WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2748/97 by Glenys KINNOCK to the Commission. Rights of employees with disabilities in the EU
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, KINNOCK
Subjects: EU employment policy, approximation of laws, designated employment, equal treatment, labour law, worker with disabilities

C 82/136

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 3. 98

The Commission is intending to discuss the necessary adjustments of the Habitats Directive and its fulfilment
conditions by the candidate countries as soon as the enlargement negotiations start.

The Commission is not aware of discussions between Cyprus and the British government about the possibility of
an alternative training base for the British forces.

(98/C 82/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2748/97

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Rights of employees with disabilities in the EU

Does the Commission hold the view that there are wide discrepancies between the national legislation of Member
States relating to the rights of employees with disabilities?

How has the Commission sought to learn from and transfer best practice in Member States in this field?

Is the Commission aware of the initiatives and the achievements of Remploy Ltd in the United Kingdom and
would it be appropriate to learn from and transfer their experience?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1997)

There are indeed discrepancies between the Member States’ legislation relating to the rights of employees with
disabilities.

The Commission has launched initiatives in this field, with the aim of identifying good practice and organising
exchanges  between  the  Member  States,  specifically  through  the  Helios  II  programme  and  the  Community
employment initiative, Horizon. Information about the results of these activities has been sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to the Secretariat-General of the Parliament.

The organisation to which the Honourable Member refers did in fact receive Community support under Helios II
and Horizon, and the Community was thus able to benefit from its know-how and experience.

In addition, the Commission’s 1997 report on employment in Europe will contain a chapter devoted specifically
to  the  employment  situation  of  persons  with  a  disability.  Finally,  a  communication  aimed  at  promoting  a
coherent employment policy for the disabled is currently being prepared.

(98/C 82/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2749/97

by Ludivina Garc(cid:14)·a Arias (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Access by Spanish technical engineers to the A category within the European civil service

Can  the  Commission  explain  why  Spanish  candidates  with  a  technical  engineer  qualification  have  not  been
admitted  to  competitions  for  the  selection  of  category  A  officials?  Is  it  true  that  candidates  with  similar
qualifications from other Member States have been admitted?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 1997)

The Commission manages its recruitment policy in accordance with the provisions of the Staff Regulations (in
particular Article 27) which specify that the recruitment system must secure (cid:145)for the institution the services of
officials of the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity ...(cid:146). In doing so it avoids any discrimination
and takes into account the different educational systems in the Member States.