WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1862/97 by Carlos PIMENTA to the Commission. Entrance to medical specializations in the European Union
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/105 The Decision establishing the programme stipulates that a minimum of 55% shall be spent on Chapter 1 of the programme. During the first two years, the proportion was 56. 9%. It should be noted that higher education institutions are also eligible under other parts of the programme, such as those for the promotion of language-learning (Lingua) and of open and distance learning. In the event of an additional amount being allocated to Socrates on the basis of the Commissionís above-mentioned proposal, at least 55% of this additional sum would be spent on Erasmus. It should, however, be noted that the Socrates programme also contains innovative measures addressing other sectors of the educational community, notably the school sector and adult education. Adequate financial provision must therefore also be ensured for these, in order to maintain the overall balance envisaged by the legislator. (1) COM(97) 99 final. (98/C 21/212) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1862/97 by Carlos Pimenta (PPE) to the Commission (30 May 1997) Subject: Entrance to medical specializations in the European Union What administrative formalities are required for a graduate in medicine to embark on a medical specialization (e. g. in surgery) in each of the EU Member States, with particular regard to the entrance examinations and the existence or otherwise of a requirement to take a test in the language of the Member State concerned? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1997) The administrative formalities which are required for a graduate in medicine to embark on a medical specialisation differ from one Member State to another, since they relate to the organisation of systems of study and therefore fall exclusively within domestic jurisdiction. The Honourable Member may, if he wishes, contact the national academic recognition information centres in the Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area comprising the NARIC network, for which a list of contact points is being sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of the Parliament. (98/C 21/213) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1863/97 by Francesco Baldarelli (PSE) to the Council (27 May 1997) Subject: Plan for Italian fishermen to diversify out of certain fishing activities On 29 April 1997, the Council of the Union adopted, on the basis of the Commission proposal (COM(96) 682) (1) and having regard to the opinion delivered by the European Parliament on 24 April 1997, a specific measure to encourage Italian fishermen to diversify out of certain fishing activities known as spadare (drift-net fishing). In approving the proposal with the amendments adopted, Parliament asked to be reconsulted if the Council made substantial changes to the Commission proposal. The text which was adopted and published in the interinstitutional edition No 96/0308 (CNS) of 28 February 1997 departs significantly and substantially from that proposed by the Commission on which Parliament delivered its opinion: it adds a tenth recital and a second part to Article 5, banning the accumulation and granting of aids deemed unjustified. Does the Council not consider that these additions: › are a flagrant breach of Article 43 of the Treaty since they ignore the authority of the Commission and Parliament? › Undermine the legitimacy of Parliament which delivered its own opinion on a proposal substantially different from that adopted by the Council?