WRITTEN QUESTION E-2670/03 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Ban on simultaneous enrolment at several institutes of higher education.
Date: 2003-09-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, educational institution, higher education, national law, organisation of teaching, schooling

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/415

Furthermore, Article 4 of the Directive requires Member States to:

encourage the design and production of electrical and electronic equipment which take into account
and facilitate dismantling and recovery,
their
components and materials. In this context, Member States shall take appropriate measures so that
producers do not prevent, through specific design features or manufacturing processes, WEEE from
being reused, unless such specific design features or manufacturing processes present overriding
advantages, for example, with regard to the protection of the environment and/or safety requirements.

in particular the reuse and recycling of WEEE,

It would be expected that Member States, when implementing the Directive, would take the necessary steps
to encourage the producers to adopt a design or manufacturing process for printers which would facilitate
the reuse of printers or at least would not prevent the reuse without relevant justification to do so. The
national measures have to comply with the provisions of the EC Treaty, inter alia, those ensuring the free
movement of goods.

A cartridge fitted with smart chips would not fall within the definition of electrical and electronic
equipment in Article 3(a) of the WEEE Directive, irrespective of its electrical and electronic content, should
it be considered as a consumable, since consumables are outside the scope of that provision. This point is
currently being discussed with Member States in the Technical Adaptation Committee in order to find a
common understanding of the scope of the WEEE Directive.

(1) Directive 2002/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council on waste electrical and electronic equipment, OJ L 37,

13.2.2003.

(2) Articles 4 and 12.
(3) Articles 5-11.
(4) Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2004/C 78 E/0436)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2670/03

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Ban on simultaneous enrolment at several institutes of higher education

The quality of education throughout the European Union is a priority for all the Member States. To become
‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable
economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion’ is the European Union’s new
strategic goal announced at the European Council meeting in Lisbon.

In Italy, Article 142 of the unified text of Royal Decree No 1592 of 31 August 1933 bans simultaneous
enrolment at more than one university,
in the same
university or institute or for more than one degree or diploma course in the same faculty or school.

institute of higher education, faculty or school

Can the Commission express its views on this ban on simultaneous enrolment for several university
courses laid down by Italian law?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2003)

The matter of the ban on simultaneous enrolment at several higher education institutions raised by the
Honourable Member concerns the organisation of education systems and, as such, under Article 149 (1) of
the EC Treaty, falls within the competence of the Member States and not of the Community.