Denmark education grant and loan scheme for foreign students.

15.11.2017

Question for written answer E-007045-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Morten Messerschmidt (ECR)

In application of the Grzeicyk judgment of 2001, Member States are required to allow study support as part of union citizenship. Denmark’s administrations act in accordance with the Court’s ruling by providing student grants to foreign students, who fulfil the requirements.

However, the question remains whether the EC law also applies to Denmark with regard to providing student loans to foreign students. This is becoming a growing problem, as many student borrowers never pay back their loans.

In a written reply from the Minister for Education and Research, it stated that Denmark has provided student loans to foreign students amounting to over DKK 2 billion. It is very difficult to recover the money again. Last year foreign citizens failed to pay back DKK 426 million of student debt, an increase of almost 25% in one year.

Could the Commission therefore say:

Does the Commission know if, and how, other Member States have been able to avoid this shortcoming?

Would it be possible to administer privileges, such as student loans, in such a way that they are primarily given to EU citizens who, after completing their studies, intend to stay in the Member State that has provided them with the loan?