WRITTEN QUESTION P-2699/03

by Uma Aaltonen (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(3 September 2003)

Subject: Status of assistance dogs in the Union

In several Member States people suffering from various forms of disability use dogs specially trained to help them. Guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired are the most familiar example of animals providing help of this kind, which give their owners both independence and security. Guide dogs are recognised to be necessary to their owners and in the EU are now admitted to almost every place where their owners might need to go. However, in European Year of People with Disabilities it might be appropriate to draw attention to the newer ways in which dogs are increasingly being used to improve the quality of life for the disabled. People with reduced mobility have assistance dogs to make the course of their day-to-day lives easier by opening doors, turning lights on and off, picking up objects that have been dropped, bringing necessary items within reach, and helping to support or pull their owners along when they move about. People can be more independent when they do not always have to rely on other human help. To help the hard of hearing and the deaf, dogs can also be trained to warn of sounds that demand action. Hearing dogs alert their owners when a warning signal or fire alarm sounds, the doorbell or telephone rings, water or food is boiling on the stove, and when they hear signs of many other significant everyday occurrences. In addition, all assistance dogs act as standard-bearers for their owners at the social level, reducing the isolation caused by disability.

1. What will the Commission do to ensure that life runs smoothly for citizens who use assistance dogs, without the inconvenience of explanations or delays to which they are subjected at present?

2. Can the Commission provide some form of aid to the disabled in the new Member States by already starting to support social, employment, and public health initiatives and programmes to train guide, assistance, and hearing dogs in those countries?

3. Can the Commission recommend to the Member States that they adopt common standards and a distinguishing emblem to enable all citizens who use assistance dogs to move about, study, seek and do work, and engage in social intercourse without obstacles and delays? Such a passe-partout symbol, which would have a very considerable impact on everyday life, should lead to an increase in dog training and help the disabled to live more normal lives.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2003)

The Commission is very committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. It hopes that the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 will further raise the level of awareness and information in the European society as a whole and thus help to reduce the inconveniences that citizens who use assistance dogs might be confronted with.

Before the end of 2003, the Commission will present a proposal for legislation to protect the rights of persons with reduced mobility, including disabled people when travelling by air. Among other things, the proposal will cover the carriage of guide dogs.

The Commission does not plan to launch a programme aimed at training assistance dogs in the new Member States. Given the nature of the activity and with respect for the principle of subsidiarity the Commission believes that such training should better be provided at local or regional level.

The Commission does not intend for the time being to recommend to the Member States that they adopt common standards and a distinguishing emblem with regard to assistance dogs. It shares the opinion of the Honourable Member that assistance dogs are largely recognised to be necessary to their owners and in the Union are now admitted to almost every place where their owners might need to go.