WRITTEN QUESTION E-1797/03 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. Opening by Germany of the archives on Italian concentration camp prisoners.
Date: 2003-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, Italy, Second World War, archives, competence of the Member States, prisoner of war, war damage

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.