WRITTEN QUESTION E-0609/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Raising the profile of the European School of Restoration across the Community.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/205 Can the Commission say whether provisions of this kind are not contrary to the various treaties and subsequent texts which underlie European integration and determine how it works in practice? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (12 April 2000) Under Community law as it currently stands, the Member States are free to decide on their own authority whether their nationals who wish to pursue studies in another Member State should continue to receive grants or other financial assistance in the host country. They are also free to provide financial assistance and grants specifically for the purpose of enhancing student mobility. This decision is a matter for the Member States alone. Although the provisions of French law referred to by the Honourable Member represent an obstacle to student mobility, they do not constitute an infringement of Community law. (2000/C 303 E/235) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0609/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission (3 March 2000) Subject: Raising the profile of the European School of Restoration across the Community EU involvement in the project which has made it possible to establish a European School of Restoration in the Albaicín district of Granada has acted as a catalyst enabling the said district to begin finding its place in a new period of economic recovery which may help it to emerge from its sharp economic decline. It seems reasonable to imagine that, besides providing economic aid to make this project reality, the Commission could take further action and use its privileged cultural contacts to publicise the Granada school in similar circles across Europe. Will the Commission set out its approach to the establishment it has helped to found in Granada and say how it intends to contribute towards ensuring that a higher profile for the European School of Restoration in similar cultural circles across Europe brings a return on investment in the school? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (13 April 2000) The European School of Restoration in the Albaicín district of Granada was set up as a part of the measures and sub-measures of the Albaicíní urban pilot project (1), which aims to revitalise the districtís economy. Urban pilot projects act as catalysts by nature, but are limited in terms of time. Once they are completed, they no longer receive Structural Fund assistance. Moreover, the Commission cannot ensure the profitability of the projects it has financed. Community aid beneficiaries are therefore responsible for this and for ensuring that their operations continue to run. With regard to the cultural sector in particular, the Honourable Memberís attention is drawn to the fact that the Commission may grant assistance to initiatives only within the framework of and in accordance with the conditions of the new Culture 2000í programme. The first call for applications was issued during March 2000. (1) ERDF Decision No 97. 11. 29. 001