WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3030/98 by Raimo ILASKIVI to the Commission. Finnish teaching in the Åland Islands
C 96/158 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 4. 1999 (1999/C 96/228) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3026/98 by Miguel Arias Caæete (PPE) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Admission of holders of German diplomas issued after six semesters of study to A/LA posts In his answer of 10 February 1998 to Written Question E-4186/97 (1) by Mrs BÆrbara Dührkop, Commissioner Liikanen stated that the Commission admits holders of German diplomas issued after the minimum compulsory period of eight semesters to category A/LA posts in the European civil service. In its defence against the action for annulment brought by Mr Vicente Alonso Morales (T-299/97, paragraph 3), the Commission declared that holders of the German Fachhochschuldiplomí issued after eight semesters of study are admitted to category A/LA posts. The notice of open competition COM/A/1047 published in OJ C 145, 13. 5. 1997 stipulates that periods of training count as professional experience. Bearing in mind the above-mentioned facts, why does the Commission admit holders of the German Fachhochschuldiplomí to category A/LA posts in the European civil service, given that the said qualification consists of a maximum of six semesters of study, together with a placement with an undertaking for one or two semesters as professional experience? (1) OJ C 304, 2. 10. 1998, p. 15. Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (20 October 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-2740/98 by Mrs Vallelersundi (1). (1) See page 141. (1999/C 96/229) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3030/98 by Raimo Ilaskivi (PPE) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Finnish teaching in the ¯land Islands According to recent press reports an official of the ¯land provincial government refused another official authorisation to learn Finnish, Finlandís first official language, during working hours. The official concerned would have been allowed to learn other languages, however. The reason given was that knowledge of Finnish was unnecessary, since the ¯land Islands are a monolingual autonomous area, despite the fact that many of the tourists visiting the Islands are Finnish. The decision refusing authorisation to learn Finnish, but not other languages, is discriminatory and demeaning. Does the Commission take the view that the ban is, for example, consistent with the status granted to the ¯land Islands by the EU? If not, what measures does the Commission plan to take in order to enable the official concerned from the ¯land provincial government to learn Finnish on the same basis as other languages? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1998) The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the national authorities concerned