WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3545/97 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Progress towards harmonization of motor vehicle number plates
16. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 187/19 (98/C 187/29) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3545/97 by Gerardo Ferna·ndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (12 November 1997) Subject: Progress towards harmonization of motor vehicle number plates Symbols are one of the most effective ways of making European citizens identify with the idea that they are part of a community within the European Union. That is why the harmonization of motor vehicle number plates to include the Union logo has been one of the most successful factors in helping to popularize the ideas which help to establish this sense of community in Europe. However, not all countries have yet adopted the new harmonized number plate, to the disappointment of the citizens concerned. Does the Commission consider that encouragement should be given to those countries which have not yet introduced the harmonized number plate with the Community logo to do so as swiftly as possible? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (19 December 1997) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his written question No E-2574/92 (1). Since then, Germany and France have also adopted the Community model of number plates in addition to Ireland and Portugal. (1) OJ C 86, 26. 3. 1993. (98/C 187/30) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3550/97 by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission (12 November 1997) Subject: Abandonment of teaching of geography in Italy Is the Commission aware that the Italian Ministry of Educationís pilot project relating to the first two years of áhigher secondaryí teaching, which has already been introduced in 150 establishments, does not include any geography. This has a whole series of serious implications for the teaching profession since many teachers of geography are being forced to áquití. 1. Does the Commission agree that this will greatly undermine educational standards? Does it agree that the Italian Ministryís decision is at odds with the policy of promoting the ácultural valueí 2. of geography which applies in all equivalent education systems in the European Union? 3. Will the Commission ask the Italian Government to annul this alarming decision? (98/C 187/31) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3802/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (26 November 1997) Subject: Removal of geography from the school curriculum in Italy The Italian Minister of Education has announced his intention of removing geography from secondary and higher education syllabuses. A pilot project is already being implemented this year in 150 establishments, heralding the removal of the subject from the two-year cycles of study, following its stealthy disappearance, in recent years, from the timetable for some technical-vocational courses