WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3312/97 by Helena TORRES MARQUES to the Commission. Financial aid for the victims of torture
Date: 1997-10-15
Institutions: European Parliament, TORRES MARQUES
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, East Timor, civilian victim, democracy, human rights, social rehabilitation, torture, war victim

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/173

4.  Are there recommendations for offering part-time contracts to such groups of mental patients, since these

enable them to develop their skills and so prevent a further increase in their anxiety?

5. 

Is  the  Commission  aware  that  when  people  sign  an  employment  contract  they  lose  the  non-contributory
pension in many instances, which means that, in view of the uncertainty of finding stable employment, their
wish to return to work is undermined by the fear of losing this pension?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1997)

In 1996 a budget of MECU 5 was allocated for transnational activities geared to improving the quality of life of
people  suffering  from  neurodegenerative  diseases,  more  particularly  Alzheimer  type  (DAT)  and  related
disorders, and their carers. Following a call for proposals, 26 projects on Alzheimer(cid:146)s disease were selected for
funding covering a variety of themes.

There  is  no  Community  public  health  programme  for  the  prevention  of  mental  illness.  However  in  the
programme  of  Community  action  on  health  promotion,  information,  education  and  training  within  the
framework for action in the field of public health (1), mental health promotion has been given priority. It is one of
eight health issues on which this programme focuses.

In the communication from the Commission (2) proposing a Community action programme on injury prevention
in the context of the framework for action in the field of public health, suicide is foreseen as one of five main
topics.

There  are  no  Community  provisions  or  recommendations  on  the  industrial  rehabilitation  of  psychologically
impaired people. However, in a forthcoming communication on employment of people with disabilities, the issue
of the transition to employment, including the question of the effect of receiving a non-contributory pension and
stable employment in the open labour market, will be analysed.

A budget of MECU 11.8 has been allocated in 1997 for preparatory measures for cooperation to foster equal
opportunities for people with disabilities, in particular to support activities of non governmental organisations
and  associations  formed  by  people  with  disabilities.  A  call  for  proposals  was  launched  in  April  1997.
128 proposals  have  now  been  pre-selected  for  funding,  including  13  projects  devoted  to  psychologically
impaired people.

(1)  Decision No 645/96/EC, OJ L 95, 16.4.1996.
(2)  COM(97) 178 final.

(98/C 117/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3312/97

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(15 October 1997)

Subject: Financial aid for the victims of torture

The  Commission  has  approved  the  funding  of  27  projects  and  programmes  intended  to  help  rehabilitate  the
victims of torture throughout the world, as part of a Community strategy aimed at promoting human rights and
democracy.

Will the Commission say whether any of these programmes is intended to help the victims of torture in East
Timor?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 1997)

The Commission wishes to inform the Honourable Member that there are no projects for East Timor among the
27  approved  by  the  Commission  on  11  June  as  part  of  support  for  rehabilitation  centres  for  torture  victims
(budget heading B7-7070).