WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/02 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Regulation of foreign language courses.
Date: 2002-06-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European cultural event, language teaching, public awareness campaign, teaching quality

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/225

In accordance with the intentions stated in the White Paper on European transport policy (3),
the
Commission is examining possible ways of achieving greater harmonisation of the most important rules
governing driving, and the control measures intended to apply these rules, while respecting as fully as
possible the principle of subsidiarity.

Finally, the Commission regularly conducts exchanges of information with those responsible for road
safety in the various Member States, including Greece, with a view to preparing proposals to harmonise
driving rules and the improvement of safety.

(1) Recommendation of 17 January 2001, OJ C 48, 14.2.2001.
(2) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.
(3) White Paper 0 European transport policy for 2010: time to decide, COM(2001) 370 final.

(2002/C 277 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/02

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

Subject: Regulation of foreign language courses

(3 June 2002)

As Summer approaches, we will again witness countless offers for foreign language courses in numerous
Community locations, without having any system of comparing the educational merit of the courses in
question.

There is therefore an ever more pressing universal call for a system of approving those courses deemed by
experts to be of sufficient educational value for students.

Can the Commisson indicate if the eagerly awaited objective of a system of approval for language courses
throughout the European Union will be realised in the short term, in order to safeguard users who are
seeking to learn a foreign language, and not just to go on a fairly pleasant holiday at a centre which lacks
the proper qualifications for language teaching?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2002)

One of the Commission’s objectives has for a long time been to promote an improvement in the quality
and an increase in the quantity of foreign language teaching and learning.

The Commission understands concerns about the varying standards of teaching in language courses in
Europe. For this reason, the brochure ‘How you can learn languages’ (‘Así se puede aprender idiomas’),
which was published as part of the European Year of Languages 2001, contains specific advice to the
It has also supported the establishment of European
learner about how to choose a good course.
associations working to improve standards in this field (such as the European Association for Quality
Language Services, the Association of Language Testers in Europe).

The Commission intends to bring forward by early 2003 proposals for actions to promote linguistic
diversity and language learning, and with this aim it will soon launch a process of consultation on all
aspects of this field. More generally, it is undertaking a number of initiatives connected with the quality of
education and training in Europe and the transparency of validation systems. The Commission will bear in
mind the issues raised by the Honourable Member in these activities.