WRITTEN QUESTION E-4001/03 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transfers of students.
Date: 2004-01-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: educational system, higher education, organisation of teaching, schooling, student

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/681

(2004/C 78 E/0725)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4001/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 January 2004)

Subject: Transfers of students

Thousands of EU citizens study at universities outside the countries of which they hold citizenship. These
higher education institutions are State bodies, may be inside or outside the European Union and, naturally,
are recognised by the authorities of the states in which they are established.

If statutory regulation were to be put forward in an EU Member State giving the opportunity to students
studying in such universities to be transferred to universities in their country of origin (obviously under
certain conditions, such as having obtained excellent marks in the two first years of their studies etc.),
would this be incompatible with Community legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 2004)

The question raised by the Honourable Member touches on how the Member States organise their
education systems. Under Article 149 of the EC Treaty, the Community fully respects the responsibility of
the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems. This matter is
therefore outside the Community’s sphere of competence.

The Bologna Process, designed to create a European Higher Education Area, introduced a series of reforms
(two cycles, transparency instruments, promotion of quality) with the aim of making the higher education
on offer more accessible and attractive.

to encourage
The Bologna reforms enable the competent authorities (ministries, universities, etc.)
transparency and the recognition of diplomas. The power to take decisions will remain with these
authorities.

(2004/C 78 E/0726)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4031/03

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: Language programme for minority languages

In July 2003, the Commission published a call for proposals (GD EAC/45/03) to prepare the ground for
the implementation of the Action Plan on language learning and linguistic diversity (1).

One of the aims explicitly mentioned in the call for proposals was to disseminate information and raise
awareness on the potential of existing programmes and activities to promote regional and minority
languages. Following the deadline for the submission of project proposals at the end of September(!), seven
of the thirty-three project proposals received were accepted.

How many of the 33 project proposals submitted were specifically concerned with the promotion of
regional and minority languages, which, as reflected by the Action Plan’s inclusive approach, contribute as
much to linguistic diversity as the official languages of the European Union?

How many of the seven project proposals selected are specifically concerned with the promotion of
regional and minority languages, which, as reflected by the Action Plan’s inclusive approach, contribute as
much to linguistic diversity as the official languages of the European Union?

(1) OJ C 180, 31.7.2003, p. 34.