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COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

of 10 May 1989

concerning a European over-sixties' card

(89/350/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 155 thereof,

Whereas the Community has as its mission the establishment of ever closer ties between its constituent populations, and that to this effect, it should encourage greater mutual acquaintance and understanding between the citizens of the different Member States and increase individual awareness of the Community dimension;

Whereas, in particular, the elderly should be encouraged to take greater advantage of the opportunities for cultural enrichment available in the various Member States, in this way increasing their autonomy and social integration;

Whereas, for citizens aged over 60 years who, by virtue of Articles 7, 48, 52 and 59 of the EEC Treaty, benefit, within the Member States in which they are situate, from the same advantages as persons of the same age group who are nationals of those Member States as regards public transport and cultural activities, the introduction of a European senior citizen's card would facilitate and lend greater tangibility to the exercice of this right;

Whereas the introduction of such a card was advocated by the Commission in its communication on Community action in the field of tourism submitted to the Council on 3 January 1986 (1) and was called for by the European Parliament in its resolution of 14 May 1986 on Community action to improve the situation of the elderly (2);

Whereas the introduction of such a card is consistent with the spirit of a people's Europe, the accomplishment of which is one of the priorities for action of the European Council and the Commission as expressed in the latter's communication, A People's Europe to the Parliament on 24 June 1988 (3),

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:

Article 1

Member States are hereby recommended:

- to take the measures necessary for the creation of a European over-sixties' card concerning advantages available within the fields of public transport and cultural activities, the card to be drawn up according to the type model contained in the Annex hereto, with a view to its being made available to the persons concerned according to the most appropriate arrangements,

- to take appropriate steps to inform the departments and services concerned whose task it shall be to grant special conditions and reductions to cardholders.

Article 2

Member States are hereby recommended to introduce the card by 1 January 1991 at the latest.

Article 3

Member States shall notify the Commission of the special conditions and reductions to which cardholders are entitled in their territory and of the services which are responsible for issuing the card.

On the basis of this information, the Commission shall draw up a guide for the elderly.

Article 4

Member States shall notify the Commission before 1 March 1991 of measures taken with a view to implementation.

Done at Brussels, 10 May 1989.

For the Commission

Vasso PAPANDREOU

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No C 114, 14. 5. 1986, p. 7.

(2) OJ No C 148, 16. 6. 1986, p. 61.

(3) Doc. COM(88) 331 final.

ANNEX

MODEL FOR THE EUROPEAN CARD

FORMAT

It should be the same size as a passport or identity card

(recto)

1.2 // // // EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY // // MEMBER STATE // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // Yello w stars on a // // blue ground // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // The holder of the present card benefits from whatever advantages are available in the Member States of the European Economic Community within the fields of public transport and cultural activities for those persons aged over 60 years. // 1.2.3 // // // // // // 1.2 // This card is established pursuant to Commission recommendation 89/350/EEC of 10 May 1989. // (verso) 1.2 // // // // // // // // // // // // // // PHOTOG RAPH // Name: // // Forename: // // Date of birth: // // Nationality: // // Address: //

1.2 // // // // // // // // // // - Stamp of issuing authority // // // // // // // // - Date of issue