Mr President, many thanks and congratulations to the rapporteurs for their efforts and perseverance in regard to these three programmes which will comprise Europe's contribution to the enhancement of further training and development of our young people, our European citizens of the future.
The progression and fine-tuning of these programmes into their new formats are undoubtedly for the better. The new increase in the scope of the SOCRATES programme to include the field of second level education is a most significant development indeed, one which I know is widely welcomed amongst teachers and educationalists within the EU. Though we can appreciate that it is on a very modest scale, it is nevertheless a signal for the opening up of new channels of communication between a further stratum of professionals in the Member States. Such communication and interaction is always to be welcomed.
I am also very enthusiastic about the fact that all Community languages are covered under SOCRATES. This of course includes languages such as Irish, and also extends to those languages which enjoy official status. I see this as a further consolidation of Europe's intentions to protect and enhance these languages which were discussed in this House earlier this year in the old Parliament when I presented my own report on the protection of minority languages and cultures in Europe.
The LEONARDO programme again presents a more clearly defined approach to vocational training, drawing five former programmes under the one umbrella and eliminating the undoubted overlapping functions of each. It is a disappointment, therefore, to observe the Council's approach on all these programmes and its attempt to reduce the involvement of Parliament in the continued monitoring and assessment of the programmes; the attempt to substantially reduce the budgets of all three while at the same time wanting to promote activity and exchanges with new and non-Member States illustrates the wholly unrealistic stand the Council is attempting to take. I wish they would take note of the youth of Europe within the EU first.
