Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-03-14-Speech-2-322"
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"en.20060314.27.2-322"2
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".
Questions 50 and 51 are quite similar but, if necessary, I will answer them separately, although the concept will be the same.
I must begin by saying that the European Schools constitute one of the most complicated issues in my area of responsibility, and there are a lot of problems. The system is very independent and complicated. Governance of the system does not fall to the Commission, and in fact the Commission is just one member of the Board of Governors, which consists of 29 members.
The rapid enlargement of the European Union has brought a lot of people to our locations – not only to Brussels – and we have a lot of problems regarding the lack of places needed for children in schools and other facilities. One solution, which is extremely necessary, would be to open a fourth Brussels school in Laeken in 2009. Why Laeken? That decision was taken by the Belgian Government. Belgium is the host country and makes quite a significant contribution to the school infrastructure. All the infrastructure is provided by the host country. I have been in touch with the Belgian Government and ministers. President Barroso has taken this issue up with the Belgian Government to speed up this process, and 2009 is earlier than originally envisaged.
Now it is a matter of deciding the school’s internal arrangements for the language sections: which language sections will be opened and which will be transferred. First, it is too early to say that anything has been decided. It is still under discussion and the Commission is only one part, and definitely not the dominant part, of these discussions. The Board of Governors will take the decisions. Of course, the Commission tries to provide input based on its experience and knowledge, and to participate in this process and secure the interests of parents of the European institutions as well as to ensure transparency and fair process.
At its meeting on 25 and 26 October, the Board of Governors adopted a list of criteria on how to deal with the language sections. A working group, the
was established and the Secretary-General of the European School presented a preliminary document to this group. Again, the Commission is actively participating in this group, but we are only one partner. Finally, that
must take all considerations into account and come up with a proper solution.
Some preliminary solutions – options A and B – were discussed, but it is really too early to say that one solution is preferable to the other. That group is now discussing intermediate options which adopt the best parts of both solutions, which include one principle – supported by the Commission – that the children currently enrolled in one of the existing schools in any section should not be obliged to move to Laeken. That is probably a good idea for parents whose children already go to those schools. It is very difficult to imagine that the definitive solution will satisfy everybody, but we must find a solution which ensures that the pupils will get the best education.
We are working with the Board of Governors and with the Dutch Government, which is presiding over the Board, about the reform of the European schools, because there are a lot of problems, including structural problems, and, obviously, this system must be modified.
This is my conceptual answer and I cannot say today that we have prepared any hidden agendas or solution. We work with the
very seriously and I can assure you that we take these issues very seriously, but it is a very difficult area and a lot of problems have accumulated, and now we have to find final, long-term solutions. We will work hard with the Belgian Government and the Brussels authorities to find some transitional solutions to solve short-term problems and shortages in all our facilities.
That is the picture today."@en1
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"‘Groupe de suivi Bruxelles IV’"1
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