Brussels, 16/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The MEPs on the education and culture committee of the European Parliament are concerned at the reforms planned by Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, who is responsible for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, for the existing education, training and youth programmes. Speaking before the parliamentary committee at an exchange of views, the commissioner sketched out the actions and reforms she intends to undertake for all of the multiannual programmes, to make them more effective and allow the beneficiaries to make the most of them. These reforms are vital against a backdrop of difficult economic conditions at this time, in which budgets are limited, the commissioner stressed.
On education and youth, Androulla Vassiliou will make a proposal in the autumn to merge the education, training and youth programmes into a single framework. These programmes currently work independently, with no interaction. This “patchwork” may end up working against our long-term objectives, the commissioner argued. She feels that the future “education, training and youth” programme should serve three objectives: (1) learning in a framework of increased mobility; (2) political reforms at European level, in relation to third countries (for example, a modernisation of the universities); (3) cooperation and partnerships between the institutions responsible for education and the other stakeholders (university-enterprise dialogue). “These three actions complement each other; they strengthen each other. In order to be effective, they should come under a single programme (…). A single programme will guarantee that everything we do feeds into the EUROPE 2020 strategy, into our objectives for education, modernising higher education and our strategy for youth”, said the commissioner. Vassiliou also spoke of a new funding instrument for this single programme, designed to help masters students wishing to study in another European country. It would be a guarantee system funded by the EU with the support of the EIB, with the aim of encouraging banks to offer these students loans. The commissioner also expressed concern at the situation of young people, who are more affected by unemployment than ever, and whose legitimate frustration could lead to mistrust and a rejection of the institutions. “This calls our democracy into question. We must take this as a warning. It is time to act. This is why I believe that education must find a new place in the policies of the European Union and its budget”", said the commissioner.
As for the Culture and Media programmes, these will pursue their own objectives, have their own budget and will be developed in accordance with their own needs, said Vassiliou. She is also reflecting on specific support for the cultural and creative industries, which are suffering from structural problems and a consistent lack of funding. “The idea would be to give the banks guarantees. These guarantees would partially cover loans going to the end users”, she explained. Lastly, on sport, the commissioner would like to see a specific programme to respect the nature of sport, despite a limited budget. She will also pursue contacts with all stakeholders to fight illegal gambling, match fixing and all forms of corruption. “In two weeks' time, the Commission will adopt its proposals for the forthcoming multi-annual financial framework (…). I have spent all my energy on arguing for an adequate budget for education and culture. The EU has major objectives as part of its 2020 strategy and now we need the resources to achieve them”, the commissioner warned.
In their questions, a great many of the MEPs (the chair of the committee, Doris Pack, EPP, Germany), Marco Scurria (EPP, Italy), Sabine Verheyen (EPP, Germany), Helga Trüpel (Greens/EFA, Germany), Morten Lokkegaard (ALDE, Denmark), Petra Kammerevert (S&D, Germany), Emma McClarkin (ECR, UK), Chrysoula Paliadeli (S&D, Greece) and Silvia Costa (S&D, Italy)) voiced scepticism at a single programme for education, training and youth and asked many questions about how this programme would work and be funded. The creation of a new sports programme also raised questions, particularly about the funding and credibility of such a programme - Santiago Fisas Ayxela (EPP, Spain), Hannu Takkula (ALDE, Finland). (I.L./transl.fl)