WRITTEN QUESTION P-1593/03 by Daniel Ducarme (ELDR) to the Commission. Equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty care and cosmetics.
Date: 2003-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, EU employment policy, free movement of workers, hairdressing and beauty care, recognition of vocational training qualifications

C 268 E/204

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Article 18 of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for
equal treatment in employment and occupation states: ‘In order to take account of particular conditions,
Member States, may, if necessary have an additional period of 3 years from 2 December 2003, that is to
say a total of 6 years, to implement the provisions of this Directive on age and disability discrimination. In
that event they shall inform the Commission forthwith. Any Member State which chooses to use this
additional period shall report annually to the Commission on the steps it is taking to tackle age and
disability discrimination and on the progress it is making towards implementation. The Commission shall
report annually to the Council.’

The decision on whether to use the additional three year period available for the provisions relating to
disability and age is one for Member States under the conditions set up by that provision. One Member
State has indicated that it wishes to avail itself of the additional period. Some other Member States have
indicated informally that they are considering this. None of the Member States has formally indicated its
reasons so far.

(2003/C 268 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1593/03

by Daniel Ducarme (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty care and cosmetics

The Commission of the European Communities issued a call for tenders for the promotion of initiatives in
the field of mutual recognition of vocational qualifications in 1994. In the June of that year, the Union
Nationale des esthéticiennes de Belgique (UNEB), along with its partners from the other Member States,
submitted an application for a project entitled ‘equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty
care and cosmetics’ the aim of which was to guarantee the free movement of beauticians within the
Community.

The application was successful, and an agreement was signed between the Commission (DG XXII) and the
UNEB (Agreement No 94-20-SKR-0125-00).

A review meeting was held in November 1995 at which the partners adopted a common training
programme. The final report was submitted in December 1995.

The UNEB has heard nothing since then.

Can the Commission indicate what progress has been made on this issue?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2003)

In 1994 the Commission published a call for proposals (1) for the promotion of initiatives on the mutual
recognition of vocational qualifications. Around 40 projects were selected, including that submitted by the
Union nationale des esthéticiennes de Belgique (UNEB) and partners in several Member States, relating to
the equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty care and cosmetics (agreement No 94-20-
SKR-0125-00). All projects, including that submitted by the UNEB, were completed between 1994 and
1995.

Since 1995 the Commission has continued to support efforts to promote occupational mobility and the
creation of a European area of qualifications, while respecting the Member States’ responsibility for the
organisation and content of their education and training systems. In particular, the ‘Leonardo da Vinci’
programme has provided support for innovative action in this field through transnational partnerships.

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/205

In 1998 the Commission, Member States and social partners set up the European Forum on the
transparency of professional qualifications, resulting in progress towards the joint development of
instruments designed to increase the transparency of qualifications: the ‘diploma supplement’ to make
national qualifications more readable, a ‘European CV model’ to help people set out their vocational and
personal skills, and the network of ‘national reference points’ on qualifications, providing information on
national training and qualification systems.

The Council Resolution of 19 December 2002 on the promotion of enhanced European cooperation in
vocational education and training (2) and the Copenhagen Declaration by the Education Ministers of the
European Union and the Candidate Countries of 30 November 2002 have made it possible to advance
towards the creation of a single framework for the transparency of skills and qualifications by combining
the mentioned instruments in a single structure which is both easy to use and more visible.

In this connection,
increased support will be given to the development of skills and qualifications at
sectoral level by working closely with the social partners. As a part of this effort, the results of specific
initiatives, such as the UNEB project referred to in the question, as well as the projects supported under
‘Leonardo da Vinci’ since 1995, will be examined and used to develop common principles and reference
points in each occupational sector. Increased transparency of existing training opportunities thanks to the
above-mentioned Community instruments and the creation of joint training modules in the various sectors
will certainly increase mobility within the Union for all occupations, including those in beauty care and
cosmetics.

(1) OJ C 112, 22.4.1994.
(2) OJ C 13, 18.1.2003.

(2003/C 268 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1797/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Opening by Germany of the archives on Italian concentration camp prisoners

Germany has refused to recognise the right of Italian military internees (IMIs) to receive the compensation
paid to all inmates of Nazi concentration camps. Italians who were imprisoned in concentration camps
can, albeit with great difficulty, claim pensions rights deriving from their internment, but these rights are
often jeopardised by the difficulty of documenting that internment.

Will the Commission ask Germany to make its historical archives fully available, not least on the Internet,
and to provide on request attestations regarding the internment of Italians in concentration camps during
the Second World War?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 2003)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the
national authorities concerned.