Spanish students abused by Finns, claims Martín

Date: 25/07/02

By Martin Banks

SPANISH students on an EU educational scheme designed to foster European friendship have been subjected to racial abuse in Finland, it has been claimed.

Fernando Fernández Martín, a Spanish MEP who has taken up the case, says their experience goes against the ethos of the Erasmus student exchange programme.

In a written parliamentary question to António Vitorino, the justice and home affairs commissioner, Fernández Martín says that assaults on Spanish students in Finland are 'commonplace'.

He adds: 'The situation is not improved by the approach taken by the Finnish police - their lack of interest in the victims, their dismissive attitude and their occasional failure to provide assistance.

'To crown it all, the Finnish courts impose virtually no punishment for offences of this kind. Once the aggressors have been arrested and found guilty, they only have to pay a fine of €150.'

• Commission President Romano Prodi last week unveiled the 'Erasmus World' scheme, which will offer 4,000 scholarships worth €1,600 per month. The Commission also plans to fund more than 1,000 short-term research grants for visiting scholars, who each receive about €13,000.

Spanish students on an EU educational scheme designed to foster European friendship have been subjected to racial abuse in Finland, it has been claimed.