CELEX: 51992PC0482
Language: en
Date: 1992-11-16
Title: Amended proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION establishing a third Community action programme to assist disabled people - HELIOS II (1993-1997)

28. 1 . 93                                    Official Journal of the European Communities                                            No C 25/1
                                                                     II
                                                             (Preparatory Acts)
                                                         COMMISSION
               Amended proposal for a Council Decision establishing a third Community action programme to
                                           assist disabled people — Helios II (1993 to 1997) (')
                                                                (93/C 25/01 )
                                                             COM(92) 482 final
                 (Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 16 November 1992)
                (')  OJ No C 293, 12. 11 . 1991 , p. 2.
                                                                                                  AMENDED PROPOSAL
                                                                            (The original text remains unchanged unless there is an entry in this
                    ORIGINAL COMMISSION PROPOSAL                                                         column.)
Proposal for a Council Decision establishing a third                     Amended proposal for a Council Decision establishing a
Community action programme to assist disabled people —                   third Community action programme to assist disabled
                      Helios II (1993 to 1997)                                           people — Helios II (1993 to 1997)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Articles 128 and
235 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 63/266/EEC of 2 April
1963 laying down general principles for implementing a
common vocational training policy (*), and in particular
the 10th principle thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee ,
Whereas the completion of the single market, with its
social dimension and the changes resulting therefrom, a
rapidly developing technical environment and the context
of more complex labour markets make it necessary to
adopt suitable measures to assist disabled people;
(0    OJ No 63 , 20. 4. 1963, p. 1338/63 .
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No C 25/2                                 Official Journal of the European Communities                                              28 . 1 . 93
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                ORIGINAL COMMISSION PROPOSAL                            (The original text remains unchanged unless there is an entry in this
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Whereas the conclusions of the Council and of the Minis­
ters of Education meeting within the Council of 14 May
1987 concerning a programme of European collaboration
on the integration of handicapped children into ordinary
schools      and the resolution of the Council and of the
Ministers of Education meeting within the Council of
31 May 1990 (2) affirm the need to remove material bar­
riers, to use flexible education methods to meet individual
needs and to facilitate the transitions to education , to
working life and to adult life, to establish as active a policy
of cooperation as possible with specialized institutions, to
make use of the various possibilities offered by new tech­
nologies with regard to education and to foster links
between the family, the community, social and health ser­
vices and the world of work ;
Whereas the Handynet system , through the availability of
the technical aids module, assists in improving conditions
for the integration of the disabled and in making the insti­
tutions, professions and associations involved in the pro­
cess of integrating the disabled aware of applied research
in the field of technical assistance; whereas the Handynet
system thus plays a fundamental role with regard to the
aims of this programme ;
Whereas the present programme is designed to comple­
ment action taken at national, regional and local levels, in
particular by ensuring an exchange of experience and
information relating to these actions;
Whereas, as provided for under item 26 of Title I of the
Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights for
Workers (3), all disabled persons, whatever the origin and
nature of their disablement, must be entitled to additional
concrete measures aimed at improving their social and
professional integration; whereas these measures must
concern, in particular, according to the capacities of the
beneficiaries, vocational training, ergonomics, accessibility,
mobility, means of transport and housing;
Whereas the communication from the Commission con­
cerning its action programme (4) relating to the implemen­
0)   OJ No C 211 , 8. 8. 1987 , p. 1 .
(2)  OJ No C 162, 3. 7. 1990, p. 2.
(3)  COM(89) 471 final.
(4)  COM(89) 568 final p. 53.
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                                                                                           AMENDED PROPOSAL
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tation of the Community Charter of Basic Social Rights for
Workers emphasizes that the implementation in the Mem­
ber States of measures to develop and further a coherent
overall policy to promote occupational and social integra­
tion and an independent way of life for the disabled, both
at national and Community level, is an important element
of the social dimension of the single market, to be com­
pleted in 1992; whereas a European integration policy for
the disabled should be pursued and furthered in order to
provide greater equality of opportunity for disabled peo­
ple, who form one of the most disadvantaged sections of
the population;
Whereas, because this Decision is concerned on the one
hand with principles for implementing a vocational train­
ing policy and one promoting employment and on the
other with measures, including those to promote functional
rehabilitation, integration into schools, social integration
and an independent way of life for the disabled, which
need to be adopted in order to attain one of the objectives
of the Community, and the Treaty has not provided the
necessary specific powers, it is necessary to invoke both
Article 128 and Article 235 of the Treaty,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
                           Article 1
A Community action programme to promote educational ,              A Community action programme to promote equal oppor­
occupational, economic and social integration and an inde­         tunities for and the integration of disabled people, herein­
pendent way of life for disabled people ( Helios II pro­           after called Helios II, is hereby established for the period
gramme), hereinafter called Helios II , is hereby estab­           1 January 1993 to 31 December 1997 .
lished for the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1996 .
                           Article 2
For the purposes of Helios II , 'disabled people' means            For the purposes of Helios II, 'disabled people' means
people with serious impairments, disabilities or handicaps         people with serious impairments, disabilities or handicaps
resulting from physical (including sensory) or mental              resulting from physical (including sensory) impairments or
(including psychical) impairments and restricting or mak­          having learning difficulties, mental illness or psycho-social
ing impossible the performance of an activity or function          disorders, and restricting or making impossible the per­
considered normal for a human being.                               formance of an activity or function considered normal for
                                                                   a human being.
                           Article 3
The objectives of Helios II shall be as follows in respect of      The objectives of Helios II shall be as follows:
functional rehabilitation, integration into education, voca­
tional training, occupational rehabilitation, economic and
social integration and an independent way of life for disa­
bled people:
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(a) to promote the development of a comprehensive                     (a) development of a Community disability policy, based
     Community integration policy based on the best inno­                   on proven good past practice and new innovative
     vative and effective experience and practice in the                    opportunities, in order to:
     Member States;
                                                                                 improve access and adaptation to the learning and
                                                                                 working process by improving existing opportuni­
                                                                                 ties ,
                                                                                 promote socio-economic adaptation to society,
                                                                                 support social integration,
                                                                                 promote participation by the disabled at all levels;
(b) to identify those innovative approaches and measures              (b) coordination of all Community measures to assist the
     to be promoted in order to improve the convergence                     disabled, including those under the Structural Funds
     and coordination of actions carried out under point                    and the Community initiatives developed from them
     (a);                                                                   (Horizon, TIDE, Erasmus, etc.);
(c) to continue to develop exchange and information                   (c) support for the Member States to assist them in devel­
     activities which can make a useful contribution as                     oping and implementing a programme geared towards
     referred to in (a) and to ensure that they are given as                the integration of the disabled, and in defining
     wide a circulation as possible;                                        together with the Member States and the institutions
                                                                            involved in assisting the disabled in the Member
                                                                            States, the approaches and measures best suited to
                                                                            achieving the objective of optimizing the living condi­
                                                                            tions of disabled people in the Community;
                                                                      (ca)to improve exchange and information activities at
                                                                            European level;
(d) to strengthen cooperation with the Europe-wide non­               (d) to strengthen cooperation with the European non-gov­
     governmental organizations.                                            ernmental organizations represented in the 12 Mem­
                                                                            ber States by their national organizations, and to
                                                                            cooperate with national disability councils;
                                                                      (da) to identify the appropriate approaches to enable peo­
                                                                            ple with disabilities to be as independent as possible
                                                                            and to promote the development and implementation
                                                                            of comprehensive national programmes for the inte­
                                                                            gration and participation of people with disabilities;
                                                                      (db)to support a forum of representative disability organi­
                                                                            zations at Community level, which would allow oppor­
                                                                            tunities for consultation and participation on all issues
                                                                            relating to disabled people, to give advise on the
                                                                            development of a comprehensive disability policy.
                            A rticle 4
                                                                                                      Measures
 1 . The general measures designed to attain the objectives            1 . The general measures designed to attain the objectives
 referred to in Article 3 shall be as follows:                         referred to in Article 3 shall be as follows :
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(a) to coordinate, undertake and encourage activities                 (a) to encourage innovative measures to foster, improve
      based on precise annual topics, with the intention of                 and initiate policies which will benefit disabled people
      promoting innovation, facilitating exchanges of experi­               in the Member States, and to coordinate, implement
      ence and encouraging the dissemination of successful                  and encourage measures to facilitate exchanges of
      experiences and the transfer of effective practices.                  experience at the European level, and to support the
      These activities shall closely involve disabled people,               dissemination of the results of successful practices
      their families, representative organizations, experts,                which have helped Member States develop an effec­
      researchers, professionals working in the field, volun­               tive policy for disabled people;
      tary helpers and the two sides of industry;                     (aa)to foster cooperation between disabled persons 1
                                                                          »
                                                                            organizations in the Member States, with assistance
                                                                            from the Commission, in cases where there is no
                                                                            national forum;
(b) to meet the information needs of disabled people by               (b) to modify the Community-funded Handynet system ,
      pursuing, within the context of the computerized                      no later than 30 June 1994, so that
      information and documentation system Handynet, on               — the rights relating to data and the use of data are
      the basis of national data, the collection, adaptation at             vested in an association of the Commission and
      European level, updating, exchange and dissemination                  national data collection centres ,
      of information gathered in the Member States by the
      national collection and information centres .                   — the information in the existing ' technical aids' module
                                                                            is extended to include a quality label.
      The Handynet system is also intended to stimulate                     Before the introduction of new modules the European
      research into and production of technical aids through                Parliament shall be consulted;
      establishing an inventory of applied research under­
      taken in this area;
(c) to promote the participation of disabled people in                (c) to encourage disabled people to take part in Com­
      existing Community programmes, in particular in the                   munity programmes;
      areas of training and preparation for working life, new
      technologies, vocational training and employment, of
      equal treatment of women, the learning of languages,
      and mobility of and exchanges by young people within
      the Community;
(d) to ensure close coordination with activities undertaken           (d) to improve public awareness of, coordinate and
      by intergovernmental organizations, and cooperation                   exchange information on all Community programmes
      with other activities at international level in the areas             to assist the disabled .
      referred to in Article 3 .
2. The specific measures designed to attain the objectives            2. The specific measures designed to attain the objectives
set out in Article 3 are listed in the Annex.                         set out in Article 3 are listed in the Annex and are subject
                                                                      to the procedure set out in Article 6 ( 1 ) (b).
                            Article 5
The Commission shall ensure the implementation of                     The Commission shall ensure the implementation of
Helios II .                                                           Helios II after consultation and in collaboration with the
                                                                      advisory committee and the European disability forum .
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                           Article 6
1 . The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an            The Commission shall be advised and assisted by:
advisory nature, hereinafter called the 'committee', com­            1.    an advisory committee, hereinafter called 'committee '.
posed of two government representatives from each Mem­
ber State and chaired by the representative of the Com­                    (a) The committee shall be composed of:
mission .
                                                                                — one governmental representative per Mem­
2. The opinion of the committee shall be requested:                                   ber State ,
—    for the constitution and for the definition of the selec­                  — 12 representatives of organizations elected by
     tion criteria of the innovative local integration and                             the European disability forum with observer
     exchange activities (AILE),                                                       status only,
—    for the establishment of the list of annual themes to be                   and chaired by a representative of the Commis­
                                                                                sion.
     dealt with in the course of conferences, seminars and
     study visits organized within the framework of these                  (b) The representative of the Commission shall sub­
     networks ,                                                                 mit to the committee a draft of the measures to be
— on any measure of a general or specific nature to be                          taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on
     undertaken within the framework of the application of                      the draft, within a time limit which the chairman
     Article 4 .                                                                may lay down according to the urgency of the
                                                                                matter, if necessary by taking a vote.
3. The representative of the Commission shall submit to
the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The                          The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in
committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a
                                                                                addition, each Member State shall have the right
                                                                                to ask to have its position recorded in the min­
time limit which the chairman may lay down according to                         utes .
the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.
                                                                                The Commission shall take utmost account of the
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition,
each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its
                                                                                opinion delivered by the committee. It shall
                                                                                inform the committee of the manner in which its
position recorded in the minutes.
                                                                                opinion has been taken into account.
The Commission shall take utmost account of the opinion
                                                                           (c) The committee shall meet at least twice a year at
delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the Committee                       the invitation of the Commission ;
of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into
account .
                                                                     2.    a European disability forum, hereinafter called
                                                                           'forum'.
                                                                           (a) The forum shall be composed of:
                                                                                — one representative from the national disabil­
                                                                                       ity council in each Member State which meets
                                                                                       the criteria of representativeness as detailed
                                                                                       in the Annex ,
                                                                                — one representative of each European non­
                                                                                       governmental organization representing peo­
                                                                                       ple with disabilities, referred to in Article 3
                                                                                       (d), with a maximum of 12,
                                                                                — two representatives of the two sides of indus­
                                                                                       try ,
                                                                                and chaired by a representative of the Commis­
                                                                                sion.
                                                                            (b) The forum's advice shall be sought on:
                                                                                       the specific action designed to attain the
                                                                                       objectives set out in Article 3 and listed in the
                                                                                       Annex ,
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                                                                               — the coordination of Community initiatives
                                                                                     which could have a direct impact on disabled
                                                                                     people,
                                                                               — the coordination of Community and national
                                                                                     initiatives and cooperation between the res­
                                                                                     ponsible officials,
                                                                               — exchange of information and experience,
                                                                               — the procedure for, and the carrying-out of
                                                                                     evaluation (appointing an external consult­
                                                                                     ant; drawing-up criteria; annual evaluation
                                                                                     from a national as well as a Community per­
                                                                                     spective).
                                                                          (c) The Commission will be able to ask the forum to
                                                                               establish advice in specific policy areas, making
                                                                               use, if necessary and with the Commission 's
                                                                               agreement, of experts and working groups.
                                                                          (d) The forum will meet at least twice a year at the
                                                                               invitation of the Commission.
                            Article 7
1.   Before 31 December 1994 the Commission shall sub­              1 . By 1 July 1994, the Commission shall submit to the
mit an interim summary report to the European Parlia­               European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and
ment, the Council and the Economic and Social Com­                  Social Committee a brief report on the implementation of
mittee on the implementation of Helios II.                          Article 4 (1 ) (b).
2. Before 1 July 1997 the Commission shall submit a full            2. By 31 December 1995 , the Commission shall submit to
report to the European Parliament, the Council and the              the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic
Economic and Social Committee on the implementation                 and Social Committee an interim appraisal of the imple­
and results of Helios II .                                          mentation and results of Helios II .
                                                                    2a. By 30 June 1997, the Commission shall submit to the
                                                                    European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and
                                                                    Social Committee its proposal to initiate a further pro­
                                                                    gramme to pursue the activities under Helios II.
                                                                    2b. By 1 July 1998, the Commission shall submit to the
                                                                    European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and
                                                                    Social Committee a comprehensive report on the imple­
                                                                    mentation and results of Helios II .
                             ANNEX
 SPECIFIC MEASURES TO ATTAIN THE OBJECTIVES
    REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3 OF THE DECISION
 1.      GENERAL REMARKS
         These specific measures will be undertaken by the
         Commission     in  consultation  with  the   Member
         States, associations of disabled people and of their
         families, the two sides of industry and professional
         and voluntary bodies involved in the integration of
          disabled people.
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         The conditions and procedures for participation by
         network partners, the Handynet system and Euro­
         pean non-governmental organizations are set out
         below.
         Special attention will be given to the role of new
         technologies in the in the integration of disabled
         people. The pedagogical and practical potential of
         new technologies can be a useful tool in the
         development of teaching aids, the adaptation of
         workplaces, means of communication and mobility
         and as a way of ending the isolation of disabled peo­
         ple.
                                                                             With a view to implementing the objectives referred
                                                                             to in Article 3 of the Decision, the Commission
                                                                             shall, after receiving the opinion of the executive
                                                                             committee , provide the following financial support:
                                                                             1 . up to 50 % of the cost of conferences;
                                                                             2. up to 100 % of programmes for the implemen­
                                                                                   tation of Article 3 (a);
                                                                             3 . up to 100 % of the costs of projects to raise
                                                                                   public awareness of the integration of the disa­
                                                                                   bled;
                                                                             4.    up to 50 % of the costs of cooperation with the
                                                                                   organizations referred to in Article 3 (d) at
                                                                                   European level;
                                                                             5.    up to 100 % of the costs incurred by external
                                                                                   experts supporting the Commission in the
                                                                                   implementation of the programme;
                                                                             6.    up to 100 % of the costs of the meetings of the
                                                                                   European forum for the disabled.
2.       COMMUNITY         NETWORKS     FOR     INNOVATIVE           2.      The Commission shall consult the NGOs about the
         LOCAL     INTEGRATION      AND     EXCHANGE       AC­               drafting of the European Code of good practice on
         TIVITIES (AILE) 0 )                                                 integration into the labour market.
2.1 .    General conditions and procedures for participation
         by the AILE
2.1.1 . The members of each network must in each Mem­
         ber State represent innovative institutions of high
(')   The acronym AILE (with the phonetic pronunciation 'L')
      remains unchanged in all Community languages and is both
      singular and plural.
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         standing and with a high technical level, recognized
         in the integration sector and giving evidence of
         interest and experience in this field.
         The AILE will be designated as members of a net­
         work by the Commission on the basis of proposals
         from the Member States and may be replaced.
         Those AILE which are candidates for membership
         of a network must undertake to attain clearly
         defined objectives linked to specific and innovative
         topics.
         Each AILE will draw up an annual programme of
         activities with a Community dimension, together
         with a provisional timetable. Each AILE will under­
         take to cooperate at Community level and to supply
         information obtained to the other network partners
         and to partners in the external network.
         A network's activity programme will consist of
         study visits, training courses, seminars, conferences
         and other European-scale cooperative activities and
         will be established on the basis of annual topics.
         Positive actions, studies and cooperation with Euro­
         pean non-governmental organizations (Euras) and
         Member States will be carried out in cooperation
         with the activities of each Community network.
         Working parties grouping together AILE and given
         responsibility for implementing various topics relat­
         ing to the integration process may be set up. An
         assessment group will be set up.
         The AILE will be called upon to cooperate closely
         with the relevant representatives of local, regional
         or national authorities, European non-governmental
         organizations and organizations and associations
         representing disabled people, their families and pro­
         fessional and voluntary helpers.
2.1.2. Rate of Community financial contribution: up to
         50 % for conferences (in cooperation with national
         authorities) and up to 100 % for seminars, working
         party activities, study visits, training courses and
         publication of a magazine.
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2.2.    Specific activities
2.2.1 . Community network for innovative local integration
        and exchange activities in the field offunctional reha­
        bilitation (AILE I)
        Creation of a network of innovative local integra­
        tion and exchange activities consisting of medical
        rehabilitation centres (AILE I) set up on the basis
        of clearly defined criteria. The task of this network
        will be to facilitate exchanges of information and
        experience with regard to the principles and criteria
        for complete and coherent functional rehabilitation
        (early timing completeness, continuity and multidis­
        ciplinary nature of individual operations).
        The AILE will be represented at network meetings
        by full-time professionals in the field of rehabilita­
        tion.
2.2.2. Community network of innovative local integration
        and exchange activities in the field of education
        (AILE II)
        Creation of a network of innovative local integra­
        tion and exchange activities in the field of education
        (AILE II) based on specific criteria which are to be
        drawn up. The task of this network will be to facili­
        tate exchanges of information and experience in
        nursery, primary, secondary, university and para­
        university education and in continuing training.
        This network will pursue, on the basis of annual
        programmes, the implementation of the European
        cooperation programme for the integration of han­
        dicapped children into ordinary schools (87/C 211/
        01 ) and of the resolution (90/C 162/02) concerning
        the implementation of the integration of children
        and young people with disabilities into ordinary sys­
        tems of education.
2.2.3. Community network of innovative local integration
        and exchange activities in the field of vocational
        training and employment (AILE III)
        Amalgamation of the network of vocational training
        and rehabilitation centres and of the network of
        local model activities in the field of economic inte­
        gration (LMA II) from the first Helios programme
        in a new network comprising innovative local inte­
        gration and exchange activities in the field of voca­
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         tional training and employment (AILE III), on the
         basis of clearly defined criteria. The task of this net­
         work will be to facilitate exchanges of information
         and experience with regard to the principles and cri­
         teria governing vocational training and employment,
         particularly with regard to topics such as guidance
         and assessment, training innovations, employment,
         sheltered employment (in particular sheltered work­
         shops), the transition to employment in an ordinary
         environment, the adaptation of workplaces and
         evaluation of employment capability.
         This network will continue to implement recom­
         mendation 86/379/EEC and conclusion 78/C 173/01
         on the employment of disabled people in the Com­
         munity and will contribute to the application of the
         Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights
         of Workers .
         The Commission will promote a 'European code of
         good practice' on integration into the labour mar­
         ket, drawn up in cooperation with the Member
         States.
2.2.4. Community network of innovative local integration
         and exchange activities in the social field (AILE IV)
         Transformation of the network of local model activ­
         ities in the field of social integration (LMA III)
         from the first Helios programme into the network of
         innovative local integration and exchange activities
         in the social field (AILE IV), on the basis of clearly
         defined criteria. The task of this network will be to
         facilitate exchanges of information and experience
         and to encourage as independent a way of life as
         possible and a full social life, with particular regard
         to the rights of disabled people, their participation
         in normal life , access to accommodation, public
         buildings and transport and the removal of architec­
         tural and psychological obstacles and those hinder­
         ing communication.
         Exchanges of experience in the following fields:
         accessibility of public buildings (including cultural
         and leisure facilities), adaptation of private accom­
         modation (including equipment and home help to
         permit an independent way of life in one's own
         accommodation) and provision of facilities to assist
         the mobility and transport of disabled people.
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3.      COMPUTERIZED          INFORMATION        AND    DOCU­
        MENTATION SYSTEM (HANDYNET)
3.1 .   General conditions and procedures for participation
        by national collection and coordination centres and
        by national information and advice centres
        National collection and coordination centres will
        have as their task the transmission to a central point
        of data collected at national level concerning the
        various fields of integration and, depending on the
        circumstances ,     commercial    or   non-commercial
        organizations having a link with technical aids and
        concerning the regulations in force in respective
        Member States .
        The task of the national information and advice
        centres will be to inform and advice both disabled
        people and their professional helpers about the
        social and economic integration process on the basis
        of data made available at Community level.
3.2.    Specific activities                                           3.2.   Specific activities
        Continued development of the technical aids mod-              Deleted
        ule , collection of information relating to products
        and to commercial and non-commercial organiza­
        tions associated with these products and an inven­
        tory or regulations concerning these products.
        Extension of the Handynet system through the crea-            Deleted
        tion of new modules dealing with employment and
        training, sport, creativity, tourism and other leisure
        activities, a research bibliography, documentation, a
        multilingual thesaurus and statistics.
        Carrying out positive and forward-looking activities
        to encourage the adaptation of new technologies to
        the needs of disabled people, and to encourage
        research .
        Rate of Community financial contribution: up to
        100 % (to cover the European dimension of the sys­
        tem).
4.      COOPERATION           WITH     NON-GOVERNMENTAL
        ORGANIZATIONS
4.1 .   General conditions and procedures for cooperation
        with the Commission
4.1.1 . The Commission will strengthen its cooperation
        with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
        primarily with those which are representative at
        European level .
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                                                                               The NGOs will promote the development of a com­
                                                                               prehensive Community policy on the rights of disa­
                                                                               bled people and ensure equality of opportunities.
4.1.2. The European NGOs (Euras) (J) will participate at                4.1.2. All impairments and disorders defined in Article 2
         various levels on the basis of respect for the criteria               shall be represented, and the majority of European
         of representativeness within the Community, as fol­                   NGOs shall be organizations of disabled people in
         lows :                                                                which the majority of members will be disabled peo­
                                                                               ple and the management committee will be demo­
                                                                               cratically elected by the members, and the majority
                                                                               of the members of the committee will be disabled
                                                                               people .
              at the first level, the Euras will be represented                The European NGOs will be represented in the 12
              in the 12 Member States, have some compet­                       Member States, have some competence in dealing
              ence in dealing with each type of disability or be               with each type of disability or be specialized in deal­
              specialized in dealing with the main problems of                 ing with the main challenges of integration and par­
              integrating disabled people,                                     ticipation, or be the representative organization of
                                                                               NGOs of a type of disability or integration issue .
              at the second level, the Euras will represent a                  Each European NGO will be represented on the
              specific disability or integration issue in more                 forum and at the meetings with the Commission and
              than one Member State. They will be invited to                   the committee .
              join forces and be represented at liaison group
              level by an NGO representing their type of dis­
              ability or their integration issue.
         The Commission will invite the Euras taking part in                   The Commission will invite the European NGOs
         the programme within the liaison and/or dialogue                      taking part in the Helios programme to establish, in
         groups to establish a national committee in each                      cooperation with the national councils, a national
         Member State, grouping together the various                           committee in each Member State, grouping together
         national associations representing a type of disabil­                 the various national associations representing a type
         ity or an integration issue .                                         of disability or an integration issue.
4.2.     Specific activities
         To draw up, each year, a programme of activities               Deleted
         eligible for financial support from the Commission
         and to give a balanced opinion on the priority rating
         of these activities .
         To organize innovative rehabilitation activities               Deleted
         (AIR) (2) in all fields concerned with the integration
         of disabled people, such as prevention and early
         assistance,    functional   rehabilitation,   vocational
         training and employment, new technologies, inde­
         pendent living, access to cultural activities, creativ­
         ity, sports, leisure and tourism, the families of disa­
         bled people, the elderly disabled and social, econo­
(')  The acronym Euras remains the same in all Community lan­
     guages and is both singular and plural.
(2)  The acronym AIR (with the phonetic pronunciation ' R')
     remains unchanged in all Community languages and is both
     singular and plural.
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      mic and legal protection. These innovative rehabili­
      tation activities (AIR) will be carried out by means
      of conferences, seminars, study visits, training
      courses and other European-level cooperative activ­
      ities on the basis of annual topics.
      To provide information for national associations in            Deleted
      the Member States and other European NGOs in
      their respective sector of activity on actions under­
      taken at Community level.
      To advise the Commission, at its request, on the               Deleted
      technical aspects associated with the type of disabil­
      ity or the specific integration issue being dealt with.
      To submit an annual report on activities carried out           Deleted
      which have a European dimension.
      The Commission will contribute to the expenses                        The Commission will contribute to the expenses
      arising from the provision of coordination and                        arising from the provision of coordination and
      expertise for first-level European non-governmental                   expertise for European non-governmental organiza­
      organizations which are members of the liaison                        tions .
      group .
      Rate of Community financial contribution: up to                Deleted
      50 % for meetings of the national committees of the
      Euras, conferences, seminars, study visits, training
      courses and other European-level cooperative activ­
      ities, and up to 100 % for expenses arising from the
      provision of coordination and expertise for first­
      level non-governmental organizations (Euras).
                                                                            The national disability council in each Member
                                                                            State will be invited by the Commission to become a
                                                                            member of the forum and to be represented at the
                                                                            meeting of the advisory committee on the basis of
                                                                            respect for the criteria of representativeness, as
                                                                            defined and adopted, after consultation with the
                                                                            forum, by 31 December 1993 .
                                                                            From 1 January to 31 December 1993 , disabled peo­
                                                                            ple's organizations at national level in each Member
                                                                            State shall elect one representative to the forum
                                                                            until a definition of a ' national council ' has been
                                                                            adopted.
5.    INFORMATION AND AWARENESS-RAISING CAM­
      PAIGNS AIMED AT PUBLIC OPINION
      Wide circulation of information to publicize activi­
      ties and campaigns to make public opinion and the
      media aware of the problems of integrating disabled
      people .
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          The Commission will contribute to raising the
          awareness of public opinion through the organ­
          ization of competitions, the presentation of annual
          prizes for pilot projects in the various fields relating
          to the integration of disabled people, and through
          media activities .
          The pilot projects rewarded with a prize will be pre­
          sented at a conference/exhibition.
                                                                        The Commission will seek the opinion of the NGOs on the
                                                                        campaigns to raise public awareness. The NGOs will be
                                                                        represented on the panel appointed to select the winning
                                                                        entries of the annual prizes for pilot projects.
          The Commission will lend its support to the annual
          organization at national level of information meet­
          ings for all participants in Helios II.
          Rate of Community financial contribution: up to
          100% .
6.        SPECIAL TRAINING MEASURES                                     Deleted
          The Commission will organize training schemes in              Deleted
          the Community for national and Community civil
          servants and for representatives of the networks and
          of organizations representing disabled people.
7.        SPECIAL THEMES
          In implementing the specific measures detailed
          above , the participants in Helios II will devote
          special attention to:
          — prevention and early assistance, with a view to
               preventing the appearance or development of
               an impairment, incapacity or disability,
          — difficulties encountered by the families of disa­
               bled people, disabled women and elderly disa­
               bled people ,
          — the economic and social integration of disabled
               women ,
          — training for professionals and volunteers
               involved at the various stages of the integration
               process ,
               persons with special responsibilities in respect
               of disabled children, adolescents and adults .
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8.    PROGRAMMES, ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES
      CONCERNED         DIRECTLY        WITH      DISABLED
      PEOPLE
      Special steps will be taken to create a synergetic
      effect in the field of vocational rehabilitation and
      employment with the Horizon initiative and, in res­
      pect of new technologies, with the TIDE initiative.
9.    STUDIES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
      Studies, consultancy services and technical assist­
      ance required for the drawing up of proposals or for
      providing technical support in the fields referred to
      in Article 3 .
      Rate of Community financial contribution: up to
      100 % .
10.   ADDITIONAL       SPECIFIC    ACTION     WITHIN    THE
      FRAMEWORK OF THE ACTIVITIES REFERRED
      TO IN ITEMS 2 TO 5
      Cooperation with outside experts responsible for
      assisting the Commission in coordinating, guiding
      and evaluating the activities referred to in items 2 to
      5.
      Rate of Community financial contribution: up to
      100% .