WRITTEN QUESTION E-1216/01 by Joke Swiebel (PSE) to the Commission. Statistics of disabled people employed by the European institutions.
Date: 2001-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU institution, disabled person, equal treatment, recruitment

C 364 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

It is true that the (cid:145)Selected instruments(cid:146) does not contain an analytical
provides the possibility of searching by key words.

index. However, the Internet

(2001/C 364 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1216/01

by Joke Swiebel (PSE) to the Commission

(24 April 2001)

Subject: Statistics of disabled people employed by the European institutions

Article 3(1)(a) of Directive 2000/78/EC (1) establishing a general
in
employment and occupation was tightened up by a European Parliament amendment and subsequently
in the version adopted by the Council so as to extend the requirement of equal treatment to the European
institutions as well. Does the Commission have statistics available (for both before and after the entry into
force of the Directive) showing how many disabled people (cid:129) broken down by disability (cid:129) are on its staff?
If so, would it be prepared to publish these figures when answering this question?

framework for equal

treatment

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

the provisions of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of
Member States are required to implement
27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation
by 2 December 2003, with the possibility of an extension of three years, up to 2 December 2006, for the
implementation of the provisions relating to age and disability.

The Commission adopted a Code of Good Practice for the employment of people with disabilities (1) in
1998. The Code provides clear statements of
the European Institutions(cid:146) policy in relation to the
employment of people with disabilities and gives guidelines on recruitment, career structure (mobility,
training, retention of staff), working environment (accessibility of buildings and office equipment and
furnishings) and information and awareness training for the members of selection boards.

In recruitment competitions for employment in the Commission, candidates are invited to advise the
Commission of any special facilities they require in order to participate, such as examination papers in
their responses to written papers, presence of a carer, or any other specific
Braille, dictation of
arrangement.

Following recruitment, the Commission does not maintain separate records of employees who have
disabilities, because it is considered that recording such information could conflict with the personal
interests of the relevant people. The Commission underlines that the same career path is open to all
employees.

To provide general
information for guidance, a non-exhaustive survey was conducted in 1999 and it
showed that around 40 people with disabilities (ranging from perception to motor disabilities) were
employed at that time in the Commission.

In its consultative Document on (cid:145)Improving Working Arrangements and Career Prospects for People with
Disabilities(cid:146) (2), published in the context of the current strategic Reform, the Commission says that it
(cid:145)should offer its staff at least the same opportunities and levels of protection in these areas as apply in
Member States.(cid:146) In addition to a strong commitment to respect the 1998 Code, further measures are
foreseen including broadening the scope of the Staff Regulations to ensure equal treatment for people with
disabilities in relation to recruitment and employment, and mainstreaming the principle of non-
discrimination throughout the entire personnel policy.

20.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/65

The period of consultation with staff and staff representatives on this and associated documents will end in
the near future and the Commission will then adopt its policy, taking account of the constructive
suggestions for development of policy that have been submitted. It is to be hoped that, where changes in
the Staff Regulations are needed in order to ensure modernisation and improvement in policy, the support
of the other Institutions, including Parliament, will be forthcoming.

(1) SEC(98) 1559/2.
(2) SEC(2000) 2084/4.

(2001/C 364 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1221/01

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: EU aid to Colombia

Can the Commission confirm that an assistance package worth € 105 million is being granted to
Colombia by the European Union?

Can the Commission also indicate the UK(cid:146)s share of this package?

Will the European aid be kept wholly separate from any other aid packages, such as the USA(cid:146)s Plan
Colombia?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2001)

The Union expressed its full political support for the peace process carried out under the aegis of President
Pastrana. As a consequence, the Union is playing an increasing role in the support for the peace process
and has decided to complement its efforts with a significant amount of aid.

The Community financial support package, as announced on 30 April 2001 at the recent third meeting of
the Support Group for the peace process in Colombia, amounts to more than € 330 million. Several
Member States have already announced generous contributions to this overall package. The actual
contribution of the United Kingdom is not known to the Commission.

At the 30 April meeting, the Member of the Commission responsible for External Relations confirmed
a Community contribution of € 140 million (€ 105 million of programmable aid and € 35 million of non-
programmable aid) and announced that commitments of up to € 43 million will be made this year by the
Commission.

The Community assistance strategy has four fundamental strands aiming to:

(cid:129) establish (cid:145)Peace Laboratories(cid:146) (this year, in the Magdalena Medio area to support the implementation of
peace agreements, notably by fostering local institutions, civil actors promoting peace, economic and
social development projects);

(cid:129) address structural weaknesses (justice, land reform, environment);

(cid:129) combat violence and human rights violations;

(cid:129) relieve the social impact of conflict (displaced people; children involved in conflict and alternative

development in areas where manual eradication of drugs crops takes place).

As to whether the Union(cid:146)s package will be kept separate from (cid:145)Plan Colombia(cid:146), the Commission would like
to re-iterate its position: the Union(cid:146)s reservations about some aspects of the Plan Colombia are well known
to President Pastrana and to his Government. Furthermore, the Commission does not intend to take part in
any initiative with a military dimension.