WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/02 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. State-run Electronics and Telecommunications College.
Date: 2002-03-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Portugal, Structural Funds, educational institution, electronics, telecommunications, vocational training

C 229 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

everyone’s lives, employment and working environment. It is therefore important to discuss all of its
implications on the basis of
the widest possible consensus so as to provide a coherent and
constructive response. The aim should be to enable everyone to benefit from globalization in ways
which lead directly to the eradication of poverty, the achievement of social cohesion, the creation of
employment and improved governance. In this connection, the European Union confirms the great
importance it attaches to following up the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work through positive measures from all sides, including technical assistance and greater cooperation
between governments and social partners.

In addition, the statement confirmed the EU’s strong support for reinforcing the role of the ILO, and for
establishing under the auspices of the ILO a substantive international dialogue involving other international
fora, including the WTO. It also stressed the positive political and economic impact of a new round of
trade negotiations and its contribution to development and to strengthening international solidarity. It
the World Commission’s work could usefully embrace other globalisation
went on to note that
initiatives which help globalisation to contribute to greater
perspectives and enhance the value of all
social progress.

At the same meeting, the European Commission associated itself with the abovementioned EU statement.

So far, there are no plans for debating the objectives and/or the World Commission’s conclusions with the
European Parliament.

(2002/C 229 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: State-run Electronics and Telecommunications College

(14 March 2002)

The state-run Electronics and Telecommunications College is a vocational school run by the Ministry of
Education and situated in Lisbon, which was set up following under a cooperation agreement between
Portugal and the Netherlands and has been in operation since 1990 in provisional premises.

Its main aim is to train electronics and telecommunications technicians whose qualifications are recognised
by employers providing additional preparation for entry into higher education.

Given the electronics and telecommunications sector’s expansion, virtually all of its 100 students enter the
labour market on completion of their course, and are employed by leading companies in the sector.

The school’s successful results and the fact that technicians are needed in this field have not been sufficient
to ensure that new premises and additional teaching staff were made available or that the current project
was extended to eventually cater for twice the current number of students, as would be necessary, given
that the present 25 graduates per year are hardly sufficient to meet demand.

Will the Commission provide details of possibilities for funding the new facilities and the extension of the
current training project at the Electronics and Telecommunications College in Lisbon?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2002)

The type of project mentioned by the Honourable Member could be part-funded by the Structural Funds
under measure 8 of the Education Operational Programme (PRODEP) and measure 3.8 of the Operational
Programme for the Lisbon Region (PORLVT), both of which form part of the Community support
framework for the Portuguese Objective 1 regions in the 2000-2006 period.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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However, under Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions
on the Structural Funds (1) and Portuguese legislation,
in particular the Decree-Law 54-A 2000, the
national programming authorities are responsible for selecting projects. The Commission therefore invites
the Honourable Member to seek more information on possible joint financing from the following:
PRODEP III, Av. 24 de Julho 134-5o, 1399-029 Lisboa, and PORLVT, Rua de Artilharia Um No 33, 1269-
145 Lisboa.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 229 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0705/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 March 2002)

Subject: The independence of the Romanian judiciary with specific reference to Prince Carol Mircea’s

attempt to establish his legitimacy

For over ten years, one of my constituents, Prince Carol Mircea Grigore De Hohenzollern-De Romania has
been involved in an extraordinary and unnecessarily protracted dispute with his younger half-brother ex-
King Michael in the Romanian Courts over the former’s legitimacy. The case also has a bearing on the
ownership of substantial property holdings, including art works which have already been sold, despite their
disputed ownership.

In 1999 the Romanian Court of Appeal formally recognised the earlier ruling of a Portuguese Court in
1955 (followed by a similar ruling in a French Court in 1957) affirming that Prince Carol Mircea (who
lives in London,) is the legitimate first-born son from the legal marriage of Crown Prince Carol of Romania
and Princess Ioana Valentina Lambrino, something which has also long been recognised by the Romanian
Orthodox Church. The Supreme Court has been examining the matter for over two years. Other exequatur
judgments in the Romanian courts based on judgments in countries using the Code Napoleon take no
more than six months.

Over the years, the case has taken on an almost Alice in Wonderland quality, with substantial delays
permitted on various grounds, including the need to obtain a death certificate for Magda Lupescu, the third
wife of Carol 11, who had been dead for 25 years, ex-King Michael’s insistence on having citations
delivered to his Swiss residence, illness amongst several members of his legal team, and a six-month delay
because there were insufficient funds available to pay them. Many people in Romania have concluded that
the case is being strung-out until the ailing 82-year old Prince dies.

Last week, as the Supreme Court was about to reach a verdict, the state Prosecutor intervened on a
spurious use of Article 85 of the Civil Code and demanded a new trial.

In its November, 2001 Regular Report on Romania, the Commission expresses its concern over ‘the
extension of the General Prosecutor’s right to introduce extraordinary appeals against judicial decisions’ on
the grounds that ‘the extension of such extraordinary procedures risks undermining the principle of legal
certainty.’ Does the Commission regard the state’s willingness to interfere so blatantly even in such a high
profile case as this as a matter of deep concern and a violation of the principles of civil justice, and will the
to investigate and raise the matter with the Romanian
Commission ask its mission in Bucharest
government?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 2002)

In order to become a member of the Union, Romania like any other candidate country has to fulfil the
accession criteria that have been established by the European Council at its meeting in Copenhagen in
1993. In particular, the so-called political criteria requires ‘stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy,
the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities’. The developments in these
areas are therefore taken into consideration by the Commission in its assessment of Romania’s progress
towards accession to the Union.