MEPs called for more funding for the Socrates programme of student exchanges. The programme has had considerable success in helping to promote the European dimension in education. It has boosted European co-operation in sectors of education not previously targeted by EU-level actions. One of the keys to the programme's success has been its capacity to build co-operation "bottom-up", centred the everyday needs of schools, colleges, universities and educational associations in the different member states.
However, from 1998 onwards, the 10 associated central and eastern European countries will also be included. The advent of these new participants, together with the effects of inflation and the increasing demand from young people in countries already in the programme, means that the proposed budget increase of ECU 50 million actually represents a reduction in real terms.
Ideally, there should be an increase of ECU 165 million but, given the curbs on public spending, MEPs view an increase of ECU 100 million as a minimum. "Failure to agree to this minimum effort would send a regrettable signal to the educational community and to public opinion: it would be a cynical admission that priority for the citizen is mere rhetoric devoid of consequences for EU "Realpolitik", said Doris Pack (D, EPP).