CELEX: 51987PC0342(02)
Language: en
Date: 1987-07-20
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING AN ACTION PROGRAMME AT COMMUNITY LEVEL TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

No C 257/32                            Official Journal of the European Communities                                             28. 9. 87
               (d) The Handynet project
                   Coordination and further development of the Handynet project (European Community computerized
                   information system on disability questions), in relation to vocational rehabilitation and employment,
                   including the establishment of Handynet modules and gateways to other data bases in this field.
                   The cost of coordinating and developing these elements of Handynet is estimated at 422 000 ECU in
                   1988. The Commission may meet the full expenses of those activities which ensure the European
                   dimension of the project, and, as the project proceeds and within the limits of its budgetary possibilities,
                   may contribute to other participatory costs.
               (e) Coordination of exchange activities and documentation      service
                   Establishment of a group of experts responsible for assisting the Commission in the coordination,
                   animation and evaluation of the exchange activities described above, and for the creation and operation
                   of a documentation service for the benefit of the partners in these activities. This unit will also be
                   undertaking similar tasks in relation to the social integration and independent living programme.
                   The cost of operating this expert unit, as far as concerns vocational rehabilitation and employment,
                   is estimated at 260 000 ECU in 1988, and the Community may contribute up to 100 % of the cost of
                   this activity.
               (f) Preparation of policy proposals
                   The Commission may establish the studies and organize the seminars necessary to form the basis of
                   proposals or provide essential technical support to operations, in the field of vocational training and
                   employment.
                   The cost of studies and seminars to be undertaken in 1988 as a basis for proposals is estimated at
                   40 000 ECU, with the Commission undertaking the full cost.
            Proposal for a Council Decision adopting an action programme at Community level to
                    promote the social integration and independent living of people with disabilities
                                                          COM(87) 342 final
                               (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 24 July 1987)
                                                             (87/C 257/03)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                                Whereas the Council resolution of 21 January 1974
                                                                        concerning a social action programme (*) provides for
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European                   inter alia the implementation of a programme for the
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235                       vocational and social integration of handicapped per-
thereof,                                                                sons;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,                      Whereas the Council resolution of 27 June 1974 (2)
                                                                        establishing an initial Community action programme
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia-                    for the vocational training of handicapped persons
ment,                                                                   defines rehabilitation as 'a whole set of measures aimed
                                                                        at establishing and maintaining the most satisfactory
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                        relation possible between the individual and his
Social Committee,                                                       environment';
Whereas the objectives of the Community include the                     Whereas the resolution of the Council and of the rep-
accelerated raising of the standard of living of its citi-              resentatives of the Governments of the Member States
zens;                                                                   meeting within the Council of 21 December 1981 (3)
Whereas the present action programme is designed to
contribute to that objective through the implementation
of a number of specific actions to promote the social                    (') OJ No C 13, 12. 2. 1974, p. 1.
integration and independent living of people with dis-                   (2) OJ No C 80, 9. 7. 1974, p. 30.
abilities;                                                               (3) OJ No C 347, 31. 12. 1981, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak--- 28. 9. 87                             Official Journal of the European Communities                              No C 257/33
established a first action programme to promote the                                         Article 3
social integration of disabled people which is now due
for prolongation and development;                               The objectives of the action programme shall be as
Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution of           follows:
11 March 198111), stressed the need to promote at
Community level the economic, social and vocational             (a) To establish and develop a common Community
integration of disabled people;                                      approach to the problems of social integration and
                                                                      independent living by means of the preparation of
Whereas the guideline framework for positive action                  policy guidelines which concern practical issues and
which is annexed to Council recommendation 86/379/                    which are based on the best experience in Member
EEC of 24 July 1986 on the employment of disabled                     States.
people in the Community (2) stresses the importance of
'ensuring that disabled people live in an environment           (b) To coordinate and implement at Community level
which makes it possible for them to benefit from further              a number of activities aimed at fostering innovation,
education and training and to make their full contri-                 facilitating exchange of experience and encouraging
bution to the economy';                                               the dissemination of good practice; these activities
                                                                      shall involve the direct participation of official
Whereas, in the field of disability, training and employ-             experts, researchers, professionals working directly
ment measures will be ineffective unless they are comp-               in the field, organizations of the social partners, and
lemented by measures to ensure the necessary physical,                disabled people, their families and their representa-
personal and financial supports to independent living;                tives.
Whereas the present action programme and the pro-                (c) To establish a system, using new information tech-
gramme adopted by [Council Decision ...] to promote                   nologies, for the collection, updating and exchange
the vocational rehabilitation and economic integration                of information concerning social integration and
of people with disabilities are the two halves of a single            independent living; this system shall operate at
Community action programme designed to build upon                     Community level and shall be based on the devel-
the previous Community actions in favour of disabled                  oping information systems within Member States.
people;
                                                                 (d) To explore means for applying the resources of the
Whereas this action programme as a whole constitutes                  European Community in support of national efforts
a positive response at Community level to the needs,                  to promote the social integration and independent
aspirations and potential of the 30 million and more                  living of disabled people by means of new technol-
disabled people in the European Community, in the                     ogies.
form of actions which cover all the services relevant to
full integration and independent living;                         (e) To continue and where necessary extend Com-
                                                                      munity support to the European cooperation of
Whereas both parts of the integrated action programme                 non-governmental organizations in this field.
 are designed to ensure that the Community will be
 able to continue to contribute to the World Action              (f) To give particular attention to promoting the social
Programme established by the United Nations in this                    integration and independent living of disabled
 field;                                                               women and of women with special responsibilities
                                                                       in caring for disabled children or adults in the home,
Whereas the Treaty has not provided the necessary                      and ensure close coordination in this regard with
 specific powers,                                                      the Community medium term programme on
                                                                       equality of opportunity for women.
 HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
                                                                 (g) To ensure close and continuing coordination
                                                                       between this action programme and the actions
                            Article 1                                  designed to promote the educational integration of
                                                                       disabled children and young people in the normal
 The Community programme of action annexed to this                     education system.
 Decision is hereby adopted for the period 1 January
 1988 to 31 December 1991.                                        (h) To implement the policy priorities in the disability
                                                                       field which have been set out in the 1981 resolution
                                                                       on social integration.
                            Article 2
 For the purpose of this programme, the term 'disabled
 people' comprises all those with long-term disabilities                                    Article 4
 (of whatever severity) resulting from physical, mental
 or psychological impairments.                                    The Commission shall implement the programme in
                                                                  combination with the programme to promote the
                                                                  vocational rehabilitation and economic integration of
                                                                  people with disabilities, so as to form a single action
 (!) OJ No C 77, 6. 4. 1981, p. 27.                               programme for the period 1 January 1988 to 31
 (2) OJ No L 225, 12. 8. 1986, p. 43.                             December 1991.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 257/34                             Official Journal of the European Communities                                       28. 9. 87
                           Article 5                                    The secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by
                                                                        the Commission.
1. In performing this task, the Commission shall be
assisted by an advisory Committee, composed of 35                       3.     The Commission may consult the Committee on
members, as follows:                                                    all questions concerning the implementation of the pro-
                                                                        gramme.
(a) two representatives per Member State, appointed
    by the Commission on the basis of proposals from                    4.     The Committee's discussions shall not be followed
    the Member State concerned;                                         by a vote, but any member of the Committee may
                                                                        require that his or her views be entered in the minutes.
(b) nine representatives of disabled people or of their
    families, appointed by the Commission on the basis                 5.      The Committee's deliberations shall be confiden-
    of proposals from organizations invited by the Com-                 tial. It shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
    mission to make proposals for that purpose;
(c) one representative of organizations representing,                  6.      The Committee shall also assist the Commission
    employers, and one of organizations representing                    in the implementation of the action programme to
    employees, each to be appointed by the Commission                   promote the vocational rehabilitation and economic
    on the basis of proposals from organizations repre-                 integration of disabled people.
    senting those interests at Community level.
                                                                                                   Article 6
Members may be assisted by experts or advisers.
                                                                        The Commission shall report to the Council on the
2.    The Committee shall be chaired by a representa-                   implementation and results of the action programme
tive of the Commission.                                                 before the end of 1991.
                                                                 ANNEX
            SPECIFIC ACTIONS T O BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE COMMISSION IN THE EXECUTION OF THE
            COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME T O PROMOTE THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND INDE-
                                PENDENT LIVING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (1988 to 1991)
            1. This action programme will be undertaken by the Commission on consultation with the Member States,
                the associations of disabled people and their families, the social partners, and the professional and
                voluntary bodies working in the field of disability.
            2. The activities undertaken within this programme will be coordinated by the Commission with those
               comprising the programme to promote the vocational rehabilitation and economic integration of people
                with disabilities in order to constitute a single combined action programme throughout the duration of
               the two.
               For the duration of the programme 1988 to 1991, the following measures may be implemented at
               Community level:
                (a) Networks of local projects
                    The operation of two networks of nationally identified local projects focusing respectively on the
                    coordination of services to the disabled and independent living, the projects being chosen by the
                    Commission on the basis of proposals from Member States.
                    The network activities organized by the Commission may include support for European conferences
                    (in cooperation with national authorities); information, documentation and advice; study visits; and
                    seminars for project leaders. In addition, the Commission may afford financial support to the
                    coordination costs of projects in the network concerned with the coordination of services.
                    The Community contribution to the operations of these two local project networks is estimated at
                    588 000 ECU in 1988. Community support for European conferences will not exceed 30% of total
                    costs up to a maximum of 25 000 ECU. Other Community-level activities (of the kinds described in
                    the preceding paragraph) may be supported by the Commission at the rate of 100%. Community
                    contributions to actual coordination costs within certain projects will not exceed 50 % of such costs,
                    and will be subject to a maximum of 20 000 ECU per project per year; of the non-Community
                    contribution to such coordination costs in each project, at least 50% should be supplied by public
                    aid.
 ---pagebreak--- 28. 9. 87                         Official Journal of the European Communities                                            No C 257/35
          (b) Special action on independent living
              Establishment of a special programme to promote independent living, covering: mobility and transport;
              access to public buildings and facilities (including cultural and leisure facilities); and housing, including
              material and personal support to living in independent accommodation. Each year the Commission
              may offer a number of awards to completed projects recommended by Member States. Each year
              also, in cooperation with the national authorities of a Member State, the Commission may organize
              a conference and exhibition, at which award-winning projects will be presented. The proceedings of
              these conferences will be published in the Community languages.
              The Community contribution to this special programme is estimated at 440 000 ECU in 1988. Awards
              will not exceed 15 000 ECU per project. The Commission may contribute 80 % of the cost of the
              conferences, and 100 % of the cost of publication.
          (c) Subsidies to outside activities of European     cooperation
              Operation of an annual scheme of grants to support activities of European cooperation undertaken
              by independent bodies, in particular associations of or for disabled people, and concerning social
              integration or independent living. Though the percentage of the Community's grant will not normally
              exceed 50 % of the cost of the activity, higher percentage grants may be given in special circumstances,
              in particular grants to associations which are being or have recently been formed for the first time at
              European level.
              Grants may contribute to the cost of preparation and of dissemination of results as well as to the
              events themselves.
              The Community contribution to these activities is estimated at 660 000 ECU in 1988.
          (d) The Handynet project
              Coordination and further development of the Handynet project (European Community computerized
              information system on disability questions). The Commission may complete and update the first
              module of Handynet, 'Handyaids', consisting of a European multilingual data base comprising an
              inventory of technical aids and a directory of public and private bodies concerned with all processes
              in the production and delivery of aids. In addition, the Commission may make progress in developing
              other modules of Handynet, and in establishing gateways to other data bases, concerned with social
              integration and independent living.
              The cost of coordinating and developing those elements of Handynet is estimated at 843 000 ECU in
              1988. The Commission may meet the full expenses of those activities which ensure the European
              dimension of the project, and, as the project proceeds and within the limits of its budgetary possibilities,
              may contribute to other participatory costs, which could include transmission costs.
          (e) Coordination of exchange activities and documentation        service
              Establishment of a group of experts responsible for assisting the Commission in the coordination,
              animation and evaluation of all the exchange activities described above, and for the creation and
              operation of a documentation service for the benefit of all the partners in the various activities. This
              unit will also be undertaking similar tasks in relation to the vocational rehabilitation and economic
              integration programme.
              The cost of operating this expert unit, as far as concerns social integration and independent living, is
              estimated at 390 000 ECU in 1988, and the Community may contribute up to 100% of the activity.
          (f) Preparation of policy proposals
              The Commission may establish the studies and organize the seminars necessary to form the basis of
              proposals or provide essential technical support to operations, in the field of social integration and
              independent living.
              The cost of studies and seminars to be undertaken in 1988 as a basis for proposals is estimated at
              90 000 ECU, with the Commission undertaking the full cost.