WRITTEN QUESTION E-3644/98

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(3 December 1998)

Subject: Assistance for disabled children in Rome

Rome city council recently took a decision to delegate the provision of assistance for disabled children to social cooperatives. It has been revealed by the press that the majority of these cooperatives appear not to apply the terms of the National Employment Contract specific to this area, underpay staff, and even employ staff on an unofficial basis. Furthermore, because of their "social" nature they are not well suited, according to the unions, to programmed and coordinated work with schools, working groups on disability, in accordance with the provisions of the national laws on disabled students' right to study.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. whether there are any specific directives or studies relating to disabled children's right to study;

2. what are the positions of the other countries of the European Union on this matter;

3. whether it considers it advisable to check that the above decision complies with the European directives in force?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 1999)

The basic reference is the subscription of all Member States to the United Nations Standard Rules on equal opportunities for the disabled(1), which call on Member States to ensure that education for the disabled is an integral part of the education system (Article 6). The Salamanca Statement on principles, policy and application of special educational needs and the Framework for Action on special educational needs - approved at the World Conference on Special Needs in Education organised in June 1994 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) - reaffirmed the commitment of all Member States to "education for all", i.e. integration of the disabled into regular education systems.

At Community level, there are no European directives on the subject as such. The principle of subsidiarity applies, which means that the Member States are fully responsible for the content and organisation of their respective education systems (Article 126 of the EC Treaty).

However, the common approach adopted by the Member States in conjunction with the implementation of the Helios Community action programmes for the integration of the disabled (including the Council Decision of February 1993 on Helios II (1993-1996)(2)) and of the principle of inclusion of the disabled in all Community policies and actions, particularly in the field of education (based on the above-mentioned UN standard rules) - cf. Commission Communication of July 1996(3) and Council Resolution of December 1996(4) - is clearly to integrate disabled children and persons into education systems under the same conditions as other children, with the necessary support.

At the final seminar to present the results of the Helios II programme in December 1996, the representatives appointed by the Member States adopted the Luxembourg Charter, which sets out the principles, strategies and proposals for a "School for All".

The new provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty on combating inequalities and social exclusion have been strengthened (especially Articles 2, 3 and 6) and specifically refer to ensuring equal opportunities for the disabled.

The 1999 guidelines for Community action based on the first European Employment Council held in November 1997 reinforce integration of the disabled under the "employability" pillar, i.e. better access to the labour market.

As far as studies are concerned, the Commission has supported two studies undertaken by the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education, one on the present status of special educational systems in 14 European countries (update of the Helios I report) and the other on early intervention. These studies analyse the current situation, legislation and practices in the various Member States. Summaries are available on the Agency's website (http://www.european-agency.org) or in Euronews.

(1) General Assembly of the United Nations, Resolution 48/46, 20.12.1993.

(2) OJ L 56, 9.3.1993.

(3) COM(96) 406 final.

(4) OJ C 12, 13.1.1997.