WRITTEN QUESTION E-2526/00 by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Discrimination against disabled people in Rotterdam.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, discrimination based on disability, facilities for people with disabilities, infringement of EU law, sports facilities

C 89 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

Limitations, on grounds of public policy and public security requirements, to rights guaranteed by the
EC Treaty should not be in excess of what is necessary to safeguard these requirements (2).

It is primarily for the national authorities to appraise the specific situation and subsequently to take the
appropriate measures in compliance with Community law. On the basis of the information available to it
and given the circumstances, the Commission feels that the measures referred to by the Honourable
Member, appear to be proportionate to the end sought, are based on the hooligan(cid:146)s personal conduct, and
are detailed and limited in time.

(1) Council Directive 64/221/EEC of 25 February 1964 on the coordination of special measures concerning the
movement and residence of foreign nationals which are justified on grounds of public policy, public security or
public health (OJ 56, 4.4.1964).

(2) See Case 36/75 Rutili v. Minister for the Interior ECR [1975] II-1219.

(2001/C 89 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2471/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE), Stefano
Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE) and Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 July 2000)

Subject: Lack of adequate facilities for the disabled at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam

During the Euro 2000 final at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam:

(cid:129) a number of disabled persons were unable to enter the stadium in their wheelchairs, and, after being
searched, had to be carried to their seats, while their wheelchairs were removed to a different area,

(cid:129) a number of journalists who were filming the event were quickly stopped by police, held in cells and
not released until late in the evening, following some very tense moments which degenerated into a
brawl between journalists and policemen.

What stance will the Commission be taking on this issue?

(2001/C 89 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2526/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Discrimination against disabled people in Rotterdam

(2 August 2000)

At the final of the European football championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on 2 July 2000, an
Italian group of disabled people, holders of valid tickets, were the victims of shameful treatment on the
part of the stadium staff and the Dutch police.

A few days earlier the group had obtained authorisation from those responsible for the stadium to occupy
seats in a section easily accessible for wheelchairs, but most of them were refused the seats when they
arrived at the stadium. Only after lengthy discussions were those accompanying them (cid:145)allowed(cid:146) to carry
them to another section, which was higher up and inaccessible to wheelchairs. The disabled people were
also forced to leave their wheelchairs at the entrance, together with their supplies of water and other
essentials.

1.
Does the Commission not consider that such incidents are contrary to the provisions of the Treaties,
in particular Article 13 of the EC Treaty, which stresses the European Union(cid:146)s opposition to any form of
discrimination, not least against the disabled?

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/199

Does the Commission not consider that this was a deliberate act of discrimination against physically

2.
disadvantaged European citizens at a sports event of Europe-wide importance?

3.
Does the Commission agree that the Netherlands should no longer be allowed to organise sporting,
cultural, artistic or other events of European significance until there are guarantees that all European
citizens are able to enjoy them fully and freely, irrespective of their circumstances and nationality?

(2001/C 89 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2554/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(28 July 2000)

Subject: Safeguarding the rights of the disabled and events in Rotterdam

On the evening of 2 July in Rotterdam, the night before the final of the Euro 2000 football champion-
ships, a group of 140 disabled persons, 100 of whom were confined to wheelchairs, suffered a terrible
experience.

First of all, the airport in Rotterdam was not equipped to allow disabled passengers to disembark and they
had to be carried off the airplane one at a time. However, worse was to occur at the stadium itself, where,
despite the fact that it had been notified of the special needs of the group when the tickets were purchased
(at a cost of LIT 510 000 each), the disabled persons were allocated seats in the third tier of the stand at
the top of eight flights of stairs.

The spectacle of the helpers carrying the disabled persons over their shoulders attracted the attention of a
RAI film crew who were there to film the match. The journalists were taken away, beaten and injured and
were detained until late at night by the Dutch police.

Does the Commission believe that the behaviour of the Dutch police could be seen as a form of

1.
racism?

How can it be acceptable that a Member State has not yet done anything to remove architectural

2.
barriers to the disabled?

3. What measures will the Commission take to shed light on these events and ensure that
Netherlands begin to respect the rights of disabled people as quickly as possible?

the

4. What provisions exist in the Netherlands to safeguard the rights of the press and freedom of
information?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2471/00, E-2526/00 and E-2554/00
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 2000)

The Commission very much regrets the events which occurred at the Euro 2000 football final
Rotterdam.

in

The aim of Community policy is to promote the full participation of disabled people in economic, social
and cultural life, and the Commission, in application of Article 13 of the Treaty, has proposed a number of
measures to combat discrimination against people with disabilities (1).

However, access for people with disabilities to public premises and buildings and to places which are open
to the public is still the responsibility of the Member States.