WRITTEN QUESTION E-1338/01 by Frédérique Ries (ELDR) and Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission. Palestinian schoolbooks.
Date: 2001-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Palestine, Palestine question, antisemitism, education policy, school textbook

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Greece for failure to respect its obligations under Directive 89/48/EEC (2), the Commission indicated that
the Greek authorities had replied to the letter of notification by letter of 17 January 2000, following which
informal contacts had taken place between the Greek authorities and the Commission, the conclusions of
which were now being considered.

In view of the considerable number of young people affected, whose professional futures are dependent on
the conclusions of the deliberations, can the Commission give details regarding the outcome of its talks
with the Greek authorities and say what will be the next stage in the proceedings to be followed by the
Commission?

(1) Written Question 3.4.2001.
(2) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2001)

As the Commission already told the Honourable Member in its answer to Oral Question H-250/01 at
Question Time during the part-session in April 2001,
the Greek authorities replied in a letter of
17 January 2000 to the Commission(cid:146)s letter of notification.

Following this letter, and in order to examine the solution found for the many individual cases in question,
the Commission and the Greek authorities have had a number of informal contacts (by letter and in
bilateral meetings), which have served to clarify the situation with regard to these cases.

Since then, the Commission has received from a number of complainants new information and details that
could prompt new complaints regarding the application to the occupation of psychologist of 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.
The complainants claim that the professional recognition granted by the Greek authorities does not accord
them the same rights with regard to the exercise of their profession as those granted to psychologists who
hold Greek qualifications or who have received a certificate of academic equivalence from the Dikatsa.

The lengthy documentation that has been submitted (cid:129) several hundred pages, of which more than half has
had to be translated, with the delays that this entails (cid:129) is now being examined.

In the circumstances, it is not possible at the moment to offer any comment on the outcome of this
examination. It is nevertheless obvious that if the operation reveals the existence of new complaints or the
continuation of those referred to in the letter of notification, the Commission will not hesitate to continue
with the infringement procedure.

A Commission decision on the matter is expected in the coming months, and in any case in autumn,
following some supplementary details that may need to be checked with the Greek authorities.

(2001/C 350 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1338/01

by FrØdØrique Ries (ELDR) and Willy De Clercq (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Palestinian schoolbooks

(4 May 2001)

With regard to anti-Semitic language in the textbooks of the Palestinian Authority, Christopher Patten
stated at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament on 31 January 2001: (cid:145)The Commission rejects any
attempt to use the educational system to promote intolerance or hatred. The main focus of Commission
assistance has always been to promote a culture of peace, tolerance and human rights in the Middle East
((cid:133)) The Commission has never allocated funds for the development of a new school curriculum, nor for
the printing and distribution of school textbooks. The development of school curricula and the preparation

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of textbooks are the responsibility of the Palestinian Centre for Curriculum Development ((cid:133)). The
Palestinian Authority issued their own textbooks only last year and (cid:129) to our knowledge (cid:129) no sign of anti-
Semitic content has been found in these new books ((cid:133))(cid:146).

A recent report by the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace, an NGO, shows however that several of
the new schoolbooks for grades 1 and 6, published by the Palestinian Authority, contain racist and anti-
Semitic language:

(cid:129) (cid:145)National Education(cid:146), Sixth Grade, p. 16, 44.

(cid:129) (cid:145)Our beautiful language(cid:146), Sixth Grade, Part A, p. 47, 62, 112.

(cid:129) (cid:145)Islamic Education(cid:146), Sixth Grade, Part A, p. 68.

(cid:129) (cid:145)General Science(cid:146), First Grade, Part A, p. 9.

Therefore could the Commission explain:

1. Why the Commission continues financing the Palestinian educational system when the beneficiary, the
Palestinian Authority, clearly promotes values which are contrary to the European Charter of
Fundamental Rights? Which acts of non-compliance by the Palestinian Authority must occur before
the Commission withdraws its financial support for the Palestinian educational system?

2. What control mechanisms has the Commission installed (cid:129) being aware of the enormous difficulties
between the Palestinian and Israeli people (cid:129) to make sure that funds allocated to the Palestinian
Authority are not used in any way to promote intolerance or hatred?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2001)

Union assistance to the Palestinian education system has focused mainly on infrastructures, equipment for
schools and school
libraries and direct assistance for current school expenses (salaries, dining rooms,
etc. (cid:133)).

Assistance for the printing and distribution of the new textbooks for grades from 1 to 6 (cid:129) mentioned in
the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question (cid:129), has been provided bilaterally by several Member States (Ireland, the
Netherlands and Finland).

In this context, the Commission would like to refer to a recent study by the independent Harry Truman
Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace as regards the role of textbooks in promoting peace in
the Middle East. The study confirms that the anti-semitic references in Palestinian textbooks are, actually,
contained in official Jordanian and Egyptian textbooks, which since 1967 have also been used in the West
Bank and Gaza. It also points out that the new books have considerably eliminated negative stereotypes of
Jews and Israelis as compared to Egyptian and Jordanian textbooks. The Israeli authorities themselves
confirmed this point to the Commission. However, the study also concludes that Israeli textbooks are not
exempt from stereotypes and one-sided views of Israeli-Palestinian recent history.

The Commission reiterates that it has always focused its assistance on promoting a culture of peace,
tolerance and human rights in the Middle East. When a request for assistance is submitted to the
Commission, an assessment is made on whether the proposal falls within the scope of the Union(cid:146)s strategy
and principles in that particular policy area. On that basis the Commission decides whether or not to fund
the relevant project.

In addition, the Commission (cid:129) through the relevant mechanisms established under the Mediterranean (cid:129)
European Development Agreement
regulations (cid:129) is fully involved in the programming,
preparation, implementation and monitoring of assistance projects to the Middle East Peace Process in
general, and to the Palestinian Authority in particular.

(MEDA)

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the European taxpayer(cid:146)s money is not misused. The
The Commission always seeks to ensure that
temporary budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority during the current crisis (€ 60 million) is
subject to strict conditions, monitored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF will monitor the
macro-economic execution of the Palestinian austerity budget, including the freeze of the payroll and the
level of arrears. The IMF will provide monthly confort letters to the Commission on basis of which
monthly payments (€ 10 million) of the budgetary aid package will be disbursed during the next six
months.

(2001/C 350 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1340/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2001)

Subject: Recipients of EU funding

Could the Commission provide details of the normal control procedures applying to all recipients of
funding from the Community Budget as mentioned in the reply by Romano Prodi on 22 March 2001 to
Written Question E-0612/01 (1) on European political parties?

(1) OJ C 235 E, 21.8.2001, p. 229.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2001)

All files relating to the recipients of Community funding are subject to the control procedures applicable
under the Community(cid:146)s financial and budgetary legislation, and in particular the Financial Regulation of
the rules
21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of
implementing that Regulation and the internal rules on the execution of the budget.

the European Communities (1),

Specific rules have also been laid down for the treatment and management of grants. These rules are the
subject of a special vade-mecum which applies uniformly to all recipients of grants, except where the legal
basis provides otherwise. Generally speaking, the approach followed by the Commission aims to ensure
compliance with all the transparency requirements in terms of eligibility, award procedures and provision
of information.

In the particular case of grants to European political parties, the Commission, given the especially sensitive
nature of such funding, has tightened the control arrangements by including special provisions in the
proposal for a Council Regulation on the statute and financing of European political parties (2), namely:

(cid:129) parties applying for a grant will be required to publish annually their accounts and budgets, which

must also be certified by an independent external audit body;

(cid:129) the Commission will have the right to carry out any on-the-spot checks which may be needed and to
have free and unrestricted access to any document or evidence needed for the purposes of such
inspection.

(1) OJ L 356, 31.12.1977.
(2) OJ C 154 E, 29.5.2001.