WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1454/98 by Christof TANNERT to the Commission. Large system-built estates in applicant countries
C 354/100 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 11. 98 Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (15 June 1998) The organisation of university studies, including registration fees, is the responsibility of the Member States. The Community is responsible for promoting cooperation between universities. This being the case, access to higher education in a Member State by Community students from another Member State is subject to Community law. In this regard, the Court of Justice has ruled on several occasions on problems associated with admission. For example, the Court has ruled that the principle of equal treatment laid down in Article 6 of the EC Treaty forbids the demanding of registration fees from university students from other Member States which are not required from nationals. This principle also applies to the award of study grants where these serve to fund registration fees, excluding grants intended to cover maintenance or other costs not directly linked to admission. (98/C 354/158) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1454/98 by Christof Tannert (PSE) to the Commission (11 May 1998) Subject: Large system-built estates in applicant countries In the former eastern bloc countries, including the GDR, over 170 million people live in large system-built estates. These estates will be needed for decades to meet the demand for housing, but they present serious risks both as buildings and in social terms. What is the Commission doing to cope with these problems which the EU will face in acute form with future enlargements? The German National Habitat Commitee designated the Berlin-Hellersdorf estate project as a ábest practiceí model and for dealing with the problem presented it in Istanbul in 1996. In October 1997 120 experts from 25 central and eastern European cities met in Sofia and called on the EU to address the problem of large system-built estates (Sofia declaration on the future of large system-built estates in central and eastern Europe). Has the Commission reacted, and if so, how? Does the Commission have relevant data on the subject from these countries and especially those seeking accession to the EU? Is it prepared to present, initiate or participate in a programme for on-going development in estates of this type, and if so in what form? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (9 June 1998) The pre-accession strategy for the candidate countries, as set out in Agenda 2000 (1) and in the conclusions of the European Council held in Luxembourg in December 1997, is intended to enable all the applicant states of Central and Eastern Europe eventually to become members of the Community and, to that end, to align themselves as far as possible on the Community acquis prior to accession. Housing policy is not an integral part of the Community acquis and is a matter which can most efficiently be decided at a local, regional or national level. Hence the Commission does not have a direct role in relation to the future of prefabricated housing in Central and Eastern Europe and has no specific comments to offer on the matters raised by the Honourable Member. (1) COM(97) 2000 final