WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/01 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Promoting the teaching of new technologies in the European Union.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: continuing education, education policy, new technology, teaching

C 318 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

(2001/C 318 E/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Promoting the teaching of new technologies in the European Union

The dearth of specialists in new technologies in the European Union has reached dramatic proportions
with 1,6 million specialists being needed in the next few years. The time has therefore come to take action
and reduce the lead taken by the United States.

In order to obtain that number of specialists and reduce our main economic competitor(cid:146)s lead, it is clear
that a major effort will be required to create the necessary infrastructure of teaching centres to train the
specialists needed in the field of new technologies.

Can the Commission say what its strategy is for the consolidation and further development of the
infrastructure of centres for the teaching of new technologies at all levels and what stimuli can be expected
from private initiatives with regard to participating in the effort required vis-(cid:224)-vis the abovementioned
teaching infrastructure?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2001)

At the Lisbon European Council of 23-24 March 2000, the Community set itself a new strategic goal:
(cid:145)to 4become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of
sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion(cid:146).

The European Employment Strategy (1) took the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council into account
by strengthening the role of lifelong learning in the employment guidelines for 2001, including digital
literacy for all citizens (e-learning) and the need for Member States to encourage in particular the
development of multi-purpose local learning centres (see horizontal objectives and guidelines 4, 5) (2).

The Santa Maria da Feira European Council held on 19 and 20 June 2000 also strengthened the role of the
social partners, who were invited to conclude agreements on lifelong learning with a view to creating
conditions which would give all workers the chance to become digitally literate by 2003.

Moreover, in Stockholm, the European Council endorsed the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for the creation of
a High Level Skills and Mobility Task Force to examine the drivers, characteristics and barriers within the
European labour market. In its work, particular importance will be attached to the information and
communication technology (ICT) skills needed for the knowledge society.

The Structural Funds (2000-2006) contribute financially to the implementation of
the European
Employment Strategy with operational commitments for actions contributing to the development of new
technologies. Lifelong learning initiatives encompass a number of priorities within the European Social
Fund (ESF) plans.

the number of

Furthermore, the eEurope Action Plan 2002 (3), together with the eLearning initiative, also provides that by
the end of 2002 the workforce should be given the chance to become digitally literate by means of lifelong
training posts and information technology courses should be increased
learning,
significantly, and a network of
learning and training centres for information and communication
technology training and retraining of postgraduate students. The responsibility for the first measure lies
with the Member States, the social partners and the private sector. It is also up to the Member States to set
up public Internet access points and on-site training opportunities in public buildings (cid:129) libraries,
employment agencies, schools (cid:129) by the end of 2001 to ensure access for all and to enhance employability.

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Progress made in this area is checked regularly by the High Level Group on the Employment and Social
Dimension of the Information Society (ESDIS) (4), which is managed by DG Employment and Social Affairs.

The initiative (cid:145)eLearning: Designing tomorrow(cid:146)s education(cid:146) (5) was adopted by the Commission on 24 May
2000. Following on from the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council, the Commission presented the
principles, objectives and lines of action of eLearning. This initiative was welcomed by the Education
Ministers and by the Feira European Council in June 2000. The eLearning initiative is in line with the
overall eEurope Action Plan and with the Report on the concrete future objectives of education systems (6).

On 28 March 2001 the Commission adopted an eLearning Action Plan for the period 2001-2004. Its aim
is to present the arrangements and methods for implementing the eLearning initiative. It seeks to mobilise
those involved in education and training, together with the relevant social, industrial and economic actors,
to make lifelong learning (7) the driving force behind a society based on solidarity in a competitive
economy. To this end, all Community instruments and programmes will play a part in implementing the
It will help to promote the employability and adaptability objectives of the
eLearning Action Plan.
European Employment Strategy, to tackle the skills gap related to the new technologies and to ensure
greater social inclusion.

(1) This coordinated strategy is based on four pillars: employability, entrepreneurship, adaptability and equal

opportunities. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/ees_en.htm).

(2) Council Decision 2001/63/EC of 19 January 2001 on Guidelines for Member States(cid:146) employment policies for the

year 2001 (OJ L 22, 24.1.2001).

(3) COM(2000) 330 final.
(4) http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/soc-dial/info_soc/esdis/index.htm.
(5) COM(2000) 318 final (http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/elearning).
(6) COM(2001) 59 final.
(7) The current public debate concerning the (cid:145)Memorandum on Lifelong Learning(cid:146) SEC(2000) 1832 (http://

europa.eu.int/comm/education/life/index.html) will pave the way for an action plan by the end of 2001.

(2001/C 318 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0607/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Community budget contribution to religious faiths in the EU

Each Member State(cid:146)s budget includes provision for contributions from public funds to assist the various
religious faiths present in that state or to support various charitable works.

This is in response to the wishes of taxpayers who want to see a certain amount of their taxes allocated to
the funding either of the religious faith of which they are members or to a charitable work in the country
or region to which they belong.

Has the Commission considered, as part of its social assistance measures, providing funds from the EU
budget to support the religious faiths to which Community citizens belong?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2001)

The ways in which the Member States assist religious denominations are quite varied. Although in
a minority of cases the fiscal system is directly used for this purpose, the more usual arrangement is that
the Member States consider voluntary donations as tax-deductible, and give direct assistance for specified
activities and charitable work. The religious denominations and their agents may carry out such work and
in this way the religious denominations may receive a benefit. Community funds are also disbursed for
many activities which religious denominations or their agents may carry out. The Commission sees no
need to complement this with other budget support, neither is there any such request from the religious
denominations themselves.