WRITTEN QUESTION E-0044/02 by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Cooperation network for bilingual regions in the EU.
Date: 2002-01-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU financing, EU policy, bilingualism, cooperation policy, information network, region, regional cooperation

C 147 E/234

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

(2002/C 147 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0041/02

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 January 2002)

Subject: Funds for retired people engaged in educational, social, cultural and sport activities

Are there any European funds for retired people actively engaged in educational, social, cultural and
sporting activities?

These people are taking computer courses which they are paying for themselves and they also have to pay
for transport. Their only means of financial support is very often the pension, which is limited. Does
Europe have any funding which meets their needs?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

The European Social Fund (ESF) cannot finance the type of activities referred to in the question by the
Honourable Member. According to article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 (1) ‘the fund shall support
and complement the activities of Member States directed towards developing the labour market and
human resources … in particular
their multiannual national action plans for
employment’. Consequently funding from the ESF shall aim to improve employment opportunities for
workers in the internal market, i.e. the ESF is basically a labour market tool, and can therefore not be used
in support of retired people.

in the context of

(1) Regulation (EC) no 1784/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 1999 on the European Social Fund,

OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.

(2002/C 147 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0043/02

by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: The ESF and training in minority languages

(23 January 2002)

Can the Commission say how much the European Social Fund spends on training in minority languages in
the EU as a whole? Can it break down the figures by country and minority language, with particular
reference to Spain?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2002)

The Commission does not have the information required by the Honourable Member neither regarding
languages used nor taught in European Social Fund (ESF)-funded programmes. As for language teaching it
is only eligible for ESF financing if it helps improving the employability of the persons concerned.

(2002/C 147 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0044/02

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Cooperation network for bilingual regions in the EU

(23 January 2002)

The problems faced by bilingual regions are likely to be similar in all Member States. They go beyond the
issues covered by policy on national minorities (for the promotion of which a separate set of EU projects

20.6.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/235

exists) and include the question of whether different language groups can be interspersed at local and
regional level without jeopardising the groups’ internal identities and whether they can minimise their
mutual historical or other conflicts. There are numerous common themes and needs: learning of the other
language, effective bilingual administration, communication, the psychology of prejudice, discrimination
and glass ceilings, local cultural exchanges on the basis of language, the tendency towards segregation of
residential areas, etc.

A practical way of dealing with common issues might be to set up a network for bilingual regions. The
idea would be to mutually exchange and compare practices, standards and modes of interaction in
different countries and regions. However, such an interface would need to be created specially, and it is
unlikely that any one region would have the capacity to do this on its own initiative: rather, a Community
initiative would be required.

Are any cross-border networks of bilingual regions currently operational within the EU? Is there a need for
such a network, and will the Commission promote the establishment of one? What timetable could be
adopted for this?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

To the Commission’s knowledge, there is no network of bilingual regions as such currently operating in
the Union.

However, there are networks dealing with aspects of bilingualism. The European Bureau for Lesser Used
Languages (http://www.eblul.org), an organisation funded by the Community, runs the Partnership for
Diversity scheme, which brings together regional and local authorities from parts of Europe where there
are regional or minority languages to discuss issues of mutual
interest and promote cooperation. A
language planning agencies, which was set up with Community support and is
network of official
currently coordinated by the Welsh Language Board (http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk), meets regularly to
discuss issues relating to language promotion. Under the Lingua action of the Socrates programme, the
Community supports Euroclic (http://www.euroclic.net), a pan-European network bringing together
teachers, teacher trainers, researchers, policymakers and other players in the field of multilingual education
in both bilingual and monolingual areas.

Projects involving transnational networks dealing with other aspects of bilingualism might qualify for
support under other Community programmes and actions, such as Socrates Comenius or Interreg,
provided that any proposals of this kind comply with the requirements and objectives of the actions in
question.

The Commission warmly encourages regions to participate in existing networks and take advantage of
opportunities within existing programmes to promote Europe-wide cooperation on such issues.

(2002/C 147 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0049/02

by Francesco Speroni (NI) to the Commission

(24 January 2002)

Subject: Discrimination in fees for Union residents

According to the website www.maratonasant-antonio.com, the organisers of the Padua Marathon, to be
held on 28 April 2002, are charging people resident abroad, including those residing in the Union, a
higher enrolment fee than those resident in Italy.

Can the Commission say whether this differentiation is fair?