Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-09-07-Speech-3-334"
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"en.20050907.22.3-334"2
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". Mr President, once again I must say that a lot of these questions – or at least some of these questions – should not be addressed to me but to the board of governors. I know about the problem of overcrowded schools in Brussels very well because when I started my work I was immediately made aware of the urgent need for additional schools.
I would emphasise that this schools issue is a very serious issue and I can promise you that the Commission takes it very seriously. But let us also clarify the whole landscape: what is going on in this whole entity concerning possible decision-making? How are decisions made, how are strategies defined? In this particular case, again, as in many different cases, a responsibility is being asked of players who are not so directly involved in decision-making. So the responsibility for the consequences is in one place and the decision-making in another.
Of course, financial matters are also very serious. As I have said before, especially concerning education and cultural issues, people sometimes say that we are again talking about finances but nothing can be done. Finances are a kind of common denominator, and in this particular case I must say that we are not satisfied with the current system of financial organisation of this entity.
You know as well as I do that these things can explode and can have very dangerous consequences, as we have seen in the European institutions, and they can do enormous damage to the image of our undertakings. So, on this particular point also, I would like to ask for your support when we have certain proposals on how to clarify, for example, fiscal management, as we have done in several other cases.
Of course, on the question of agencies, there is an enormous desire to establish new agencies and new institutions everywhere in Europe. I absolutely agree with the opinion that the educational aspects can also be considered, and so the Commission certainly asks for Parliament's support, and asks Parliament to be very cautious and to investigate all these proposals on all the possible consequences very carefully, including the consequences for the development of the system of European schools.
I therefore approached the Belgian authorities, who provide the schools, and asked them to speed up the process of building a new school. A very interesting picture emerged. We have a school, we have three categories of pupils, we have category 3 pupils, and we at the Commission say that there has been an increase in the number of officials in the European institutions with children and we have to provide these children with normal conditions in schools, but in fact they cannot go to these schools because they are overcrowded and the schools themselves have taken in a lot of category 3 pupils.
The Commission has asked the board of governors several times to suspend the enrolment of category 3 pupils until the opening of the fourth school in Laeken, but this has constantly been rejected. It is very interesting; the European institutions are providing money and asking for good conditions for their children in return, but the board of governors is deciding otherwise and they are deciding whom to take and whom not to take.
Therefore, we have a controversial situation. The Belgian authorities ask us to clarify the situation ourselves among the institutions, and then we can talk because they are the same finances.
In Brussels, there is a very big concentration of officials in European institutions. One aspect which has not been touched on at all so far is relations with the local authorities. This is another big issue and one that I do not want to raise. So, please, provide your support, let us take the same line with all the institutions and make it very clear that we need clear policy guidelines on this issue, more transparent management and more transparent decision-making on all these issues.
What about multilingualism? From my point of view, I can only assure you that I come from a very small country, and multilingualism and linguistic problems are very serious for small nations. I can only promote multilingualism, and we will try to find solutions to allow the continuation of teaching in all languages that are in use and to ensure that children can learn in national languages as much as possible. That is the main issue.
Somebody raised the question of whether these schools are like ghettos or some place that nobody wants to go. I investigated this issue a little in Brussels. Of course, the schools are considered to be good ones and are very attractive. That is the reason why there is a very clear desire to have people from outside. It was very interesting to hear that there is some doubt about the question of institutions that are not European institutions that can provide places for category 1 pupils for their officials; we will definitely examine this question.
Regarding Karlsruhe, I understand that you do not expect me to give immediate oral answers, but, as you asked, this can be also answered through the written procedure. I will do that with pleasure and will definitely provide all information concerning the Karlsruhe school.
Regarding the specific question raised about the discrimination of pupils with special needs: according to the information I have, no discrimination was discovered, but there was just the question of how to cover all costs for this particular case. Parents were asked to provide some additional financing. Of course, we have a special allowance for children with special educational needs, but sometimes we have asked for additional resources from parents in this particular case. That is the information available to me."@en1
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