WRITTEN QUESTION E-3530/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. Health and safety for the elderly and disabled.
Date: 2003-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: building regulations, elderly person, facilities for people with disabilities, health policy, public safety

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/295

What are the Commission’s general thoughts on the future work of the Euroregions, in particular in the
area concerned, which is located on a border between the EU and the accession countries?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2003)

The Community Initiative Interreg is implemented in accordance with the Guidelines adopted by the
Commission on 28 April 2000 after consultation with the European Parliament (1). The Guidelines do not
identify the potential final beneficiaries under Interreg, although they provide a number of opportunities
for organisations such as the Euroregion offices to participate in the pursuit of the objectives of the
individual programmes.

One such possibility arises under technical assistance for preparatory, monitoring, evaluation and checking
measures necessary for implementing Interreg programmes. Euroregions can obtain support under
technical assistance insofar as they are responsible for executing such measures. It is, however, entirely a
matter for the Member States to decide how technical assistance resources are used. The Commission is
informed that Euroregion offices are not at present engaged under technical assistance under the Interreg
III programme Brandenburg-Lubuskie, although they provide advice to potential project partners.

Euroregion offices can also bid for support from Interreg III in other ways such as under the Micro Project
Facility for small projects promoting cross-border integration between peoples. In many border areas,
Euroregions are involved in such actions that also allow for support to be granted towards the costs of
Euroregion offices.

The Commission will present proposals for the future of actions to promote cooperation in the Third
Report on economic and social cohesion which will be presented to the Parliament and to the Council at
the beginning of 2004. It is therefore too early at this stage to speculate on future policy in this field.

(1) OJ C 143, 23.5.2000.

(2004/C 78 E/0297)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3530/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 November 2003)

Subject: Health and safety for the elderly and disabled

It has been brought to my attention that there is little provision to ensure health and safety for elderly and
disabled people in hotel bathrooms.

One of my constituents has highlighted the need for grab rails at elbow height, for example.

Could the Commission please state what measures, if any, are in place to ensure the health and safety of
elderly and disabled people in public places across the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

The primary responsibility in the area of accessibility to the public built environment belongs to Member
States and most actions in the field of accessibility are effectively dealt with at national level. Nevertheless,
the Union can be a driving force for change, encouraging and pushing the public authorities in the
Member States to seize new opportunities.

C 78 E/296

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission has, therefore, given priority to improving ‘Accessibility to the public built environment’
in its Communication ‘Equal opportunities for people with Disabilities: A European Action Plan’ (1) adopted
on 30 October 2003.

The Commission undertakes, inter alia, to promote Design for All, which is a concept that takes into
consideration (cid:1) with accessibility as a general objective (cid:1) questions related to health and safety. Further
measures are related to the development of adequate European standards in all areas related to the built
environment,
including planning, design, construction and use of buildings, and safety evacuation
procedures for people with disabilities. In addition, it is foreseen to review the essential requirements laid
down in Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations
and administrative provisions of
to include
provisions on accessibility for all.

the Member States relating to construction products (2)

Furthermore, the Commission recently set up an expert group to examine aspects of accessibility in the
Member States. The report of this group, entitled ‘2010: A Europe Accessible for All’ has been published
and is available on the Commission’s website:
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/index/
final_report_ega_en.pdf).

(1) COM(2003) 650 final.
(2) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

(2004/C 78 E/0298)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3534/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(28 November 2003)

Subject: Portuguese workers abroad

The Portuguese press claims that a growing number of Portuguese workers are being tricked by temporary
job agencies, who place them abroad in exploitative situations.

The UK is apparently one of the first Member States where these problems came to light. Since then, there
have been accusations of exploitation of Portuguese workers in the Spanish farming industry,
in
floriculture and the building and machine industry in the Netherlands, in Italian shipyards, in France, and
most recently, in Iceland, in tunnel and dam building projects.

Apparently promises of higher salaries and good working conditions are used to lure ‘taxi’ companies, so
called because they appear and quickly vanish, without giving the Portuguese General Labour Inspectorate
time to react.

Despite a substantial stepping up of General Labour Inspectorate activity, the belief is that the transnational
network modus operandi of many ‘taxi companies’ means that there needs to be better coordination and
exchange of information and experience between similar services in the countries of origin and the host
countries.

The Commission:

(cid:1) What information does it have about the exploitation of Portuguese workers abroad?

(cid:1) Is it weighing the possibility of providing any special aid for potential more serious human situations?

(cid:1) What steps has it taken or will it take to guarantee the correctness of the contracts binding these

workers, and the quality of their working conditions concerned?

(cid:1) Has it made any contact with the host countries, with a view to alerting them to the possibility that

these workers may be in exploitative situations?