the
Council a report of the activities of the Agency. The first annual report will be due in April 2001.

Furthermore, the Commission is regularly submitting to both institutions a detailed financial overview of
the assistance programmes implemented by the European Agency for reconstruction since its establish-
ment in February 2000.

(1) OJ L 204, 14.8.1996, as last amended by (EC) No 2454/1999 of 15 November 1999, OJ L 299, 20.11.1999.

(2001/C 53 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1365/00

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

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Action following the Lisbon summit

At the Lisbon summit on 23 and 24 March, it was observed by all those taking part that the economic and
social spheres are increasingly interdependent and should be brought together.

On the basis of this recognition, does the Commission intend to strengthen Community measures relating
to vocational education based on a partnership between companies and educational establishments?

Does it intend to introduce a precise framework in order to ensure a minimum level of training for tutors,
and to lay down precise objectives to be achieved by the end of the training period, in whatever European
country the training takes place?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

The Lisbon European Council acknowledged the fundamental role of education and training policy in the
economic and social renewal of our society and adopted a series of targets to be achieved in the short and
medium-term. The Commission immediately took the following initiatives to address the Council(cid:146)s
demands in the field of vocational training.

In the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme it has prioritised the creation of partnerships for
cooperation between training centres and firms and for improving the training of
instructors. The
priorities of the Leonardo da Vinci programme for 2000-2002 include measures to improve the training
of instructors. Besides, the programme(cid:146)s (cid:145)mobility(cid:146) measure provides for its participation in exchanges
between training centres and firms. However, Community action in the field of training is based on
Article 150 (ex-Article 127) of the EC Treaty, which specifies that Community measures shall support and
supplement the action of the Member States, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States
for the content and organisation of vocational training (subsidiarity). This principle makes it difficult for
the Commission to lay down a precise framework defining the training of instructors or the content of
training courses.

C 53 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

In the context of mobility the Commission has urged the Member States to accelerate the implementation
of the Europass and to generalise its use. The Europass is a document which certifies that the holder has a
European record of work-linked training (school-firm) in another Member State.

On 24 May 2000 the Commission adopted the (cid:145)e-Learning initiative(cid:146) (1), designed to mobilise the education
community and the economic and social players in order to accelerate the development of training systems
and the transition of Europe towards a knowledge society. In the context of this initiative it is planned to
strengthen the partnerships between the public and private sectors and between industry and the education
community. Particular attention will be devoted to the training of teachers and instructors, notably in the
use of new training technologies.

In its communication (cid:145)Strategies for jobs in the information society(cid:146) (2) the Commission argues that
universities must create new partnerships with industry to ensure that the courses supply the skills needed
by industry. This communication also aims to ensure that all teachers possess verifiable skills relevant to
the information society.

In the framework of employment policy, the European Social Fund (2000-2006) is designed to help
Member States put in place new active policies and appropriate systems for combating unemployment and
improving skills. It explicitly addresses the development of links between the world of work, education,
training and research institutes.

(1) COM(2000) 318 final.
(2) COM(2000) 48 final.

(2001/C 53 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1383/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Drawing-up of statistics with a view to a better understanding of the situation of women and

developments concerning women

Statistics have a very important role to play in achieving a better understanding of the real situation of
women compared to men. They also clearly indicate both positive and negative developments in the
framework of women(cid:146)s policy and make it possible to devise appropriate measures. However, the fact is
that so far statistics showing gender-specific differences have been inadequate.

Does the Commission intend to take measures to make such gender-specific data available in future so as
to shed light on the present situation and developments in women(cid:146)s policy in all sectors?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

The Commission has for many years disseminated data disaggregated by sex. Virtually all of its publica-
tions in the social field present some statistics and indicators for both women and men. Furthermore,
Eurostat(cid:146)s reference database (NewCronos) contains a vast array of social statistics and indicators broken
down by sex.

the last decade or so has seen a significant

Admittedly,
increase in the demand for comparative
information on the social situation of women and men. As a result, Eurostat produced two reports: the
first in 1992, specifically on women, entitled (cid:145)Women in the European Community(cid:146) (1), the second in 1995
(cid:145)Women and men in the European Union (2)(cid:146). The latter was presented at the United Nations fourth world
conference on women in Beijing. Furthermore, the forthcoming Commission report on the social situation
in the European Union 2000 will also contain a significant amount of comparative data on women and
men.

As stated above, almost all social statistics published by the Commission should be available for both
women and men either on paper or in the reference database. Eurostat welcomes any suggestions with
regard to specific fields or indicators for which no information is available by sex but for which there is
deemed to be a need.