WRITTEN QUESTION E-2556/02 by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission. Foreign students in Great Britain.
Date: 2002-09-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, United Kingdom, equal treatment, foreign student, higher education, national law, school fees, third country

C 52 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

The Commission will continue to closely monitor the respect for freedom of speech in China and will
continue to contribute through its development projects to improve the local conditions to deal with the
HIV.

(2003/C 52 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2556/02

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 September 2002)

Subject: Foreign students in Great Britain

Experience suggests that new British legislation (1)
implications both for educational institutions and for foreign students and agents.

in the area of education may have very negative

Under the new package of measures, British colleges and universities no longer receive funding from the
state for (foreign) students recruited through (foreign) consultancies and agencies. Until last year funding
was provided for such students, and it is still received for EU students recruited directly. The new rules
mean that British colleges and universities must now charge much higher fees where students are recruited
through consultancies and agencies, which discourages prospective students from applying through such
agents. In my view, the rules discriminate against EU citizens who wish to study in Great Britain but who,
in making their choices, are, for various reasons, largely dependent on agents. In addition, in my view,
these arrangements contravene Article 149 of the Treaty, which states that the Community is to contribute
to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States.

1.

Is the Commission familiar with the new British legislation as set out above?

Does the Commission consider that the above-mentioned effects of this legislation contravene

2.
Article 149 of the Treaty and principles of non-discrimination?

Does the Commission intend,

3.
in response to this state of affairs, to take steps to remove the
discriminatory aspects of the above-mentioned British legislation, in the light of the high priority attached
by the EU to education under the Lisbon process?

(1) As set out in the Guidance on Further Education Funding Eligibility and Rates 2001/2002 prepared by the Further

Education Funding Council on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2002)

1.

The Commission is familiar with the new British legislation.

According to the available information, recruitment of students through agencies or consultancies

2.
mainly concerns overseas students from third countries.

All European students may approach directly the British universities.

At this stage, the Commission has no evidence of discrimination arising from the measure in question and
does not consider that the British provision contravenes the principles set out in article 149 of the EC
Treaty in a way that could impede the development of cooperation between Member States in the field of
if the Honourable Member could provide examples of discriminatory
education. It would be helpful
treatment of European nationals as a result of the new provision.

3.

The Commission does not have grounds to take any steps at this stage.