WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/03 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Promoting a European teaching culture.
Date: 2003-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European identity, European integration, higher education, promotion of the European idea, teaching, teaching method

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/179

The success of this approach will first of all depend on its effective transposition and in particular its
enforcement by Member States. To facilitate a successful follow-up, an initial
list of actions has been
suggested to Member States and competent authorities via the Communications Committee (which assists
the Commission in the context of the new regulatory framework for electronic communications) and the
Article 29 Data Protection Working Party.

In addition to this Directive, Article 10 of Directive 97/7/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of
20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (2) provides for restrictions
on the use of certain means of distance communication including e-mail. For the context of distance
marketing of consumer financial services, Article 10 of Directive 2002/65/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council of 23 September 2002 (3) establishes for similar restrictions for unsolicited communications.
So called ‘scope clauses’ guarantee that these rules are applied vis-à-vis third countries (Article 12(2)).
Finally, for the general context of e-commerce, Article 7 of Directive 2000/31/EC of the Parliament and of
the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic
commerce, in the Internal Market (4) establishes means for the protection against spam.

But legal action as such is not enough. Consumer education and awareness are also essential, as well as
industry involvement through e.g. best marketing practices and the provision of effective filtering facilities.
The Commission will liaise with industry and consumer organisations to promote effective initiatives in
this area.

Finally, since spam is a global problem, international co-operation at both bilateral and multilateral levels is
also essential. Recent efforts e.g. at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
level, are more than welcome. Bilateral contacts are ongoing, and co-operation with the United States will
be important in this regards since an important portion appears to come from entities based in the United
States.

(1) OJ L 201, 31.7.2002.
(2) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997.
(3) OJ L 271, 9.10.2002.
(4) OJ L 178, 17.7.2000.

(2004/C 51 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/03

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Promoting a European teaching culture

The university world has a major role to play in European integration by fostering a European spirit in
those it is training not just for professional life but also life as citizens, and by developing a new teaching
culture.

The technical aspects of the completion of the European common educational area have already been
resolved, but the same is not true of the political issues. There remains a need to foster a European spirit
among the Member States, develop different teaching methods and content and incorporate European
attitudes and values into University education.

What contribution is the Commission making towards the achievement of these objectives, which have the
support of most European university vice-chancellors, given that unless they are achieved there can be no
real convergence, whence the need for this new teaching culture?

C 51 E/180

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2003)

The Commission shares the opinion of the Honourable Member on the need to foster a European spirit
among the Member States, develop different teaching methods and content and incorporate European
attitudes and values into university education.

The Commission contributes towards the achievement of
through
programmes like Socrates-Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci, a series of projects and networks in which
teachers from all over Europe collaborate on pedagogical themes in their field of expertise. In the project
‘Tuning Educational Structures in Europe’, for example, professors from 135 universities from 29 countries
work closely together in defining common reference points for teaching and learning in nine different
the Commission promotes awareness of European
subject areas. Through the Jean Monnet Project,
integration issues in universities across and beyond the European continent.

these objectives by supporting,

(2004/C 51 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2005/03

by Jan Dhaene (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Fiscal incentives and quality standards to promote road safety and the cycle and cycle repair trade

Cycles and cycle spare parts sold in the European Union have so far not be required to meet quality and
safety standards; nor do consumers have any way of knowing the quality of the equipment they buy. This
has far-reaching implications in terms of safety.

In an initial evaluation of the three-year experiment of lower VAT rates for labour-intensive services
(including renovation work and cycle repairs), the European Commission concludes that the measure has
had no demonstrably beneficial effect on employment. The evaluation report for Belgium, however, says
that the lower VAT rate has achieved its objective. Various experts also doubt whether the period of three
years is sufficient to make cyclically-insensitive evaluations.

It is possible that this experiment may be ended on the basis of the negative evaluation. Nonetheless, in its
Transport White Paper: 2010, the Commission itself emphasises the importance of cycles in urban
environments.

I therefore have the following questions to put to the Commission:

(cid:1) what is the Commission’s specific evaluation for the cycle repair sector?

(cid:1) does the Commission intend to respond to the negative assessment of this experiment by abolishing

the lower VAT rate for cycle repairs?

(cid:1) has the Commission an overview of the impact of badly maintained cycles on road safety and safe

cycling?

(cid:1) does the Commission intend to introduce quality standards for cycles and cycle parts, together with a

quality label that is clearly recognisable for consumers?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2003)

Three Member States (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) have applied a reduced rate to cycle
repairs under the experiment of lower VAT rates for labour-intensive services. An examination of the