WRITTEN QUESTION E-2150/00 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Possible closure of the British Council school in Alicante, Spain.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, United Kingdom, academic freedom, building industry, building regulations, competence of the Member States, school abroad

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.