91997E2439

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2439/97 by Friedhelm Frischenschlager (ELDR) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: SOCRATES action programme

In the past two years it has become evident that the Socrates action programme has made an important contribution in the field of European education.

With Socrates so well known and so popular and with the new Member States having joined this programme, the financial resources with which it is endowed seem very modest.

- Will cooperation with the new Central and Eastern European countries result in a decline in the quality of the Socrates programme?

- How does the Commission intend further to increase transparency in the allocation of financial resources with a view to curbing misuse?

- What amount in ECU has Austria received under this programme in the past two years? What percentage was utilized in the two new Member States Finland and Sweden, compared to Austria?

- How many mobility scholarships and teaching contracts abroad were used for professors, lecturers and students? What percentage of the resources was used by people in Austria, compared to France and Germany?

- How many people participated in education and exchange projects, and how many foreign language teachers took advantage of opportunities for training abroad? What percentage of the resources was used by people in Austria, compared to Italy and the United Kingdom?

- On what will the Commission place the emphasis in the educational sphere in the next two years?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1997)

The Commission would point out that this question is exactly the same as the Honourable Member's Written Question E-2347/97.

The Commission would therefore refer the Honourable Member to the answer it has already given to that question ((See page 61. )).