WRITTEN QUESTION E-3024/02 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Freedom of establishment for graduates of Italian academies of music.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Italy, artistic profession, music, professional qualifications, recognition of diplomas, teacher

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/129

(2003/C 110 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Roberta Angelilli (UEN)
and Antonio Mussa (UEN) to the Commission

(17 October 2002)

Subject: Discrimination against Italian culture abroad

Is the Commission aware of the fact that musicians who have graduated from Italian conservatories with
top marks and honours, have completed specialised courses in European schools and have experience as
soloists are not admitted to European competitive examinations for the recruitment of teachers and cannot
work in State schools?

This constitutes strong discrimination against these professional musicians who, precisely because of their
competence, are often asked to teach the most popular instruments (violin, piano and guitar) in the best
private schools, and bearing in mind the fact that the diploma is the only high-level qualification in Italy, is
the Commission aware that there are therefore no alternative ways for young Italians to gain access to
teaching, concert work, competitive examinations and orchestras?

Since all European countries, including those in eastern Europe, grant European-level recognition, except
Italy, can the Commission draw up a directive providing for European recognition for graduates of Italian
conservatories, putting their qualifications on an equal footing with those in other European countries,
including eastern Europe?

(2003/C 110 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3024/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: Freedom of establishment for graduates of Italian academies of music

Pupils of Italian academies of music who obtained top marks in their examinations and graduated with
merit or the highest distinction, and who have the benefit of postgraduate training at Parisian schools and
experience as soloists, are not eligible to enter European competitions or be employed in European state
schools as teachers.

Can the Commission say:

1. Whether it knows the reasons (be they to do with rules or of a procedural nature) for this debarment?

2. Who was empowered to make the exception to mutual recognition of qualifications?

3. Whether this unfortunate situation has arisen from any negligence on the part of

the Italian

authorities?

4. What steps should be taken to enable the graduates concerned to work as teachers in Member States?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2935/02 and E-3024/02
given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2002)

The recognition of teaching qualifications is governed by Council Directives 89/48/EEC (1) and 92/51/
EEC (2). These Directives aim at allowing European nationals who already have a professional qualification
in their Member State of origin, to practise their profession in another Member State. In order to benefit
from the ‘General System’, it is necessary to be fully qualified for the exercise of a given profession in the
Member State of origin.

As far as the Commission knows, the qualifications awarded by the Italian conservatories are not sufficient
to have access to the profession of music teacher in Italy. In order to have access to this profession, it is
necessary to possess also the teaching qualification (‘abilitazione’), which can be obtained by competition,

C 110 E/130

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.5.2003

examination or qualifying training course. Therefore, unless they have this further qualification, musicians
who have graduated from the Italian conservatories cannot benefit from the Directives in order to exercise
the teaching profession in other Member States, in which this profession is regulated. As far as concerts
and orchestras are concerned, to the Commission’s knowledge, the relevant professions are not regulated in
other Member States. Therefore, graduates from the Italian conservatories should encounter no legal
obstacle related to their diplomas in gaining access to these professions.

(1) Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the recognition of higher-education
diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years & apos duration,
OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.

(2) Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional

education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC, OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.

(2003/C 110 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937/02

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 October 2002)

Subject: Antibiotics as additives in animal feedingstuffs

The Commission recently put
to remove antibiotics as a category from the
regulation on additives in feedingstuffs and to ban by 2006 those antibiotics currently authorised for use
as additives in feedingstuffs on the European market. There would appear to be broad support for such a
ban.

forward a proposal (1)

The Task Force on Animal Feedingstuffs set up by the Codex Alimentarius is currently holding
negotiations on the same topic, negotiations in which a number of countries have intimated that they
regard antibiotics as a normal additive IN animal feedingstuffs. Given that the PROVISIONS laid down in
the Codex Alimentarius are ultimately employed as trade rules within the World Trade Organisation, the
acknowledgement in the Codex Alimentarius of antibiotics as normal additives will place producers in the
European Union at a competitive disadvantage.

1.
Does the Commission expect the proposed total ban on the use of antibiotics as additives in animal
feedingstuffs ultimately to be incorporated into the Codex Alimentarius? If not, which countries have
objections to such a step?

Does the Commission regard a competitive disadvantage stemming from such disparities in legal

2.
provisions as acceptable?

To what extent is European food safety law brought into line with agreements under the Codex

3.
Alimentarius with a view to ruling out competitive disadvantages of this kind?

4. What steps will the Commission take should European law ultimately not be consistent with the
Codex Alimentarius as regards the use of antibiotics as additives in animal feedingstuffs?

Does the Commission plan to put forward measures to protect the European market against products

5.
which contain additives banned in Europe?

(1) COM(2002) 153, OJ C 203 E, 27.8.2002, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 2002)

There are currently four antibiotics authorised that can be used as feed additives: monensin sodium,
salinomycin sodium, flavophospholipol and avilamycin.