WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2250/97 by Maartje van PUTTEN to the Commission. Timber felling in Surinam
C 60/116 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 2. 98 (98/C 60/197) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2248/97 by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission (2 July 1997) Subject: Reform of fine arts academies Students at fine arts academies in Italy have formed a national committee in order to lobby vigorously for their diplomas to be granted degree status so that on completion of their studies they may attend special schools or enter the teaching profession as their counterparts elsewhere in Europe are able to do. Given that the Italian Government has not yet replied to their demands, will the Commission press the Italian Government to implement the decree adopted two years ago by the Committee on Culture of the Chamber of Deputies dealing with university reforms for Italian academies and conservatories and designed to remove the conditions effectively penalizing Italian students vis-a‘-vis their counterparts in other Member States? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (4 September 1997) Under Article 126 of the EC Treaty, the Community contributes to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity. Consequently, the Member States are wholly responsible for dealing with such matters as levels of study and the recognition or academic equivalence of diplomas. (98/C 60/198) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2250/97 by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission (2 July 1997) Subject: Timber felling in Surinam The media in the Netherlands recently reported (once again) on the plundering of forests in Surinam by foreign › in particular, Asiatic › companies. In order to avoid having to secure permission from the National Assembly, it appears that a few large companies operate via phantom companies and a lot of small concessions. Is the Commission aware of these reports and, if so, does it feel that this is a problem requiring international 1. attention, given the protocol on forests in the Lome· Agreement, Agenda 21 and the current international debate on a forests convention? Is the commercial exploitation of Surinamís forests one of the topics of the dialogue with Surinam in the 2. context of Lome· cooperation? If so, what is the Commissionís opinion of the Surinam governmentís view of the plundering of forests by 3. foreign firms? 4. What aid is being given by the Commission to the Surinam authorities or non-governmental organizations to encourage sustainable forest management and to counteract illegal forms of exploitation? 5. What opportunities does the Commission see for supporting the Surinam government and private organizations in taking more effective action against the environmentally and/or socially irresponsible exploitation of Surinamís forests? Is the Commission prepared, in its cooperation with Surinam, to take the initiative in calling for a more 6. effective approach and in working towards bringing it about?