WRITTEN QUESTION E-3054/00 by Anneli Hulthén (PSE) to the Commission. Scope for disabled people to take advantage of the freedom of movement in the EU.
Date: 2000-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU initiative, disabled person, facilities for people with disabilities, free movement of persons, independence of people with disabilities, integration of people with disabilities

C 113 E/234

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

In order to do so, the Commission must verify that four conditions are fulfilled: a public service mandate is
precisely defined, it is formally attributed to the public undertaking, the state aid is limited to the net extra
costs of the public service mandate and competition is preserved.

The Commission is considering how to define a coherent framework for assessing state aid in public
service broadcasting, so to ensure legal certainty to all operators.

(1) COM(2000) 580 final.
(2) The Protocol, after considering (cid:145)that the system of public broadcasting in the Member States is directly related to the
democratic, social and cultural needs of each society and to the need to preserve media pluralism(cid:146), states
that: (cid:145)The provisions of the Treaty shall be without prejudice to the competence of Member States to provide for
the funding of public service broadcasting in so far as such funding is granted to broadcasting organisations for the
fulfilment of the public service remit as conferred, defined and organised by each Member State, and that such
funding does not affect trading conditions and competition in the Community to an extent which would be
contrary to the common interest, while the realisation of the remit of that public service shall be taken into
account(cid:146).

(2001/C 113 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3054/00

by Anneli HulthØn (PSE) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: Scope for disabled people to take advantage of the freedom of movement in the EU

Pursuant to Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, all EU citizens must be able to take advantage of the
freedom of movement within the Union. However,
for people who have various kinds of physical
disability and who need special transport facilities and personal assistance, the scope for doing so is still
very limited.

What measures does the Commission consider necessary to make it easier for disabled people to travel
across Member States(cid:146) borders? Are we going to be able to see any progress in this area within a
reasonable period of time?

Answer given by Mrs. Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2000)

The concern expressed by the Honourable Member is precisely that which guided the Commission at the
time of the adoption on 12 May 2000 of its communication to the European Parliament, the Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (cid:129) (cid:145)Towards a barrier-free Europe for people with
disabilities(cid:146) (1). Indeed, this document stresses that mobility plays a crucial role in ensuring full participation
in economic and social activity and that, in contrast, immobility limits the effectiveness of disabled people(cid:146)s
rights, including with respect to freedom of movement.

Accordingly, the Commission has identified approximately 40 Community initiatives likely to facilitate
accessibility for disabled people to transport and other infrastructures in the short, medium and long term.
The Honourable Member is requested to refer to the aforementioned communication for additional
information.

(1) COM(2000) 284 final.