WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1946/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. European Language Centres
C 31/84 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 (1999/C 31/111) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1807/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Operation of European Studies Centres in Greece (11 June 1998) Provision has been made under the National Programme for Foreign Language teaching, which is funded via subprogramme 1 General and Technical Educationí of the programme for Education and Basic Vocational Trainingí, in particular measure 1. 1. c Foreign Languagesí, for the establishment and operation in Greece of European Language Centres (ELC). 1. How many Centres are involved and what is the timetable for bringing them into operation? 2. Bearing in mind that private schools for teaching foreign languages › known as frontisteria › also operate in Greece, will their students be able to take part on an equal footing with the ELCsí students in the procedures for awarding language-proficiency certificates which the ELCs are to organize in accordance with the technical description of the measure? (1999/C 31/112) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1946/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: European Language Centres (18 June 1998) Two years ago the Monitoring Committee of the Second Community Support Framework approved the establishment of European Language Centres within the framework of the Operational Programme for Education and Initial Vocational Training (EPEAEK). This institution, which will not only promote the learning of foreign languages among young people, but also help disseminate the less widely-spoken languages of the EU and thus foster multiculturalism, has yet to become operational. Will the Commission say why this institution has not yet got off the ground and what measures it intends to take to change this state of affairs? Joint answer to Written Questions E-1807/98 and E-1946/98 given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 September 1998) Measure 1. 1c of the operational programme for Education and initial trainingí › which was approved by the programmeís monitoring committee in May 1996 › pertains to the establishment and operation of European language centres (ELC) in Greece. The initial planning referred to the establishment of 33 ELCs which should have been put into operation progressively starting in 1997. However, because of numerous problems encountered during the implementation (e. g. lack of a suitable institutional framework, absence of a body responsible for the establishment and operation of the ELCs), the measure never got off the ground. Therefore, the ministry of education intends to propose a drastic reduction of the measure. As the ELCs are not yet operational, the issue of procedures for awarding language proficiency certificates has not been addressed