WRITTEN QUESTION No. 954/99 by Eryl McNALLY EC terminology and the difference between 'mentally handicapped' and 'with a learning disability'
Date: 1999-04-13
Institutions: European Parliament, MCNALLY
Subjects: United Kingdom, disabled person, linguistics, terminology

3.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 348/145

According to the Commission, Directive 75/369/EEC and the proposal referred to above are intended to
eliminate the barriers to the freedom to provide services in the area of itinerant trade. The Commission
therefore has no plans at the moment to put to the Member States any proposal for ‘harmonised’ training or for
a convergence of their respective systems governing access to the profession leading to the creation of a
‘European’ licence or qualification.

This kind of project may be carried out by the relevant authorities in the field in question. It goes without
saying that the Commission is ready to consider any initiative and it has always encouraged the various
professional sectors to advance along these lines inasmuch as they can help to facilitate the free movement of
the members of the professions concerned.

(1) OJ L 167, 30.6.1975.
(2) OJ C 264, 30.8.1997.

(1999/C 348/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0942/99

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Canadian Fisheries Bill C-27

(13 April 1999)

Given that the Canadian Fisheries Bill C-27 has not yet been amended by the Canadian authorities and that, in
the Commission’s view, that bill does not comply with international law, can the Commission say, with a view
to the forthcoming EU-Canada summit to be held in June, what measures it will take in connection with the
summit in June if the Canadian authorities have not responded to the repeated requests to amend the above
Bill C-27?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1999)

Much will depend on whether and how the Canadian draft legislation to implement the 1995 United Nations
agreement on straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks (Bill C-27) will have completed its passage
through the legislative proceedings in the Canadian Parliament by the time of the Community-Canada Summit
on 17 June 1999. Depending on these factors, it may have to be restated on that occasion that the extra-
territorial aspects of Canadian fisheries legislation and, in particular, of Bill C-27 are a matter of grave concern
for the Community.

In the event that Bill C-27 is not modified substantially during the course of the legislative proceedings, it will
also be necessary to reserve the Community’s position on those parts of the Canadian legislation which are
considered to be inconsistent with international law. The Commission sincerely hopes that the Canadian
government will find a way to meet the Community concerns and has underlined, in this context, that
Community-Canada relations should not be allowed to be damaged by this or any other single issue.

(1999/C 348/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0954/99

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(13 April 1999)

Subject: EC terminology and the difference between ‘mentally handicapped’ and ‘with a learning disability’

Will the EC cease to use the term ‘mentally handicapped’ and instead use ‘with learning disabilities’ which is less
pejorative?