Parliamentary Assembly Assemblée parlementaire

Doc. 10917rev
9 May 2006

Prospects for a European School in Strasbourg

Written question No 491 to the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
presented by Mr Schreiner

      In its Resolution 1357 (2004) on “realising Strasbourg’s potential as a European capital”, adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly on 26 January 2004, the Assembly regretted that the French Government had not “pursued the idea of a European school, particularly with the creation of a “Euro district”, in order to make it possible for the various levels of education to be included and for the school to have the European status that seems essential”, and launched the following appeal: “for Strasbourg to develop, educational facilities catering for the children of diplomats, civil servants, company heads and executives, who, increasingly, are English-speaking, must also be established”.

      In a number of parliamentary questions to the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers (in June 2002, June 2003, January and June 2004 and January and June 2005), the Parliamentary Assembly reaffirmed its support for a plurilingual and multinational education system geared to fostering a European and global perspective. It also expressed its understanding for the difficulties encountered by the children of members of permanent delegations and Council of Europe staff, increasing numbers of whom board buses every day for the nearest European School in Karlsruhe.

      While acknowledging the efforts expended by the Secretary General in his contacts with the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, the City of Strasbourg, the European Commission and the Board of Governors of the European Schools, and while welcoming the decision by the City of Strasbourg to conduct a feasibility study of European schooling under the three-year contract for 2003-2005 “Strasbourg – a European City” (this decision having been renewed for the period 2006-2008), we now consider that the good intentions that have been expressed for several years must be put into practice. As the author of the report that led to the adoption of the aforementioned resolution and as a parliamentarian who is more attached than others to Strasbourg’s European destiny, I am prepared to provide my support for all efforts expended to this end, in co-operation with all the parties concerned and the Committee of Ministers.

      Consequently, we ask the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers:

      Whether the Committee of Ministers as a body and the Council of Europe member States which it represents are in a position to endorse the importance of a European School in Strasbourg/Kehl and, more particularly, to closely monitor the progress of the French government-funded feasibility study, taking account of the opportunities provided by the presence of a European School in Karlsruhe;

      Whether the relevant members of the Committee of Ministers could bring this matter as quickly as possible to the attention of their respective ministers of education and foreign affairs and of the European Commission, particularly under its current debate on the future of European Schools and the high-level conference to be held next May in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, at the joint invitation of the Vice-President of the European Commission, Siim Kalla, and the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Maria van der Hoeven.

Signed ¹:

SCHREINER, Bernard, France, EPP/CD

¹     SOC: Socialist Group
       EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
       ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
       EDG: European Democratic Group
       UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
       NR: not registered in a group