WRITTEN QUESTION E-1503/02 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission. Erasmus/Socrates grants.
Date: 2002-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: education grant, education policy, equal treatment, student mobility

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/163

(2002/C 301 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1503/02

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(29 May 2002)

Subject: Erasmus/Socrates grants

It has come to my attention that the level of financial assistance for students taking part in an Erasmus/
Socrates programme varies considerably in respect of students of different origin. For example, a student
from Italy receives a grant of EUR 720 for a six-month period of study in Würzburg, whereas a Czech or
Finnish student receives EUR 2 100 for a period of study of the same duration at the same university.

Therefore the following questions:

(cid:1) What

factors are taken into account when the amount of an Erasmus/Socrates grant

is being

calculated?

(cid:1) How can such striking financial disparities be explained, when both the place of study and the

students’ place of origin (Finland, in this instance) are in EU Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2002)

The Commission’s grant contribution toward Erasmus student mobility in the 18 countries (Member States
+ 3 European Economic Area (EEA) countries) is allocated on the basis of an agreed standard calculation
which includes factors such as: number of students, cost of living and travel distance. The contribution to
the candidate countries is derived by the application of a mathematical formula to the 18 contributions.

The amount of grant offered to students in any particular instance is a decision that is made entirely by the
participating country which has to find a balance between offering as large a grant as possible from very
restricted budgets and achieving the participation of the maximum possible number of students. The
Commission specifies a maximum amount which may be awarded to students from the Commission
contribution.

However, countries may continue financial support to which a student is already deemed entitled, and in
quite a few countries a national ‘top-up’ grant is paid by the government to students going abroad on
mobility programmes. In many cases, higher education institutions award co-funding to their Erasmus
students. This would explain the differences in the mobility grants paid to students from different countries
at the same host university.

The average Erasmus grants from Community funds are given in a table which is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2002/C 301 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1507/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Ban on use of antibiotics in small doses

(29 May 2002)

An EU decision banned the use of antibiotics in small doses for breeding animals, both for preventive
purposes and as growth promoters (e.g. bacitracin). Could the Commission state whether there is a
confirmed belief that this ban ended up facilitating checks on residues in food of animal origin or,
whether, on the other hand, its effects included an increase in cases of illness among animals, a rise in
treatment, excessive use of medicinal products etc.?