WRITTEN QUESTION E-3505/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. France's other languages.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, France, cultural pluralism, regional language

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/191

recentralisation of university powers assigned to the autonomous communities, measures likely to favour
private over state universities and the politicisation of the procedure for electing university administrative
bodies.

Three of these issues concern the integration of Spanish state universities into the university system in the
European Union as part of the process of building a political and social Europe: the disregard for university
autonomy and moves towards the domination of universities by the political power, the lack of financial
flanking measures in view of the fact that Spanish state universities currently lag far behind universities in
the remaining European states in terms of
in education and state-funded research (the
investment
percentage of GDP earmarked for university education stands at around 1,1 % against an EU average of
2 %, while investment in R & D stands at around 0,38 % against a European average of 1,6 %, rising to
2,4 % in Germany) and, finally, the lack of guarantees regarding the creation of the European university
area. As regards this last point, the OLU seeks to introduce a system of state qualifications for access to the
profession of university lecturer which will tend to centralise the system and leave access in the hands of
closed groups holding political and educational power in the centre of the state and the university system,
contrary to the principles of the Magna Carta of European Universities.

What steps will the Commission take with regard to the Spanish state and the OLU in order to guarantee
university autonomy, safeguard a democratic state education system providing equal opportunities in
accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and remove the obstacles which are thereby
being posed to the process of building a political and social Europe?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2002)

In accordance with article 149 of the Treaty on European Union, the Community must fully respect the
responsibility of the Member States for the organisation of the education systems. The Commission is
therefore not considering any specific steps with regard to Spain and the draft Organic Law on
Universities.

(2002/C 147 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3505/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: France’s other languages

In reply to my question on the action taken by the Commission regarding the institutional and budgetary
difficulties encountered in France in using languages of that state other than French (E-2464/01 (1)), the
Culture Commissioner, Vivianne Reding, stated that the matter fell within the competence of the Member
States and did not concern the Commission.

language of the state concerned,

Bearing in mind that the right to use the languages of European countries, including languages which are
not an official
is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights
approved at the Nice Intergovernmental Conference, what institution is responsible for enforcing this right
if the Commission considers that it does not have the power to do so, even though, on the other hand, it
rightly considers itself empowered to take action of such paramount significance as,
for example,
preventing the merger of powerful companies operating on European territory if such a merger would
contravene competition rules?

(1) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002.

C 147 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2002)

Article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights states that ‘The Union shall respect cultural, religious and
linguistic diversity.’ Article 51 of the same instrument specifies that:
‘The provisions of this Charter are
addressed to the institutions and bodies of the Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and
to the Member States only when they are implementing Union law.’ On the face of it, the case referred to
by the Honourable Member does not appear to concern actions susceptible to fall within the ambit of
Article 51 of the Charter.

Article 81 of the EC Treaty confers competence on the Community in the area of competition policy: ‘The
following shall be prohibited as incompatible with the common market: all agreements between
undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which may affect trade
between Member States and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of
competition within the common market’
(Article 81 of the EC Treaty). Article 85 of the EC Treaty
establishes the responsibility of the Commission for the implementation of this policy. No comparable
powers are conferred upon the Community or the Commission in the area of language policy.

(2002/C 147 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3507/01

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(12 December 2001)

Subject: Food aid to Tajikistan

Tajikistan in Central Asia, with its population of some six million, is suffering acute food shortages as a
result of a drought during the growing season. The country has long been riven by civil war which has
ruined its economy. The Red Cross has set up an aid operation but does not have the means to fund the
amounts needed.

What means does the Commission have at its disposal to contribute to the aid operation in Tajikistan?
What does the Commission intend to do to relieve the disaster Tajkistan is facing?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the difficult situation in Tajikistan and is addressing the problems in the
context both of TACIS and the food aid/food security programme, which provides longer-term economic
assistance, and of humanitarian aid.

TACIS and food aid/food security programme

The Commission has been active in the food security field since 1996 with a € 8 million budget support
programme.

This programme was suspended in 1997 because of security problems and will resume in January 2002
with the support of technical assistance on the ground (a € 1 million financial allocation was approved for
this purpose).

Alongside this direct aid to the Government, a ‘2001’ allocation of € 3,7 million has been approved for
vulnerable population groups targeted by the World Food Programme. This allocation of food products
consists of 10 000 tonnes of maize and 500 tonnes of oil.