WRITTEN QUESTION E-0980/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The European Schools.
Date: 2002-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brussels region, European school, asbestos, building safety, competence of the Member States, educational institution, enlargement of the Union, number of pupils, official language, teaching

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/119

Reply

(22 July 2002)

The Council has been informed that the Director of Europol has formally denied that any phones were
tapped at Europol by Europol officials.

At present the Council does not plan to conduct an inquiry into the allegations made.

(2002/C 277 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0980/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 April 2002)

Subject: The European Schools

Many parents of children at the three European schools in Brussels have complained that recently pupils
have been transferred in the middle of the school year from one building complex to another. These
transfers have understandably caused consternation and dissatisfaction both among pupils at these schools
and their parents who find their schedules completely disrupted by these arrangements.

It should be pointed out that, according to the parents, these changes affect some 200 families with
children at the European schools and are the result of decisions taken in an untransparent manner without
the parents being consulted. Another matter which affects the quality of education at the European
Schools and the health of teachers and pupils and which has greatly alarmed parents and pupils is the
presence of asbestos at the European School in Uccle.

What is the Commission’s view of this state of affairs? Who makes the decisions to transfer pupils 1 in the
middle of the school year 1 from one building complex to another, and on the basis of which criteria? On
the basis of which criteria are pupils divided between, and enrolled in, these three schools? Have parents
been asked about these transfers? Which EU bodies and agencies fund all the European Schools? Can the
Commission confirm that the issue of asbestos at the European School at Uccle has been resolved and that
there is no danger for the other European Schools? In view of the forthcoming enlargement of the EU,
have any measures been taken to provide high-quality teaching for the significantly larger number of
pupils who will clearly have to be admitted to the European Schools? Will all the official languages (new
and existing languages) be fully respected in the new teaching schedule to be drawn up?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2002)

In response to the questions raised by the Honourable Member concerning the transfer of pupils and
consultation with parents, the financing of the European schools, and the teaching of languages, the
Commission refers the Honourable Member to the full replies on these matters recently given in its
answers to written question E-0944/02 by Mrs Figueiredo (1) and to written questions E-0787/02,
E-0788/02 and E-0789/02 by Mrs Schleicher (2).

The Community currently provides 59 % of the budget of the European Schools under an agreement
concluded with the intergovernmental Board of Governors, the provisions of which were included in the
Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools that was signed by all the Member States and the
Communities on 17 June 1994 (3). The European Patent Office, under a separate agreement, provides
funding for the European School in Munich.

The work to remove asbestos from the Uccle European School building has been carried out as part of the
inventory and management programme presented by the competent authorities of the host country, in this
case Belgium. As in previous operations, the remaining work will be carried out during school holidays in
order to ensure the safety of all those involved.

C 277 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

There is no evidence of the presence of asbestos in any other European Schools, and consequently no
related risk to the health of the pupils.

The Board of Governors, which consists of 15 representatives of Member State governments and one
representative of the Commission, has set up a special structure to prepare the schools for the enlargement
of the Union. The existing infrastructures will be extended with the creation of two new Schools (one in
Brussels and one in Luxembourg) and new sections for the languages of the new Member States. In
addition, pilot projects will be launched to improve the reception of new pupils and, among other
changes, the organisation of teaching and school management will be rationalised.

In order to respect all the official languages in the teaching schedule, the Board of Governors already
places strong emphasis on mother-tongue teaching. There is every reason to believe that this existing
policy will be continued and strengthened and that, when the new Member States join, the Board of
Governors will maintain the approach taken in previous enlargements.

Finally, the Commission would like to point out that, according to the preamble to the Convention of
17 June 1994, the European Schools system ‘fully acknowledges the Member States’ responsibility for the
content of teaching and the organisation of their educational system, and for their cultural and linguistic
diversity.’

(1) See page 112.
(2) See page 86.
(3) The Convention has not yet entered into force as it is awaiting ratification by Greece.

(2002/C 277 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0981/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 April 2002)

Subject: Waste tips in Greece and the destruction of archaological sites

According to Greek newspaper reports, an unsupervised waste tip is operating at the archaeological site of
Parikia on the island of Paros in the Cyclades. This waste tip is located at Lakki, the site of the famous
open quarries of Parian marble (ancient Greek, dating from the 6th century BC); this has been designated an
archaeological site. It should be pointed out that the island of Paros is a very popular tourist destination,
and the operation of this waste tip at the archaeological site in question is an eyesore and an insult to this
site of great antiquity. The project to develop the galleries of the quarry is included in the proposals drawn
up by the 21st section of the Inspectorate for Pre-historical and Classical Antiquities for incorporation in
the third CSF, which shows the importance of finds in the area.

What view does the Commission take of the fact that a waste tip is operating at an archaeological site?
What information has it received from the Greek authorities about the closure of waste tips which pollute
the soil, the air and the groundwater in very many regions of Greece? Has any progress been made in the
planning of sites for the safe burial of waste in all regions of Greece? If not, who is responsible for delays?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2002)

The treatment of waste is regulated by Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste (1) as
amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 (2).

Article 4 of this Directive states that waste must be disposed of without endangering human health and
without using processes or methods which could harm the environment, and in particular:

1 without risk to the water, air, soil and plants and animals,

1 without causing a nuisance through noise and odours,

1 without adversely affecting the countryside or places of special interest.