WRITTEN QUESTION E-1768/99

by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission

(11 October 1999)

Subject: Situation of disabled staff at the Commission

I have recently received a copy of an open letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament. This letter, which has most probably already come to the Commission's knowledge (failing which I can send a copy) describes the working conditions of a blind freelance translator at the Commission. The description of these working conditions makes it clear that the Commission's efforts to improve the work situation of the disabled leave much to be desired. I should be grateful to learn the exact circumstances of this case.

Will the Commission therefore comment on the circumstances as described in the open letter from the freelance translator, and describe the contents of the plans it surely has as a minimum for improving the working conditions and promoting the recruitment of people with disabilities?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 1999)

On 22 September 1998 the Commission adopted a Code of Good Conduct for the employment of handicapped people(1). The code is based on the Parliament resolutions adopted on 13 December 1996(2) and on the Council resolution dated 20 December 1996(3) which invited all of the Institutions to integrate the principle of equal opportunities for handicapped people into their policies and internal practices in the best possible way.

To achieve this objective the Commission Code focuses not only on selection procedures, but also on issues like career development of the people concerned and on practical aspects such as the accessibility of buildings.

The author of the open letter to which the Honourable Member refers is a blind free-lance interpreter employed by the Joint Interpreting and Conference Service (SCIC). This service has some interpreters who are partially sighted or visually impaired amongst its permanent staff. In addition, the SCIC regularly uses free-lance interpreters who have a visual impairment. In general, the SCIC employs about 10 partially sighted or visually impaired interpreters.

The SCIC tries to facilitate the exercise of the profession through technological measures (interpreters' work stations) as well as ensuring proper access to internal and external information.

The Commission is active in trying to ensure improved opportunities and conditions of work for qualified people with disabilities. In pursuit of that objective, and in order to respond to more specific needs, the Commission established a Working Group composed of partially sighted and visually impaired staff on 22 March 1999. After defining the users' needs, this Group will examine the products available on the market and then present recommendations. The Commission is committed to improving the situation of the staff concerned on the basis of these recommendations.

Furthermore, to improve the professional perspectives for student interpreters suffering from this kind of handicap, the Commission is studying the possible opportunities for benefitting from the experience of teaching institutions in the Member States and from the exchange of best practices.

(1) SEC(98) 1559.

(2) R4/039196.

(3) OJ C 12, 13.1.1997.