WRITTEN QUESTION E-2145/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. No-renewal contracts at the JRC.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Joint Research Centre, competition (EU), recruitment, work contract

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/159

Specific projects on human rights are currently being examined with a view to financing a programme in
the DRC. Programmes aimed at rehabilitating the judiciary and strengthening legal security and public
awareness are also planned. These come on top of schemes under way or in the pipeline on humanitarian
aid and rehabilitation in the fields of health, urban renewal, water, transport and food security through
local production.

These programmes are of course complementary and have been drawn up in conjunction with other
donors, notably the Member States. On 22 May 2000 the Council asked the Commission to examine the
scope for gradually resuming cooperation in areas geared to reconciliation and establishing the rule of law.

The Commission has no mechanism for grants in Africa aside from special initiatives forming part of the
national indicative programme (NIP) adopted for each signatory of the Convention between the Commun-
ity and the ACP countries. In the DRC(cid:146)s case the political situation has prevented the signing of an NIP and
grants are available only for regional programmes such as Comstat for training in statistics. There are
training courses relating to rehabilitation in the field concerned.

For the time being the situation in the DRC means that it is not eligible for the debt reduction initiative
(for HIPCs) and no other measures of this kind are planned.

(2001/C 81 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2141/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: IDEA and JHA

Has the Commission considered the application of IDEA technologies to Justice and Home Affairs?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Electronic identification of animals (IDEA) technologies are used as an electronic tagging system for the
registration and tracing of Community livestock. A feasibility assessment is currently being conducted on
IDEA by Isis in Joint Research Centre in Ispra and will end in 2002. If these trials are successful, the
Commission may consider the possibility of using IDEA technologies in the fight against fraud.

The Commission has not considered applying IDEA technologies to the field of Justice and Home Affairs.

(2001/C 81 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2145/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: No-renewal contracts at the JRC

How many three-year no-renewal contracts have been awarded at the JRC?

How many former holders of such contracts continue to work at the JRC and on what basis?

C 81 E/160

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2000)

At 1 July 2000 the Joint Research Centre (JRC) had awarded a total of 237 three-year no-renewal
contracts, of which 137 were still running and 100 had expired.

To date, a total of four former holders of such contracts, all of whom successfully passed a research
selection procedure or a competition, have been recruited to the JRC.

(2001/C 81 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2150/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Possible closure of the British Council school in Alicante, Spain

(30 June 2000)

The British Council school in Alicante, which has 170 pupils, provides teaching in accordance with both
Spanish and British legislation ((LOGSE and the National Curriculum respectively). The British Council
recently announced that it intended to close the school, citing faults in the construction of new buildings
to which the school had intended to relocate, and stating that the deadlines for completion of the new
buildings had not been met. Although the British Council had complained on previous occasions about the
construction of the new facilities, all problems had until now been overcome, until this most recent
statement when, by means of a letter to parents, the British Council announced that the school would be
closed and pre-registration fees reimbursed.

The parents(cid:146) association of the school questions the arguments used, and in view of fact that the British
Council has made no attempt to seek alternatives or solutions, has decided to exercise its right to petition
the European institutions.

Whereas, in accordance with the EC Treaty:

(cid:129) Article 3(1) provides for various Community measures and policies aimed at achieving the objectives

of the Community,

(cid:129) Article 3(1)(q) expressly states that this action shall include (cid:145)a contribution to education and training of

quality and to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States(cid:146),

(cid:129) Article 149 encourages the Member States to cooperate in order to contribute to the development of

quality education, (cid:133) and given the Commission(cid:146)s role as guardian of the Treaties.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to guarantee freedom of choice in education in the
specific case of the British Council school in Alicante?

Does the Commission agree there is a need for a directive to set out criteria governing the establishment of
schools attached to educational organisations in other Community Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Members that the organisation of education systems,
is the responsibility of the Member States.
including types of schools and the content of teaching,
As provided in Article 149 (ex-Article 126) of the EC Treaty,
(cid:145)the Community shall contribute to the
development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States ((cid:133)) while fully
respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of
education systems ((cid:133))(cid:146).

In the case mentioned by the Honourable Members, it is not within the Commission(cid:146)s competence to
intervene.