91997E2584

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2584/97 by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission (29 July 1997)

Subject: Extension of education programmes to countries in Central and Eastern Europe

As from 1998 it is intended that the Socrates and Leonardo programmes should be extended to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that pupils and students from EU Member States taking part in programmes in Central and Eastern European countries have a command of those countries' languages?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (2 October 1997)

The Decisions of the Association Councils laying down the arrangements for the participation of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe in the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and Youth for Europe Programmes stipulate, in Article 2, that:

'Language preparation and training activities concern the official languages of the Community. In exceptional circumstances, other languages could be accepted if the implementation of the programmes so requires.'

This means that, as a general rule, the languages of the countries of central and eastern Europe are not considered to be priority languages or even target languages under these Programmes. However, as part of mobility and in order to ensure that exchanges can take place, courses in the language of the host country may be required for the pupils, students, teachers or young trainees who travel to the countries of central and eastern Europe.

In these special cases and when required for the implementation of the Programmes, the Decisions of the Association Councils allow for the possibility of funding language training measures. The Commission will carefully examine all substantiated needs in this area.