Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003  (COM(2005) 486 final)
Date: 2006-02-14
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU policy, European cultural event, cooperation policy, disabled person, equal treatment, integration of people with disabilities, public awareness campaign, report

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the
Commission to the European Parliament,
the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall assess-
ment of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003

the Council,

(COM(2005) 486 final)

(2006/C 88/07)

On 27 October 2005 the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social
Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned
communication.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 24 January 2006. The rapporteur was Mrs Anca.

At its 424th plenary session, held on 14 and 15 February 2006 (meeting of 14 February), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 147 votes to one with two abstentions.

1. Conclusions and recommendations

1.1
The EESC welcomes the Communication as an opportu-
nity to take stock of successes and shortcomings of the EYPD
2003, to draw lessons for the preparation of other European
Years, and to follow up on initiatives undertaken during EYDP
2003.

The EESC agrees that the success of the EYPD 2003,
1.2
compared to previous European Years, stems from the fact that
it has been called for by disabled people's organisations them-
selves as well as from their involvement in the planning and
implementation of the Year. The EESC invites the European
Commission and European institutions to favour a bottom-up
approach in the preparations of such initiatives in the future.

The EESC regrets the lack of information in the Commu-
1.3
nication on action undertaken at national and regional level,
and believes that in the future a framework should be put in
place to ensure the proper flow of information, as well as
collection and sharing of information regarding best practices.

The EESC also regrets

1.7
the limited information on
measures taken by Member States to mainstream disability, and
calls on the European Commission to develop a tool for the
collection and assessment of information about Member States'
policies.

1.8
The EYPD 2003 spurred the Committee to undertake a
number of initiatives: the creation of a disability task force in
the committee; mainstreaming disability in its work; adoption
of own-initiative opinions concerning people with disabilities;
accommodation of accessibility requirements in the renovation
of its new headquarters and making changes in the Staff Regu-
lations regarding employment of disabled people.

The EESC also calls for the mainstreaming of disability
1.9
issues to be put into practice in all EU policies, and the devel-
opment of a structured dialogue with disabled people's organi-
sations, in particular as regards the drafting of legislation on
the internal market.

2. Introduction

1.4
Steps taken to increase general awareness and visibility
in the media have been assessed in terms of quantity, but not
quality. The EESC therefore invites the European Commission
to address this issue in future initiatives.

2.1
The EESC has received with great interest the Communi-
cation of the European Commission on the implementation,
results and overall assessment of the European Year of People
with Disabilities 2003.

1.5
The EESC believes that the success of the EYPD 2003
should have been translated into policies and legislation, and
that the policy response is disappointing given the expectations
raised by the Year.

2.2
The European Year of People with Disabilities was offi-
cially endorsed by the EU Council on 3 December 2001 (1).
The campaign lasted in fact almost a year and a half with
preparatory work starting in mid-2002, and had a limited EU
budget of around EUR 12 million.

1.6
The EESC invites the European Commission to assess in
its future biennial report on the situation of disabled people the
follow-up to political commitments made during the European
Year, and in particular the follow-up to the Council resolutions
on employment, education, eAccessibility, and culture, and to
provide recommendations for
the integration of disability
concerns in the open method of coordination within the
Lisbon Strategy.

2.3
The main objectives of the Year were to raise awareness
of the rights of people with disabilities and to encourage reflec-
tion and discussion on the measures needed to promote equal
opportunities and to fight the many forms of discrimination
confronting people with disabilities in Europe. The aim was

(1) Council Decision 2001/903/EC.

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also to promote and reinforce the exchange of good practices
and strategies devised at local, national, and European levels, as
well as to improve communication regarding disability, and to
promote a positive image of people with disabilities.

The European Commission emphasises that the Year
2.4
was the result of a partnership process between the EU,
Member States, and disabled people's organisations, especially
the European Disability Forum, together with other civil society
stakeholders.

2.5
At European level, the European Commission developed
a number of activities such as an awareness campaign with the
slogan ‘get on board’ and a bus travelling around Europe.
Funding was allocated to programmes in the area of youth,
education, and culture, as well as to initiatives in the area of
research, and the information society. In addition, several EU
institutions, such as the European Parliament, the Committee of
and Social
and the European Economic
the Regions,
Committee, undertook specific initiatives within the framework
of the EYPD 2003.

2.6
Initiatives at national and regional level focussed mainly
on raising awareness of rights, accessibility of the built environ-
ment, the information society, transport, development of new
legislation, reporting, and support to families. The
national
Commission also highlights that the Year has contributed to
putting disability on the political agenda.

3. Comments

and suggestions on the Commission

Communication

The EESC regrets that the Communication evaluating
3.1
the EYPD 2003 was adopted almost two years after the conclu-
sion of the Year. However, the EESC welcomes the opportunity
to take stock of the results of the Year, and to highlight some
follow-up actions.

The EESC supports the positive analysis of the outcomes
3.2
of
the EYPD 2003, which has probably been the most
successful European Year in terms of visibility and public invol-
vement, as well as in terms of creating a momentum for the
development of measures and legislation across Europe.

3.3
The Communication provides a good summary and
analysis of action taken at European level. However there is
little information on initiatives at national and regional level. It
would have been useful to highlight significant projects or
activities funded through the EYPD in order to foster exchange
of good practices, but also to determine which initiatives could
be continued, at both national and European level.

It

is interesting to note that

3.4
the external evaluation
stresses that the pilot project launched by the European Parlia-
ment to follow up the EYPD 2003 was out of sync with the
activities of the Year. The EESC believes that better use could
have been made of that funding if an analysis of interesting
activities and partnerships had been undertaken during the
Year.

3.5
The EYPD 2003 decision foresaw the participation of
EFTA/EEA countries, the associated countries of Central and
Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta, and Turkey, most of
them
either having become members of the EU, or being candidates
for accession. However, the Communication gives no informa-
tion on the activities organised in those countries, regardless of
whether or not a specific agreement has been signed with the
European Commission.

3.6
The Communication also indicates that media reports
about disabled people increased by 600 % in 2003. It would be
interesting to compare such results with media output in 2004
and 2005 to find out what the medium or even long-term
impact of these awareness campaigns has been.

In addition, the quality of information has not been
3.7
analysed. One of the objectives of the Year was to promote a
positive image of people with different kinds of disabilities.
There is little in the report to suggest whether or not this has
actually happened, and whether innovative images of disabled
people were developed.

3.8
The decentralised method led national authorities and
committees to adopt a variety of approaches. Some countries
preferred to focus on a limited number of bigger projects,
while others preferred to support a large number of small local
initiatives. It would have been interesting to know how effec-
tive each approach was in terms of visibility of the campaign,
but also sustainability of initiatives undertaken.

3.9
The EESC notes also that the level of political involve-
ment in the EYPD 2003 at national level varied greatly across
there is no analysis of
countries. However,
whether or not this contributed to further political initiatives in
any particular country.

it regrets that

At European level, a number of political commitments
3.10
were made, in particular the Council resolutions on employ-
ment and training, access to cultural activities, education, and
eAccessibility (2), as well as initiatives by the EU institutions on
accessibility (3) and employment, for instance.

(2) Council Resolution of 15 July 2003 on promoting the employment
and social integration of people with disabilities (2003/C 175/01).
Council Resolution on 6 May 2003 on accessibility of cultural infra-
structure and cultural activities for people with disabilities (2003/C
134/05).
Council Resolution of 5 May 2003 on equal opportunities for
pupils and students with disabilities in education and training
(2003/C 134/04).
Council Resolution on 6 February 2003 ‘eAccessibility’ – improving
the access of people with disabilities to the knowledge based society
(2003/C 39/03).

(3) 2010 – A Europe accessible for All, Group of Independent Experts

on accessibility
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/index/7002_en.html

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3.11
The European Commission should review their imple-
mentation in its next biennial report on the situation of
disabled people, as foreseen in the framework of its action plan
on equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

3.12
The Year was a great opportunity to raise awareness
about the crucial role that businesses can play in the social inte-
gration of people with disabilities as well as their integration
into the employment market. As a result of
the Year, an
increasing number of companies are recruiting people with
disabilities and designing their products and services with
consideration for universal accessibility requirements. A parti-
cularly positive initiative was the European Year Corporate
Partnership promoted by the European Commission, which has
led to the creation of the Business and Disability Network; one
of the long-term outcomes of the Year.

3.13
Social economy enterprises were also particularly
active during the Year, conducting hundreds of initiatives at
local, regional, national and European level. Of special interest
was the publication of a guide by the CEP-CMAF (European
Standing Conference of Cooperatives, Mutual Societies, Asso-
ciations and Foundations) in collaboration with the EESC on
how social economy organisations can contribute to the social
integration of people with disabilities and their integration into
the employment market.

3.14
of the labour rights of people with disabilities.

2003 also saw increased trade union action in defence

The Year helped the organisations to either gain or
3.15
improve access to the decision-making process, and may have
given people with disabilities better opportunities to advocate
their rights.

3.16
The exchange of good practices and review of policy
initiatives must be organised by the High Level Group on
people with disabilities, which must develop a clear mandate
and work programme.

3.17
Furthermore, it is crucial that equal opportunities for
the
people with disabilities are mainstreamed throughout
different EU processes that use the open method of coordina-
tion. This is even more crucial as disability policy remains by
and large an area of national competence. Since the end of the
Year we have unfortunately seen a decline in references to and
targets for disabled people, which have now vanished from the
Lisbon agenda.

that the Year was initiated and promoted by the European
movement of disabled people, which was also very much
involved in its preparation and development. It is disappointing
to see that this approach has not been applied to decisions on
following years, with obvious consequences in terms of mobili-
sation and interest of both target groups and the general
public.

4.2
The close involvement of disability organisations in the
development of the EYPD European awareness campaign must
be continued and even strengthened in the European Year for
Equal Opportunities 2007, given the variety of stakeholders
involved. It is crucial that target groups feel that the tools and
framework meet their needs, and that they are given ownership
of the events in order to ensure their success. It is also impor-
tant that there is sufficient time for preparation between the
decision on the Year, and it official start.

4.3
The external evaluators stressed that compliance with
financial regulations put too heavy a burden on both Member
States and contractors, but also on the European Commission,
which could have invested more time in further initiatives. The
European Commission should take this into account in the
current reviews of financial regulations and rules on implemen-
tation.

4.4
In addition, the development of indicators and a moni-
toring system would allow Member States to register data
concerning their activities, leading to effective monitoring and
collection of information on good practices.

4.5
European Years must not just be an opportunity to raise
awareness or to celebrate, but the stepping-stone for further
initiatives. The EYPD 2003 has raised many expectations at
It is important that the
both national and European level.
awareness-raising campaigns are translated into permanent
practices, and that there is an adequate policy and a legislative
framework to respond to the challenges that emerge during the
Year. The availability of resources is also of key importance in
terms of continuing partnerships and innovative projects devel-
oped during the Year.

5. Review of EESC activities for EYPD 2003

4. Lessons to be drawn for future European Years

4.1
The success of the EYPD 2003 was to a large extent due
to its bottom-up approach. The Communication underlines

The EESC committed itself to a number of initiatives
5.1
during the EYPD 2003. This report gives the opportunity to
review such commitments, and to suggest some measures for
the future.

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5.2
The EESC created a disability task force formed by a
group of Committee members and officials with the aim of
preparing and implementing EESC activities for the European
Year.

employment, social inclusion and industry (8). The EESC also
committed itself to a regular evaluation, which will be carried
out by a Committee working group in 2006.

5.3
The EESC endorsed the principles of the Madrid Declara-
tion and committed itself to its dissemination (4). The EESC
adopted several opinions and responses in preparation for and
in follow-up to the EYPD 2003 (5), which were widely distrib-
uted to the European institutions and relevant organisations. In
addition, the EESC organised two seminars on the employment
of disabled people and on the evaluation of the EYPD 2003.

The EESC has

committed itself

5.4
to mainstreaming
disability throughout its work, and to considering the interests,
its opinions.
rights and duties of disabled people in all
Although there is still considerable room for improvement, the
EESC is moving in the right direction and an increasing
number of the Committee's opinions incorporate the disability
angle, thus drawing the attention of other institutions to the
rights of people with disabilities.

5.5
The EESC adopted opinions concerning people with
disabilities on its own initiative and in response to communica-
tions or
the EESC
prepared an opinion giving guidance on mainstreaming and on
consultation of disability organisations (7). Numerous opinions
of the Committee include disability issues in the context of

legislative proposals (6).

In particular,

(4) EESC opinion of 17.10.2001 on the Proposal for a Council Decision
on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 (COM(2001)
271 final – 2001/0116 (CNS)) (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna, OJ C
36 of 8.2.2002).

(5) EESC opinion of 26.3.2003 on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council and the European Parliament – Towards
a United Nations legally binding instrument to promote and protect
the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities (COM(2003) 16
final) (rapporteur Cabra de Luna, OJ C 133 of 6.6.2003).
EESC opinion of 17.10.2001 on the Proposal for a Council Decision
on the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 (COM(2001)
271 final – 2001/0116 (CNS)) (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna, OJ C
36 of 8.2.2002).
EESC opinion of 25.2.2004 on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
– Equal opportunities for people with disabilities: A European
Action Plan (COM(2003) 650 final) (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna,
OJ C 110 of 30.4.2004).

(6) See footnote 5 and: EESC own-initiative opinion of 17.7.2002 on
the Integration of disabled people in society (rapporteur Mr Cabra
de Luna) (OJ C 241 of 7.10.2002).
EESC opinion of 28.9.2005 on the Proposal for a Regulation of the
European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of
persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air (COM(2005)
47 final – 07/2005 (COD)) (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna) (OJ C 24
of 31.1.2006).
Joint Working Document on the situation of people with disabilities
in Turkey 19th meeting of
the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative
Committee, rapporteurs: Mr Daniel Le Scornet, member of the EESC
Mr Süleyman Çelebi, Co-Chairman of the EU-Turkey JCC (REX/
194).

(7) EESC own-initiative opinion of 17.7.2002 on the Integration of
disabled people in society (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna) (OJ C 241
of 7.10.2002).

In addition,

5.6
the EESC accommodated accessibility
requirements in the renovation of its new headquarters, which
were inaugurated in May 2004. The new headquarters have
enabled the EESC to provide almost equal access for members
and civil servants with disabilities. Furthermore, seminars invol-
ving disabled people's organisations have been held in the EESC
building as a result of this. This sets an example for other EU
institutions and bodies.

5.7
The EESC takes note of the revision of the EC Staff
Regulations drawn up in 2003, and its provisions, which facili-
tate the employment of people with disabilities. However, the
EESC notes that a more proactive approach is also needed to
ensure that more disabled people are recruited.

5.8
The EESC calls on the European Commission to carry
out an assessment of the changes in the Staff Regulations
regarding employment of disabled people, as part of the Euro-
pean Year of Equal Opportunities 2007.

5.9
The EESC also calls for the establishment of a trainee-
ship scheme for disabled people. The European Year of Equal
Opportunities 2007 could be the right time to undertake such
a review.

6. Follow-up of the European Year of People with Disabil-

ities at EU level

The EESC has always stressed in its opinions that the
the Year of People with Disabilities should be

6.1
success of
measured by the concrete outcomes it produces.

(8) EESC opinion of 28.9.2005 on the Proposal for a Regulation of the
European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of
persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air (COM(2005)
47 final – 07/2005 (COD)) (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna) (OJ C 24
of 31.1.2006).
Joint Working Document on the situation of people with disabilities
the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative
in Turkey 19th meeting of
Committee, rapporteurs: Mr Daniel Le Scornet, member of the EESC
Mr Süleyman Çelebi, Co-Chairman of the EU-Turkey JCC (REX/
194).
EESC opinion of 1.7.2004 on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:
Modernising social protection for more and better jobs – a compre-
hensive approach contributing to making work pay (COM(2003)
842 final) (rapporteur Ms St Hill, OJ C 302 of 7.12.2004).
EESC opinion of 29.10.2003 on Socially sustainable tourism for
everyone (rapporteur Mr Mendoza Castro, OJ C 32 of 5.2.2004).
EESC opinion of 26.3.2003 on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions The future
of the European Employment Strategy (EES)
‘A strategy for full
employment and better jobs for all’ (COM(2003) 6 final) (rapporteur
Mr Koryfidis, OJ C 133 of 6.6.2003).
EESC opinion of 18.7.2002 on the Draft Commission Regulation
on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid
for employment (OJ C 88/2, 12.4.2002) (rapporteur Mr Zöhrer, OJ
C 241 of 7.10.2002).

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6.2
The EESC regrets that the EYPD 2003 has not led to the
adoption of comprehensive legislation on non-discrimination
of disabled people in all areas of EU policy.

6.3
The 2003 European Action Plan on equal opportunities
was welcomed by the EESC in its opinion adopted in February
2004. The EESC also highlighted in the opinion that the action
plan lacked ambition and suggested further action to be consid-
ered by the European Commission (9).

6.4
The EESC notes that the first biennial report on the
situation of disabled people has just been published, as well as
the new priorities for the next phase of the European Action
Plan (10).

6.5
Recommendations should be drawn up on the impact of
the European strategies for social protection, employment, and
lifelong learning on people with disabilities. This is particularly
relevant as people with disabilities are not mentioned in the
reforms
new streamlined Lisbon strategy
programmes presented in 2005.
the EESC
welcomes the working paper on mainstreaming disability in
strategy (11), and calls on the European
the employment
Commission to carry out an assessment of the implementation
of that document.

and national
In this context,

6.6
The EESC also welcomes the proposal of the UK Presi-
dency for an annual ministerial conference on disability in
order to promote a high-level political discussion, with the
participation of disabled people's organisations.

The EESC believes

6.7
the European Commission
that
should develop a disability impact assessment tool for EU legis-
lation, in cooperation with disabled people's organisations, and
develop training courses for officials in the various Directorate
Generals on how it should be used.

Brussels, 14 February 2006.

6.8
Under the Amsterdam Treaty, the EC committed itself to
taking into account people with disabilities when formulating
measures relating to the internal market. Declaration 22 has
regrettably not been implemented, with the result that there are
increasing barriers to goods and services.

6.9
The EESC calls on the European Commission to come
up with an initiative that would bring together officials dealing
with internal market issues and experts from organisations of
disabled people in order to develop a strategic plan.

6.10
The EESC welcomes the speedy adoption of the regu-
lation on air passengers with reduced mobility, which will help
to tackle discrimination faced by people with disabilities when
travelling by air, as well as a number of other legislative initia-
tives in the field of transport also promoting the rights of
disabled people.

The EESC calls for the inclusion of accessibility require-
6.11
ments in all grants promoted by the EU and in their own
procurement policies.

The EESC also closely follows

6.12
the negotiations
regarding an International Convention on the Human Rights of
Disabled People, and welcomes the EU proposal for the Euro-
pean Communities
to be party to the Convention, also
providing protection for people with disabilities living in the
EU, also as to the acts of the EU institutions and bodies.

6.13
The EESC believes that there is a need for further legis-
lation to tackle discrimination in all areas of EU competence
and is looking forward to the results of the feasibility study on
further legislative initiatives on non-discrimination. Moreover,
it is confident that a proposal for a disability-specific directive
will be launched next year.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

(9) EESC opinion of 25.2.2004 on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
– Equal opportunities for people with disabilities: A European
Action Plan (COM(2003) 650 final) (rapporteur Mr Cabra de Luna,
OJ C 110 of 30.4.2004).

(10) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the Euro-
pean Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of the Regions on the situation of disabled
people in the enlarged EU: the European Action Plan 2006–2007
(COM(2005) 604 of 28.11.2005).

(11) Disability Mainstreaming in the European Employment Strategy by

the European Employment Committee. EMCO/11/290605.