WRITTEN QUESTION E-1435/00 by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission. Dual discrimination on grounds of gender and disability.
Date: 2000-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, discrimination based on disability, sexual discrimination

C 46 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2000)

(%)

Gross fixed capital formation of
gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999

European Union (15 Member States)

Euro-zone (EUR-11)

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

20,2 (1)

20,8 (1)

21,0

19,5

20,9

23,0 (1)

23,9

19,1 (1)

24,5 (1)

18,9

20,3 (1)

22,3

24,3 (1)

26,9 (1)

19,3

16,6

18,0

Source: Eurostat New Cronos (cid:129) Date of extraction: 25.5.2000.
(1)

Estimate.

(2001/C 46 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1435/00

by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Dual discrimination on grounds of gender and disability

(5 May 2000)

The Commission has recently submitted a package of measures, including three directives, pursuant to the
anti-discrimination provisions of Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, which cites gender and disability
as two of the areas in which the Union intends to take action to combat discrimination. This being so,
disabled women face dual discrimination which the Commission should be monitoring.

With this in mind, has the Commission included a proposal of any kind within its package of anti-
discrimination measures to combat dual discrimination affecting disabled women?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Structural inequalities linked to male and female roles often have far more serious repercussions in the
event of dual, triple or multiple discrimination on grounds other than sex within the meaning of Article 13

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/193

of the EC Treaty. This is certainly the case as regards disabled women. Although equal treatment of the
sexes as such is not covered by the package of measures adopted by the Commission in November
1999 (1), the need for an approach integrating this principle in implementing all the measures contained in
this package explicitly follows from Articles 2 and 3 of the EC Treaty.

Hence the Commission will see to it that the situation of disabled women is duly addressed in the context
of measures implementing the various instruments which will be adopted by the Council on the basis of
Article 13 of the EC Treaty.

(1) COM(1999) 564 final.

(2001/C 46 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1444/00

by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Specific directive to combat discrimination against disabled people

The Commission has recently submitted a package of measures, including three directives, pursuant to the
anti-discrimination provisions of Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. However, despite the fact that
Article 13 cites disability as one of the areas in which discrimination is not to be tolerated, the said
package of measures does not contain a specific directive against discrimination based on disability.

How does the Commission view the possibility of introducing a specific directive to combat discrimination
on grounds of disability?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

In implementing Article 13 of the EC Treaty the Commission has opted for a gradualist approach, based
mainly on the convincing precedent of Community legislation on equal treatment for men and women.
Employment and occupation are also the key to social integration and full participation in economic,
cultural and social
life. This is why protection against discrimination in the field of employment and
occupation has been given priority and deemed sufficient, notably in the light of the principles of
subsidiarity and proportionality. However, the Commission will examine the advisability of widening the
scope of protection against discrimination linked to disability to other areas.

(2001/C 46 E/230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1450/00

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Leasing of commercial vehicles in the European internal market

The Austrian haulage firm Unitrans has taken over an Italian haulage firm, thereby saving it from
bankruptcy.

Unitrans has leased its own (cid:145)Austrian(cid:146) vehicles to its Italian subsidiary, in view of the latter(cid:146)s financial
situation, characterised by a shortage of capital.

This cooperation has now been prohibited on the grounds that Unitrans does not have the certificate of
vehicle ownership which is issued following incorporation into the Italian automobile register.