WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/04 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. The European School in Amsterdam.
Date: 2004-03-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, Portugal, child of migrant, competence of the Member States, free movement of persons, free movement of workers, language teaching, mother tongue, organisation of teaching

C 84 E/886

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0979)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: The European School in Amsterdam

Parents of a number of pupils, as well as teachers at the European School in Amsterdam have expressed
deep concern at the Netherlands authorities’ announced cut in public funding for the school, apparently
the result of a decision to cut subsidies for basic-level foreign language teaching.

The Portuguese authorities claim that they provide funding for a school in Portugal where Dutch is taught,
and hence would expect reciprocal treatment, and have so far refused to take over the task of funding
from the Netherlands.

Since teaching the language of the country of origin in primary schools is vital in facilitating freedom of
movement and is practised and funded by substantial Community appropriations for the European school
system, this issue is bound to be of interest to the Community institutions.

Can the Commission therefore say whether it does not consider that a legislative initiative should be
launched in the form of a policy strategy providing guidelines for the Member States in this sphere, or any
other initiative aimed at avoiding mutual shirking of responsibility and helping to ensure that language
teaching may continue, as it is extremely important for communication and freedom of movement in
Europe?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2004)

On the basis of the information provided, the question concerns the organisation of education systems.
As it is, according to Article 149 of the EC Treaty, responsibility for the content of teaching and the
organisation of education systems lies with the Member States. The role of the Commission in the area of
education is to encourage cooperation between Member States and to support and supplement their
action.

Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that, on 25 July 1977, the Council adopted Directive 77/486/EEC on
the children of migrant workers (1). This Directive is concerned with promoting
the education of
improvements in the conditions of freedom of movement for workers as regards the reception and
education of their children, and underlines how important it is for host Member States to take appropriate
measures, in conjunction with the Member States of origin, to promote the teaching of the mother tongue
and of the culture of the country of origin of such children, with a view principally to facilitating their
possible reintegration into the Member State of origin. The Commission has no plans to put forward any
new legislative proposals.

(1) OJ L 199, 6.8.1977.

(2004/C 84 E/0980)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0825/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(8 March 2004)

Subject: Opinion of the Council’s Legal Service challenged by the Commission

Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 (1) ensures the continued protection of the waters off the
Azores and Madeira until the entry into force of a regulation fixing the maximum annual fishing effort or,
at the latest, until 31 July 2004.