WRITTEN QUESTION E-0429/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Upgrading of institutes of technology.
Date: 2002-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, competence of the Member States, education policy, educational institution, educational reform, educational system, technical education

C 205 E/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

(2002/C 205 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0429/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Upgrading of institutes of technology

An intense debate is taking place in Greece over the upgrading of institutes of technology. Without any in-
depth consultation with the academic community, the government decided to convert the institutes of
technology into institutions of higher education, which has raised legitimate questions in the minds of
university teachers and students alike.

Will the Commission say in which of the Member States institutes of technology are exactly and in all
respects equal to institutions of higher education? Are students in institutions of higher education in the
other Member States absolutely equal,
in financial and institutional terms, to students in institutes of
technology? Are the teachers at institutes of technology absolutely equal to university lecturers? Under
current Community legislation, what conditions must institutes of technology fulfil to be absolutely equal
to institutions of higher education? In conclusion, can they become absolutely equal to institutions of
higher education simply by being upgraded?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2002)

According to Article 149 of the EC Treaty, the Community must fully respect the responsibility of the
Member States for the organisation of their education systems.

The matter raised in the written question is therefore outside the Community’s jurisdiction.

(2002/C 205 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0430/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 February 2002)

Subject: Illegal practice of unions of agricultural cooperatives in Greece concerning payment of Community

aid to farmers

According to complaints made by farmers and written statements by representatives of
farming
associations submitted to the Public Prosecutor, some unions of agricultural cooperatives in Greece
illegally and coercively withhold part of the Community subsidies paid to farmers. The Commission is
aware of this matter and has informed me that it is considering referring Greece to the European Court of
Justice.

A new piece of information has now also come to light. Not only do some unions of agricultural
cooperatives force farmers to sign supposedly voluntary declarations authorising the unions to withhold
between 2 % and 5 % of their subsidies, they also, in the event of farmers refusing to sign, refuse to fill in
the forms relating to stocks and destination, which are essential documents required for payment of the
subsidies. According to the complaints, typical examples are the unions of agricultural cooperatives of
Apokorono-Sfakia and Maleme in Crete.

Since the practice followed by some unions of agricultural cooperatives is increasingly at variance with
Community legislation, what action will the Commission take in this regard?