WRITTEN QUESTION E-4024/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (14 January 1998)

Subject: Measures for people with special needs

Research from the Architecture Department of the National Metsovio Polytechnic shows that at least half of Greece's public buildings, 91% of higher education institutes, 67% of museums and 63% of theatres are inaccessible to people with restricted mobility. According to the same research, these people are also excluded from using public transport, such as buses, trams and trains owing to the conditions under which they have to be used. Telecommunications are also inaccessible to the deaf and there is no provision for terminals for people with sight impairments.

Will the Commission say:

1. What measures it will take to ensure that access for people with special needs is taken into account from the planning stage of buildings or products (i.e. buses, lifts)?

2. What measures can be funded to facilitate freedom of movement for people with restricted mobility within both their man-made and natural environments and to secure them equal access to information and communications?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998)

The Commission is aware that many transport systems and public buildings continue to be inaccessible. Transport plays a crucial role in the daily lives of people. It provides a vital lifeline which enables people to integrate into all aspects of economic and social life. More particularly, to be denied effective access to transport is to be denied an equal opportunity to work. Inaccessible transport therefore impacts directly on - and arbitrarily reduces - both employability and equal opportunities for workers with disabilities, as understood in the guidelines adopted at the Luxembourg Council.

It should be noted that the primary responsibility for policy and action in this area rests with the Member States.

As far as access to transport is concerned, in 1993 the Commission adopted an action programme setting out measures which are necessary to achieve improved accessibility to all means of transport ((COM(93) 433 final. )). Moreover the Commission is promoting the concept of design for all and is applying it to the design of its own premises.

A proposal for a directive on minimum requirements to improve the mobility and safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility ((COM(91) 539 final. )) presented by the Commission in 1991 is still under consideration by the Council.

COST action 322 on low floor buses was completed in 1995 providing information and guidance on low floor bus systems, and is operating successfully in all participating countries of that project (Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Hungary and Switzerland). COST action 335 entitled 'Passengers accessibility to heavy rail systems' is in progress. It will lead to Community standards for accessible trains and stations, and guidelines for providing information to disabled and elderly passengers.

The Commission has finalised a proposal for a directive on bus and construction standards ((OJ C 17, 20.1.1998. )). It contains provisions providing for better accessibility for people with reduced mobility. This proposal is under consideration in the Parliament and the Council.

Concerning information technologies and telecommunications, the needs of disabled people are taken into account in various directives such as the proposal for a Parliament and Council directive on connected telecommunications equipment and the mutual recognition of the conformity of equipment ((COM(97) 257 final. )) currently under discussion.

In order to support this activity and as a preparation for the fifth framework programme several activities are taking place in the transition period. Firstly, a call for tenders for study on 'Assessing the design for all approach for the integration of disabled and older persons in the information society' has been launched. Furthermore, many research projects and studies have been carried under the Tide, Telematics and COST programmes, disseminating the results and creating awareness.

The Commission has proposed the inclusion of design for all in the draft standardisation mandate addressed to the standardisation organisations, in the field of information and telecommunication technologies dealing with consumer requirements in the information society. Applications and services for the international standard (IS) must therefore be designed for all and offer equal access to all consumers with or without special needs.