John Bruton
Question:204 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she favours an amendment to Article 128 of the Treaty of Rome to include explicit provision for EC support for education in member states.
Written Answers. - EC Support for Education.
Article 128 of the Treaty of Rome states that, "the Council shall, acting on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee, lay down general principles for implementing a common vocational training policy capable of contributing to the harmonious development both of the national economies and of the common market".
Article 128 refers only to vocational training. However, Article 235 of the same Treaty states that, "if action by the Community should prove necessary to attain, in the course of the operation of the common market, one of the objectives of the Community and this Treaty has not provided the necessary powers, the Council shall, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, take the appropriate measures". The provisions of Article 235 in conjunction with those of Article 128 have enabled the Community to co-operate in education policy matters up to the present in a reasonably satisfactory way.
However, the impetus towards political and economic union within the Community will undoubtedly have implications for education. Existing Treaty provisions may not be adequate to meet the aspirations and needs of the Community in the area of educational co-operation in the future.