WRITTEN QUESTION E-3130/00 by Íñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE-DE) and Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Get up and go project.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, physically disabled person, research programme

C 151 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

The selection procedure of eligible areas is a responsibility decentralised to the Member State. The
principles of partnership mentioned in the general regulations do not so much refer to this national
selection process as to the preparatory phase of an URBAN II programme, once the city has been
designated. Any modification of the national tendering and selection procedure by the Irish government
would therefore not constitute a breach of the general regulations on the structural funds. The Commis-
sion will, however, insist that local partnerships are involved in the preparation and implementation of the
operational programmes.

(1) OJ C 141, 19.5.2000.
(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 151 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3130/00

by ˝æigo MØndez de Vigo (PPE-DE)
and Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject:

(cid:145)Get up and go(cid:146) project

Everything went well six months ago in Brussels when the Commission unveiled the (cid:145)Get up and go(cid:146)
project, to be carried out by a team headed by Dr Rabischong. The project aims to enable paraplegics to
the aid of orthopaedic appliances. The Commission(cid:146)s
abandon their wheelchairs and walk without
commitment to the project now appears to be slackening. Given that three hundred paraplegics are
eagerly awaiting the opportunity to benefit from the project, does not the Commission believe that it has
been too quick to withdraw its financial support from a project which has aroused great expectations?

(2001/C 151 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3131/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Commission decision to cancel the funding for the (cid:145)Get up and go(cid:146) programme

The Commission has cancelled the funding for the (cid:145)Get up and go(cid:146) programme, which is designed to make
paraplegics mobile. It takes the view that the project has moved into a commercial phase and can
consequently no longer be classed as basic research, this being a condition of eligibility for European
financial support. It considers that the time has come for State health services in the Member States and
the private sector to take over the responsibility. However, the cost of each operation is beyond the means
of most patients.

The results achieved by the programme have been very encouraging and aroused great expectations among
those who are immobile or confined to a wheelchair. At present, over 300 patients are still on the project
waiting-list after they were selected to undergo the operation and were confidently expecting to regain
their ability to walk.

Numerous organisations representing the patients, for example the Spanish State Association of the
Disabled, have asked the Commission not to cancel the funding for the programme.

Could the Commission change its decision and continue to finance the project for a further four years?

What help can it offer to the more than 300 patients on the waiting-list?