WRITTEN QUESTION E-3662/01 by Jutta Haug (PSE) to the Council. Referendum on dates of school holidays in Europe.
Date: 2002-01-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: approximation of laws, competence of the Member States, holiday, impact study, planning of the school year, teaching, tourism

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/43

The Commission supports human rights projects to strengthen civil society in Northern Nigeria and to
raise women’s awareness concerning their
In addition, other projects have a gender
legal rights.
component and stress inclusion and mainstreaming of women.

Within the framework of Chapter B7-7 of the Union budget (the European Initiative for Democracy and
Human Rights) funds to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in Nigeria and
other third countries will continue to be available.

Moreover, the Union will continue to encourage the Government of Nigeria to abolish the death sentence,
to strengthen respect of human rights, and to raise women and men’s awareness of their legal rights.

(1) Doc. No 2342, 9.4.2001.

(2002/C 229 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3662/01

by Jutta Haug (PSE) to the Council

(15 January 2002)

Subject: Referendum on dates of school holidays in Europe

On 14 October 2001 the German newspaper Allgemeine Zeitung reported on a meeting of the Council of
Ministers for Tourism. According to the article the Council is planning to hold a referendum on dates for
school holidays in the 15 Member States. Apparently this is supposed to relieve the burden on transport
networks, spread the use of hotel capacity more evenly and generate higher revenue in holiday regions. No
mention was made of the education and teaching policy aspects of school holiday planning.

Does the Council really intend to hold a referendum on school holiday dates in Europe? If so, why is the
well-being of those who should actually benefit from the holidays 9 namely children 9 not being taken
into account? Are holidays geared to the optimum use of hotel bed capacity more important to the
Council than favourable circumstances and conditions for a knowledge-based society?

Reply

(25 June 2002)

The Council informs the Honourable Member that it never comments on statements made in the press.
The meeting to which the Honourable Member refers was the Council meeting held in Brussels on
27 September 2001, at which the question of ‘Better management of holiday periods in Europe’ was
examined under ‘Other business’. At that meeting, the Council took cognisance of an information note
from the Austrian delegation on the question of better seasonal distribution of tourist activities in Europe
by means of measures to make tourist flows more flexible. Further to the Austrian initiative, which was
welcomed by several delegations, the Commission was invited 9 despite the very limited Community
competence in this area 9 to study the subject and brief the Council as soon as possible.

The Commission subsequently sent a letter to the Member States asking them about their experiences in
this area, the changes that might be necessary and the nature of the desired coordination.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that Article 149(1) of the Treaty states that the
organisation of educational systems is the responsibility of Member States. Consequently, the harmon-
isation of school holidays does not as such fall within the sphere of Community competence.