Proposal for a Council Decision on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003
Date: 2001-05-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European citizenship, European social policy, anti-discriminatory measure, disabled person, equal treatment

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Official Journal of the European Communities

28.8.2001

Proposal for a Council Decision on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003

(2001/C 240 E/24)

COM(2001) 271 final (cid:151) 2001/0116(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 29 May 2001)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(2003), all action intended to bring about the fuller inte-
gration of people with disabilities in all areas of life.

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 13 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee,

the Economic and Social

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

Whereas:

(1) The promotion of a high level of employment and social
protection, and raising the standard of living and quality
of life among Member States are aims of the Community.

(2) The Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights
of Workers recognises the need to take appropriate action
for the social and economic integration of people with
disabilities.

(3) The Resolution of the Council and of representatives of
the Governments of Member States meeting within the
Council of 20 December 1996 on equality of opportunity
for people with disabilities (1), and the Resolution of the
Council of 17 June 1999 on equal employment oppor-
tunities for people with disabilities (2), reaffirm the basic
human rights of people with disabilities to equal access to
social and economic opportunities.

(4) The Conclusions of the Lisbon European Council of 23
and 24 March 2000 call upon Member States to take
greater account of social exclusion in their employment,
education and training, health and housing policies and to
define priority actions for specific target groups, such as
people with disabilities.

(5) The European Social Agenda

the Nice
European Council Meeting of 7, 8, 9 December 2000
states that the European Union will develop, in particular
during the European Year of People with Disabilities

adopted at

(6) This decision respects

rights

fundamental

and
the
observes the principles recognised in particular by the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
as general principles of Community law.
In particular,
this decision seeks to ensure full respect for the right of
persons with disabilities
from measures
designed to ensure their independence, social and occupa-
the
tional
integration and participation in the life of
community and to promote the application of
the
non-discrimination principle (Article 26 and Article 21
of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Union (3)).

to benefit

(7) The European Parliament,

the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions have all
urged the Community to strengthen its contribution to
efforts in Member States to promote equal opportunities
for people with disabilities.

(8) The

for

and

equal

general

treatment

framework

2000/78/EC (4)
to support

in
employment and occupation provided for by Council
Community
Directive
programme
legislative
measures at Community and Member State level set up
by Council Decision 2000/750/EC (5), aim at changing
practices
the players
involved and fostering the exchange of information and
good practice.

the
supplement

by mobilising

attitudes

and

and

(9) Since exclusion from the labour-market of people with
disabilities is inextricably linked to problems of attitude
and a lack of information about disability, it is necessary
to increase society’s understanding of the rights, needs and
potential of disabled persons, and a joint effort by all the
different partners is required to develop and promote a
flow of information.

(10) Raising awareness relies primarily on effective action at
Member State level. Action should be supplemented by
concerted efforts at Community level and the European
Year could act as a catalyst in raising awareness and in
building momentum.

(1) OJ C 12, 13.1.1997.
(2) OJ C 186, 2.7.1999, p. 3.

(3) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.
(5) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 23.

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(11) Consistency and complementarity with other Community
action is needed,
in particular with action to combat
discrimination and social exclusion, and to promote
human rights, education, training and gender equality.

(12) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA
Agreement) provides
for greater co-operation in the
field between the European Community and its
social
Member States, on the one hand, and the countries of
the European Free Trade Association participating in the
European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA), on the other.
Provision should be made to open this programme to
participation by the candidate countries of central and
eastern Europe, in accordance with the conditions estab-
in their additional
lished in the Europe Agreements,
respective
protocols
funded by
Association Councils,
additional
the
procedures to be agreed with those countries, as well as
to Turkey,
in
accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that
country.

the
to Cyprus and Malta,

and in the decisions of

accordance with

appropriations

appropriations

funded by

additional

in

(13) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty, the
objectives of the proposed action aimed at generating at
Community level awareness of the rights of people with
disabilities cannot be adequately achieved by the Member
the Community-wide
alia, of
States because,
dimension of the issue, the need for multilateral part-
nerships, the transnational exchange of information and
the Community-wide dissemination of good practice. This
Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve
those objectives.

inter

(14) In accordance with Article 2 of Council Decision
1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
implementing powers
procedures
conferred on the Commission (1), measures
the
implementation of this Decision should be adopted by
use of the advisory procedure provided for in Article 3
of that Decision,

the exercise of

for

for

Article 2

Objectives

The objectives of the European Year of People with Disabilities
shall be:

(a) to raise awareness of the rights of people with disabilities
to protection against discrimination and to full and equal
in the
enjoyment of their rights as laid down,
provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union;

inter alia,

(b) to encourage reflection on and discussion of the measures
needed to promote equal opportunities for people with
disabilities in Europe;

(c)

to promote the exchange of experience of good practice
and effective strategies devised at
local, national and
European level;

(d) to reinforce the co-operation between all parties concerned,
the private sector,
groups, people with

namely government at all
communities,
disabilities and their families;

voluntary

levels,

sector

(e)

the positive contribution that people with
to highlight
disabilities make to society as a whole,
in particular by
putting a value on diversity and by creating a positive
in which diversity is
and accommodating environment
celebrated;

(f)

to make people aware of the heterogeneity of people with
disabilities and of people with disabilities facing multiple
discrimination.

Article 3

Content of measures

The measures designed to meet the objectives set out in
1.
Article 2 shall entail the development of or the provision of
support to:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

(a) meetings and events;

(b) information and promotional campaigns

involving the
tools and aids accessible to people with

production of
disabilities throughout the Community;

Article 1

Establishment of

the European Year of People with

Disabilities

The year 2003 shall be designated as the (cid:145)European Year of
People with Disabilities(cid:146).

(c) co-operation with broadcasting and media organisations;

(d) surveys and studies on a Community-wide scale.

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

Details of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 are set

2.
out in the Annex.

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Article 4

Implementation at Community level

Article 6

Committee

The Commission shall ensure the implementation of
the
Community actions covered by this Decision in conformity
with the Annex.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee,
the Member States and

1.
representatives of
composed of
chaired by the representative of the Commission.

It shall conduct a regular exchange of views with represen-
tatives of people with disabilities at Community level on the
design, implementation and follow-up of the European Year of
People with Disabilities. To that end, the Commission shall
information available to these represen-
make the relevant
inform the Committee estab-
tatives. The Commission shall
lished under Article 6(1) of their opinion.

Article 5

Cooperation and implementation at national level

1.
Each Member State shall be responsible for the co-ordi-
level of the measures
nation and implementation at national
provided for in this Decision, including the selection of projects
under Part B of the Annex.

To this end, each Member State shall establish or designate a
national co-ordinating body or an equivalent administrative
body to organise its participation in the European Year of
People with Disabilities. This body shall ensure that
is
representative of a range of organisations representing people
with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders.

it

In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
2.
6(2), the Commission shall determine global grants which shall
be allocated to the Member States to support actions at
national,
shall be
awarded only to public-law bodies or bodies which have a
public-service mission guaranteed by the Member States.

level. Global grants

regional and local

The procedure for the use of global grants shall be
to an agreement between the Commission and the

3.
subject
Member State concerned.

The procedure shall detail in particular, in compliance with the
Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the
European Communities:

(a) the measures to be implemented;

(b) the criteria for choosing beneficiaries;

(c)

the conditions and rates of assistance;

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the advisory
procedure laid down in Article 3 of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall apply, in compliance with Article 7 thereof.

Article 7

Financial arrangements

1. Measures which are Community-wide in nature, as
described in Part A of the Annex, may be subsidised up to
80 % or give rise to procurement contracts financed from the
general budget of the European Communities.

2. Measures which are local, regional, national, or trans-
national in nature, as described in Part B of the Annex, may
be co-financed from the general budget of
the European
Communities up to a maximum of 50 % of the total cost.

Article 8

Application and selection procedure

1.
Decisions on the financing and co-financing of measures
under Article 7(1) shall be adopted by the Commission in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6(2).
The Commission shall ensure a balanced distribution among
the different fields of activity involved.

for

Requests

2.
financial assistance for measures under
Article 7(2) shall be submitted to the Member States. On
basis of the opinion expressed by the national co-ordinating
bodies, Member States shall select beneficiaries and allocate
financial assistance to the applicants selected in accordance
with the procedures to be established under Article 5(3).

Article 9

Consistency and complementarity

(d) the arrangements for monitoring, evaluating and ensuring

the financial control of the global grant.

The Commission, in co-operation with the Member States, shall
ensure consistency between the measures provided for in this
Decision and other Community action and initiatives.

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It shall also ensure optimal complementarity between the
European Year of People with Disabilities and other existing
Community, national and regional
initiatives and resources,
where these can contribute to fulfilling the objectives of the
European Year of People with Disabilities.

Article 10

Participation by the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated
countries of central and eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta
and Turkey

The European Year of People with Disabilities shall be open to
participation by the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with
the conditions established in the EEA Agreement.

The candidate countries of central and eastern Europe shall
participate in accordance with the conditions established in
in their additional protocols and in
the Europe Agreements,
the decisions of the respective Association Councils.

The participation of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey shall be funded
by additional appropriations in accordance with procedures to
be agreed with those countries.

Article 12

International cooperation

Within the framework of the European Year, the Commission
may cooperate with relevant international organisations.

Article 13

Monitoring and evaluation

The Commission shall submit, by 31 December 2004 at the
latest, a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment
of the measures provided for in this Decision.

Article 11

Budget

Actions aimed at preparing the launching of the European Year
may be financed as from 1 January 2002.

Article 14

Entry into force

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.
its
publication.

It shall take effect on the day of

ANNEX

NATURE OF THE MEASURES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3

A. Community-wide action

1. Meetings and events:

(a) organisation of meetings at Community level;

(b) organisation of events to raise awareness of the rights of people with disabilities, including the conferences to

open and close the Year.

2. Information and promotional campaigns involving:

(a) the development of a logo and of slogans for the European Year of People with Disabilities, for use in

connection with any activity linked to the Year;

(b) an information campaign on a Community-wide scale;

(c) the production of tools and aids accessible to people with disabilities throughout the Community;

(d) appropriate initiatives by European disability NGOs aimed at disseminating information on the Year tailored
to the needs of people with specific disabilities and/or of people with disabilities facing multiple discrimi-
nation;

(e) the organisation of European competitions highlighting achievements and experiences on the themes of the

European Year of People with Disabilities.

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3. Other actions:

Cooperation with broadcasting and media organisations as partners for spreading the information about the Year,
for using new tools allowing easier access to this information (such as voice subtitling for the hearing impaired
and images description for the visually impaired), and to other programmes if possible and for improving
communication about people with disabilities;

Surveys and studies on a Community-wide scale, including a series of questions intended to assess the impact of
the European Year of People with Disabilities, to be included in a Eurobarometer survey and an evaluation report
on the effectiveness and impact of the European Year.

4. This funding may be in the form of:

(cid:151) the direct purchase of goods and services,

in particular in the field of communication, via open and/or

restricted calls for tenders;

(cid:151) the direct purchase of consultancy services, via open and/or restricted calls for tenders;

(cid:151) subsidies allocated to cover the expenses of special events at European level to highlight and raise awareness

of the Year; such funding shall not exceed 80 %.

B. Nation level action

Action at local, regional, national or transnational level may qualify for financing from the Community budget up to
a maximum of 50 % of the cost, depending on the nature and context of what is proposed. These may include:

1. Events connected with the objectives of the European Year of People with Disabilities, including an event to

launch the Year;

2. Information campaigns and measures to disseminate examples of good practice, other than those described in Part

1(A) of this Annex;

3. The organisation of awards or competitions;

4. Surveys and studies other than those mentioned in 1(A) above.

C. Action for which no financial aid from the Community budget is available

The Community will offer its moral support, including written authorisation to use the logo and other material
associated with the European Year,
for initiatives undertaken by public or private organisations, where those
organisations can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that the initiatives involved are or will be in
progress during the year 2003 and are likely to contribute significantly to achieving one or more of the objectives of
the European Year.