WRITTEN QUESTION E-2744/00 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Estate agents.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: access to a profession, real estate business, single market

C 89 E/220

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

responsible for the planning of the project had failed to take into account the fact that there was still
housing in the vicinity of the proposed site. Once the survey had been approved (3), the contractors refused
to resume work, prompting the municipality of Sarroch to cancel the contract (4). The work was then
entrusted to another firm, which built the sewage plant at the new location indicated in the report, above
the user sector, close to the sea, in the only remaining unspoilt natural area of the municipality of Sarroch.

Although a letter was sent to the office of the Cagliari Public Prosecutor on 23 July 1997 asking it to
check the legality of the various authorisations for the construction work and compliance with the existing
laws on the environment, no measures have yet been taken.

At present, the sewage plant has been completely abandoned and is a target for vandalism. The sewage
problems of the area concerned have not been resolved and the area has been disfigured, jeopardising
possible tourist development.

Will the Commission investigate the legality of the management of the Community funds used for the
project? Does it not think that the recipients of the funding should compensate the European Union, since
the project concerned did not fulfil its objectives?

(1) Decision No 35/3 of 24 September 1993; delegation order DCGADA No 2557 of 8 October 1993.
(2) Municipal Council Decision No 365 of 25 November 1994.
(3) Municipal Council Decision No 328 of 8 November 1996, endorsed by the opinions of the Department of the
Environment and the Department of Public Education of the autonomous region of Sardinia and the office for the
protection of the artistic, architecture and historical heritage.

(4) Municipal Council Decision No 58 of 21 February 1997.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 89 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2744/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Estate agents

Given that the estate agent sector has grown considerably in recent years, both in terms of turnover and
the number of employees, will the Commission provide all possible information on the new European
provisions regarding estate agents, particular as regards qualifying exams for the profession?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

As regards the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, the profession of estate agent is covered
by Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988, 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), and Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992, on a second general system for the
recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (2). Which of these
two Directives applies depends on the levels of
training required in the Member State where the
professional acquired his or her qualifications (Member State of origin) and in the Member State where
he or she wishes to exercise this profession (host Member State).

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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).