WRITTEN QUESTION E-0739/01 by Roy Perry (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Report on the future objectives of education systems.
Date: 2001-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: education policy, educational system, report

C 261 E/188

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2001)

The matter raised by the Honourable Member relates to the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No
2407/92 of 23 July 1992, on air carrier licensing (1) in Italy. These rules clearly stipulate that the granting
and maintenance of operating licences to air carriers established in the Community is carried out by
Member States. Such a licence can only be granted and validly maintained, if an air carrier possesses a
valid air operator certificate (AOC). This certificate, which is also granted by Member States, specifies the
activities covered by the operating licence and affirms that the operator in question has the professional
ability and organisation to secure the safe operation of aircraft for the activities foreseen. As such safety
standards are the subject of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the
harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (2).

Member States are required by the Licence Regulation not to grant or maintain operating licences when
the requirements of the Regulation are not met. Equally, Member States cannot refuse to grant or maintain
operating licences when the requirements of the Regulation are complied with. These requirements include
the financial fitness of the air carrier in question. Also, the Regulation allows Member States to require for
the purpose of issuing or maintaining a licence that there is proof that the persons managing continuously
and effectively the air carrier meet specific standards of professional conduct, in addition to the technical
standards required by the AOC.

Finally, the Licence Regulation requires Member States to make procedures for the granting of operating
licences public. Decisions to grant or revoke licences have to be published in the Official
Journal.
Furthermore, decisions to refuse or revoke an operating licence have to be reasoned. The Commission
has not yet received any decision by the national authorities concerned with regard to the air carrier Air
Sicilia. Undertakings that have been refused operating licences can refer the matter to the Commission,
which has then the obligation to investigate if the requirements of the Regulation are met and take
position on the issue. The Commission has not received to date any such request from Air Sicilia. In that
respect, any matter of compensation for damages incurred due to the loss of an operating licence falls
under the competence of national courts.

(1) OJ L 240, 24.8.1992.
(2) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.

(2001/C 261 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0739/01

by Roy Perry (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2001)

Subject: Report on the future objectives of education systems

The 2000 Lisbon European Council asked (cid:145)the Council (Education) to undertake a general reflection on the
concrete future objectives of education systems, focusing on common concerns and priorities while
respecting national diversity, with a view to contributing to the Luxembourg and Cardiff processes and
presenting a broader report to the European Council in the Spring of 2001.(cid:146) When will this report be
presented?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

In March 2000 the Lisbon European Council asked the Education Council to (cid:145)undertake a general
reflection on the concrete future objectives of education systems(cid:146) and to (cid:145)present a broader report to the

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/189

European Council in the spring of 2001(cid:146). On 12 February 2001 the Education Ministers meeting within
the Education Council adopted a report describing the common concrete future objectives of European
education systems for the coming years. This report was based on a draft presented by the Commission to
Parliament.

In the context of
subsequently forwarded by the Council to Parliament.

inter-institutional cooperation,

the report adopted by the Education Council was

This report was ratified by the Heads of State and Government at the Stockholm European Council on 23-
24 March 2001. In following up the report, the Commission will take account of any ideas that Parliament
would like to share with it in the course of this year.

(2001/C 261 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0751/01

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 March 2001)

Subject: The Regions

What view does the Commission take of the demands made by the Committee of the Regions:

(cid:129) to give decision-taking powers back to the citizens and establish a clear division of responsibilities

between the various levels (EU, the national States, the regions and communes)?

(cid:129) not to define the EU in a definitive manner, which would lead to an extension of its powers?

(cid:129) to accept the regions as basic units for free elections to a European Parliament?

(cid:129) to ensure that the Europe of the regions is not just represented by the Committee of the Regions, but

that new decision-taking forums are set up involving local authorities?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2001)

The Union(cid:146)s actions are based on powers expressly assigned by the Treaties and exercised in accordance
with the subsidiarity principle defined in Article 5 (formerly Article 3b) of the EC Treaty and in the
protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. In accordance with
Declaration No 23 adopted by the Nice European Council in December 2000, a wide-ranging debate at
European level bringing together all the parties concerned should take place in preparation for the Laeken
European Council and with a view to a new Intergovernmental Conference in 2004; the question of the
division of powers should be part of this debate.

The Commission will contribute with specific initiatives in collaboration, notably, with Parliament, as well
as its White Paper on Governance, which will be adopted in the summer. The Commission does not share
the view that defining the Union(cid:146)s purpose will necessarily mean an extension of its powers.

The Commission has no power of initiative as far as the provisions for elections to Parliament are
concerned. In accordance with Article 190(4) (formerly Article 138) of the EC Treaty,
it is Parliament
which is asked to draw up a proposal for a uniform electoral procedure in all the Member States. Its
proposal must be approved by the Council, acting unanimously, receive a favourable opinion from a
majority of the Members of Parliament, and be adopted by all the Member States in accordance with their
internal constitutional requirements.

The Commission endorses the Committee of the Regions(cid:146) demands that it should be fully consulted in the
fields provided for by the EC Treaty. Procedures for consulting territorial bodies on initiatives that affect
them are often used, in full compliance, naturally, with the provisions and structures of each Member
State.