WRITTEN QUESTION E-1983/00 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. Dance teachers.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, performing arts, recognition of diplomas, teaching

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/125

(2001/C 81 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1983/00

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Dance teachers

Could the Commission please indicate whether any plans exist for a Europe-wide registration scheme for
dance teachers who instruct in a range of dance disciplines?

Could the Commission also indicate whether plans exist to ensure that qualifications obtained by dance
teachers in one Member State are recognised in another?

Are there any plans to introduce European Union funding for dance schools and institutions?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

There are no plans for a Europe-wide registration scheme for dance teachers who instruct in a range of
dance disciplines. There are no plans to ensure that qualifications obtained by dance teachers in one
Member state are recognised in another.

On 21 December 1988, the Council adopted Directive 89/48/EEC on a general system for the recognition
of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least
three years(cid:146) duration (1). The general system was supplemented in June 1992 by Council Directive 92/51/
EEC (2) which covers regulated professional activities for which training is less than the minimum period of
three years. In practice, whether the former or the latter Directive is applied in a given case depends on the
level of training required in the host Member State for access to a particular profession.

Those Directives set up a procedure to facilitate the recognition of diplomas throughout the Community
when the profession a migrant wants to exercise is regulated in the host Member State. A profession is
regulated when the taking up or pursuit of that profession is subject by virtue of national laws, regulations
or administrative provisions to the possession of certain qualifications.

The candidate must submit an individual application to the host Member State authorities. Then, the
procedure for examining this application has to be completed as soon as possible and the outcome
communicated in a reasoned decision no later than four months after presentation of all necessary
documents by the candidates. A remedy has to be available against this decision, or the absence thereof,
before a court or tribunal in accordance with the provisions of national law.

Conditions for recognition vary depending on the level of the qualification required in the host Member
State and on the level of qualification held by the migrant. Basically, the rule is that recognition must be
granted unless there are substantial differences between the host Member State and the home Member
In such cases compensatory measures may be applied. However, a refusal cannot be
State training.
excluded under exceptional circumstances e.g. the level of the qualification required in the host country
is much higher than the qualification held by the migrant.

There are no plans to introduce Community funding for dance schools and institutions.

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.
(2) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.