WRITTEN QUESTION E-1158/02 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Analysis of the teaching of mathematics in the European Union.
Date: 2002-04-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, mathematics, new technology, public awareness campaign, research and development, teaching, teaching quality, young person

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/155

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 May 2002)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for informing it of the Fifth World Avocado Congress in
October 2003 in the Málaga and Granada provinces. It was not invited to take part in any of the first four
congresses. If during the 18 months still to run before the fifth congress the organisers ask it to take part it
will examine, bearing in mind the limit on the staff at its disposal, whether a presence is needed.

(2002/C 277 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1158/02

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Analysis of the teaching of mathematics in the European Union

Experts have yet again noted that mathematics teaching in all the Member States is particularly weak,
which has in turn led to deficiencies and gaps in education, especially in information technology.

This only serves to put the European Union at a disadvantage in relation to other world centres of
technological and scientific development, making it
the gaps in the study and
development of mathematical sciences in the EU.

imperative to fill

Does the Commission consider that it should instigate an overall analysis of mathematics teaching
throughout the European Union,
in all the Member States, which would prepare the way for tough
measures to be taken to improve the teaching of mathematical sciences in our educational institutions, and
to overcome the present deficiencies in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2002)

In February 2001, for the first time in the history of education in Europe, the Education Council adopted a
report on the concrete future objectives of education and training systems to be achieved in 2010 (1).
These questions were also discussed in Uppsala on 2 March 2001 at an informal meeting of the Ministers
for Education and Research. Mathematics, sciences and technology constitute a priority area. Maths plays a
crucial role when learning natural sciences and technology, and has a direct influence on levels of success
in these fields at school and university.

A group of experts on ‘Mathematics, sciences and technology’ made up of representatives of the 15 EU
Member States has thus started its work aimed at increasing the numbers going in for scientific and
technological subjects; for this purpose, instruments such as indicators and performance calibration are
being used. Particular attention will also be focused on encouraging young people to study scientific and
technical subjects, and on ensuring a steady supply of teachers qualified in these subjects. An initial report
from this group will be available at the end of 2002.

The results of the PISA 2000 study (the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment), which
were published at the beginning of 2002 and were concerned with the skills of 15-year-old pupils in three
areas, including mathematics and the sciences, reveal wide disparities between and also within the EU
Member States. However, most of the Member States performed better in advanced maths, for example,
than the United States. It is clear that there is room for improvement, but this is a matter for the Member
States rather than the EU.

C 277 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Finally, the ‘science and society’ section of the Community’s Sixth Framework Programme for research and
technological development will offer support for measures encouraging young people to follow a scientific
career, particularly through the development of better methods of presenting the sciences within or
alongside formal education.

(1) Report from the Education Council to the European Council on ‘The concrete future objectives of education and

training systems’ ? Document No 5980/01 EDUC 18, 14 February 2001.

(2002/C 277 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1163/02

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(23 April 2002)

Subject: State aid case concerning the ‘Terra Mítica’ theme park: loan from the Spanish government

Over the last few days the Valencia press has been publishing reports on the interest-free government loan
of over € 4 million for the ‘Terra Mítica’ theme park in Benidorm (Alicante).

The loan was made by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology in 2001, as part of the Profit
programme aimed at supporting new businesses.

The apparent objective of the programme is to offer aid to render the productive sector more competitive,
by developing new technology and by incorporating new technology into businesses.

Bearing in mind the case opened by the Commission in relation to ‘Terra Mítica’ under Article 88(2) of the
Treaty, is the Commission aware of the loan from the Spanish government, and of the terms of the loan
opted for by the above-mentioned company? Does the Commission consider that this information alters
the case file profile and that it could be investigated?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2002)

the interest-free loan to which the
The Spanish authorities have not notified the Commission of
Honourable Member refers. Accordingly, the Commission will contact the Spanish authorities with a view
to ascertaining whether this loan has actually been granted and, if so, to examine it in the light of the state
aid rules. It will inform the Honourable Member of its findings in due course.

(2002/C 277 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1164/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 April 2002)

Subject: Tourism volunteer project in Casina (Italy)

In the municipality of Casina (province of Reggio Emilia, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy), young people’s
organisations and local councillors have drawn up a scheme for the training of ‘tourism volunteers’, with a
view to developing an open-ended model of culturally and socially oriented tourism. This scheme would
involve the training of groups of volunteers (the knowledge and skills concerned being in the areas of
history, culture, the environment and languages), who, between the months of May and September, would
accompany and guide tourists and visitors in the municipality. These guided visits would be completely
free of charge to groups wishing to visit the municipality of Casina and the surrounding area in the Reggio