WRITTEN QUESTION E-0636/04 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Europe and the future of young people.
Date: 2004-03-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Spain, administrative formalities, application of EU law, recognition of diplomas, student mobility

C 84 E/644

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

It should also be stressed that the Member States are free to reserve activities for certain professions
provided that they respect the principles of non-discrimination (nationality) and proportionality (and in
particular provided that the measure is likely to achieve a legitimate objective such as the protection of
consumers/customers through the justified qualifications-based requirement).

In order to be able to assess the alleged infringement, the Commission has requested further information
from the informant and Italy is examining the file. At present, it cannot yet say what the result of its
investigation will be.

(1) COM(2004) 83 of 9.2.2004.

(2004/C 84 E/0725)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0636/04

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Subject: Europe and the future of young people

In 2001, a 24-year-old Italian student obtained a degree in mechanical engineering at Milan Technical
University. At the beginning of 2002, he was awarded a scholarship at UNED University in Madrid, where
he produced the dissertation required to complete the second stage of tertiary education. On 31 January
2003, he submitted a request to the Ministry of Education and Culture of Madrid for official approval of
his first degree, providing for this a huge amount of documents. A year later, the Ministry is still not in a
position to set a date for the approval to be granted. Both the Vice-Chancellor of UNED and the Italian
Consulate in Madrid have expressed an interest in the case, without receiving a definite response from the
Ministry. The student, meanwhile, has been unable to take part in competitive examinations or to study at
UNED and has not had his scholarship renewed.

Does the Commission know whether these delays are due only to bureaucratic obstacles? If so, can it

1.
take steps to ensure that these are overcome?

Does not the Commission consider that obstacles of this type are the result of a deplorable
2.
collaboration between the ministries responsible for education in Member States, flying in the face of all
the solemn declarations on common cultural heritage and on the future of young people in Europe?

How does the Commission respond to the scepticism provoked among young research students

3.
forced to waste a year of their future because of ministerial delays in officially approving a degree?

4. What kind of Europe must they believe in?

5. What are the prospects open to someone who, believing in European cooperation, sought to broaden
his cultural education at a different European university to that in which he gained his first degree?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of the difficulties that remain as regards the academic recognition of diplomas in
some countries, including Spain. It agrees with the Honourable Member that delays of this kind, and in
particular obstacles such as those described, can lead to a certain amount of scepticism among young
research students wishing to experience mobility. Community action in the field of education is in fact
specifically intended to facilitate such mobility.

For this reason, following complaints and petitions, the Commission has initiated infringement proceedings
under the provisions of Article 226 of the EC Treaty.