Brussels, 24/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the end of the presentation of the Slovenian presidency's priorities on education and culture at the European Parliament on Monday 21 January (EUROPE 9585), most MEPs welcomed the ambitious objectives expressed by the three ministers with these portfolios and their determination to make intercultural dialogue one of their priority objectives. Christa Prets (PES, Austria) mentioned the importance of mobility for artists, including those from the third world. Claire Gibault (ALDE, France) underlined the need for quality teaching of artistic subjects. Ljudmila Novak (EPP-ED, Slovenia) said that culture should have a bigger place in external policy and Vasco Graça Moura (EPP-ED, Portugal) underlined the protection of cultural heritage. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (EPP-ED, Luxembourg) promised, “the modernisation of universities is an immense task and Parliament will be at your side”. Other MEPs mentioned the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) studies and compared education policies in the different member states. Hannu Takkula (ALDE, Finland) stated, “every European child should have equal opportunities for having a good level of teaching”. Recognition of diplomas in member states remains a problem for many Europeans, declared Katerina Batzeli (PES, Greece), who also asked Slovenian ministers to take this issue into account. (I.L.)