WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2065/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Reform of fine arts academies to convert them into higher education institutes
C 31/118 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 (1999/C 31/163) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2065/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (7 July 1998) Subject: Reform of fine arts academies to convert them into higher education institutes In the countries of the European Union, with the apparent exception of Italy, a diploma from a fine arts academy is equivalent to a degree. In April 1989, in response to this anomaly, the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved a programme commiting the government to reform these academies and to bring them into the university sector so as to bridge the gap between Italian and European legislation in this area. Finally, in March 1997, the Chamber of Deputies unanimously adopted Decree Law 2881, converting the academies into higher educational institutes. Since then, the law has been pending before the Senateís committee on culture, while Article 21(11) of Law 59/97 (known as the Bassanini Act after its sponsor) relegates the academies to the status of secondary education institutes, in breach inter alia of Article 33 of the Constitution. The Commission: 1. Is the it aware of this anomaly, which penalizes students of these academies? 2. What is its opinion on this de facto discrimination which prevents Italian graduates from these academies securing recognition of their diplomas in other EU countries as equivalent to the qualifications of their European counterparts? 3. What measures will it take vis-à-vis the Italian authorities to speed up the passage of the bill through the Senate so as to bridge the gap once and for all between Italian and European legislation on this matter (as was done for students of the ISEF)? 4. Does it not consider that the trade union action undertaken over a number of weeks by students of the fine arts academies is a legitimate attempt to uphold rights which should be enjoyed under the newly-established European citizenship? (1999/C 31/164) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2341/98 by Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE), Ombretta Colli (PPE), Cristiana Muscardini (NI), Maria Colombo Svevo (PPE), Carlo Secchi (PPE), Guido Podestà (PPE), Marco Formentini (NI), Claudio Azzolini (PPE), Monica Baldi (PPE), Umberto Scapagnini (PPE), Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE), Biagio De Giovanni (PSE) and Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission (27 July 1998) Subject: Reform of the Academies of Fine Art in Italy and recognition at European level of the diplomas they award Students at Academies of Fine Art in Italy have set up a National Committee and started a campaign aimed at obtaining recognition for their diploma as equivalent to a university degree, as is the case in all the other countries of the European Union. The current regulations in this area discriminate against Italian students compared with their European colleagues because at the end of their studies they can only be awarded a diploma, which effectively penalizes them in the pursuit of their profession within and outside their country. The most recent law passed by the Italian state (Law 59/97) on the autonomy of secondary schools effectively confirms this situation. This law includes Academies of Fine Art in Article 21(11) thereby denying them the status of post-diploma schools and consequently also funding that reflects their role. Furthermore, a bill granting university status to Academies of Fine Art (No 2881) has been blocked by the senateís committee on culture since last year. What is the Commissionís opinion of the fact that Italian Fine Art students are penalized in relation to their European colleagues as regards participation in public-sector open competitions and in the pursuit of their profession because their qualification has less ácurrencyí in Italy and the rest of Europe? Does the Commission not think it would be advisable to approach the Italian government and to press for the adoption of Bill No 2881 in order to ensure the full recognition of the right of students at Academies of Fine Art to have their qualification accepted as equivalent to a university degree, thereby ending the disparity between national and European law?