WRITTEN QUESTION E-2098/01 by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission. Erasmus students in Connaught, Ulster.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, education policy, student mobility

C 81 E/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

(2002/C 81 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2098/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Erasmus students in Connaught, Ulster

Can the Commission provide information regarding the number of students from Connaught, Ulster who
have benefited from the EU-backed Erasmus scheme?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

The Community student mobility scheme, Erasmus, offers students studying for a degree in one of the
Member States the possibility to spend from three months to a year studying abroad in another
participating country (Member State or Associated Country).

Neither the Commission nor the National Agencies, which manage the Erasmus mobility action at national
level, register information on the origin of the Erasmus students, except for information on nationality,
which is a prerequisite for participation. The Commission therefore regrets that it is not possible to
provide the Honourable Member with the requested information on the number of students from
Connaught (Ulster) who have benefited from the scheme.

(2002/C 81 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2100/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Protection of biodiversity by preventing and decreasing climate change

1.
Is the Commission aware of the report in (cid:145)Nature(cid:146), vol 411, pp. 296-298, 17 May 2001, concerning
problems caused to pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) by changes in the climate? The reason for this
question is that these birds have adjusted to warmer springs in the Netherlands, where they breed after
migration from African wintering grounds, by laying their eggs an average of 10 days earlier than their
previous point in mid-May, allowing chicks to take advantage of an earlier abundance of insects. However,
they have not correspondingly adjusted the timing of their return from Africa. Whereas they used to arrive
three weeks before they began laying, giving themselves time to recover from their long journey, they now
start laying immediately on arrival. This reduces the number of offspring the birds can rear and may lead
to the death of exhausted birds. Scientists consider that climate change is a likely factor in the recent
decline in the populations of many migratory species, and that this indicates a possible broader problem,
with natural ecological communities being destroyed as the relationship between predators, prey and the
wider environment is disrupted.

2.
Does the Commission believe these concerns are justified, and if so what action does it intend to take
or propose to protect the biodiversity of the territory of the European Union from threats related to
climate change?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

The Commission is aware of the mounting evidence on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and
on its possible long-term consequences. The report in (cid:145)Nature(cid:146) of vol 411, pp.296-298, 17 May 2001
provides valuable additional information on this issue.