WRITTEN QUESTION P-2065/00 by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Recognition of qualifications.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: diploma, professional qualifications

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/175

Finally, can the Commission say what steps will be taken to ensure compliance with the principles of
equity and transparency vis-(cid:224)-vis all those taking part in the LIFE (cid:129) Nature programme?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

The external LIFE-Nature groups appointed to assist the Commission are selected on the basis of a public
invitation to tender. The qualifications required concern, amongst other things, professional experience,
scientific competence, the composition of the group and its linguistic knowledge, and its independence in
relation to proposers.

According to the contract, the consultant assists the Commission in its contacts with the proposers and the
administrations during the phase of presentation of the requests for financial support. It provides,
if
necessary, complementary technical and scientific information useful for the evaluation of the projects
presented. It follows the implementation of each project (analysis of the measures implemented, technical
advice on each activity report produced by the beneficiary, a biannual detailed follow-up, and at the end of
each project an assessment of the results of the project in comparison with the initial objectives). The
consultant also provides a permanent interface between the Commission, the beneficiaries, the national
administrations and the local communities and advises the beneficiaries on the preparation of
the
documents to submit to the Commission. Finally it encourages the exchange of experience between
projects.

The external consultants deliver their opinions to the Commission, which then has to decide what attitude
to take with regard to the projects concerned (e.g. making payments, requesting additional information or
adjusting project aims). Justified outgoings of the external groups are chiefly staff costs and mission
expenses.

The external groups and their staff are required to maintain strict independence vis-(cid:224)-vis LIFE-Nature
beneficiaries. They may neither accept any payment from them nor hold a position of influence on their
management boards, even in a voluntary capacity.

The Commission does its best to ensure equal treatment for LIFE-Nature project proposers, as far as the
available human resources allow. For example, the LIFE-nature information and training sessions held in
the Member States are open to all, the Commission and the external groups do not respond to any request
for information on the eligibility or the quality of a proposal under consideration and they do not accept
any invitation to the site of a project before the Commission has taken its co-financing decision.

(2001/C 72 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2065/00

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Recognition of qualifications

The recognition of qualifications in the EU by the Member States is an issue of great importance which has
a direct impact on citizens and restricts their right to freedom of movement and establishment for
purposes of work.

Can the Commission therefore say:

(cid:129) whether it is possible to devise a Commission initiative to establish a (cid:145)European professional qualifying
examination(cid:146) based on a single curriculum, with examination subjects laid down for each profession
with the assistance of all the Member States, to be held regularly and simultaneously in all the
countries, for the purposes of defining a (cid:145)legal status for European professionals(cid:146) accepted throughout
the Union?

(cid:129) The qualification could be issued without restriction or could be subject to a periodically determined
set number of successful candidates, if it is considered necessary to make it subject to the demand on
the labour market, on the basis of an analysis.

C 72 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

First, the Commission would refer the honourable Member to the Commission(cid:146)s answers to Written
Questions E-2378/94 by Ms Pack (1) and E-3037/95 by Mr Schnellhardt (2).

The Commission also believes that the question of a European examination, and hence the harmonisation
of training, should be considered in the light of Articles 149 and 150 of the EC Treaty (ex Articles 126
and 127), where reference is made specifically to the exclusion of any possibility of harmonising these
systems.

In the absence of Community provisions governing the content and structure of teaching in the Member
States, the host Member State may require migrants to provide proof of a certain level of knowledge in
relation to the requirements laid down in its legislation for admission to a vocational examination.
However,
in the procedures for enrolling persons with diplomas obtained in other Member States for
vocational examinations, Member States must refrain from any direct or indirect discrimination based on
nationality, in accordance with Articles 12, 149 and 150 of the EC Treaty (ex Articles 6, 126 and 127).

(1) OJ C 152, 19.6.1995.
(2) OJ C 91, 27.3.1996.

(2001/C 72 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2067/00

by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: Excessive certification requirements thwart crockery imports into Turkey

Since July 1999 Turkey has been demanding presentation of a Turkish certificate for crockery imports.
As part of the goods checking process, samples are taken from each shipment, which are not returned, and
charges are demanded. This amounts to an import restriction and de facto imposition of an (cid:145)import levy(cid:146)
of around 20 % of the value of the goods.

Is the Commission aware of this procedure by the Turkish authorities for imports of household and

1.
hotel crockery?

Does the Commission take the view that

2.
Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey?

the Turkish import regulation adversely affects the

3.

How does the Commission propose to deal with this procedure?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The problem referred to by the Honourable Member has been brought to the Commission(cid:146)s attention by
representatives of the private sector.

The Commission considers that these measures represent a barrier to trade and run counter to Decision
No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of
the Customs Union (1).

The Commission therefore contacted the Turkish authorities in January of this year in order to settle this
problem within the Joint Committee on Customs Union.

(1) OJ L 35, 13.2.1996.