WRITTEN QUESTION E-0263/00 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Council. Educational priorities of the Portuguese Presidency.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/167 Instruments not published in the Official Journal have no legal force. They vary widely (for example, they may include grants of financial assistance to Member States, groups or enterprises, or decisions concerning the appointment of officials and the application of the Staff Regulations), and a consolidated statement would be of no significance. (2000/C 303 E/187) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0263/00 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Council (8 February 2000) Subject: Educational priorities of the Portuguese Presidency Following the publication of the documented Programme of the Portuguese Presidency, could the Council clarify exactly what is meant by the stated aim to áexplore the idea of a European dimension in educationí? Can the Council fully outline how it proposes to achieve this aim and, more specifically, the role that it intends both the European Commission and the governments of individual Member States to play? Reply (13 April 2000) In its programme, the Portuguese Presidency has indicated that it á will explore the idea of a European dimension in education, both by sharing good educational practices and analysing proposals to be submitted by the Commission. í The existing Community programmes in the field of education and training: (the second phases of Socrates and Leonardo) are the keystone of the promotion of the European dimension in education, and the ministerial conference in Lisbon on 17-18 March to launch the new generation of programmes will underline their importance in achieving mobility and co-operation within the framework of the European Union (and also the associated countries) in the service of a European citizenship and a joint approach to common problems. The Presidency is in fact also organising a series of conferences on a range of educational and training topics ranging from curriculum development to lifelong learning all of which have an important European dimension and in which each Member State has a vital role to play, namely the exchange of best practice. At the special European Council on Employment (22-23 March Lisbon) the Presidency intends to call attention to the role of education and training, as is made clear in its preparatory document Employment, economic reforms and social cohesion ü towards a Europe based on innovation and knowledge (1)í which refers not only to the contribution of education to employment policies but also to the possibility of drawing up a European Charter of Basic Skills. í Apart from the above considerations the Presidency recalls that much of the Councilís ü and the Parliamentís current agenda is very much concerned with fostering the European dimension of education, such as the proposal for the European Year of Languages 2001 and the proposed recommendations on mobility and quality evaluation in schools. The Presidency would also like to point out that its programme is very much in line with, and carries forward, the work commenced under the Finnish Presidency by giving priority to the questions of education and employment, quality in education and vocational training as well as the promotion of mobility, which were identified as priority themes in the Council Resolution of 17. 12. 99 (2) on Into the new millennium: developing new working procedures for European cooperation in the field of education and training. í C 303 E/168 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 it should be emphasised that it is not for the Presidency to prejudge the role of the In conclusion, Commission, whose powers are defined in the Treaties. Any questions relating to role of the Commission in the promotion of the European dimension of Education should be addressed to that institution. (1) Doc 5256/00. (2) OJ C 8, 12. 1. 2000, p. 6. (2000/C 303 E/188) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0270/00 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Council (8 February 2000) Subject: Functioning of the internal employment market between the EU and Switzerland A European citizen, Kosta Parlavanzas, has submitted a substantial set of documents in which it is stated that Switzerland pursues a deliberate, systematic policy of restricting employment opportunities for foreign workers to a period of between 20 and 30 years, after which they are sent back to their country of origin with no transfer of pension rights. Does the Council consider it possible or desirable for relations between the EU and Switzerland to continue and to be deepened (particularly in the context of the European Economic Area) if the latter country fails to implement the basic employment rules of the single market? Reply (10/11 April 2000) 1. Although Switzerland took part in the negotiations for the EEA Agreement, it is not part of the European Economic Area (EEA) because, by referendum in December 1992, the majority of the Swiss people rejected the Agreement. As a result, Switzerland was unable to ratify it and become a member of the EEA, and the rules of the singe market do not apply to it. 2. Essentially, relations between the European Union and Switzerland are now governed by the Free Trade Agreement of 1972 (1). The Agreement, concluded at the time of the first enlargement of the EEC, focuses exclusively on consolidating and extending existing economic relations between the EEC and Switzerland and ensuring the harmonious development of their respective trade. The Swiss Confederation has, however, concluded a number of Conventions with various Member States of the European Union regulating bilaterally certain sectoral aspects of the free movement of persons and in particular the coordination of the social security system. 3. The Council considers that the best approach in order to obviate situations such as those put forward by the Honourable Member will be precisely to maintain and strengthen relations between the European Union and Switzerland. To this end, on 21 June 1999 the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, signed an Agreement on the free movement of persons. The Council considers that promoting closer relations between Switzerland and the European 4. Community, as sought by the agreements signed, obviously substantially improves the situation of nationals of Member States of the Community in Switzerland, and that the Agreement on the free movement of persons is an essential aspect of new relations with Switzerland in the future. The Council of the European Union hopes that this Agreement, along with the other six signed with 5. the Swiss Confederation on the same date, can enter into force as soon as possible. (1) OJ L 300, 31. 12. 1972, p. 189