WRITTEN QUESTION E-0944/03 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Lessons learned from the BEST procedure.
Date: 2003-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, education policy, educational planning, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, report, vocational training

C 280 E/114

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

(cid:1) The small island in question is designated a natural protection area in the special regional planning

study for Pilion and the Northern Sporades;

(cid:1) Water supplies for the complex are problematical, given the shortage of local resources;

(cid:1) The collection of waste and traffic and the parking of lorries, tourist buses and private cars on the

mainland opposite the island pose serious problems;

the Commission say whether it considers that

Will
in question contributes to the
sustainable tourist development of the region and is compatible with Recommendation 2002/413/EC (1) of
the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone
Management in Europe?

the investment

(1) OJ L 148, 6.6.2002, p. 24.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Recommendation 2002/413/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2002 on integrated
coastal zone management in Europe contains general principles for sustainable development of Europe’s
coastal zones, one of which is respecting the carrying capacity of ecosystems. But the Recommendation
also recognises the need for sustainable economic and employment opportunities, in which the tourism
sector has an important role to play. While it
islands are
particularly fragile, development projects are thus not precluded, but the acceptability of a specific local
development scheme depends on the balance between environmental, social and economic aspects.
Technical guidance for local carrying capacity assessment is provided in studies by the Commission and,
specifically for the Mediterranean area, in the Mediterranean Action Programme (1).

is internationally recognised that small

As for the specific environmental
impact of the construction project referred to by the Honourable
Member, Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment
of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (2) as transposed into the Greek law
requires a complete environmental impact assessment for construction of hotels of this size.

(1) See respectively http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/iczm/home.htm

and http://www.pap-thecoastcentre.org/activities.html.

(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2003/C 280 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0944/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Lessons learned from the BEST procedure

(26 March 2003)

The BEST procedure on education and training to encourage entrepreneurship within the Multiannual
Programme on Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (2001-2005) is intended to identify and compare the
various European initiatives to promote entrepreneurship within the educational system, from primary
school to university.

The final outcome of the scheme was due to become available in September 2002, including a general
summary of existing measures.

Now that September 2002 is well behind us, what lessons can be drawn from the BEST procedure and
what guidelines does the Commission intend to put forward as a result?

21.11.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/115

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

As a result of the ‘Best Procedure’ project on Education and Training for entrepreneurship, an Expert
Group Report on existing measures to promote entrepreneurship education in Europe was finalised in
November 2002 (1). The document offers a picture of entrepreneurship teaching through formal education
(cid:1) from primary school to university (cid:1) in the Member States and Norway.

The report acknowledges the existence in most cases (cid:1) although to varying degrees (cid:1) of a national policy
commitment to promote the teaching of entrepreneurship, but notes that the requisite activities and
programmes are not yet generally available to students. Although many interesting experiences do exist
throughout Europe, they are not normally integrated into national structures or curricula, and teacher
training is insufficient. Initiatives are often isolated, taken by individual institutions, by partnerships or by
local authorities. Frequently, they are driven by external actors and not by the education system itself.
Entrepreneurship is more likely to be seen as an extra-curricular activity.

Furthermore, a lack of detailed national figures on the numbers of schools involved in entrepreneurship,
and the numbers of students taking part, makes it difficult to monitor progress.

The report also highlights some well established examples of good practice, with a particular focus on
‘learning by doing’, for instance by means of students at secondary level creating and running mini-
companies during one school year.

The report suggests possible action to be taken at various levels.
it calls for national
administrations to carry on converting the existing commitment into concrete measures, ranging from
changing the national curriculum to providing incentives to the schools or training the teachers.

In particular,

On that basis, a follow-up to this initiative (cid:1) open to candidate countries (cid:1) has already been launched
aiming to establish a methodology for achieving progress in this area. This work will lead to a new, more
policy-oriented report. Final results are expected by July 2003. The whole process aims at encouraging
is carried out jointly by the
policy change (cid:1) one of the essential
Commission and by the national administrations concerned (cid:1) and may eventually lead to proposing
national targets, to be reached on a voluntary basis by the participating countries.

features being that the project

(1) The Report is available (in 12 languages) on the Enterprise DG web pages, at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/index.htm.

(2003/C 280 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/03

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Council

(26 March 2003)

Subject: Falun Gong

Following the announcement by the Hong Kong Government of
substantial concessions in the
implementation of the controversial anti sedition laws (Article 23 legislation) after widespread public
concern over the possible curtailment of basic freedoms in the territory, what plans does the Council have
for monitoring developments in Hong Kong and ensuring that restrictions on freedom of religion and
belief in China are a recurrent item on the agenda of the EU-China human rights dialogue?