WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Abolition of the Enterprise Programme.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, inter-company cooperation, small and medium-sized enterprises

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/221

These Directives have not harmonised the training conditions for estate agents, so each Member State
remains free to regulate the profession on its own territory, and specifically to make exercise of the
profession dependent on possessing a specific diploma or specific qualifications. Nevertheless, under these
Directives, a professional who is fully qualified to exercise the profession concerned in his or her Member
State of origin should, in principle, be able to exercise the same profession in another Member State that
regulates access or practice. However, as the training conditions have not been subject to harmonisation,
in the event of substantial differences between the training the migrant has followed and that required in
the host Member State, the latter may require the migrant to demonstrate professional experience or to
undergo a compensatory measure. This compensatory measure can take the form of an aptitude test or an
adaptation period. In principle, it is for the migrant to choose between these two options.

As the general system for the recognition of professional qualifications operates on the whole satisfactorily,
the Commission does not intend to change its principles.

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

(2001/C 89 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2751/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Abolition of the Enterprise Programme

Can the Commission explain why it has decided to abolish the Enterprise Programme, which promotes
cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises and encourages international trade, thus causing
considerable cost to the various consortia which have invested resources to prepare projects? Does the
Commission intend to propose a new programme which will meet SMEs(cid:146) needs in the future?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

The Commission has decided recently not to continue its participation in events such as Interprise. This
decision has to be seen in the general policy line of the Commission to discontinue small financial
projects.

Interprise has been favourably evaluated as meeting a real need and achieving good results in a cost-
effective way. However, despite the benefits for the firms participating in these events, the Commission
cannot justify continued allocation of its scarce resources to benefits only a small number of small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Commission(cid:146)s participation does not bring sufficient leverage in
relation to the total population of enterprises in Europe.

The Commission is nevetheless reflecting on ways to continue with a Community business co-operation
programme that would not make an undue claim on the Commission(cid:146)s resources.

(2001/C 89 E/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2780/00

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: University of ChambØry

Since 1987, some 48 students from Valle d(cid:146)Aosta, an autonomous region of Italy, have graduated from the
University of ChambØry in (cid:145)Langues ØtrangŁres appliquØes(cid:146) (applied foreign languages).